With elections around the corner, I just thought I’d share my agenda if I were running for president. Yeah, the presidency isn’t on the line this election, but with all the news surrounding our current president, I just thought I’d share. Feel free to write your own and leave a link in the comments!
Of course the following list is not investigated in depth at this point, but I would form my agenda around the following priorities:
- Social security. Figuring out how to fund the major shortfall upcoming. It’s obvious that our current model will not work.
- Healthcare. Getting everyone in the country covered will be my primary focus. Whether that entails a national healthcare system or revising our current system, it will happen. Everyone will be covered.
- Education. Without investing in our children, our country will slowly decline in every area. We need to focus on giving our children all the opportunities a great nation like ours should be able to.
- National Debt. The only way to fix this is looking at where we are spending our money, cutting waste, and figuring out a way to get us in the black.
- National Security. Obvious. A line between our individual rights and security is imperative. How are we going to maintain our rights at the same time offer the security citizens of this country deserve.
- International Relations. My priority would be to establish an image of America as the “good neighbor.” Not the overly intrusive government. I would assist countries and would push military action ONLY as a last resort. I will exhaust all resources before that. I believe forming relationships with our nations is really like forming relationships with people…we just need the right people doing it. We want people who are effective communicators and, as simple as this seems, likable. We need to think of international relations like neighbors. We want to help everyone succeed, and when we see a drug house in our neighborhood, take action…AS AS COMMUNITY.
- Taxes. Simplify. That will be my main goal. Eliminate the millions of complicated unnecessary steps tax time makes our citizens go through. I want it to be an automatic system. How? I’ll need to get back to you on that.
- Immigration. Like it or not, illegal immigration will happen. At the same time immigrants help everyone by keeping costs down and producing product for our country. Then again, at the same time, jobs for Americans are being lost because of “cheap labor.” So how to find the fine line yet again? I believe we should provide a quicker, easier method for immigrants in our country to become citizens. We will try to prevent illegal immigration, but that will not be the priority since it’s a guaranteed loss proposition. It just won’t happen. So, we’ll try to help promote helping the immigrants in our country become citizens and somehow allow companies to keep costs low. Maybe, dare I say it, LOWER minimum wage. But I’d also change our tax system to compensate appropriately.
What I consider maintenance, or infrastructure, would receive adequate funding with investments in helping our country move forward and reduce future costs. I would invest a lot in technology, but I would want a single technology division that will be IT for all government departments. Unifying and establishing a single technology infrastructure to benefit all government departments.
So you’re wondering, what about “faith based initiatives,” gay marriage, abortion, and the like. I’d leave that up to the states for most, except faith based initiatives. I would hold a strict stance on separation of state and church. In my adminstration, there will be no linking of the two, directly or indirectly. Any attempts by the federal government, outside of the court system, to affect these, what I consider as less important issues, will be addressed by states individually.
Democrat or Republican? I don’t know if I want to be a donkey or an elephant…how about neither. Sadly, that’d never work in the US.
Vote Freedumb!
Yes my agenda is a little bare, but come on…I’m not REALLY running for president. Yet. Haha.
Maria
October 23, 2006 at 7:22 am
All good ideas. Too bad you’re not actually running!
SS- I’ve stopped counting on it when I retire. Although I believe in the system and my son reaps the benefits from his father, I dont see it helping me personally.
Healthcare- A Nationalized system would be beneficial in some ways but it would also cause an increase in “waiting lists” for “extra” services. Canada and the UK have private systems for those that CAN PAY MORE!
National Security- Being a Military brat, I understand the need to take care of our country. Perhaps we could reduce the amount of $ going to Area 51?:smile:
International Relations- Try to figure out a way to remind foreigners that it’s ok to Love America but they also have to at least Like Americans.:wink:
Just my take.
D
October 23, 2006 at 8:15 am
Love your thoughts and agree with most. I am a big supporter of healthcare for EVERYONE! I was totally all pumped listening to your ideas – I especially agree with leaving the government and religion apart. The 2 never should be mixed – when they are it is only to play on emotions of the voters.
You lost me with lower minimum wage. You would have to get really detailed and show me things my mind can not even fathom, to get me to vote your way. Our country is not set up to live with the current minimum wage, let alone less. The only way my mind could see this accomplished is if we provide room and board to every minimum wage worker. Impossible. This would turn our country into a huge Pottersville.
I hope you know what I am referring to, it’s my favorite movie of all time. I watch it every year, multiple times.
It’s a Wonderful Life!
