With 550 days to go until election day, the absurdly long presidential election cycle is now in full swing, with candidates making bold statement that they will eventually walk back in the event they secure their party's nomination for the general election.
I've long considered starting my own political party that would avoid the historical ossified baggage that plagues both parties. Some Republicans are so obsessed with individual freedom that they forget their ethical obligations to others. Some Democrats are so obsessed with social justice that they refuse to consider innovative new ideas that work outside the confines of government.
I haven't started anything yet, but I'm going to use this post to outline my platform as it stands right now. I hope to write subsequent posts that provide data, reasoning, and perspective on each of the choices I've made. With 550 days to write them, I'm confident I can write about at least a majority of them.
Most importantly, I invite you to challenge my ideas or agree with them. Or point out an issue I've missed. I invite you to comment below. Even better, I invite you to author a guest post as an argument for or against one of the positions outlined below. Change my mind. All I ask is that you avoid bombastic and divisive rhetoric and that you give adequate air-time to counterarguments, perhaps even describing the circumstances in which the opposition may have a point.
550 days from now, the presidential candidate the matches most closely to this list receives my vote.
Without further introduction, my political platform (in alphabetical order):
Abortion - I believe abortion is a horrible, heart-wrenching action, never to be taken lightly. I also believe in a woman's right to choose what happens in her body, and that she should have adequate time to recognize a pregnancy, process her options, and make this important decision. Because of this and because of extreme cases like rape and incest, we cannot outlaw abortions. But we also, out of respect for the rights of the unborn, cannot allow late-term abortions. I support an abortion limit with timing around the end of the first trimester. It it then up to individuals, with support from family and community, to make the decision that's right for them.
Budgets and Deficits - We have to fund a government that is able to effectively perform its necessary functions. For that, we need reliable tax revenue (see Taxes below). We also need to be good stewards of the nation's future. The government's annual budget, with few exceptions (massive recession, national emergency) should not only balance, it should service existing debt, a little principal at a time, each year. We won't pay off the deficit in my lifetime, not realistically, but we can reduce it. I don't support a balanced budget amendment, but I do support fiscal responsibility.
Civil Rights - LGBTQIAH - I support laws guaranteeing same-sex marriage and equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or its absence. Sexual preference should have no bearing on a person's life as far as government is concerned.
Civil Rights - Race - We must look closely at ourselves and recognize how race still affects our society. The Civil Rights Act is still relevant, and the Justice Department still has a duty to investigate charges of racial discrimination and prosecute when appropriate.
Civil Rights - Religion - This freedom is guaranteed by the first amendment. But it is not a preeminent right. Indeed, all "rights" have limits. If someone wishes to bring religion into business, they may, but only under certain circumstances: the customer can acquire the service or goods somewhere else without hardship, the business is family owned and employs fewer than 20 people, and the business erects signage approved by the government broadcasting religiously-based discrimination. If business owners choose religious principle, they must also accept limits to their growth beyond earning a living and be transparent about their prejudices.
Death Penalty - No death penalty.
Diplomacy - We must recognize that other nations want to be as successful as we are, and that it is in our best interest to help them succeed in that desire.
Drones - Drones are cowardly and counterproductive. End all drone strikes. If we feel the need to kill our enemies, then we should go kill them face-to-face.
Drug Policy - Decisions about legalization should be made based on scientific evidence, not societal precedent. If a substance, like marijuana, has fewer harmful effects than tobacco and alcohol, than it should be legalized, regulated, and taxed. If it has harmful effects at the level of or worse than tobacco and alcohol, it should be outlawed and producers and distributors should face stiff prison sentences for their part in the illegal trade.
Economy - Growth is important only so far as it ends poverty and provides good jobs for a growing population. Policies that trumpet unlimited growth and wealth at the expense of other values like environmental stability and safety are simply promises for short-term gain and long-term problems and should be avoided.
Education - We must foster a enviornment in our schools that incentivizes good teachers to keep teaching, to try out new ideas, and to share those ideas with others. Increasing teacher pay, providing a fair evaluation process that rewards good teaching, allowing charter schools to flourish (and, eventually, bringing them and their successes to the larger education system) are three key changes we must make.
