My View on Politics

Funny, I used to consider myself a moderate Republican. Now I find myself firmly without a party or firm ideology that reflects a particular letter. I suppose that makes me technically an Independent, whatever that means.This is me spelling out where I stand, and where I think our country needs to be headed. It's all my opinion, my ideas, my ramblings.

I believe the US should be the strongest standing military in the world (no matter what it costs). The National Guard should never be deployed outside our borders, as that is not what they were intended for. The Reserves are supposed to fill in the gaps.

Reinstate the draft for every man and woman, age 18 – 26, not in college. Two years of MANDATORY service in either the military, job corps, Peace Corps or Urban Renewal (my new program).  One can choose to attend college first and get better public service options afterwards. Job corps will need management with degrees, Peace Corps requires them. Military has officer candidates. Urban renewal can use degrees in architecture, engineering, planning, demolition, management, etc.

There should be military bases in every state, even if only for state & Army Natl Guard training and retiree use. All should have a commissary, PX and offer retiree’s health care.

Our space program should lead the world, mainly because we can’t afford not to. If someone is going to colonize the moon, it better be us. Private investment (bonds for new programs) and contract use of facilities should be allowed to raise revenue, but not to the point of renaming the buildings or putting stickers on the rockets. No T-Mobile Satellite Launcher 3000 taking off from the Motorola Doritos Kraft Space Center.

Radical education reform for all aged 3-18, 6-10 hours a day, year round with short breaks. It should start will a primary school ages 3 – 7, 3K to 1^st grade. They should be on the 6 hour day, with optional after school sports/hobby programs. Elementary should be an 8 hour day grades 2^nd through 5^th, with daily physical education in some form. Middle school through graduation should be 10 hour days, with study hall, tutoring, Phys Ed and the Arts. Do away with standardized testing as promotion points, use only for assessment and rewards.

Completely overhaul classroom structure and time management to better engage the students. Give teachers’ complete flexibility in their teaching methods, subject/grade content, choice of textbooks, and curriculum progression. Stop thinking about meeting minimums, let the students learn at their best group pace and see how far it takes them. Allow self-guided discussions in critical thinking classes without strict moderators. Offer self-paced instruction for advanced learners by subject, so they are always engaged and learning something new. Reward teachers and administrators for excellence with salary incentives. Demote and remove ineffectual teachers unwilling to undergo remedial performance training.

Keeping up with China has to be a national priority, because we owe them too much already.  Import tariffs are needed to keep American business competitive, but should not give them an advantage. They should be designed to be revenue neutral.

Massive infrastructure investment for the future is necessary, both to compete with China and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We need highways, bridges and high speed rail complete in the next ten years. Strive to make public transit FREE by offering advertising space, concessions and premium for-fee services. Wi-Fi access, express commuter trains, better seating, music, porters…all for a small fee. 

The future of our nation (and our planet) is clean, renewable Energy and Green Industry. Create a competitive private sector industry by way of massive PRIVATE investment in Green Bonds (with Federal guarantee for first ten years). Use existing vacant factories and buy up dilapidated inner city areas. REQUIRE that all parks and public buildings be “green,” beginning in 2012. We’ve got to set the example, and put our money where our mouth is.

Make a Juvenile Job Corps for high school dropouts (under age 18) mandatory. When they learn a marketable job skill and complete a GED program, they can graduate the JJC program. I feel this is necessary to make meaningful change in this growing segment of the population, rather than allowing them to be a life-long burden on society.

Universal, single-payer, catastrophic health insurance paid for by the Fed govt. in conjunction WITH a strong, national private health insurance system. This MUST be a priority. Moving all catastrophic care coverage to ONE national policy removes the spiking costs of private policies. Individual coverage that follows regardless of job changes, chosen and paid for BY the individual (or family) will make the free market actually COMPETE. Employers can then reward employees with generous, UNTAXED, health care bonuses to pay premiums. This streamlines the whole process, no more group liability, ratings, etc. 

Repeal the federal law requiring medical providers to offer “emergency” care to the uninsured, as all life-threatening care will be covered. This will force participation in the private health care system. Private medical insurance should be allowed to offer deep DISCOUNTS for healthy lifestyle choices like non-tobacco use, average weight, cholesterol, etc. (rather than the ability to deny coverage or charge MORE for health issues). Remove ability to forgive medical bills in bankruptcy.

I'm firmly pro-choice. I offer no discussion about that because we all feel the way we feel for our own reasons. I respect opposing views, and their reasoning. Yet it does not sway me from mine. And I don't expect to sway anyone with my feelings. Hence, that's all I have to say about that...

 

I believe in the Fair Tax, as written. I won’t drone on about all the aspects (find those at their website  www.fairtax.org), but mainly that it removes the ability to drift through our economy without paying federal taxes. Freeloaders are dragging us all down.

Legal drinking age should be 18 and STRICTLY enforced. Old enough to die for your country means you are old enough to have a beer. There should only be ONE legal age of being an adult, responsible for yourself and your actions. No more trying kids as “adults” for crimes either. If the juvenile system NEEDS to reflect serious crime and repeat criminals, do THAT. You can’t just hodge-podge a system and expect to have fairness.

Legalize marijuana, but restrict its sale and use just like alcohol. This opens up a whole new cash crop for America, and hemp products are green alternatives for many other uses.

Eliminate welfare, free public housing and food stamps entirely. Generational poverty and entitlement has to end. Open publicly-funded food banks instead (with strict eligibility standards), offer free day-care (vouchers) for low-income working parents, and provide group homes for the permanently disabled.  Other needs will have to be met by private charity and family.

Reward wellness and productivity by offering EXTRA time off when the work is done ahead of schedule. We can begin this example in schools, and extend it into the workplace whenever possible. Encourage (not demand) that employers reward productivity with extra vacation time, rather than longevity. Students who consistently EXCEED grade level standards should get an extra week off quarterly, rather than punishing students who are falling behind with attending extra weeks. Or better yet, FIELD TRIP WEEKS for the best and brightest. Kids need tangible motivation to excel. Give it to them.

I’m sure many will think I’m nuts. Some will point out the liberal views, maybe even throw out the “nanny state” comments. I don’t think I’m a genius. I have just been living in this country, trying to raise children and be a good citizen, for 42 years. And this is how I see things. Feel free to disagree, just have a reason that doesn’t revolve around MONEY.