Just my 2¢
D
freedumb
October 23, 2006 at 8:16 am
Maria, Yeah, I hear you…I don’t believe SS will be around when I retire either…
If I were running, I would hire a team to dig much deeper into these topics…but what I listed above would be the core value for each of them. Nothing will make everyone happy, but in order to move forward, I think we need to make decisions in the best interest of our people and our country…not big oil, tobacco, right or left winged fanaticals, etc. I wish we had a candidate who would be frank and honest with the voting public. Stand up to all the pressures of politics and do what’s right for the country regardless of the minor pains that would lead to greater gains in the end. Nothing can get done in our country if we can’t take the pain of change.
freedumb
October 23, 2006 at 8:43 am
D-
Yeah the “lowering minimum wage” idea is to allow for our businesses to effectively compete with the global market. At the same time, I would be implementing many programs to help encourage businesses to have less min wagers. I would introduce programs to help adjust for the lower wage, it’s just a method I think of eliminating “under the table” payroll…In order to be an effective competitor in the global market, we have to keep prices low.
So in effect, lowering min wage would be mainly to stop businesses from hiring illegals and have competitive prices, since they can now legally pay our citizens the same.
I would introduce programs that offset the decrease in wage though…so as to bring living standards back up to making a couple more bucks an hour.
Does that make sense? I don’t know…I lost myself.
D
October 23, 2006 at 9:32 am
As a constintuent I would like to request one addition to your campaign.
Effective Immediately ALL Government Employees Will Be Required to Participate In Social Security and Receive The Same Like/Kind Benefits of the People….NO EXCEPTIONS
They should not be allowed to “figure out” our Social Security problems unless it affects them as well. They simply don’t care. I know once you take office and receive the great retirements our government workers receive – you will no longer care about this, so I would like you to change this prior, to feeling the cash love.
John
October 23, 2006 at 10:58 am
Good luck! Those issues you’ve listed are easier to fix on paper as opposed to real life. The social security system can be fixed, it’s not going to run out like everyone says, they won’t let that happen. Keep in mind to have everyone covered under a national healthcare system means higher taxes…much higher. As an example, because of Europes socialized system, income taxes are like 60% in England alone. And like Maria mentioned, long wait times for doctors. I agree on education, an improved education might solve a lot of social issues. I don’t think I have enough comment space to address the other issues mentioned. By the way, your opinions on those subjects seem to lean the left if you know what I mean.
LAMoneyGuy
October 23, 2006 at 11:06 am
Do you remember when GW Bush was talking about allowing SS participants to invest “their portion” in the stock market? That was in early 2000. Seriously, right at a mania peak. Of course, he talked about safety procedures to protect against market loss, but never gave more details other than some nebulous “lock box.”
I can’t decide if you’re a pinko liberal, or a wacko conservative. Either way, you got my vote.
D
October 24, 2006 at 3:08 am
Food for thought – longer waits for the doctor…hmm…..
How does this come about? Is it because those poor people without insurance, finally get medical treatment? And actually get to see a doctor that is theirs, instead of an emergency doctor?
freedumb
October 24, 2006 at 7:36 am
Love it! I love discussion on this topic.
I’m crazy…I have two wings…otherwise how can you fly? If you’re only right winged or left winged, you’ll never get off the ground.
freedumb
October 24, 2006 at 7:37 am
D, Yeah, a failure in national healthcare is not a problem in the idea, it’s in the execution and implementation…long lines can be dealt with…and will be if I were president.
Andrew
October 27, 2006 at 9:02 am
“Then again, at the same time, jobs for Americans are being lost because of ‘cheap labor.’”
Please tell us what jobs are being lost. Is it maid, nanny, busboy, cook, maintenence, farm workers, movers, hotel workers or something else. Would you rather be working in one of those jobs or one of your family members? I am continually baffled by this argument. On the other hand I agree with you that illegal immigration will not stop despite the U.S. governments attempts at slowing it down. Take some time to watch the news on Univision or another Spanish language channel to hear what the government of Mexico and other Latin American countries are saying in regards to the new muro or wall our illustrious government intends on building.
I agree 100% with you about universal healthcare for this country. It is a continual travesty that millions of people go without what should be a basic right.
What exactly is a “pinko liberal” anyway?
LAMoneyGuy
October 27, 2006 at 10:22 am
“What exactly is a “pinko liberal” anyway?”
It’s the opposite of a “Wacko Conservative.” I thought that was pretty clear.
Besides, FF is neither.