For Official Release: Party for Realistic Governance.
Here in the Gathering of Minds forum where we join daily in the expression of all of America’s founding principles that I speak to you today. It is here that I am regularly reminded of the essential rights and responsibilities of every American – where I’ve come to believe we can work to fulfill the legacy of America’s founders for an honest and realistic government built to preserve the greatness found within each American.
And that is why I stand before you today to announce my candidacy, as a member of the Party for Realistic Governance, for Siccness president of the United States of America.
In the coming days, weeks, and months I will provide a REALISTIC platform that sets forth realistic goals for my presidency. I will be available to answer your questions and concerns from current events to specific policy initiatives and how, as president, I would address them. Specifically, solutions and objectives will be presented in a realistic manner. Already my opponents are making promises on issues that they alone as president will be in no position to solve. I intend to formulate my policies firmly within the boundaries of the executive and to never make a promise to the American people I won’t be able to realistically keep.
ISSUES:
The platform for my presidential bid on the siccness is solely for the purpose of the siccness presidential elections. I don't believe such a platform corresponds to any real or viable individual candidate or political party pursuing the presidency within the U.S. currently or within the last several decades. Or on the siccness for that matter.
Here in the Gathering of Minds forum where we join daily in the expression of all of America’s founding principles that I speak to you today. It is here that I am regularly reminded of the essential rights and responsibilities of every American – where I’ve come to believe we can work to fulfill the legacy of America’s founders for an honest and realistic government built to preserve the greatness found within each American.
And that is why I stand before you today to announce my candidacy, as a member of the Party for Realistic Governance, for Siccness president of the United States of America.
In the coming days, weeks, and months I will provide a REALISTIC platform that sets forth realistic goals for my presidency. I will be available to answer your questions and concerns from current events to specific policy initiatives and how, as president, I would address them. Specifically, solutions and objectives will be presented in a realistic manner. Already my opponents are making promises on issues that they alone as president will be in no position to solve. I intend to formulate my policies firmly within the boundaries of the executive and to never make a promise to the American people I won’t be able to realistically keep.
ISSUES:
- Presidential Powers:
I pledge to limit my powers as president and never exceed the parameters of the executive set forth by the constitution. It has been an increasing trend of the American presidency to exceed the powers granted by the constitution.
The U.S. government in modern history has been headed on a dangerous path towards dictatorship. The trend has been to exploit the people for political gain and once in control remove as much power from the hands of the people as possible which only serves to make the representative republic less representative of the needs/wills of the people.
I believe the statements of my opponents already are showing their willingness to move in a dictatorial direction. Not yet elected they have begun ruling by decree and making promises for sweeping changes with no indication of respect for democracy.
One of my first objectives once elected will be to ask congress to modify the War Powers Act of 1973. This act allows the president to wage war for up to 90 days without any congressional approval or declaration of war. There is no need for such a provision and only encourages abuse, potential manipulation, and lacks respect for democracy. In these modern times the U.S.A. can respond to a threat quickly and severely the way the founders had intended. Power to wage war does not need to be left in the hands of one person. This step will work towards eliminating the threat of any future president over stepping his powers and taking the country to war illegally or irresponsibly.
- Political Reform:
Politics – policy, legislation, and debate should be judged on their merits not through earmarks, cloak room deals, or pork barrel politics.
I would actively engage the congress in pursuit of a policy of campaign finance reform to remove control of our political system from the grip of corporations or the will of the highest bidder and return political power to the American people. My proposal would include caps on spending and contributions and full public financing of elections. Effort should be made to limit if not ban political action committees and restrict soft money.
- Drugs:
Realistically a bill decriminalizing marijuana would have to pass congress in order to become law, not by some imaginary decree by the president. If congress passed a bill legalizing marijuana for recreational use, despite my personal opposition to it, I would sign the bill into law. Would it be a bill I would push for congress to take up? - No. Would I discourage them from doing so? - No.
Personally I oppose decriminalization of marijuana. I do believe federal sentencing guidelines for marijuana(and all other drugs) need to be re-evaluated and amended and as president it would be one of many policy initiatives. I also believe that cannabis is a potentially valuable crop and would support studies into its viability for America’s farmers to grow. The development of our national agricultural system should not be hindered when non-narcotic growth options are available for production.
- Immigration & Border Control:
I favor a secure border policy and monitoring and interdiction programs to curb the flow of illegal immigrants. This portion of the issue is something that realistically can be addressed by the executive. Resources being sent abroad to secure other countries should not take precedent over the security of our own country FIRST.
