With the mid term elections less than a week away I thought it might be a good time to dust off the keyboard and the blog, and share a few thoughts on politics.
For years I have explained, to any that would listen, that I am neither Conservative nor Liberal, that I cast my vote based upon my definition of common sense. But what exactly does common sense mean, you ask? Isn't that subjective? Sure it is, but there will always be differences and common bonds when ever the discussion turns to politics, and frankly with the current situation in our nation we could use a little more "common sense" and a lot less politics.
I don't know about you but I have grown weary for both the Democrats and Republicans. I am tired of extremist in both parties. I am tired of the negative campaigning. How refreshing it would be to have a candidate tell us why we should vote for him versus why we shouldn't vote for the other guy. Think of how productive that would be. It would actually allow you and I to make an intelligent decision.
A classic example of this is taking place here in Michigan. Our next Governor is going to win the race solely on the merit of not telling anyone what he plans to do! And he's going to win!! His opponent on the other hand has told us all the reasons why we don't want the other guy to be our Governor but he hasn't yet told us why he should be? This is politics in America, go figure.
My single greatest fear in this election is that the Republicans will take whatever victories that achieve, and they will be numerous, as some form of "Mandate" by the people that we want their same old far right rhetoric. Nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of Americans live in the middle. The only reason the Republicans will see gains is because we don't want to live in the far left any more than the far right, but that is where President Pelos, 'er Obama has us living.
Now in a perfect world we would have alternative choices. A third party. The "Common Sense Party" which has an allegiance to the voters and not some political party ideology or special interest groups. Unfortunately the odds of this happening are slim to none because the two major parties have "brainwashed" (forgive me George Romney) the citizens of this country that a vote for someone other than the "big two" is a wasted vote. They like that you think that way. It gives them control.
For a moment let's pretend we do live in a "perfect" world and we do have that third choice. What would the Common Sense Party be like? What would be their platform, their standards, their ideals? Let's take a few moments and see what we can come up with.
First of all the Common Sense Party, hereafter known as the CSP, believes in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We believe that the most important statement made by either document lie in the preamble to the Constitution that states:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
We believe we are a Democratic Republic that was formed for the betterment of the "people" and it is the people that we serve. Not the party, not the lobbyists, not the special interests. And as such, we believe that there needs to be an amendment to the Constitution stating that every law enacted shall apply equally to everyone in this country including elected officials.
We believe that the Constitution should be interpreted the way it was written. We do not believe that our founding fathers had some "Nostradamus" type powers that allowed them to view 200 years into the future as they drafted the tenets that were to become the standard for American Society. We do not believe it is a living and breathing document. We believe changes made to the basic interpretation should be done in the political arena not the judicial. Justices do not answer to the people, nor should they.
When drafted the First Amendment meant exactly what it reads: You can speak out against the government if you disagree, you can assemble and protest against the government if you disagree, and the government shall not make any laws prohibiting that right. What it didn't mean is you can call your neighbor a Mo%&er F*c%$r and not expect a consequence. It does not mean that society cannot stop child pornography, it does not mean you can display offensive words on you shirt. It does not mean any of these things nor does it prohibit it but the only part of "free speech" is what is directed at the government. You have a right to say whatever you want but then society has the right to react how they want. Again the paragraph began with "We the people" not "Dick the anti-social pinhead". As far as religion goes, again to it's true form it says government may not prohibit or endorse a religion. It says nothing about separation. that part was interjected by the judiciary. In God We Trust.
We believe in the Second Amendment. We believe you have the right to bear arms and defend yourself. We also believe that you can kill a man, rabbit, wolf, bear, elk and deer better with a rifle than you can with a hand gun, and as such society can regulate who owns hand guns. Everyone should own a rifle or a shotgun, but not a hand gun. If someone has something sinister in mind you at least see they are armed if they have a rifle.
The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments are good except that a convicted criminals rights shall never exceed the rights of the victims. The death penalty is not a deterrent, it is a method to rid society of a plague to prevent a repeat performance.
We can discuss the rest at the party convention.
We believe in a system of check and balances as it exists between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of the government but with one caveat. We would propose again to amend the Constitution that allows for a vote of 2/3 of the electorate in a popular vote to override Judicial interpretation of the Constitution. When the founding fathers established the system of checks and balances judges were political but rarely used the bench to "write" law. Today's judiciary is far more political, more activist, than in the past and the Constitution is grey on how to "check the Judges. The bottom line is if "We the people" believe in a law as being good for our society it should not be the judiciaries place to override those wishes. If the law is unfair there is a political process in place to change it where the people actually have a voice in the matter.
