A New Platform For America

This is a proposed platform for any presidential candidate in 2012. Please comment and help me improve it. Please offer your own ideas and solutions instead of just attacking it. Thanks.

Tax cuts stir growth and job creation. However, I am not necessarily opposed to new spending – provided that such spending is offset, when possible, with appropriate cuts of ineffective programs.

Earmarks eliminated. And, there must be transparency in the reporting of all spending. Finally, all spending programs must have a “sunset” date insuring that no program overstays its legislative purpose.

Require the posting of any new bill online for 90 days before any vote is cast.

The budget should be balanced and if we forgo a tax cut to help bring the budget into balance, so be it. This does not mean raising taxes, spending needs to be slashed. More taxes always leads to more spending.

Fiscal and monetary policy should provide incentives for the private sector to invest in their businesses. Such investment will drive job growth and the economic engine of America.

Equal opportunity must be the rule of law. All men are created equal but that equal ‘outcomes’ must not be socially engineered.

National "emergencies" are not reasons to destroy the Bill of Rights. Trading Liberty for Security results in Tyranny. The Constitution and The Bill of Rights should be protected and respected.

The right to keep and bear arms is the very foundation of our freedoms.

The border must be secured. Mexican gangs and illegal immigrants should not have free run of our border states.

Businesses that knowingly hire illegals should be Severely punished.

Illegal immigrants should have no access to government benefits including schooling, health care, or any financial assistance.

Require an audit of the Federal Reserve with an eye towards ending it as an Un-Constitutional institution.

Require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply to Congress

Institute a "Loser Pays" system for all tort lawsuits.

Reject Cap & Trade legislation as anti-free market and severely damaging to our economy

Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care

Enact an "all of the above" energy policy.

Identify radical Islam as the perpetrator of international terror attacks against western civilization. Promulgate security policies to embrace that reality.

Remove the federal government from public schools and disband the US Department of Education. Return education to the control of the states.

Affirm that "Political Correctness" has made honest communication impossible. Reaffirm free speech as one of the most important elements of our society.

Recognize that "hate crimes" legislation violates the principle of "equal protection under the law". Hate crimes legislation is "thought crime legislation". Is a murdered white male less deserving of justice than a murdered homosexual or minority?

Freedom of speech is only possible with freedom of thought.

End ALL foreign aid and corporate welfare.

End the INCOME TAX to be replaced with a CONSUMPTION TAX(along the lines of the Fair Tax).

the 90 day provision, is pretty ridiculous, I mean I understand the purpose but that is a long time to wait for something to pass.

Originally posted by thegoods724
the 90 day provision, is pretty ridiculous, I mean I understand the purpose but that is a long time to wait for something to pass.

So you prefer Pelosi's idea of "we have to pass it to know what is in it"?

Whites can be victimized under the hate crime law so that's irrelevant. You would need to remove that from your platform as most don't have an issue with it but the bad press will kill you.

Also forgien aid accounts for less than 1% of our budget and is extremely important as it allows us to influence to a degree other countries.

Originally posted by kro32
Also forgien aid accounts for less than 1% of our budget and is extremely important as it allows us to influence to a degree other countries.

That is 1% that can go towards ending the deficit. How much "influence" do we have with these nations the majority of whom hate us anyway. In my opinion, ending all foreign aid saves us billions of dollars that could be put to more important use.

Originally posted by kro32
Whites can be victimized under the hate crime law so that's irrelevant. You would need to remove that from your platform as most don't have an issue with it but the bad press will kill you.

Then hate crime laws are useless. They serve no purpose and should be repealed. The law is not a popularity contest. Laws should only exist when they serve a necessary purpose.

I like it. You know most posters on ATS are overwhelmingly far left and monstrously uninformed, right? Expect a poop storm of poorly written posts denouncing you as a far right monster.

reply to post by sonofliberty1776
Hey friend. I like most of what you've got here, and need to look more into a bit of it.

Some I do have issues with, though - perhaps just requiring more research or education on my part, admitted:

Earmarks eliminated. And, there must be transparency in the reporting of all spending. Finally, all spending programs must have a “sunset” date insuring that no program overstays its legislative purpose.

Earmarks really aren't much of an issue (TINY, TINY percentage of federal spending), and actually result in transparency. In fact, I agree with Paul that we need more earmarking, as what earmarks do is allot federal funds for clearly-defined purposes. Any congressional spending NOT earkmarked for these purposes (usually helping the constitutents of those who add them) goes to the executive to decide how to spend. I'd much rather this go to help the people in clearly-defined fashion.

Require the posting of any new bill online for 90 days before any vote is cast.