Energy - We must significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, even when they are cheap. We must invest in alternative energy sources, more energy efficient technologies, and a smart grid. We should not leave nuclear energy out of the equation. We should not undercut wind and solar technologies.
Environment - The key word here is stewardship. Just like we must live within our means personally and as a nation, we must live within the resources that the earth gives us. We must make sure the the way we use water, air, soil, wildlife, and the land in general involves long-term wisdom and careful consideration of future generations of both humans and other forms of life.
Free Speech - Like all basic rights, this is both guaranteed and limited. The public sphere should allow all ideas. But it cannot allow hate speech. And we must find a way to limit the offensive and psyche-damaging spread of pornography.
Government Surveillance - If it feels surveillance is important for national security, the government can spy on enemies. If those enemies are in other countries, we must cooperate with those countries. But there is no place for generalized surveillance of citizens' phone records, email, or other data. That must stop.
Healthcare - Single-payor. Healthcare should not primarily be a business. It should be a right.
Immigration - Non-felons are always welcome. Always. If they want to stay for a short time, they should receive a visa. If they need asylum, they should be granted it. If they want to become Americans, why stop them?
International Presence and Responsibility - We have a responsibility to intervene in human rights disasters anywhere in the world. We also have the responsibility to do so with the international community, not on our own.
Law Enforcement - We must respect and obey law enforcement officials. Law enforcement officials who break the law must be tried as citizens, not as police. They should not receive special treatment because of their badge. To protect themselves, law enforcement should use available technology to make a record of all interactions with the public.
Nuclear Armament - We need to lead this effort. We should not only reduce, but eventually destroy all of our nuclear arms. Only then will we be justified in helping to eliminate them worldwide.
Post Office - Here's a perfect example of wasteful government spending. It was important that the federal government ran a postal service in the past. It's not necessary now. This money can be better spent, and the private sector is more than capable of taking on this responsibility. Close the post office.
Prison Reform - We incarcerate far too many people for far too long with far too few resources spent on inmate education, rehabilitation, and support. We need a national focus on reducing recidivism and reducing prison sentences for minor crimes.
Social Security - We must protect this safety net. No matter what.
Taxes - We need a simplified tax code. A flat tax for the majority of Americans (and no income taxes for the poor). An equal tax for all income, regardless of its source. We need to eliminate tax breaks that do not serve a holistic good for society. For example, society needs children. Keep that tax break. Society doesn't need everyone to own their own home. End mortgage tax breaks.
Trade - Trade really does create wealth and growth. Efforts like the Transpacific Partnership should be transparent, but also encouraged. More importantly though, trade creates bonds of international friendship, cultural exchange, and understanding. More trade = less conflict. The results of that trade can be creatively destructive, so part of the wealth created by trade must be channeled into retraining for victims of that destruction.
Unions - If a sector's employees want to unionize, there should be no effort made by employers to prevent that unionization. But employees should not be forced into unions either. Closed shop practices are as unethical as union prevention.
Welfare - We need to reform welfare so that there's an individualized focus on goals and personal growth. We also need to recognize that there will always be people who are disabled or otherwise unable to work, and we must embrace the opportunity to care for them as a society.
I've long considered starting my own political party that would avoid the historical ossified baggage that plagues both parties. Some Republicans are so obsessed with individual freedom that they forget their ethical obligations to others. Some Democrats are so obsessed with social justice that they refuse to consider innovative new ideas that work outside the confines of government.
I haven't started anything yet, but I'm going to use this post to outline my platform as it stands right now. I hope to write subsequent posts that provide data, reasoning, and perspective on each of the choices I've made. With 550 days to write them, I'm confident I can write about at least a majority of them.
Most importantly, I invite you to challenge my ideas or agree with them. Or point out an issue I've missed. I invite you to comment below. Even better, I invite you to author a guest post as an argument for or against one of the positions outlined below. Change my mind. All I ask is that you avoid bombastic and divisive rhetoric and that you give adequate air-time to counterarguments, perhaps even describing the circumstances in which the opposition may have a point.
