There are five political parties that have had nation-wide access to the ballot in recent years, all derivations of Thomas Jefferson's Republican Democrats. First is Jefferson's party, now called the Democrats. Second are the Republicans, a party who's original purpose was to recapture Jefferson's original libertarian ideals, once opposing the Federalists, but now opposing the Democrats. Next are three parties with similar original intentions to the Republicans, the Green Party, the Constitution Party, and the Libertarians.
The monopoly of the two major parties might possibly be traced to both the Jeffersonian defeat of the Federalists and the Whig opposition, and to ammendments of the Constitution that weakened the balance of power between Congress and the Executive branch, and the weakening of the influence of the States in Congress. What is unfortunate in all of this is that by being caught up in Jeffersonian opposition, we have allowed special interests to dominate, and have forgot the solidarity of Federalism: that the integrity of individuals is what makes good governance, not political parties that hold onto power longer than is beneficial to the people.
General elections are held every two years. I encourage those who read this to reflect on the issues that motivate candidates to run for elections. Consider voting for yourself, if you are of legal age for the office in question, instead of not voting at all. Following is a reflection of my own, perhaps the germ of a political platform, but ultimately with the purpose of clarifying my own thoughts, and perhaps helping you to clarify yours.
Abortion should in general be illegal, as it is the killing of human life, contrary to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, if the fetus of a pregnant woman endangers the health of her body (including pyschology), abortion should be made available to her. (See Civil Liberties.)
Creativity that benefits the public should always be encouraged. Bartering and trade should be defended as in the public interest, as long as it does not conflict with the public interest, or the rights of a person as guaranteed under the Constitution.
Where a precedent has been set in the creation of a federal bank, or reserve, the federal government should excercise this public responsibility with care and ethical management. Poor management of money, and endless borrowing without the capability to pay off debts, is to the detriment of the public, and is unethical. Government should author its own budget responsibly, and be held accountable in following that budget.
China should be supported as an integral part and contributer to the world community. Encourage political reforms in China that are consistent with the Declaration of Human Rights through diplomacy. Regarding Taiwan, support a peaceful unification with China.
Support the entirety of the Bill of Rights, not pick and choose. The defence of our liberty is our most important asset as a nation and people. Curbing liberty to meet an end, whether security, religious, or otherwise is not to the benefit of the people or nation. The Supreme Court is within its power to judge the equity of law as regards liberty; it is not judicial legislation to defend constitutional liberties.
Euthanasia and suicide should not be civil rights. Abortion should not be a civil right in and of itself. However, a recognized medical professional should be legally protected in their right to prescribe abortion for reasons of medical necessity (not convenience). Individuals should have the right to decide to refuse medical treatment, even if it means their own death, unless their capacity to make such a decision is shown to be impaired; when thus impaired this right should extend to families authorized in advance by the patient to make such decisions. This right should not extend to the treatment, or removal of treatment, that has the purpose of killing the patient, but should to prescribe medications for chronic pain and suffering that may result in death, but that justifiably treat pain for the purpose of comfort and dignity,
Any person under the jurisdiction of the United States, citizen or not, has the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, a right to trial by jury. In cases of military tribunals that try US citizens, or residents, as enemy combatants, the Congress has the power to decide punishment according to the Constitution. A military tribunal can only convict them on the testimony of two witnesses, or on confession in open court. All persons under US jurisdiction have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. The idea that an individual accused of treason can be held as a foreign fighter, without representation, a speedy and public trial with an impartial grand jury, or without being informed of the crime for years, is a violation of their constitutional rights. Where such violations are shown to be approved by the President of the United States exposes an impeachable tyranny.
Searches at airports, or borders into the US, of citizens and US residents without a warrant issued upon probable cause, specific to the person and things to be seized, is a violation of the fourth ammendment.
I am opposed to the death penalty. It is a contradiction to our civil liberties. The US has the highest incarceration rates in the world, and this has the potential of hardening criminals, not reforming them to contribute positively to society. Though jail should be used to hold people after arrest, with legitimate access to a reasonable bail, criminal sentencing should not include prison terms except for violent crimes where the individuals are a direct danger to society. Correctional facilities should be used for only as long as is needed to correct criminal behaviour. Restitution and rehabilitation should be the focus of penalties.