90 days may be excessive as some things might require more expeditious action, and I'd rather see something along the lines of support/challenge by the people in addition to tests certifying that all congress members have actually read and understand the bills. I also like the idea of a limit on the length of any bill, but if we've got the first bit, this is unnecessary as the requirement to read and understand the bills would effectively force them to become shorter and easier to understand - as is, I'm entirely sick of a congress that simply legislates with no idea what the hell they're legislating. Rubber-stamping based on a mere summary that does not cover the totality of a bill is simply idiotic and prone to abuse.

Illegal immigrants should have no access to government benefits including schooling, health care, or any financial assistance.

Fair enough, as this dries up most of the root causes of illegal immigration, but I'd say we also need to address 'anchor babies' definitively one way or the other, as well as strongly address immigration reform as soon as other priorities are dealt with. Not something I've dug far into, but as I understand it, the system is simply a mess and needs to get straightened out and enforced.

Identify radical Islam as the perpetrator of international terror attacks against western civilization. Promulgate security policies to embrace that reality.

When this is actually the matter, fair enough - but I would also push for changes to our own (misguided) policies & activities - such as our excessive militarism and overseas adventurism...we should get back to basics, as Adams said, speaking of the US:

Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

Stop kicking the hornet's nest, so to speak, and deal accordingly with valid threats, once we've stopped stimulating them through our own actions.

End the INCOME TAX to be replaced with a CONSUMPTION TAX(along the lines of the Fair Tax).

I definitely agree with ending the income tax, once spending has been dealt with accordingly - but when returning merely as far as to 1990s-level spending would obviate the need FOR a replacement tax, I don't see the need for it. And flat tax/fair tax and other ideas along those lines have their own share of warts to be addressed.

Otherwise, I could get behind most of this. Be well, friend.

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776

Originally posted by kro32
Whites can be victimized under the hate crime law so that's irrelevant. You would need to remove that from your platform as most don't have an issue with it but the bad press will kill you.

Then hate crime laws are useless. They serve no purpose and should be repealed. The law is not a popularity contest. Laws should only exist when they serve a necessary purpose.

Do you want a platform that has a chance of gaining power or just a bunch of ideals listed on a peice of paper? Ending foreign aid and going against Hate Crimes will put any of your candidates in "crush zones" by the opposition. I would love to run a campaign where the opposition is against those things cause I could spin that like you wouldn't believe.

Originally posted by wasco2
I like it. You know most posters on ATS are overwhelmingly far left and monstrously uninformed, right? Expect a poop storm of poorly written posts denouncing you as a far right monster.

I expect just that. Hopefully, we can start a real conversation though. When they start their attacks, I will ask for their solutions.

reply to post by sonofliberty1776
I agree with this. Punish the crime based on the crime, and we already have degrees of crimes to determine intent, motivation, and the like. Don't add thoughtcrime to the mix as this can incorrectly affect judgements and punishments when no such thought actually occurred, just based on the details of a given instance.

All crime in which there is a victim is a hate crime. Let's stop enforcing racial differences through legal channels - people are individuals, not groups, even if some are too stupid to see that - let them pay for their crimes to the same degree anyone else who premeditated does.

Originally posted by kro32

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776

Originally posted by kro32
Whites can be victimized under the hate crime law so that's irrelevant. You would need to remove that from your platform as most don't have an issue with it but the bad press will kill you.

Then hate crime laws are useless. They serve no purpose and should be repealed. The law is not a popularity contest. Laws should only exist when they serve a necessary purpose.

Do you want a platform that has a chance of gaining power or just a bunch of ideals listed on a peice of paper? Ending foreign aid and going against Hate Crimes will put any of your candidates in "crush zones" by the opposition. I would love to run a campaign where the opposition is against those things cause I could spin that like you wouldn't believe.

That is your argument against it? Not that we support ruthless dictators who terrorize their populations? Not that the money goes into the pockets of a very wealthy few and does nothing for the population of said countries? Not that allowing thought to be criminalized sets precedent for other types of thought to be criminalized? How can thoughts be criminal in a society that enshrines free speech? Can you not see the hypocrisy?

Originally posted by Praetorius
reply to post by sonofliberty1776

 

I agree with this. Punish the crime based on the crime, and we already have degrees of crimes to determine intent, motivation, and the like. Don't add thoughtcrime to the mix as this can incorrectly affect judgements and punishments when no such thought actually occurred, just based on the details of a given instance.

All crime in which there is a victim is a hate crime. Let's stop enforcing racial differences through legal channels - people are individuals, not groups, even if some are too stupid to see that - let them pay for their crimes to the same degree anyone else who premeditated does.

Absolutely! Until we develop telepathy, how can we truly know what they were thinking anyway?

reply to post by Praetorius


Well the reason for hate crimes is entirely a different subject and off topic so no point in going deeper into it. I just think it's pointless to single this out in your platform when nothing good will come of it. Better to quietly make it go away once your in power.

reply to post by kro32
Fair enough, Kro...a decent point I wasn't considering, and just looking at the issue itself as has always bugged me.