Additionally any discussion of illegal immigration must include a discussion of NAFTA, free trade, U.S. foreign policy, and the economic system and situation within the United States. Without addressing these problems the illegal immigrant problem will never be solved. Punishing illegals will not work if those who employ them go free. Punishing employers will not work if the flow of illegal immigrants is unchecked. A viable solution needs to be reached. One that solves the economic problems at home and abroad which are at the root of the issue. Realistically this is not an issue that can be solved by the president alone. A significant effort needs to be made within the congress to address the inequities among our own people and a climate of industry that looks for a quick fix in cheap labor rather than to the American people as reliable workers.
I don’t believe American businesses need to be employing illegal immigrants to work within our country when a significant portion of our population goes without a job.
- Health Care:
I believe the Health Care system in the U.S. does not function to the benefit of the majority of the population. 45 million Americans have no heath care coverage and over 40 million others have ineffective care. America’s family farms should not have to outsource their family members to find jobs that will supply their family with the health care coverage they need. I believe in a national health care system that insures coverage for all Americans. I don’t believe people’s lives should be considered as expendable market factors. A national health care system would be less costly to the average American individual and American business than the current system and would actually encourage a higher levels of care and innovation than we currently see.
Realistically no major healthcare reform would be possible without action by the congress. I would actively encourage congress to pursue national health care, but I would also sign every bill that increased the quality of care and quantity of coverage for every American no matter how small the increment as any advancement in this area is preferable to none at all.
- U.S. Out of Iraq:
When elected I will ork with the UN and all neighboring countries of Iraq, which share land and sea boarders, to formulate a new course that prevents all outside interference from Iraqi domestic affairs until country is completely stabilized. I will work to create a multinational force to be deployed along all of Iraq’s borders to insure that no outside interference is allowed into the country (weapons, soldiers, contraband, etc) insure the safe passage of goods/aid in and out of the country, insure the safe treatment of refugees. Effectively seal off the country and allow the Iraqis to do what they will with their own country free from Iranian, Saudi, American, etc influence.
The Iraqis should not totally be left to solve this problem on their own. The way my opponents suggest, by just pulling out our troops and leaving behind a country littered by our mess.
After all, this mess was created by us. I believe in cleaning up the mess you’ve made. The U.S. has made some serious messes around the world and we need to do something to right our wrongs. Dropping bombs, kicking in doors, and killing women and children does not count as righting your wrongs.
Ending combat operations, pulling out troops, helping the Iraqis in rebuilding infrastructure and civil society, getting the schools and hospitals into better condition than when we invaded, being concerned with helping the Iraqis develop an economy that isn’t totally reliant on oil income, etc, etc, etc.
Iraq will not become a beacon of freedom, independence, and success by throwing money at the problem and expecting American corporations to fix things. We need a cooperative movement for an Iraq re-built by Iraqis, but with American support. Iraq will never achieve its full potential without becoming self sufficient first.
- The “War on Terror”:
Terrorism is a military tactic that is nearly impossible to ever hope of eliminating. If we are to continue using “The war on terror” as part of our terminology we must start by leading by example. For too long terror has been a tool of the U.S. military and of U.S. foreign policy. We must publicly denounce terror and permanently commit ourselves to removing it as a tool of America. How can we expect to win a war that we actively support?
Unfortunately, terrorism has come to define a movement of Islamism around the world. The U.S. can, in cooperation with other world powers, work to eliminate Islamism. Notice we are not trying to eliminate Islam; a clear distinction should be made.
How will I as president work to eliminate Islamism?
Economic equality would go a long way in eliminating Islamism; even just closing the gap would do a lot to cut back on “terrorist” support.
Creating options other than religion as a part of civil society for people to rely on for support would also go a long way to cut back on “terrorist” support. There can still be a place for religion in people's lives without it being the only thing that gets them through the day and the only reason they are still alive.
I'm not saying people need to put aside their beliefs. Islamism and the use of terror is a relatively new aspect to the Islamic religion. Definitely not deep rooted over generations. It is not only a threat to world peace, but to the survival of Islam as well.
There is room for belief, but when the mosque is your only resource for political assistance, economic assistance, education, social networking, etc that is when people are easily being led astray. Radical sects get their support because people have no other option other than what they offer. And they take the time and the effort to point out the causes of people's misery. They give them direction and a place to focus their rage and hope for something better (realistic or not).