The capture of criminals, and prevention of harm to persons, should be of the utmost priority in law enforcement. Laws should be passed to provide sufficient funds and resources, and both police officers, and citizens in coordination with police, enabled to enforce the law. New laws should not be passed, however, for the sake of enforcement when the problem itself is lack of enforcement of an existing law.
Public registries of criminals that have served their time is a violation of civil liberties. Once a person has given restitution for their crimes, has been rehabilitated, and has fulfilled their parole, they should be accepted back into society with full rights and responsibility. The judicial system, and law enforcement, should have the right to keep records of criminal history. However, a person should not have to pay for their crime after they have already paid for their crime: this impedes their capability to contribute to society. The right to privacy, including the right of a person to keep their criminal history private, should be protected as vigorously as discrimination laws protect minorities.
Women have proven themselves in the military. They should not be
prohibited from voluntary service to their country, including in
combat. Don't ask, don't tell
works as a policy regarding
sexual orientation. A dishonourable discharge is inappropriate if
same-sex orientation is confessed or discovered.
Funds for defence should be granted as a priority, but funds should be used for reasonable purposes, such as modernization. Raise military pay and benefits to encourage volunteer army and to avoid a draft. Weapons of mass destruction should be eliminated. They are of no military benefit, and have serious consequences of harm world wide. However, this should not keep us from using various technologies, including nuclear technologies, for the reasonable defence of our nation. Chemical weapons should be banned, because of their uncontrollable, and torturous, nature.
The use of the word war in war on drugs
has negative
implications, and is a misapplication of the word. Support should be
given for vigorous regulations against poisons, but decriminalization of
drugs such as cannibas, and other moderate drugs, should be considered.
Methamphetamines should be strictly prohibited (because of the
environmental effects of their manufacture), as should other highly
addictive and damaging drugs such as heroine and cocaine. Those addicted
to illegal drugs that are willing to submit themselves to rehabilitation
should not be prosecuted. Distributors of illegal drugs should be
heavily prosecuted; those who have used violence, or targeted children,
in their distribution should be imprisoned and prosecuted with the
strictest possible compounded penalties.
The federal government, States, and municipalities, should find
it in their interest to support education, and to encourage it
through funding and vouchers, including that of religious schools.
Public schools that are failing to provide adequate education
should be reformed or shut down. No Child Left Behind
is an inadequate and undue burden on students and educators.
Religious doctrines may be presented in schools under their appropriate subjects (namely religious and philosophical instruction), but in public schools may not be taught exclusive to other religious ideas, and must not be a required topic of study in public schools (unless it be a humanities course intending to provide an unbiased, overall introduction to world religions and their ideas). Religious doctrines, when taught in a science classroom, should be subjected to the strictest methods of good science. The idea of Creationism, Intelligent Design, Divine Design, or other myths of the origins of life, and our universe, do not meet scientific criteria, or falsification processes and testability. This failure of testability may be challenged, but when in a science class room, only by using scientific methods. Terms such as hypothesis, fact, and theory should be given their scientific understanding, not twisted to meet the imposition of a religious dogmatic conclusion.
Encouragement should be given to ethics and manners topics in the appropriate, relevant classes.
It is imperative that we preserve our natural resources for the future. This does not mean we should not be able to use those resources. Stable economies and enviromental protection should be balanced. Where human life is in peril to environmental hazards, economy must be sacrificed. We must recognize our connectedness and reliance on other life on our planet. We need to think long term. We need to respect and follow the advice of established scientists to protect our environment. Companies that purposely damage our environment in the pursuit of profit should lose their right to do business; remuneration should be given to restore accidental damage where restoration is possible.
Environmental regulations often have the effect of further damage on environment and economy and are often because of special interest power struggles. We should focus on clear solutions to environmental problems, using the best advice of scientists, and take care with the regulations we pass to protect our environment so that they do not have an adverse or irrelevant effect.