On a side note, Gillian Anderson is quite lovely - I like the avatar.

Take care.

reply to post by sonofliberty1776


I like some of your platform and agree with it wholeheartedly. Some not so much.....

Now it's time for you to put it to the test.....

Plunk down some money and run for public office. School board, mayor, city council, etc. See if you can get some backers, put together a campaign and run under any banner you feel appropriate.

Posting on the www. is just intellectual masturbation until put into actual practice.

I'm running for city council in my small village on the "clean up your ****** yard" ticket.

reply to post by whaaa


Well said, whaaa...just since it figures in here somewhat, I've never seen any posts or threads mention it. Is anyone aware of GOOOH.com? Is the site for the grassroots "Get Out Of Our House" movement, which aims to kick all congressional incumbents out of office, and select/fund actual citizen representatives to replace them.

I haven't really checked in on the whole process in quite some time, but it doesn't seem like a half-bad idea. Completely non-partisan, with districts selecting their own representatives by local acclimation.

For anyone interested in a possible congressional run, might be worth checking into...and similar ideas might help on other non-congressional levels.

Originally posted by Praetorius
reply to post by sonofliberty1776

 

Hey friend. I like most of what you've got here, and need to look more into a bit of it.

Some I do have issues with, though - perhaps just requiring more research or education on my part, admitted:

Earmarks eliminated. And, there must be transparency in the reporting of all spending. Finally, all spending programs must have a “sunset” date insuring that no program overstays its legislative purpose.

Earmarks really aren't much of an issue (TINY, TINY percentage of federal spending), and actually result in transparency. In fact, I agree with Paul that we need more earmarking, as what earmarks do is allot federal funds for clearly-defined purposes. Any congressional spending NOT earkmarked for these purposes (usually helping the constitutents of those who add them) goes to the executive to decide how to spend. I'd much rather this go to help the people in clearly-defined fashion.

Ok, I should change that to read "pork barrel spending or something instead then. Thanks for the input.

Originally posted by Praetorius

Require the posting of any new bill online for 90 days before any vote is cast.

90 days may be excessive as some things might require more expeditious action, and I'd rather see something along the lines of support/challenge by the people in addition to tests certifying that all congress members have actually read and understand the bills. I also like the idea of a limit on the length of any bill, but if we've got the first bit, this is unnecessary as the requirement to read and understand the bills would effectively force them to become shorter and easier to understand - as is, I'm entirely sick of a congress that simply legislates with no idea what the hell they're legislating. Rubber-stamping based on a mere summary that does not cover the totality of a bill is simply idiotic and prone to abuse.

I am not "married" to 90 days, but they should be posted long enough for the public to have time to comment and yes I agree with each member certifying that he/she has actually read and understood the entire bill.

Originally posted by Praetorius

Illegal immigrants should have no access to government benefits including schooling, health care, or any financial assistance.

Fair enough, as this dries up most of the root causes of illegal immigration, but I'd say we also need to address 'anchor babies' definitively one way or the other, as well as strongly address immigration reform as soon as other priorities are dealt with. Not something I've dug far into, but as I understand it, the system is simply a mess and needs to get straightened out and enforced.

Yes, the anchor baby provision should be amended out of the Constitution.

Originally posted by Praetorius

Identify radical Islam as the perpetrator of international terror attacks against western civilization. Promulgate security policies to embrace that reality.

When this is actually the matter, fair enough - but I would also push for changes to our own (misguided) policies & activities - such as our excessive militarism and overseas adventurism...we should get back to basics, as Adams said, speaking of the US:

Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

Stop kicking the hornet's nest, so to speak, and deal accordingly with valid threats, once we've stopped stimulating them through our own actions.

Agreed. We need to leave other nations alone unless they DIRECTLY threaten us. Who are we to tell them how to live when our own house is in such disarray?

Originally posted by Praetorius

End the INCOME TAX to be replaced with a CONSUMPTION TAX(along the lines of the Fair Tax).

I definitely agree with ending the income tax, once spending has been dealt with accordingly - but when returning merely as far as to 1990s-level spending would obviate the need FOR a replacement tax, I don't see the need for it. And flat tax/fair tax and other ideas along those lines have their own share of warts to be addressed.

Might I suggest you thoroughly research the fair tax? Income tax punishes work, punishes productivity. Do we really want to do that as a society? Shouldn't we encourage and reward work?

Originally posted by PraetoriusOtherwise, I could get behind most of this. Be well, friend.

Thanks for your positive criticisms and input.

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by Praetorius

 

Well the reason for hate crimes is entirely a different subject and off topic so no point in going deeper into it. I just think it's pointless to single this out in your platform when nothing good will come of it. Better to quietly make it go away once your in power.

Ok, that is a legitimate consideration. Thanks for the clarification.