Issues

Footnote: I challenge all candidates for public office (especially state and federal) to publicly publish their stated support and opposition for major current state and/or federal government policies or policies that are currently being debated.

RWS Prod. Copyright © 2002-2008

Footnote: I challenge all voters to seek out and challenge stated positions for support and opposition to major current state and/or federal government policies or policies that are currently being debated, for all candidates for public office (especially state and federal).

Footnote: If anyone has a question or comment on any position that I take please use my contact page to contact me. I welcome all dialogue that might clear up any questions or provide your feelings on the position. If I have neglected to address any issue that may concern you, I welcome any comment in order to start a dialogue.

Constitution of the United States

This document was written with specific beliefs and principals in mind. Do not be adding meanings that are not there or trying to read into it things that are not there Require all federal judges to adhere to their solemn oath to remain impartial in all cases. Require all elected or appointed government officials to adhere to their solemn oath to uphold the Constitution whether or not they personally take the oath seriously. These oaths are essentially their employment contracts. Any violations of any solemn oath taken prior to entry into any government position should be considered as an un-American activity and severely prosecuted

National Security

• IRAQ

  President George H. W. Bush should have dealt with Saddam Husein during the Persian Gulf conflict after Kuwait was liberated from his incursion. When President Bush stopped short the chance was lost.

  The threat of Iraq in 2002 was the supposed development and possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This was not sufficient cause for the invasion that took place. It in fact took our focus off of Afghanistan which caused it to remain unfinished

  The mission in Iraq was WMD. There have been none found. Bring the troops home.

• AFGHANISTAN

  The mission in Afghanistan was to destroy or remove Al Qaeda (the people responsible for 911) from the country. Al Qaeda is no longer in the country to any number worth keeping 100,000 US soldiers chasing them. They are in Pakistan, Yemen , Somalia, and possible Iran. Mission accomplished, bring the troops home.

• IRAN (update 09/05/2010)

  It has come to light that Iran is supporting the Talaban (financially and arms). They have issued a bounty on American war fighters killed and assets destroyed. This act of war would not exist if we were not there (Oh what a tangled web we weave). We have already overstayed in Afghanistan and will remain much longer with this continued Iranian interference. If we are to remain we must respond to this act of war or continue to suffer casualties that could be avoided. If we are to remain in Afghanistan for nation building we must nullify the Iranian threat...now.

• MEXICO

  Activities along the border with Mexico is a much grater threat to National Security than the phantom WMDs in Iraq, If the Mexican government cannot get the situation under control, then we as a country must protect ourselves. I would favor bringing the 101st Airborne home and give them a vacation in Mexico as they occupy a 30-50 mile corridor along the border on the Mexican side. With the aid of some Special Forces units (possibly Navy Seals), I am sure that the Mexican cartels can be handled. When things are settled down, I am sure Navy Sea Beas would be more than happy to build schools and medical clinics to that would be the pride of Mexico. The funds of course would come from any aid we might have been sending to the Mexican government. We could probably begin a trend of reverse immigration as the labor for such projects would come from the local populace

States Rights and Limited Government

Reform government authority that has moved legal jurisdiction from the states authority and placed them under federal jurisdiction. The federal government is limited in its authority by the Constitution. This should be strictly adhered to and supported by all who support the Constitution. State governments are better able to handle local authority more efficiently than a large government far removed, unless of course it violates basic Constitutional or human rights. For the last 100 years power has been able to consolidate to the fed. Totalitarianism is the result of concentration of power.

Stop uncontrolled irresponsible spending on social issues that that are targeted at the immediate reversal of 230 years of social development Social issues that do not involve individuals’ constitutional rights are not a power granted to federal government.

