It is time for a Common Sense Party

14 April 2012

Originally, composed just after the 2004 elections, this document needs to be revised (and will be as new ideas occur to me) to accommodate certain changes that have taken since that time.  Some of what I write here may SEEM a little radical.  But my ideas are about Maximum Freedom, Minimum Government Interference, and simple COMMON SENSE.  These proposal are in no way complete, and as I said some may seem radical (i.e. - legalization of drugs.  I take almost no drugs myself - not even aspirin.  But we will NEVER get rid of all drug usage or the users).

================================

Now that election is over (and I personally approve of the results), the question is, “What will the President actually accomplish during his last term?”  Clearly, he has some major plans.  I like the President, though I don’t always agree with him or his policies.  I like him because he has the courage to stand his ground, even when his policy may not be popular.  He does not govern based on “polls” like so many other politicians.  So even though I don’t like his immigration policy.   I’ll continue to support him as long as he is in office.

But, I believe the next major question facing Republicans and other conservatives question is,

“Who will run next election for each of the major parties in 2008?”

In the case of the Democrats, Hillary Clinton immediately comes to mind, of course.   And I don’t think the Clintons REALLY wanted Kerry to win.  Now it appears that every Democrat with a few bucks to spare (and some who don’t) is running.  

In the case of the Republicans, it’s a bit hazy.  It would make sense for it to be either John McCain, Rudy Giuliani or possibly Colin Powell (whom I WOULD have voted for before his betrayal of President Bush last year), except for the fact that he is 67 now.  It’s also possible that Ralph Nader will try to run again.  There are one or two others as well, we’ll see how it shakes out – but there are no truly decent Conservatives on the horizon that I can see, especially none with any fresh ideas…

It appears that the election resulted in neither of these choices for the Dems.   Instead we have wound up with an Afro-American (and by “Afro”, I mean White-Arab-Kenyan, named Barrack Hussein Obama – a man whose only governmental experience has been a number of years as an activist for a group known as ACORN.  He also spent a PARTIAL term in both the Illinois legislature, and the U.S. Senate before running for and winning the Presidency.  

ACORN is/was a liberal-socialist organization whose agenda, as with Obama's is to redistribute wealth in this country from the people who earned it, to those who didn't.  These policies, having been implemanated beginning with the midterm elections of George W. Bush’s second term, are to a large degree responsible for what has become the worst interference in business by the federal government EVER in this country by FORCING banks to make home loans to people who would NEVER otherwise qualify, and who then mainly defaulted on them, thus forcing FNMA and other government agencies to cover the loans, while causing many people to lose their homes through foreclosure.  This resulted in the beginning of the worst economy since the Great Depression.  Many of these same banks and home loan associations thus went out of business or bankrupted themselves, and the federal deficit has spiraled out of control under Obama’s idiotic policies.  Those policies added more to the deficit in the first 2-1/2 years of Obama's turn than did all 8 years under George W. Bush.  Unemployment had CLIMBED to 7.2% under Bush, having risen from 5.6% in his final two years in office.  Under Obama, Unemployment recently was reported as having DROPPED to "only" 8.2%.  The REAL unemployment number is around 12-15% because those workers whose benefits have run out or have simply given up looking for work are not counted by this administration.

Here then are my propositions:

1) Taxes – And this is the start of it all. There should be a simple flat tax across the board, and NOT just for individuals, but for corporations as well – 12-15% would do it.   If enacted, this would provide MORE money to the Federal coffers than the current system -- by a wide margin.  In reality, very few people currently actually pay the amount supposedly owed by them (if they do, they are stupid), due to the various deductions allowed – this is particularly true of corporations. 

My flat tax would be applied to EVERYONE, including CORPORATIONS, with no deductions, except for simple deductions for children, similar to what we have now; and in the case of corporations, for travel – and this would be limited.

2) Auto Insurance – Most states, if not all, require at least liability insurance on vehicles. Too many people drive without it none-the-less.  Furthermore, I believe the current system is unfair to most drivers.  The system I propose is this:  

Auto insurance would be franchised out in a manner similar to what cable TV is, that is by area – perhaps by zip code.  These franchise areas would be doled out based on lowest bids for some (probably yearly, possibly longer) period.  Insurance companies would be encouraged to provide coverage for lower, fairer rates by this bidding system.   Rates would still be determined by the actuarial tables insurance companies currently use.  But instead of paying the insurance company directly (with the rates determined by the bidding process), it would be paid for in the form of an added tax/fee on the fuel (which would amount to a few cents per gallon, at most), based on the location where fuel is purchased, that is, the location in which you are driving, and more importantly, HOW MUCH you drive.  The more you drive, the more you pay.  This is fair to everyone.  People who drive more, are the ones most likely to be in an accident overall.  Insurance companies might argue against this, but it IS true.  It is nearly impossible to die in a plane crash if you do not fly.  This is documented in the aforementioned actuarial tables – I know, I’ve written software for a number of insurance companies.