A combined effort needs to be made to remove the people's problems (lack of sustainable economic systems, lack of educational outlets, oppressive governments, etc) and remove the U.S. as the main source or at least the main scapegoat for the problems and you'll do much to remove the roots of “terrorism”. As president it would be my policy to stop giving terrorist a target by meddling in other countries own domestic situations. It is possible to balance non-intervention with an expanding world market.
- General Foreign Policy Items:
I don't believe it should be our goal in the United States to tone down or remove any government other than our own. Realistically it is quite possible for this to be accomplished. All we need is leadership that is not so extremely arrogant as to believe that we know better than others how their own country should be run. Does this mean we have to agree with everything we see? Obviously not, but if we expect others to respect us, we should be ready to give some respect in return.
Improving economic sustainability, social networks, education, etc around the world should be the goal of every country. We should embrace those countries with similar goals and work together to achieve them. I believe it is counter productive and never possible to archive such goals through overt or covert intervention on military levels. Nor do I believe it is productive to intentionally manipulate other countries economies, political situations, etc as a way to achieve our own goals.
Countries that wish not to align themselves with such goals would find themselves alone on the world stage and increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. I believe there are a number of governments that currently have the same goals and other countries that would quickly jump on board if such an opportunity was presented to ally with the United States on this new agenda.
It is important to remember that such goals are not to be achieved solely for the betterment of others at the expense or on the shoulders of the American people. There is much that can be done in our country to better itself as there is much that can be done around the world that would positively effect the American people at home. There is much our friends around the world can and would do for the American people.
This is will always be my first priority. The American people.
- Homeland Security:
When elected I will work with congress to abolish the department of Homeland Security. Interagency cooperation to secure America can be achieved without creating more beaurocracy. The Homeland Security department only makes America less secure and slows action with increased red tape.
- Cuba:
Cuban extremist ex-patriots in Miami are a growing minority. Their philosophical hatred for the Cuban government at any expense is increasing being out weighed by Cubans in Miami wanting an increased standard of living for their families in Cuba. A free flow of people and money from the U.S. to Cuba would do much to improve the lives of the majority of Cubans both in Miami and Cuba. I would anticipate an extremely vocal opposition from a minority of Cuban American ex-patriots with even support from the silent majority of Cubans who’s wishes are muffled by the yells of a few.
I am vehemently opposed to the blockade of Cuba for both the damages that it does to the freedoms and lives of the people in Cuba AND to the American people as well. As president it will be my job to put the needs and wills of the American people first. I believe an end to the blockade would do much to improve the lives of American farmers and American entrepreneurs.
Realistically any significant change to U.S. policy towards Cuba needs to pass through congress. As president I will ask congress to fully repeal the Helms-Burton act and the Cuban Adjustment Act simultaneously as a first step towards normal relations. I would also push for congress to de-fund the military base in Guantanimo Bay and move towards its immediate closure. It serves only as a divisive instrument and serves of no valid strategic military importance. I would propose returning the land to the Cuban people as originally promised in our treaties before we decided to throw the rule of law out the window whenever it was of convenience.
Additionally, as President I would have power of the executive and would pursue a policy of non-enforcement of the travel and trade bans, as they would fall under my jurisdiction. Until the Congress repeals the above mentioned legislation they should not expect action from the executive branch, treasury department, justice department, or otherwise, to enforce this policy that harms the lives of the American and Cuban people on a daily basis.
- North American Union
I believe in a united America from the Arctic to the Straight of Magellan. I believe there are common goals and interests that unite us all. To this extent I do believe that the Americas are made up of a distinct group of nations and sovereign countries. I don’t believe there is significant push to eliminate the U.S. economy or it’s sovereignty in favor or some kind of continental currency or unified government. Nor do I believe one is necessary. As president I would actively discourage any action to undermine our sovereignty. I would however encourage hemispheric cooperation and integration on all fronts (trade, defense, healthcare, education, etc) for the betterment of all countries including the United States, but not solely the United States. I don’t believe that helping to bring up our neighbors to our level poses a threat to the United States; rather it insures our security and existence in the future.
The platform for my presidential bid on the siccness is solely for the purpose of the siccness presidential elections. I don't believe such a platform corresponds to any real or viable individual candidate or political party pursuing the presidency within the U.S. currently or within the last several decades. Or on the siccness for that matter.