A starting point would be to repeal the 17th amendment which took the election of US Senators away from the state legislatures and put it to the election of the general populace. James Madison set it up that the Senators were to be selected and responsible to the elected state government. By putting the selection of Senators to the general populace we in essence only have the additional two representatives of the people and not the higher status of representative of the state. Woodrow Wilson thus made the states weaker and moved us away from the checks and balances of a Republic and moved us towards the free for all of a pure democracy which strengthened the power of the federal government over the states

Individual Rights and Responsibilities

The rights of all citizens and "legal" aliens of the United States shall be protected equally under the Constitution. All citizens and "legal" aliens of the United States shall be responsible for their individual actions from which they will not be excused. Any act against the rights of any citizens or "legal" aliens of the United States provided by the Constitution will be considered as an act against the United States and punished as such. Individuals that are not citizens or "legal" aliens of the United States shall never automatically be granted rights under the Constitution. The human rights of such individuals should always be observed unless they have demonstrated a desire to bring harm the United States or citizens of the United States. In such acts they have negated all but the very basic of their human rights. If their actions have been a result of an act of legally declared warfare, then they should be treated as a prisoner of war under the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

With the opportunity available, it is up to the individual to overcome any weaknesses due to background, education, attitude or experience. It is not up to the government to excuse these weaknesses, but programs might be provided to strengthen these weaknesses.

Marriage

Marriage is "legally" a domestic partnership. The term marriage comes from the biblical or religious sense and should remain "between a man and woman". Legal support will be provided for rights and responsibilities for legitimate domestic partnerships. These domestic partnerships should be regulated by the individual states. As in all contract law, contracts entered into in any state must be recognized and enforced by all states.

Sovereignty of the United States of America

We will secure the borders from illegal immigration. We are at present undergoing and invasion from the south. This invasion is not unlike the invasion of the barbarians that caused the fall of the Roman Empire. Allow work visas for legitimate applicants. (See my immigration policy.) Automatic citizenship will not be allowed all births on American soil to infants of illegal aliens. If at least 1 parent is a citizen, the infant will be granted citizenship. If at least 1 parent is a legal alien, the infant will be considered a legal alien if registered as such and if that parent then becomes a citizen prior to the child's 12th birthday and the child is still a legal alien, the child will then be granted citizenship. Aliens that are not legally registered will not receive government aid and/or benefits of legal aliens.

My illegal immigration solution

We will not tolerate the movement toward global governance as proposed by this administration and Al Gore No law either foreign or domestic or treaty with any foreign sovereign power will supersede the Constitution.

Foreign Relations

"If there is worse use of the U.S. military than nation-building, it is adult supervision and behavior modification of other peoples’ politicians." George Will

As a freedom loving democratic "republic" we will provide public moral support to citizens living under tyrannical oppressive governments. We will provide legitimate support to governments that provide for individual human rights. You cannot instill democracy upon a people unless they truly want it, and are willing to die for it. You cannot take democracy away from a people that truly want to keep it and are willing to die for it.

If we withdrew from Iraq tomorrow, and the country fell to Islamic totalitarianism, it would also fall when we withdrew in 2011. As we found in Viet Nam, we cannot protect the world from themselves. Granted when we withdrew, millions of people were slaughtered and normalcy settled into the country. Today Viet Nam is a peaceful citizen of the world, although not the democracy that we would have preferred. We have helped the Iraqis to set up a democratic (?) government in Baghdad and have trained their security forces. They must be allowed to stand on their own (or fall on there own) if that is what is to be. Our job there is complete and we must see if it is truly their desire to continue. If they do in fact continue we should support there continuation as we would any ally. If they do not continue we should not support them as an ally. If millions of people are again slaughtered, it will be of their own making for as I said we cannot protect the world from themselves. If we must suffer from the loss oil supplies from the region, it will only be because of our negligence in not developing our own natural resources. Maybe America will wake up and realize where our priorities lay.

The Terrorist prison compound in Guantanamo should be emptied and closed by the end of the year. All prisoners should be returned to the country in which they were captured and turned over to the government of that country. The crimes committed in that country should be dealt with according to that countries laws. Crimes committed in the U.S. should be dealt with here. Trained combatants committing attacks on our civilian targets instead of military targets will be considered "war criminals" and tried by military tribunals. Trained combatants apprehended in U.S. territory, whether or not they are plotting attacks or are engaged in attacks will be considered "spies" and treated as such by military tribunals.

Separation of God and state

This country and government was established on Judeo/Christian beliefs and principals The name of God is established in the sacred documents and currency of this country Anyone taking God out of the basic beliefs and principals of this country and its government is trying to make this country something other than what it was intended to be and is basically changing the Americanism of the country and is therefore being un-American. These Judeo/Christian beliefs and principles allow for freedom to follow other religious practices or no religious practices. If this country were based on other than Judeo/Christian beliefs and principals this religious freedom would probably not exist If you want to live in this country, you are welcome to practice the religion of your choice which includes no religion at all but do not try to change the tenants of Americanism.