3) Health Insurance – I believe there SHOULD be national health care, at least at some minimal level. And it should be available at a reasonable cost, or free/close to free for those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance on their own, and would cover normal health care (broken arms, appendicitis, cancer), AND would include normal dental work and eye care.   It would NOT cover physical enhancements or elective operations, such as getting bigger boobs or face-lifts; people who want this kind of work can pay for it them selves except where it might be MEDICALLY necessary (due to injury or illness).  Health insurance costs too much for everyone in general.  Insurance should be regulated by the STATES, not by the Federal Government.

The SIMPLEST way, currently, to correct this would be to eliminate the IN-State restrictions – that is, allow people to buy health insurance from OUTSIDE their home state.  This alone would lower costs by creating more competition in the industry, and eliminating the virtual monopoly insurers have on residents of their state.  How to pay for the “national” health care?  

Remember all that extra money from the Flat Tax?  It would be more than enough.  Obama is trying to use the "Interstate Commerce Clause" as justification for his mandate that people be forced to buy health insurance (from the government - and it WILL wind up that way because the Government does not have to operate for a profit to survive).  The problem with his logic is that since insurance MUST be purchased within the State of Residence, there is NO "interstate" commerce, and his argument is therefore invalid.  But if interstate insurance purchases were to be allowed, then there would be no NEED for ObamaCare, costs will come down on their own!  Obama wants the Federal Government to regulate insurance for the purpose of CONTROL.

4) Public Service – All American-born citizens – and those naturalized citizens under the age of 25 at the time of naturalization – would be required to serve two years in some form of public service, be it the military (In Israel, ALL citizens, male and female MUST serve two years in the military); as a park ranger; as someone who visits old folks homes; or as someone who tutors kids having trouble with school, whatever – all sorts of things come to mind. This service period would be served immediately upon leaving/graduating high school. Leaving early (as in dropping out!) would result in a longer period of service, thus encouraging graduation.

Why right after high school? Because, they would get a break from school at a time when school gets harder, not easier; they would learn a sense of responsibility; they would learn a sense of community; of patriotism. College scholarships would still work they way they do now – they would simply be delayed.

5) Semi-Mandatory Voting – All my life, I’ve heard people gripe about the “way things are” in politics, in the world, in general – even while I was in the Marine Corps. Yet, all too often, if you ask if they voted, or who will they vote for; they say, “I didn’t vote.”, or “My vote won’t accomplish anything.” THAT is entirely wrong – every vote counts. It did in 2000, it did this year. In my opinion, if you don’t vote, you have NO right to gripe.

I’ve thought about this one a lot, and I know that some will say that it isn’t good that people should be required to vote. Let me tell you something – I ride motorcycles, and I don’t like being told I MUST wear a helmet. But I wear one. I don’t NOT wear one just to prove a point. The fact is, I would choose to wear the helmet anyway. In Australia, mandatory voting is a fact. (My former wife was Australian.) When she first told me of this, I was put off a bit, but then I realized how much sense it makes – again, if you don’t vote you have no right to gripe. And again, patriotism is encouraged, community service is enhanced, and no one can say their voice wasn’t heard.

6) Decriminalize All Drugs – I think this proposal is the one that will bring the most public argument, and don’t get me wrong – I don’t like the idea of using drugs. I don’t use any form of drugs myself (I rarely even take aspirin), though I do from time to time drink alcohol. I repeat, I DO NOT support drug use, but as with the “Prohibition” of alcohol, I recognize its inevitability. And I have given this too a great deal of thought.

A large number of the people imprisoned in the U.S. (something on the order of 45%) are there because they:

• Bought drugs
• Manufactured drugs
• Sold drugs
• Or, did something else to accomplish one of the above.