550 days from now, the presidential candidate the matches most closely to this list receives my vote.
Without further introduction, my political platform (in alphabetical order):
Abortion - I believe abortion is a horrible, heart-wrenching action, never to be taken lightly. I also believe in a woman's right to choose what happens in her body, and that she should have adequate time to recognize a pregnancy, process her options, and make this important decision. Because of this and because of extreme cases like rape and incest, we cannot outlaw abortions. But we also, out of respect for the rights of the unborn, cannot allow late-term abortions. I support an abortion limit with timing around the end of the first trimester. It it then up to individuals, with support from family and community, to make the decision that's right for them.
Budgets and Deficits - We have to fund a government that is able to effectively perform its necessary functions. For that, we need reliable tax revenue (see Taxes below). We also need to be good stewards of the nation's future. The government's annual budget, with few exceptions (massive recession, national emergency) should not only balance, it should service existing debt, a little principal at a time, each year. We won't pay off the deficit in my lifetime, not realistically, but we can reduce it. I don't support a balanced budget amendment, but I do support fiscal responsibility.
Civil Rights - LGBTQIAH - I support laws guaranteeing same-sex marriage and equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or its absence. Sexual preference should have no bearing on a person's life as far as government is concerned.
Civil Rights - Race - We must look closely at ourselves and recognize how race still affects our society. The Civil Rights Act is still relevant, and the Justice Department still has a duty to investigate charges of racial discrimination and prosecute when appropriate.
Civil Rights - Religion - This freedom is guaranteed by the first amendment. But it is not a preeminent right. Indeed, all "rights" have limits. If someone wishes to bring religion into business, they may, but only under certain circumstances: the customer can acquire the service or goods somewhere else without hardship, the business is family owned and employs fewer than 20 people, and the business erects signage approved by the government broadcasting religiously-based discrimination. If business owners choose religious principle, they must also accept limits to their growth beyond earning a living and be transparent about their prejudices.
Death Penalty - No death penalty.
Diplomacy - We must recognize that other nations want to be as successful as we are, and that it is in our best interest to help them succeed in that desire.
Drones - Drones are cowardly and counterproductive. End all drone strikes. If we feel the need to kill our enemies, then we should go kill them face-to-face.
Drug Policy - Decisions about legalization should be made based on scientific evidence, not societal precedent. If a substance, like marijuana, has fewer harmful effects than tobacco and alcohol, than it should be legalized, regulated, and taxed. If it has harmful effects at the level of or worse than tobacco and alcohol, it should be outlawed and producers and distributors should face stiff prison sentences for their part in the illegal trade.
Economy - Growth is important only so far as it ends poverty and provides good jobs for a growing population. Policies that trumpet unlimited growth and wealth at the expense of other values like environmental stability and safety are simply promises for short-term gain and long-term problems and should be avoided.
Education - We must foster a enviornment in our schools that incentivizes good teachers to keep teaching, to try out new ideas, and to share those ideas with others. Increasing teacher pay, providing a fair evaluation process that rewards good teaching, allowing charter schools to flourish (and, eventually, bringing them and their successes to the larger education system) are three key changes we must make.
Energy - We must significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, even when they are cheap. We must invest in alternative energy sources, more energy efficient technologies, and a smart grid. We should not leave nuclear energy out of the equation. We should not undercut wind and solar technologies.
Environment - The key word here is stewardship. Just like we must live within our means personally and as a nation, we must live within the resources that the earth gives us. We must make sure the the way we use water, air, soil, wildlife, and the land in general involves long-term wisdom and careful consideration of future generations of both humans and other forms of life.
Free Speech - Like all basic rights, this is both guaranteed and limited. The public sphere should allow all ideas. But it cannot allow hate speech. And we must find a way to limit the offensive and psyche-damaging spread of pornography.
Government Surveillance - If it feels surveillance is important for national security, the government can spy on enemies. If those enemies are in other countries, we must cooperate with those countries. But there is no place for generalized surveillance of citizens' phone records, email, or other data. That must stop.
Healthcare - Single-payor. Healthcare should not primarily be a business. It should be a right.