Health Care Reform

I personally support the free market.

We should investigate reform to existing health care procedures See my health care reform proposal that increases states rights power by putting the administration of universal health care under the control of the states. My program should fund itself with basic health care with 100% coverage and still allow commercial insurance companies to provide supplemental coverage in a free market for those who desire more comprehensive coverage. I have estimated that the overall overhead expenses to be less than 2% (similar to the touted Medicare overhead of 2%).

This is not government subsidized as such so everyone will pay for coverage or be paid for by some aid agency. If the individual state provides aid to illegals, then they will provide the required payment. This matter is left to the state.

The Federal government will provide oversight of price gouging of medical costs (commerce regulation).

The State Governments should provide support of community or Free Clinics.

The present Government Health Care Plan proposal weakens economy with higher taxes on everyone, higher costs (all business will pass costs on to consumer), and job losses (small business will cut employment to keep expenses under threshold) and is un-Constitutional. It allows government beaurocracy to control your medical care. The 1,900(+) page Democratic bill will open up an entirely new layer of beaurocracy (57 new agencies). My health care reform proposal provides potentially 100% coverage for U.S. citizens and legal aliens and would alleviate all fears of federal government take over. My proposal is simple (5 pages) and straight forward (all benefits are explicitly laid out laid out) and individual states may make adjustments to meet their needs. Funding and operating costs are explicitly defined and operating overhead is less than 3%.

Right to Life / Abortion

The practice of abortion is legal genocide and goes against the basic Judeo/Christian beliefs and principles upon which this country was based and should be considered an un-American practice. What is even worse is government sponsored abortion. We are committing self genocide....or are there external forces in action here.

This, I would consider to be the worst holocaust in the history of mankind. If one believes in a god one cannot believe that that god would approve the cavalier acceptance of this practice. I personally can only see support of this practice by those with no concern for human life.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Nobel Peace Prize in 1979): "But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"

The only abortion that I would condone is in a situation that it is the only procedure available to save the mother's life.

Energy Reform

Cap and Trade weakens the economy with higher energy costs (costs will be passed along to consumer) and job losses (industry will move to countries that allow for lower energy costs). It will not cause overall environmental conditions to improve until the rest of the world (China and India especially) to comply

We are rapidly loosing our ability to become energy independent (by design?). Due to the Gulf oil spill there has been a 6 month ban put on U.S. drilling in the Gulf by the administration. This has directly cost 35.000 jobs. Oil companies have beem ordered to permenantly seal 3500 wells that have not been tapped for 5 years. It has been common practice for companies to retap such wells for future use. This will make this practice impossible and will cost $3 billion to accomplish. The cost of the lost oil is estimated at $6-$18 billion. All of the U.S. leased oil rigs will be leaving the gulf. In the meantime the Administration gave Brazil $2 billion for oil drilling at a depth much greater than we had been drilling in the Gulf. They gave Mexico $2 billion for drilling in the Gulf where we can't drill. I leave it to you to decide if this is just another step in the distribution on U.S. wealth to poorer countries and to continue to make us dependent on foreign oil (just a thought).

Education Reform

The states will have complete control over their education system.

The Federal Government should only have oversight authority over the public state education system in order to ensure that all states provide standardized programs that meet a set of educational standards. This should also ensure that the programs are not religiously or politically biased. Standard education of government systems should be taught with no political bias. Just as no religious bias can be presented, no political bias should be allowed in public schools. This may be seen as separation of education and politics. Just as no religious bias may be brought into the public schools, no political bias should be brought into the public schools.

The Federal Government should only have oversight authority over the private education institutions (No taxpayer support) in order to ensure that all institutions provide standardized programs that meet a set of educational standards. These privately funded institutions may provide religiously or politically biased programs as long as they are not biased against the laws of the "United States of America". In order to be accredited by the state education system they must meet the standard education requirements.

In reference to diversity, all institutions of higher learning should employ an equal number of liberal leaning academics as conservative leaning academics (or vice versa) (within 20%)in order to retain accreditation or be eligible for any taxpayer support (this would include any state supported school). Any course that is presented with a political or religious bias should be described in the course catalog as containing political or religious bias. No required course should be presented with any political or religious bias.

