A lot of I believe in agrees completely with jman (I really like your ideas on health care and Social Security). So I copy and pasted a lot of what he posted
Health Care
I ensure that the overall health care system within the United States would be privatized. Socialized health care is not the way to go because we are a nation that is too big to do so (over 300 million people) and such a system would hinder innovations in the health care industry and we would most likely experience a shortage on the necessary staff required.
However, the current system is not working. Health care costs far too much in this nation. Government intervention is necessary in order to make sure that it is affordable and accessible.
As jman said: "I support extending Medicaid programs to those who cannot afford basic health care coverage. Additionally, I would have the Department of Health and Human Services set up regional health care markets which could be used to direct consumers to individual health care companies, including Medicaid 2.0. These health care markets would work a lot like Progressive Auto Insurance: They would get you a quote from all the leading health insurers, and would compare those quotes to Medicaid 2.0. The goal would be to open Medicaid 2.0 to every individual (those who are not entitled to the "free" benefits would have to pay to be covered), offering a low-cost alternative to private insurers, with the hope of reducing private insurance companies' prices over time."
Social Security
I support gradual privatization of Social Security. The money is going to be gone before I can get my hands on it. I believe the government should give people the option to opt out of Social Security if they so desire. Furthermore, the government should encourage the wealthiest 10% of Americans to take control of their retirement, and leave Social Security for those who make under a certain income. A series of benchmarks should be put in place to ensure the program runs successfully, with the final goal of having 50% of those eligible for Social Security benefits investing in their own retirement by 2050. Assuming I'm running in 2008, the benchmarks would be as follows:
2020: 10% Privatized-- The Wealthiest Americans, in addition to some middle-class households, have taken control of their own retirement
2030: 25% Privatized-- Most of those making above $120,000 a year have taken control of their own retirement
2050: 50% Privatized-- Everyone making above $120,000 have taken control of their own retirement; most of those making between $50,000 and $120,000 have invested in private retirement options.
Illegal Immigration
I would propose an amendment to the Constitution to make English the official language of the United States, excluding Puerto Rico.
I believe that the United States should set up a guest worker program which would allow so-called "undocumented workers" to work towards full United States citizenship. Learning English and American laws would be a requirement for citizenship.
I also support increasing border security presence along the Mexican-American border. I would put the National Guard along the US-Mexican border along a fence.
However, border security is not the only thing that is necessary to combat illegal immigration. We need to target the employers who willingly hire illegal immigrants.
Energy
The United States needs to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives to energy. We need to invest in wind, solar, and hydro power sources along with developing new technologies. As Malice said, "a Manhattan Project" for energy and develop an X-Prize for companies, individuals, and organizations researching various forms of energy.
Nuclear energy is not the way to go because of the waste it produces, the potential disasters it can cause in the event of a terrorist attack or a nuclear meltdown.
And our dependence on foreign oil from the Middle East is definitely not the way to go.
Renewable energy is the way to go.
Education
The right to regulate the education systems lies to the states in accordance to the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution. However, the states have failed miserably. Therefore it is up to the federal government to take up the job. We need to make our education system on par with that of Japan and Europe. We need to get our students motivated like in China, which I have seen first hand.
Teachers will have a minimum wage of no less than $40,000.00.
We need to rely less on test grades and more on the skills in science, math, history, writing, etc.
Students need to learn a second language, particularly Spanish. Starting at an early age.
Prepare students for the workforce.
Foreign Policy
The Department of State would be renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt created a foreign policy called the "Good Neighbor Policy" towards Latin America and Europe.
We need to create a new Good Neighbor Policy, but not with just our neighbors and Europe, but the entire world.
Military action should never be taken off the table and a hawkish policy is at time necessary. As jman stated with Iran: "It is our responsibility to begin diplomatic talks with Iran, while simultaneously watching their nuclear program with a hawkish eye. Military force against Iran should always be an option, and the United States should remind that whackjob over there that we can and will engage them militarily if they do anything provocative." But such a power shouldn't be abused. The United States does not have the right to police the world. We shouldn't be in areas where the populace doesn't want us such as the Middle East and Korea.
I would promote the expansion of NATO to include our allies Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Israel, Japan, and Mexico.
I would promote to expand the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to include Germany and Japan.
I would promote a two-state solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with Jerusalem as an international city.
The United States is supposed to be the defender of human rights and democracy. While I would maintain diplomatic relations with these nations, my administration will refuse to be buddy/buddy with dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, China, and African regimes.
I would take the free trade/protectionism debate on an case by case basis. I fully support the ideas of NAFTA and a North American trade zone. I would promote more trade with the nations of Europe. However, I would take a more protectionist policy with China who is abusing our trade relationship with their economic, monetary, and enviromental policies.
Gun Control
The Second Amendment forbids the government to deny us the right to bear arms. If we say that the Second Amendment is out of date and get rid of it, what's stopping us from doing the same thing to the First Amendment? Our right to vote?
However certain laws are indeed required like what we have with denying the right to convicted felons, or banning certain types of weapons (like a Stinger missile launcher), or requiring gun safety courses and safeties on weapons.
And I would make ensure that gun manufacturers are not sued. It is not the guns or the gun makers that hurt and kill people with guns, it is the people who use them that do so.
Gay Marriage
There are two aspects of marriage these days. Religious and civil.
For the religious aspect, it is up to the various denominations and religions to decide if they want to bless gay couples.
For the civil aspect, we must recognise the rights of gay couples and make them on par with straight couples. The Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of Amendment XIV, Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and allows states to violate the "full faith and credit" clause of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution.