The CSP believes that the Federal Government is in place to provide common defense, regulate commerce, and act in a mediator capacity between the individual States. We believe that the majority of laws should be made and regulated on a state level. This gives the people a more powerful voice in what is going on.
We believe in God, we just don't believe that he needs to be our candidate. This trend in society that a political candidate has to be beyond reproach has severely limited the field of potential leaders. In fact it has left very few that are qualified to lead. Don't get me wrong I am not saying we need to pitch morals or ethics out the window but I know few people that don't have some form of regret or skeleton in their closet. Our leaders should be elected on their ability think in a creative way, honor their promises and lead, pure and simple. If they left a stain on a dress in the past it is between him and his wife, truthfully.
We believe that there should be a "national primary day". Too often the election boils down to candidates we don't want because the field has been widdled down a little at a time. There should be a national primary with the top two finishers in all parties being included on the national ballot. The electoral college is obsolete, the election of the President and Vice President should be based upon the popular vote.
We believe schools need to be regulated on the State level. That teachers need to teach the students to learn not to pass proficiency tests. We believe in reasonable corporal punishment, as it is necessary, can be administered by both the schools and the parents. This should not be mistaken as a license to abuse children but sometime you need to close the book and swat them on their ass to get their attention.
In addition we need to revamp our education system. Teachers need to be paid higher wages and school needs to become a year round experience. Physical education will be incorporated daily in all grades from K thru 12. Physical education will be the basics of exercise not archery, golf or croquette. The reason they are obese is they sit on their backsides all day.
We believe in free enterprise and capitalism. We also believe that companies that prosper here owe a bit of loyalty to society. We believe in tax breaks for companies that create jobs here in America and we believe in additional taxes on those that ship jobs over seas.
We believe that we should cease with all foreign aid. We have been giving our money away and trying to buy friends since WWII and it hasn't worked out that well. Bring all of our troops home, concentrate our resources on improving our country and society, and recapture our position as the strongest economy in the world. In the 21st century financial strength is greater than military strength.
We believe that all trade agreements should be repealed and renegotiated to keep our manufacturing on a level playing field with those in our trading partners countries. We will no long trade with countries that manipulate currency to artificially deflate the cost of their products to undersell American manufacturers.
Security is an absolute priority. It is the job of the federal government to provide for national security, therefore as our soldiers come home they will be stationed along our borders to eliminate illegal border crossings.
We will return to stringent enforcement of immigration. Deport the illegals and let them come in the front door as our forefathers did.
We do believe in a national health care policy. We believe that a network of clinics should be established at every hospital in the country, that allows for walk in health care for the uninsured. These clinics will be staffed by various doctors and nurses working 8 hours a week to work off their student loans. These clinics would be funded under revised Medicare and Medicaid regulations and funds. This would allow for protection of those that have no insurance without intruding into the open market place.
We believe in tort reform. Unnecessary law suits have place a huge burden on the cost of everything in society but to limit the ability to seek justice is tricky. Therefore in a radical move we would amend civil law as such; if a suit is brought against a defendant that is found not guilty or the suit is discharged as frivolous, the burden of all court costs and attorney fees shall be become the obligation of the plaintiffs Attorney. Let that happen a few times and you will see frivolous suits go down by 400%.
Financial reform needs to include reform of the credit rating services. For years non essential information has been utilized to determine a person credit worthiness. It make no sense that a man with $8,000 of credit with $2,000 of open credit is a greater risk than a man with $24,000 of credit with $60,000 of open credit, yet the man with the higher balance is deemed worthier. Also credit score shall not be used for anything other than credit, not jobs, not insurance, nothing else as they are an inexact science.
We believe in a national sale tax of 5% and a flat income tax with the only allowable deductions being taxes paid, house interest, domestic vehicle loan interest and qualified charities. Everyone would pay the same rate of 18%.
We believe in general assistance. There are times in any ones life when they may need some assistance and we believe such a program is necessary in our society. We also believe there needs to be limitations on how this should work. Assistance is meant to be temporary not a multi-generational way of life. One limitation would be if you are receiving assistance you will be required to volunteer times to local hospitals or charities to offset the money being paid. Also if you have more than one child while on assistance that will terminate your participation in that program. You may not receive assistance from the government for more than 3 years unless in the case of a medical disability and you may not receive assistance more than one in a decade.
We believe in laws that promote a fair and balance representation of society. We believe in protected classes but condone any laws that eliminates basic protections under the law to any one class.