Family units consisting of a man, woman, and their children should be encouraged and supported with tax deductions, not penalties. However, laws should be enacted that protect the dignity of individuals in whatever form of relationship they choose. Polygamy, polyandry, and endogomy should be decriminalized as a principle of religious freedom. The law should, however, be able to distinguish between a monogamous marriage, and a polygamous marriage, before decriminalization is allowed for religious purposes. Bigamy should remain a factor in divorce cases where it infringes on the marriage relationship. Pedophilia, and other forms of sexual abuse, violence, and manipulation should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Under the law, same-sex partners should be granted inheritance rights, rights of medical visitation and decision making, and rights to the guardianship of the children of a partner when that is the clear will of the parent (legal guardian) and child, and as long as it is not against the best interests of the child.
Regarding media, parents should have the right to feel free from any form of exposure to invasive advertising, whether by phone, internet, printed media, or television, and should be able to guard their children from said exposure, whether advertising, or the product advertised, including from violent or sexually explicit material. This should not infringe the freedom of speech of adults as guaranteed by the Constitution, but does place a responsibility on those excercising such speech, or distributing said media, to not infringe the right of a parent to their privacy, and choice what to expose their children to, and their right to keep their children from being exposed to whatever material (ie media, such as books, magazines, videos, etc) they decide.
The United States should be free to defend itself from invasion, or foreign attack, including the use of military force for prevention. We should act militarily against other countries only by the approval of Congress. We need to think as a global community, not an isolated nation. Presidential powers to attack another nation without the approval of Congress should be revoked.
Alliances with other nations, and national bodies, should be done with our own interests in mind and the interests of global benefit in general. Support of organizations that fail to be in the global interest should be severed. The U.N. has future potential as a forum for discussion and decision making among the nations of the world, and is in the interest of world peace, but is in need of reform so as to avoid political manipulation, and to provide for a more equitable representation of world nations and entities.
Peace among nations, and the preservation of our environment, should be the priorities of any global alliance.
In general, free trade among nations should be encouraged, but regulated with tariffs to protect the citizens of the US.
The reversal of certain twentieth century ammendments to the constitution that show a lack of trust in how the constitution separates powers should be considered, specifically, the repeal of ammendments XVI (income tax), XVII (direct election of senators), and XXII (term limit). I am not in favour of getting rid of electors. Because of party entrenchment that has encouraged a de facto two party system, I would encourage the run for Vice-President independently, in the hopes of balancing presidential powers, (see ammendment XII, which introduces a separate V.P. election by the electors).
I oppose line item veto authority of the President. Line item veto would require a constitutional ammendment to Section VII.2, and would grant legislative powers indirectly to the President, and has the potential to destroy the intended meaning of a bill passed by the Congress. When vetoed by the President, a bill should be reconsidered by Congress based on the particular objections of the President as indicated by the Constitution.
Government should be strong, but the government needs to reduce or eliminate its bureaucratic structures. The above suggestion to repeal the income tax ammendment should help reel in the government's excessive, and often inadequate, bureaucracies, and give these powers back to the States and the people where they were intended to belong.
The judicial limitation of the right to bear arms is mistaken.
The purpose of the second ammendment is the security of a free
state.
The principal is that if everyone has a right to carry
hand held weapons, then the State
will have greater security
and freedom. This not only guarantees the freedom of individuals
within the nation, but guarantees the freedom and security of each
State within the union. To infringe on this right is an attack on
civil liberties.
Regulation by the States of their militias, invisioned as all citizens within the State, lends to greater responsibility in the use of their weapons. This regulation did not then invision the type of weapon, but a militia will find itself in disorder if disproportionate weapons are carried by individual citizens. It is therefore within the right of the States, not the federal government, to regulate what kind of weapons may be carried by individuals, as long as the regulation does not cripple the right to bear the weapon they own. Gun registration, waiting periods, etc., should not inhibit individuals from carrying weapons. The Congress, and the States, have every right to pass legislation prohibiting certain kinds of weapons, and to prohibit certain individuals through due process to be stripped of their right.
Excepting military and other federal employees, health care should be handled at the State level where possible. Federal laws should ensure patient rights, including the right to not be refused certain kinds of care that are needed for the health of the person, regardless of financial status. Malpractice suits should be limited to legitimate and reasonable remuneration, but should not infringe the right to file suit. Existing federal programs should not be extended to new patients, but should be referred to State health resources. Existing federal bereaucracies should be phased out quickly, and turned over to State agencies. States that fail to find care for their elderly, disabled, and poor should be forced to it by law, but also allowed grants from federal funds. States should be encouraged to provide public health care; it is clear that private and charitable institutions have failed to do so. The States, and the Federal government, should refuse to fund insurance companies, or grant them tax breaks, or other perks. Though insurance is a legitimate enterprise, its institutions are corrupt, and incapable, or unwilling to provide care to the disadvantaged. Tax exemptions and breaks should be offered to charitable and religious institutions for providing health care, but should be regulated in their care to ensure the quality of care, and to guard against misappropriation of the funds to unapproved purposes.