The Military
I would expand the military to include over 2 million active military personnel and a 2 million reserve force. And increase funding in the development of military technologies.
However, we should pull out of countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Europe. It is their responsibility to defend themselves, not ours. If our allies are under attack, then we will provide the necessary aid, but we don't need military bases on foreign territories. The troops stationed there would be put to better use defending the homeland, particularly the border.
The Budget and Finances
We need to return to fiscal responsibility. The days of the Bush Administration and an irresponsible Congress has brought us nothing but financial ruin.
I would never approve any federal budget that would create a federal deficit.
So just how do we cut federal spending? I would reunite the Departments of Labor and Commerce into one department. I would disband the Departments of Homeland Security and Housing and Urban Development, they are unneeded government bureaucracies the various functions of those departments would go into the appropriate departments. The Department of Veteran's Affairs would be put into the Department of Defense. Other parts of the government such as the Department of Commerce and Labor and the Department of the Interior would get budget cuts.
We wouldn't go into unnecessary wars such as in Iraq and policing the world. No needless pork barrel projects. As jman said: "
Eliminate most welfare programs and replace them with a broad, extensive Public Works Program. Make people work for their money. Those with disabilities, or those who are unable to work, will be able to receive unemployment benefits and social services for an extended period of time."
At the time I would not cut taxes to ensure that we are getting enough revenue to pay for the various government programs.
While not a part of the budget, we need to strengthen the power of the dollar.
I would introduce the Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution that would require the federal government to pass a budget that is balanced.
Transportation
I rode on a mag-lev train in Shanghai so I really liked what jman said: "Why don't we have Mag-Lev trains on the East and West Coast? I believe we should invest in Mag-Lev technology. AMTRAK just doesn't do it anymore. The slow, inadequate service often makes driving seem like a faster alternative. Not to mention that it's as expensive as all hell. Mag-Lev technology would be able to transport commuters from Boston to Washington, DC in just over four hours. Imagine traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego in an hour; San Francisco to San Diego in three and a half hours; Seattle to San Diego in eight hours or less... it would bring in the customers almost immediately, and would pay for itself in less than a decade."
The Environment
The EPA would become a Cabinet level department known as the Department of Environmental Protection.
Fuel emission standards for cars in this nation would become on par with European standards.
I would not submit the Kyoto Protocol for ratification in the Senate. I would impliment the ideals of the Kyoto Protocol for legislation to help protect the enviroment, but the treaty itself is a load of bull. It is specifically designed for just the United States to take really serious action, nations like Russia is allowed to profit off of it, and nations that are worse polluters like China are exempt from taking any serious action.
Abortion
Abortion is not a fundamental right like many pro-choicers believe. It is completely unethical and morally wrong.
However, Roe v. Wade cannot be overturned. Just imagine the public health crisis it would create. A woman who wants an abortion will get an abortion, legally or illegally. With a coat hanger or with an underground doctor with a an unsterile clinic. It's just too dangerous to ban it.
However we should ban and restrict certain types of abortion such as partial-birth abortions, third trimester abortions, etc. Also, I would not support federal funding for abortion clinics. You want an abortion, you're going to pay for it.
Minimum Wage
First off I should state that I do believe in the minimum wage. I believe that it is necessary.
I find it kind of pointless to raise the minimum wage at the federal level. I see this as a right of the states to decide on how much the minimum wage shall be and frankly, the states are far more responsive towards the necessary increases in the minimum wage. When the federal minimum wage was $5.15/hr, the majority of states passed legislation or referendums to increase the minimum wage above $7.00/hr. And more states were most likely bound to do so too.
So leave the minimum wage to the states. They do it far more effectively. The right to do so belongs to in accordance to the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." And when the federal government finally decides to act upon it, it's kinda pointless.
NASA and Space
I am a huge believer in the mission that NASA has provided us. I see space exploration on par with the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, James Cook and many others. That's why I propose that NASA gets fully funded for the missions it needs to explore the unknown and continue the tradition that has been started hundreds of years ago.
Terrorism
Yes there is such a thing as terrorism. That is why I have previously proposed to have a 2 million active and 2 million reserve force for our military, not to just protect the homeland from a Russian or Chinese or French or British attack or to defend the border from illegal immigrants, but to also help prevent terrorist attacks on the homeland.
I would repeal the USA PATRIOT Act. It violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution which prohibits unreasonable and warrant less searches and violates the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution which protects our right to privacy (rights not specifically stated belong to either the state or to the people). There is no reason to be investigating on innocent people.
We also need to take a look as to why there are groups such as al-Qaeda and why they want to not only attack the American homeland, but also American interests. We need to take an active participation in preventing these terrorist groups from springing up (i.e. not giving them a somewhat legitimate reason) along with preventing terrorist attacks.
The Electoral College
I will propose an amendment to abolish the Electoral College. It is undemocratic and a President should be elected solely based on the popular vote and the will of the people.
Civil Rights
I oppose the idea of Affirmative Action. It was necessary when it was created, but today is nothing but a relic of the Civil Rights Movement. And relics need to be gotten rid of. Affirmative Action violates Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution which prohibits discrimination by our government.
I would reintroduce the Equal Rights Amendment and the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment. And an amendment protecting the equal rights of those based on sexual orientation. That way there can be absolutely no basis on denying the rights
ALL American citizens.
I oppose the idea of hate crimes based on the words of Dr. Ron Paul:
Ron Paul on hate crimes
The Customary System
The Customary System of Measurement is completely idiotic on the basis of its measurements and the fact that the rest of the world uses the Metric System.
It's time to get rid of it and convert the United States to the Metric System with the rest of the world.