For years I have explained, to any that would listen, that I am neither Conservative nor Liberal, that I cast my vote based upon my definition of common sense. But what exactly does common sense mean, you ask? Isn't that subjective? Sure it is, but there will always be differences and common bonds when ever the discussion turns to politics, and frankly with the current situation in our nation we could use a little more "common sense" and a lot less politics.
I don't know about you but I have grown weary for both the Democrats and Republicans. I am tired of extremist in both parties. I am tired of the negative campaigning. How refreshing it would be to have a candidate tell us why we should vote for him versus why we shouldn't vote for the other guy. Think of how productive that would be. It would actually allow you and I to make an intelligent decision.
A classic example of this is taking place here in Michigan. Our next Governor is going to win the race solely on the merit of not telling anyone what he plans to do! And he's going to win!! His opponent on the other hand has told us all the reasons why we don't want the other guy to be our Governor but he hasn't yet told us why he should be? This is politics in America, go figure.
My single greatest fear in this election is that the Republicans will take whatever victories that achieve, and they will be numerous, as some form of "Mandate" by the people that we want their same old far right rhetoric. Nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of Americans live in the middle. The only reason the Republicans will see gains is because we don't want to live in the far left any more than the far right, but that is where President Pelos, 'er Obama has us living.
Now in a perfect world we would have alternative choices. A third party. The "Common Sense Party" which has an allegiance to the voters and not some political party ideology or special interest groups. Unfortunately the odds of this happening are slim to none because the two major parties have "brainwashed" (forgive me George Romney) the citizens of this country that a vote for someone other than the "big two" is a wasted vote. They like that you think that way. It gives them control.
For a moment let's pretend we do live in a "perfect" world and we do have that third choice. What would the Common Sense Party be like? What would be their platform, their standards, their ideals? Let's take a few moments and see what we can come up with.
First of all the Common Sense Party, hereafter known as the CSP, believes in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We believe that the most important statement made by either document lie in the preamble to the Constitution that states:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
We believe we are a Democratic Republic that was formed for the betterment of the "people" and it is the people that we serve. Not the party, not the lobbyists, not the special interests. And as such, we believe that there needs to be an amendment to the Constitution stating that every law enacted shall apply equally to everyone in this country including elected officials.
We believe that the Constitution should be interpreted the way it was written. We do not believe that our founding fathers had some "Nostradamus" type powers that allowed them to view 200 years into the future as they drafted the tenets that were to become the standard for American Society. We do not believe it is a living and breathing document. We believe changes made to the basic interpretation should be done in the political arena not the judicial. Justices do not answer to the people, nor should they.
When drafted the First Amendment meant exactly what it reads: You can speak out against the government if you disagree, you can assemble and protest against the government if you disagree, and the government shall not make any laws prohibiting that right. What it didn't mean is you can call your neighbor a Mo%&er F*c%$r and not expect a consequence. It does not mean that society cannot stop child pornography, it does not mean you can display offensive words on you shirt. It does not mean any of these things nor does it prohibit it but the only part of "free speech" is what is directed at the government. You have a right to say whatever you want but then society has the right to react how they want. Again the paragraph began with "We the people" not "Dick the anti-social pinhead". As far as religion goes, again to it's true form it says government may not prohibit or endorse a religion. It says nothing about separation. that part was interjected by the judiciary. In God We Trust.
We believe in the Second Amendment. We believe you have the right to bear arms and defend yourself. We also believe that you can kill a man, rabbit, wolf, bear, elk and deer better with a rifle than you can with a hand gun, and as such society can regulate who owns hand guns. Everyone should own a rifle or a shotgun, but not a hand gun. If someone has something sinister in mind you at least see they are armed if they have a rifle.
The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments are good except that a convicted criminals rights shall never exceed the rights of the victims. The death penalty is not a deterrent, it is a method to rid society of a plague to prevent a repeat performance.
We can discuss the rest at the party convention.
We believe in a system of check and balances as it exists between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of the government but with one caveat. We would propose again to amend the Constitution that allows for a vote of 2/3 of the electorate in a popular vote to override Judicial interpretation of the Constitution. When the founding fathers established the system of checks and balances judges were political but rarely used the bench to "write" law. Today's judiciary is far more political, more activist, than in the past and the Constitution is grey on how to "check the Judges. The bottom line is if "We the people" believe in a law as being good for our society it should not be the judiciaries place to override those wishes. If the law is unfair there is a political process in place to change it where the people actually have a voice in the matter.
