If YOU Were Running For President...

[MChat]

If you were runnign for President what would your platform be?

(Idea imported from another forum).

Here's mine:

1. It's freedom OF religion not freedom FROM religion. Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Leave the 10 Commandments in the courtrooms, get the Gov't out of Church's business.

2. If an individual soldier can (physically, not by regulation) carry a weapon and fire it by himself, then it should be legal to own by any law abiding citizen. Require basic firearms safety and target practice a High School graduation requirement.

3. People have the right to protect their property, if a man (armed or unarmed) is robbing your house, you have the right to shoot them dead, even if they're running away from you after being caught.

4. The GOVERNment's job is to GOVERN not provide. You want a handout, go join a Church or beg from some other charitable organization. This goes for welfare, healthcare, social security, and any other socialist program.

5. Executives of companies (public or private) that go "bankrupt" will have 100% of their assets siezed and no more "golden parachutes." They can have anything left over after the dust settles.

6. Human life begins at conception. Abortion is murder, period.

7. Out of the U.N. -- why be a member of an organization which hates us? Pull out of NAFTA and cancel the NAU garbage. And no more foriegn aid to countries that dislike us.

8. Allow offshore and AWNR (the small "flat land" area) to be drilled for oil. Offer tax incentives for companies to develop alternative energy sources.

9. Round up all of the illegal aliens. Deport all illegals with a criminal record. Round up all the homeless unwilling to work for a living. Swap identities between the unwilling homeless and the willing illegals (Juan Valdez you are now John Smith; John Smith you are now Juan Valdez). Ship the homeless "illegal alien" to Mexico.

10. Pull all troops home. (Requires success @ #8 first) Inform Islamic Terrorist that any future attack against the U.S. will result in Tehran, Damascus and any other capital of terrorist supporting states being leveled with several nuclear devices. Also inform them that any state which attacks Israel will be wiped from the face of the earth. When the Palestinians don't listen and attack anyway, wipe them out completly, as an example.

11. Gear up for an economic war with China. Increase the manufacturing and exporting of quality goods. Raise tarrifs on all imports.

12. Require service (Military, Police, Fire, Medical, Picking up Trash on the Hiways, some form of service the choice is up to the individual) for 2 years after High School/Before College.

[Joe Wicked]

Many things I agree with you on, but the one that I have to disagree is number 12. Being an all volunteer military is what makes it great. Forcing an individual to serve the country in one form or another is not freedom to me. I believe it should be left up to the individual to decide if they believe in the "cause".

[MChat]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

Many things I agree with you on, but the one that I have to disagree is number 12. Being an all volunteer military is what makes it great. Forcing an individual to serve the country in one form or another is not freedom to me. I believe it should be left up to the individual to decide if they believe in the "cause".

That's why I indicated that the choice of how/where to serve is up to the individual; not a military service requirement. Humility is a good thing to learn and we've (as a nation) forgotten what it means to be a servant. We've turned JFK's word around and are asking "what can my country do for me."

- or -

Choose not to serve, but also give up the right to vote.


Edit: I wanted to clarify this "service" thing to. What I'm thinking is that Non-Profit organizations could register and qualify for a certain number of "servants" per year (depending upon the size of the organization). Therefore the service of an individual may be to the charitible organization of their choice (providing a "slot" is available).

I just think a little humility will go a long way toward curing the current "the world owes me" way of thinking.

[cobra bill]

I agree with some, but not all, and I have to totally disagree with #1

[Sharroll Celby]

I disagree with #6. Abortion should be up to the woman, and only in the first trimester, but also for the health of the woman, and rape cases.

13. Decriminalize marijuana. Sell "permits" for various quantities of possession: $1000 a year to have less than 1/2 ounce personal use. $5000 a year to be a local seller, up to 1 pound.....etc etc etc

14. Enforce a MANDATORY death penalty for all violent crimes, and OTHER crimes over a certain dollar value, and after a "third strike" offense. If these people cant stop committing crimes, too bad, off they go.

[FWB]

The Savage Manifesto

Domestic

A. Regulate Wall Street: End short selling. Try tycoons who profited from bailouts.

B. Cut Federal Income Taxes by 2 percent per year over four years, for a minimum total of 8 percent over four years.

C. Reduce Federal Government Departments in size by 4 percent each year, for a total reduction of size by 16 percent over four years.

D. Eliminate all public assistance for able-bodied recipients. Cut off all public assistance for immigrants for five years. Repatriate those who are not working, after two years.

E. Immediately impose tariffs on cars and trucks owned by foreign entities, even if they’re manufactured in America.

F. Have illegal aliens build a wall between the United States and Mexico, and then, repatriate them. Pay them a one-time worker fee.

G. Increase pay for active duty combat troops by 10 percent. Number Two. Fire any unmarried military person becoming pregnant while on active duty.