Now, think about this – by decriminalizing drugs, several things will be accomplished:

• We decrease the load on our court system.
• We take away a MAJOR source of income from crime syndicates.
• We decrease over-crowding in our prisons, and allow room for “real” criminals who actually deserve to be there. Again, I despise drug dealers, but more so because of what they do to people by their trade. Better a devil you know, and can control than one you don’t have control over.
• Both of which, in turn, decrease taxpayer load.

What I propose is that drug users be allowed low cost access to whatever drugs they choose. The “catch” is that they must check into a “drug hotel” for the duration of their “recreational time.” The only exception to this would be for marijuana. The quality of the drugs they use would be ensured by regulation. Costs of the drugs would be reasonable, again by regulation. Users would be unable – well, less likely - to cause any innocent people harm because they won’t be allowed to leave until they are off their high. If something should go off kilter, (that is, the user gets a bad buzz) – doctors on staff would be there to deal with the situation.

        7) Illegal Immigration – Fines for hiring illegal immigrants (or so-called “undocumented aliens”) should be increased to the point where it is simply not worth the risk to do so. The idea that there are no Americans who will do certain types of work is quite simply rubbish.

Furthermore, a reward system should be established to pay whistle-blowers for turning in both the people who do the hiring and the illegals themselves. Funding for the rewards would come directly from the fines, and would therefore be self-funded. And one more thing, employers should be required to attempt to hire an available American Citizen first – ONLY after it is determined there are no U.S. Citizens should a foreigner or alien be hired.

The so-called H1-B and L-1 programs should be absolutely minimized – no more than 50,000/year, and an absolute cap of 1,500,000 alien workers in the country total. There are plenty of available American workers. NO other country allows so many foreign workers as the U.S. This is particularly galling considering most of these foreign workers come from countries that are not particularly friendly to the U.S. (China/ Russia/ India/ Afghanistan). I have nothing against LEGAL immigration, but I have no mercy for illegals who are essentially stealing from our citizens – jobs, services; and are even contributing to heavily to the rise in crime and to overpopulation in our prison systems.

An OUT-OF-WORK illegal can drain as much as $70,000 per year out of our State and Federal funds. What's more, I know of at least three recent cases in which an illegal killed someone on a car accident, while driving without a license or DUI (or both in one case)…

8) Energy – We should strive for energy independence. This means taking advantage of all available resources within the U.S. and its territories. Technology has made drilling (for example) a relatively safe and predictable task. To imply that Oil Companies don't care about the environment is simply rubbish. If their rigs get shut down because of a spill, it COSTS THEM MONEY! Yes, there are accidents, but this is true in ANY endeavor. We get better at something by learning from our mistakes. The fines, if a company cheats against safety rules or regulations as did Transocean, causing the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill, should be so prohibitive that it is simply not worth the risk to violate them. In fact, I would simply shut down the company if the violation is severe enough.

9)     9) Big Government – I would also push for elimination of all unnecessary so-called Departments, Agencies, Administrations and Councils. Examples would be the Department of Education (“education” is a State issue generally, and more specifically, a Parental one). I would also push for privatization of Social Security (all but eliminating THAT Administration). I would eliminate the Federal Reserve by buying back the rights to coin legal tender as is provided for in the Federal Reserve Act. Finally, I would eliminate ALL the so-called “czars” (they are not legal under the Constitution) – No Presidential Special Advisor should have Rule-making power!

10. 10) Executive Orders – I would eliminate nearly ALL of the “Executive Orders,” replacing them with actual Acts of Congress (where appropriate), thus making them subject approval by Congress and the People. I would encourage States to enact term limits for all U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators. Should an Amendment to the Constitution be necessary to implement this, I would push for that.

11) 17^th Amendment – I would REPEAL the 17^th Amendment (if you don’t know why, look it up).

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One more thing we might consider – let’s do away with “unions”. At the time unions were created, there was a need for them. That is no longer the case, and certainly would not be the case if Number 1 above were enacted. Our laws accomplish far more in the way of protection than the unions ever did. And in my opinion, unions have outlived their usefulness, and become far too self-important. The only REAL purpose unions serve today is to make Union Executives rich...

I know there are a number of details to be worked out; and some people will nitpick those details that have not yet been worked out in these proposals. But, most of the people I have spoken to about this proposal have liked the ideas in general.  I welcome all comments and critique...  

Two last things: I know this was a little long - further BLOGs will be shorter.  And lastly, I apologize for some of the formatting.  their tool is a bit buggy in places.

R/S,

Gadgetcoder