Immigration should be encouraged under regulated conditions. Everyone should be given the opportunity to come to the US. Immigrants should be limited in their access to federal services unless, or until, they gain citizenship. Applicants for citizenship should be required to learn English. States should be encouraged to accomodate legal immigrants and assist them. Illegal immigrants should be given the opportunity to legalize, but if unable to meet the conditions of immigration, deportation is the only secure solution.
Inheritance tax should be reduced. The heritage of families should be kept intact, including farms, and taxation should not get in the way of that. Taxes should be reduced or illiminated on necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter.
Corporate abuses, and poor work environments, should be regulated. Every legal resident of the US should have the right to work and make a living wage. There is no easy answer to this, however. Utopian ideals have failed in the past, but we should be dedicated to this principle in whatever way we can for the betterment of our society. What is important is that compassion and understanding be expressed, not rigid demands to conform to an uncaring system that fails to provide for society.
Transportation should be supported as much as possible by State governments, and intercooperation between States should be encouraged. Transportation arrangements should be smart, efficient, accessible to all, and meet the needs of post-industrial age society. We should consider access to reasonable transportation as a civil right.
Compassion, charity, and courage in the face of fear are values I hold dear. The support of families and children to provide nuturing environments, and the right to participate in religious communities, or not to participate, are direct outlets that build charitable and courageous individuals, and a compassionate society. Justice needs to be coupled with compassion to encourage honesty, integrity, and an equitable society. We also need to be willing to listen to each other so that we can respect our differences.
Political office should be more about character and less about issues. Building the confidence of the public with integrity is what makes good leaders. Leaders with integrity will make decisions for the public benefit, regardless of their personal opinions and biases.
School standards should be set by the educators, not legislators. Education does not mean adherence to beliefs, but knowledge of beliefs and values, and the wisdom to determine values that benefit the self and society. Education means discipline of mind and body to the inherited wisdom, and knowledge, of generations of human beings, and a developed appreciation and love for that wisdom.
Parents should have choice and authority in what institutions they place their children, whether public schools, or voucher programs for private and chartered schools. Standards upheld by the best educators should be supported by government, but not dictated by government.
Social Security is headed for bankruptcy. It is time to stop reforming it and stop requiring it through taxation. However, concern should be given to not abandon those who rely on social security. How this should be done should be discussed and debated openly, but with a commitment to fiscal responsibility, and care for the disabled and senior citizens.
Eliminate federal income tax and return to tax methods of pre-ammended constitution. Income tax engenders power abuses. Whether intended or not, income tax targets the middle class and is an undue burden on individuals to provide for themselves.
The Constitution provides for access to patents and copyrights when they benefit the public, for the promotion of science and the arts, for limited periods. Currently, patents on software impede scientific progress, and should thus be either reformed for its application to software, or eliminated. Copyrights on software should be judged relative to artistic expression, not application function (which is the realm of patent law). As regards computer technologies, patent and copyright control should not infringe on rights (such as privacy rights) guaranteed under the bill of rights. Binary only firmware and software are an impediment to computer hardware use and science in general, and such subterfuge in monopolizing how the hardware is used should be against the law.
A culture of non-violence, but not pacifism, should be encouraged.
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent,
(Isaac Asimov,
Foundation). This does not mean one should never resort to violence,
nor that violence should be the last choice, but means that leaders
are wise enough to know when to use and when not to use violence,
and are able and willing to work to find non-violent solutions,
and avoid violent ones.
Active pursuit of violent vigilantes, colloquially called
terrorists,
should be supported, but the sovereignty of
nations should be respected, and the rhetoric of the war on
terror
should be couched in more realistic terms. Part of the
pursuit of these vigilantes should be in focusing on the errant
ideologies of violence they promote, and in removing access to the
resources they need to promote their ideologies.