H. Make abortions illegal, except when the physical survival of the mother is threatened, to be determined by three medical doctors. Require Norplant for all women on welfare of childbearing age.

I. Close all houses of sex and massage.

J. Expand the DEA, while decriminalizing most drugs.

K. Regarding the media; one, eliminate all foreign ownership of any American media entity. Two, break up overly large conglomerates, like News Corporation.

L. Encourage child bearing among tax paying citizens. Create a marriage incentive, through lower taxes for married heterosexual couples. And a government subsidy for each child conceived and carried to birth. Increase the subsidies for each year the couple remains married.

M. Repatriate all illegal immigrants now incarcerated. Encourage all other illegals to self-repatriate through double taxation on wages and fines on employers.

International

A. Iraq. Send in Iraqi troops to mop up pockets of resistance. Make Iraq pay with their oil for the cost of the war. Cordon off Sadr City, force all residents to leave, then go in and mop up all resistance fighters. Divide Iraq into three to four sectors; Sunni, Shiite, Kurd, and International. Next, remove all U.S. troops after above achieved.

B. Iran. One, sanctions embargoes and mine their harbors. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out.

C. North Korea. Destroy their launching platforms, impose a Naval blockade on all goods coming in or out, except food.

D. Israel Arab Entities. Give Israel four years to become self-sufficient. Cut off all foreign aid to all nations.

E. China. 20 percent tariffs on all China made goods immediately; rising by 5 percent each year for each year China refuses to revalue their currency.

F. United Nations. Withdraw immediately. Remove all Diplomats and staff. Convert the United Nations building into housing for the working poor.

G. Mexico. Force Mexico to pay one barrel of oil for every illegal alien in the United States of America per month.


for starters..................

[jhv48]

This is why nothing ever gets done in Congress!

[Sharroll Celby]

Can we make the cost of a bushel of wheat that we sell to the Middle East, the same as a barrel of oil?

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by cobra bill

I agree with some, but not all, and I have to totally disagree with #1

What's the problem?
Do those scary Christians keep you awake at night?
Freedom is freedom.

Go to church - or not.
Take your children, or decree they cannot attend.
Do what you want, I don't care.
What would bother you most about my family attending church AND being politically active?

Put charity back where it originated - in the church and private hands.
Get the gov't OUT of the charity business.
Hunger has a funny way of motivating people to find food.
Laziness has a way of motivating people to find a free hand-out.

YOU contribute to charity and society in the way you choose.
Leave me the hell alone, I'll contribute as I choose.

Gov't and laws are never a replacement for faith.
Which could be best cope without?

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by MChat

That's why I indicated that the choice of how/where to serve is up to the individual; not a military service requirement. Humility is a good thing to learn and we've (as a nation) forgotten what it means to be a servant.

Yeah, we've become a self-absorbed nation with no idea what it really means to serve your fellow man.
You have to be a Peace Corp hippie or Dominatrix now, it's a failure...
Me first - every time.

They usually don't like me very much....

[SPF2245]

I'll carry alot of the statements above, but also get with the schools and come up with a lesson plan for each grade that covers:
US history -(no omissions to make groups feel good 'bout themselves) from start to finish, the good the bad and the ugly.
Social Studies - I won't start by having everyone know where the Ivory Coast is or Great Barrier Reef, but atleast know each of the 50 states, the basics on large countries (location, Gov't type, social/eco beliefs), and touch their history, it's sad, my cousins were all educated in Germany and seeing the difference in basic schooling regarding world affairs is scary compared to my children.
Sports - Put energy into getting America fit by doing PT, I did it in school everyday. Now, my kids do it once a week. I don't expect to have schools do everything, but atleast it's a start with a couple push-ups/sit-ups to get the blood flowing.
Enrollment - Kids caught not attending, easy, like I had it...detention where it's not fun, and designed to get the kids on track.
Finally, get the parents involved, no easy answer, but until we get the majority on track we can forget the rest. Give up on trying to make the 1% happy and try to get 90% on board with the next generation having the basic skills of survival. I hate seeing some left behind, but we've become so rapped up in the 1% special needs that the majority has become as needy as the 1%.

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by SPF2245

Finally, get the parents involved, no easy answer, but until we get the majority on track we can forget the rest.

When the parents have to miss work to go to court, or attend mandatory counseling meetings so their kid doesn't get suspended...
That's a start.

Cost parents money, piss parents off, take up their precious time - THEN they will get involved!

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by MChat

That's why I indicated that the choice of how/where to serve is up to the individual; not a military service requirement. Humility is a good thing to learn and we've (as a nation) forgotten what it means to be a servant. We've turned JFK's word around and are asking "what can my country do for me."

- or -

Choose not to serve, but also give up the right to vote.