Immigration - Non-felons are always welcome. Always. If they want to stay for a short time, they should receive a visa. If they need asylum, they should be granted it. If they want to become Americans, why stop them?
International Presence and Responsibility - We have a responsibility to intervene in human rights disasters anywhere in the world. We also have the responsibility to do so with the international community, not on our own.
Law Enforcement - We must respect and obey law enforcement officials. Law enforcement officials who break the law must be tried as citizens, not as police. They should not receive special treatment because of their badge. To protect themselves, law enforcement should use available technology to make a record of all interactions with the public.
Nuclear Armament - We need to lead this effort. We should not only reduce, but eventually destroy all of our nuclear arms. Only then will we be justified in helping to eliminate them worldwide.
Post Office - Here's a perfect example of wasteful government spending. It was important that the federal government ran a postal service in the past. It's not necessary now. This money can be better spent, and the private sector is more than capable of taking on this responsibility. Close the post office.
Prison Reform - We incarcerate far too many people for far too long with far too few resources spent on inmate education, rehabilitation, and support. We need a national focus on reducing recidivism and reducing prison sentences for minor crimes.
Social Security - We must protect this safety net. No matter what.
Taxes - We need a simplified tax code. A flat tax for the majority of Americans (and no income taxes for the poor). An equal tax for all income, regardless of its source. We need to eliminate tax breaks that do not serve a holistic good for society. For example, society needs children. Keep that tax break. Society doesn't need everyone to own their own home. End mortgage tax breaks.
Trade - Trade really does create wealth and growth. Efforts like the Transpacific Partnership should be transparent, but also encouraged. More importantly though, trade creates bonds of international friendship, cultural exchange, and understanding. More trade = less conflict. The results of that trade can be creatively destructive, so part of the wealth created by trade must be channeled into retraining for victims of that destruction.
Unions - If a sector's employees want to unionize, there should be no effort made by employers to prevent that unionization. But employees should not be forced into unions either. Closed shop practices are as unethical as union prevention.
Welfare - We need to reform welfare so that there's an individualized focus on goals and personal growth. We also need to recognize that there will always be people who are disabled or otherwise unable to work, and we must embrace the opportunity to care for them as a society.
I know this is old, but as long as I am reading your blog, I may as well comment.
ReplyDelete1. Nuclear Armaments
I generally agree with this, but I am uneasy about the idea of eliminating all our own nuclear arms first. We are in a Mexican standoff with Russia and China, and if we destroy all of our nuclear arms, we incentivize them to take advantage of that. There is no foolproof way to end the nuclear Nash equilibrium (aka MAD) in my opinion.
2. Unions
I agree that unions generally have a negative stigma in America, but simply guaranteeing unionization in any company unconditionally seems foolish without some major checks. The Teamsters Union in the 50s, for example, was basically an extension of the Mafia for years. The union checks the power of the company executives, but who checks the power of the union leaders?
Also, I think new companies should have the ability to prevent unions at first, otherwise they will not be able to take risks to make the company grow. The main advantage a startup has over a large corporation is the ability to remain agile, and if the workers instantly unionize, it will remove that agility.
3. Post Office
I never thought of this before, but I fully agree. 99% of the mail I get from USPS is advertisements/junk and 99% of the meaningful packages I receive are from a private courier (i.e. when I order something from Amazon).
4. International Presence and Responsibility
The problem, though, is that you can't force "freedom" upon anyone, and trying to do so when the people aren't ready for it just wastes time, money, and lives (i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq). As far as I know, South Korea is one of the only success stories of the US helping a country during a human rights crisis (i.e. forced conversion to communism).
North Korea is a human rights disaster, but it would be a huge mistake to go "fix" that problem since it could be tantamount to declaring war on China. I would like to see the international community taking a much bigger role in this. The problem is that most countries are content to have the US play world police since we use our own GDP to do it. Many European countries can't actually afford to put a larger percent of their GDP to military, and so they just rely on us to do the lion's share of the work anytime some country destabilizes near them. We need to put more pressure on the international community to resolve the problems in their regions.