The CSP believes that the Federal Government is in place to provide common defense, regulate commerce, and act in a mediator capacity between the individual States. We believe that the majority of laws should be made and regulated on a state level. This gives the people a more powerful voice in what is going on.
We believe in God, we just don't believe that he needs to be our candidate. This trend in society that a political candidate has to be beyond reproach has severely limited the field of potential leaders. In fact it has left very few that are qualified to lead. Don't get me wrong I am not saying we need to pitch morals or ethics out the window but I know few people that don't have some form of regret or skeleton in their closet. Our leaders should be elected on their ability think in a creative way, honor their promises and lead, pure and simple. If they left a stain on a dress in the past it is between him and his wife, truthfully.
We believe that there should be a "national primary day". Too often the election boils down to candidates we don't want because the field has been widdled down a little at a time. There should be a national primary with the top two finishers in all parties being included on the national ballot. The electoral college is obsolete, the election of the President and Vice President should be based upon the popular vote.
We believe schools need to be regulated on the State level. That teachers need to teach the students to learn not to pass proficiency tests. We believe in reasonable corporal punishment, as it is necessary, can be administered by both the schools and the parents. This should not be mistaken as a license to abuse children but sometime you need to close the book and swat them on their ass to get their attention.
In addition we need to revamp our education system. Teachers need to be paid higher wages and school needs to become a year round experience. Physical education will be incorporated daily in all grades from K thru 12. Physical education will be the basics of exercise not archery, golf or croquette. The reason they are obese is they sit on their backsides all day.
We believe in free enterprise and capitalism. We also believe that companies that prosper here owe a bit of loyalty to society. We believe in tax breaks for companies that create jobs here in America and we believe in additional taxes on those that ship jobs over seas.
We believe that we should cease with all foreign aid. We have been giving our money away and trying to buy friends since WWII and it hasn't worked out that well. Bring all of our troops home, concentrate our resources on improving our country and society, and recapture our position as the strongest economy in the world. In the 21st century financial strength is greater than military strength.
We believe that all trade agreements should be repealed and renegotiated to keep our manufacturing on a level playing field with those in our trading partners countries. We will no long trade with countries that manipulate currency to artificially deflate the cost of their products to undersell American manufacturers.
Security is an absolute priority. It is the job of the federal government to provide for national security, therefore as our soldiers come home they will be stationed along our borders to eliminate illegal border crossings.
We will return to stringent enforcement of immigration. Deport the illegals and let them come in the front door as our forefathers did.
We do believe in a national health care policy. We believe that a network of clinics should be established at every hospital in the country, that allows for walk in health care for the uninsured. These clinics will be staffed by various doctors and nurses working 8 hours a week to work off their student loans. These clinics would be funded under revised Medicare and Medicaid regulations and funds. This would allow for protection of those that have no insurance without intruding into the open market place.
We believe in tort reform. Unnecessary law suits have place a huge burden on the cost of everything in society but to limit the ability to seek justice is tricky. Therefore in a radical move we would amend civil law as such; if a suit is brought against a defendant that is found not guilty or the suit is discharged as frivolous, the burden of all court costs and attorney fees shall be become the obligation of the plaintiffs Attorney. Let that happen a few times and you will see frivolous suits go down by 400%.
Financial reform needs to include reform of the credit rating services. For years non essential information has been utilized to determine a person credit worthiness. It make no sense that a man with $8,000 of credit with $2,000 of open credit is a greater risk than a man with $24,000 of credit with $60,000 of open credit, yet the man with the higher balance is deemed worthier. Also credit score shall not be used for anything other than credit, not jobs, not insurance, nothing else as they are an inexact science.
We believe in a national sale tax of 5% and a flat income tax with the only allowable deductions being taxes paid, house interest, domestic vehicle loan interest and qualified charities. Everyone would pay the same rate of 18%.
We believe in general assistance. There are times in any ones life when they may need some assistance and we believe such a program is necessary in our society. We also believe there needs to be limitations on how this should work. Assistance is meant to be temporary not a multi-generational way of life. One limitation would be if you are receiving assistance you will be required to volunteer times to local hospitals or charities to offset the money being paid. Also if you have more than one child while on assistance that will terminate your participation in that program. You may not receive assistance from the government for more than 3 years unless in the case of a medical disability and you may not receive assistance more than one in a decade.
We believe in laws that promote a fair and balance representation of society. We believe in protected classes but condone any laws that eliminates basic protections under the law to any one class.
Ok, I have started it for you but what would you add? And why?
The important think to remember is it is your obligation to vote, to participate in managing the greatest country on the face of the earth. Perhaps not perfect, but still the greatest.