Edit: I wanted to clarify this "service" thing to. What I'm thinking is that Non-Profit organizations could register and qualify for a certain number of "servants" per year (depending upon the size of the organization). Therefore the service of an individual may be to the charitible organization of their choice (providing a "slot" is available).

I just think a little humility will go a long way toward curing the current "the world owes me" way of thinking.

Mandatory service is mandatory service no matter how you slice it. I don't care what type of service it is. I volunteered to serve in the military because I believe that the military keeps our freedoms. One of those freedoms is the ability to choose if I wish to serve. Trust me I understand the logic, but if you make some type of service mandatory, you MAY make more people understand what sacrifice is about, but in the process you take one of the freedoms we have away. I served to protect every freedom we have, not certain ones. It pisses me off that my step daughter is trying to talk her brother out of joining the air force because she does not think anyone should join (that would fix Bush), but that is a right that I served to give to her, and she is exercising that right. I will never support taking away any freedom. It does not matter if I think it would do them good. That is their choice to make.

[MChat]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

Mandatory service is mandatory service no matter how you slice it. I don't care what type of service it is. I volunteered to serve in the military because I believe that the military keeps our freedoms. One of those freedoms is the ability to choose if I wish to serve. Trust me I understand the logic, but if you make some type of service mandatory, you MAY make more people understand what sacrifice is about, but in the process you take one of the freedoms we have away. I served to protect every freedom we have, not certain ones. It pisses me off that my step daughter is trying to talk her brother out of joining the air force because she does not think anyone should join (that would fix Bush), but that is a right that I served to give to her, and she is exercising that right. I will never support taking away any freedom. It does not matter if I think it would do them good. That is their choice to make.

Perhaps "losing" freedom for 2 years is a good thing. As the saying goes: you don't appreciate what you have until you've lost it.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by MChat

Perhaps "losing" freedom for 2 years is a good thing. As the saying goes: you don't appreciate what you have until you've lost it.

I agree I think it is a good thing. I learned a lot about being a man in the service. I learned a lot about taking care of business, and I learned a lot about what it means to sacrifice. Where a punk entered, a man came out.

BUT, mandatory service is against what I stand for, and what I served for. Mandatory Service will take your right to protest away. While serving, you cannot protest against any government entity. It takes away your right to choose to serve. No one should have to give up their rights PERIOD. I did not serve so the government could mandate that all kids are forced into some kind of service. While I personally believe that everyone would benefit from service, forcing people to do so will put us only 1 step away from communism (USSR, N Korea, China) mandatory service, many terrorist nations are the same way. I just believe that forcing it takes something from this country that makes it great. We have been going down that road and it needs to stop.

[MChat]

I was thinking more along the lines of Switzerland; mandatory service seems to work well there, and they're not communist as far as I know. Additionally manatory service has been used in this country in the past.

[Joe Wicked]

Never knew that about Switzerland. I do not believe they are Communist. Definitely a different view point there. I know that the Draft has been used, but it has been lifted every time that the immediate need was no longer there. Once the war was over, the draft was repealed. I don't agree with the Draft, but I would follow it because I would believe that it would be repealed when the war is over. I think that is what makes us different is that only at specific times do we make it mandatory. It is not our normal operating procedure.

Good point on the Swiss though. Interesting thought there.

[NeoConMan]

Many of the Swiss take their weapon with them when they leave active duty.
For readiness, they keep an M-16 and ammo at home.
Nothing wrong with that...

I have to agree that some sort of mandatory service should be required.
Don't want to "stoop" to such a level? Then you don't vote.

I would say it's akin to losing your civil rights to a felony conviction, or dishonorable discharge.
Hey, if yer daddy can set you up making big bucks and you don't need to vote - fine.

What kills me about those who refuse to serve in any capacity, but want to "protest" instead.
They deserve to be fire-hosed, tear-gassed, and chewed on by German Shepherds.
Many times I've asked those pudding brained types if they would swear an oath to their country.
Maybe one kinda like this;

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
That I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;
That I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
And that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.


That's the Oath of Allegiance sworn by anybody who has chosen to come to the United States and become a citizen.
How many "protesters" would take such an oath?

Sorry, if you can't play on the team you should be removed from the field.
Deport their sorry asses, let them protest in France with all the Muslims overrunning their country.

[MChat]

I know the objection to mandatory service is that it imposes upon an individuals freedom; but perhaps it would serve a stark reminder that freedom is not free.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by MChat

I know the objection to mandatory service is that it imposes upon an individuals freedom; but perhaps it would serve a stark reminder that freedom is not free.

I have no doubt that it would. But my only concern is , "Is the price worth it?" Maybe it is and I am against it stupidly. I am willing to admit that is a very distinct possibility.

One thing is for sure, this is the first political thread that hasn't dove into name calling and yelling. Actually an intelligent conversation.