Congressional term limits and benefits

"Experience hath shown that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny." Thomas Jefferson

Senators should be limited to 2 consecutive terms (12 years). They could leave their seat for 1 term (6years) and return for 2 more terms. They should not serve more than 12 years in any 18 year period.

Representatives should be limited to 5 consecutive terms (10 years). They could leave their seat for 2 terms (4 years) and return for 2 more terms. They should not serve more than 10 years in any 14 year period.

No government electee should be able to spend a lifetime regulating life in the mainstream without having to exist in the mainstream that they have mandated. There should be no special pension system for government electees. Government electees should not have a guaranteed pension after 5 or 6 years. While serving they should be eligible for 401k matching like the mainstream white collar workers There should be no special healthcare system for government electees and government employees. Healthcare for government electees and all government employees should follow the mainstream healthcare processes.

These items have very little chance of coming to fruition. In such a case it is left to the voters to force this upon Congress via the ballot box. It would probably benefit the country immensely if all Representatives were replaced after a maximum of 4 terms and Senators every 2 terms. In some cases this too would seem unlikely but unless this situation changes I am afraid that the current trends of political deceit and self interest will continue.

Tort Reform

Lawyers (litigators) have too much influence over American life.

There is too much civil litigation in our court systems. There is especially too much frivolous civil litigation in our court systems. The reason for this is that downside risk is far less than the upside gain. If one wins the litigation, the settlement is much greater than the loss if it goes against you. The downside is only your legal costs. These frivolous civil litigations would be drastically reduced if the downside risk was increased by making the "originator" responsible for "all" legal costs plus compensation to the winner for legitimate defense expenses (personal time expended) if they loose the decision. The "originator" is normally well compensated for a win and they should also be equally penalized for losing. This would bring more thought into the decision to bring frivolous or harassing lawsuits into our already burdened court system.

We are worried more about political correctness in order not to offend someone or some group than in solving related problems. If you can't call a club a club, then you can't integrate it into the deck of cards with the diamonds, spades, and hearts. In order to solve a problem, it must be accurately defined which is often impossible due to the fact that you are afraid of offending someone. This is often due to an out of control legal system. In order to create legislation that is simple, clear, and straightforward, persons with legal degrees should be disqualified from legislative office. This would decrease the length and intricate complexity of legislation. Could it be that this is the only job that they can do? Every legislator should have one as a staff advisor.

As part of the states rights the, the states should hsve full control of tort reform in their state. This would work very well with medical tort reform if the states controled their own health care programs. See tort reform as part of my health care reform proposal.

Economy

We have been in cultural and economic decline since the 1970s, which has been escalating since the mid 1990s. Much of the change in the 1970s originated from social change programs initiated in the 1930s and 1940s in an attempt to stem the great depression. These programs did little to stem the economic depression. WWII was the sole event that began our rise from this economic catastrophe. We emerged from this great conflict as a rising industrial giant.

Since the mid 1990s our industrial prowess has been on the decrease as we began exporting industrial growth to the new industrial giants on Asia. This has been due to the growing socioeconomic programs the have caused the cost of retaining this industrial growth to increase to an unsustainable level. We continue to grow and accelerate the same mistakes in this severe economic recession. Bankruptcies should be allowed for all individuals and entities that are unsustainable without external manipulation. Bankruptcy laws should be maintained to provide consistency and fairness across all situations. Bankruptcy laws should be followed in the strictest sense with no favoritism not established by the existing laws. If some laws are disregarded on a whim, we might as well be a lawless nation

The government shall remain separate from private enterprise. This separation must be maintained as the government must remain a regulator of good business practices and fair business policies. If the government gets involved in business, it will necessarily favor the business that it is involved in and opposing businesses will be discriminated against. In extreme circumstances certain government agencies that can have no influence in the market may grant loans based on sound business practices only. Stop all government intervention in bankruptcy proceedings. Stop all government intervention in denying legal contract procedures.

The major problem with the jobs situatton is that small businesses are unsure about the future. They are not hiring because of the uncertainty of taxes, health care. and energy costs. They don't know what it will cost to do business. They want government to give them s set of rules snf get out uf the way. Hiring will be low until these uncertainties are settled.

We need energy policies that encourage energy independence that do not inhibit domestic business development.

We need tax policies that encourage domestic business especially during a time of severe business stress.

My Economic Solution