Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Cuba: Just One Solution

Just months ago, President Barack Obama gave a speech in India stating that for each $1 Billion in exports the United States does, 5000 jobs are created. Of course the problem we face is that trade is hard to come by. Much of the world is in the same financial situation we are in, and even then it is hard to find someone who wants expensive American goods. Of course, there is always Cuba. Since 1962 the United States has held the toughest  embargo known to the world against Cuba. We have chosen that trade with this small island nation is unacceptable though trade with China, North Korea, and Vietnam continue.

Since that time, more specifically in the last few years, Cuba has replaced the President, made reforms in human rights, made economic reforms, places a non-Castro as the head of the Military, and much more. It is apparent that the government of Cuba sees their flaws and is working to reform, yet the United States makes no move at the $8.96 Billion in imports Cuba does each year. In fact, we still work against Cuba by allowing terrorist groups such as Alpha 66 to function in the United States though we claim to fight terrorism.

The increase in trade and 75000 jobs the dropping of the embargo would create are not the only benefits. Currently Cubans are allowed to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and also Cubans who touch soil in the United States are immediately granted political asylum. Removing this embargo would mean further exploration for oil and less immigration into the country. So many positive benefits for removing an embargo, a mere grudge we have held for nearly 50 years.

In my eyes, it is time to lower the embargo to the level of China's. In the end, we will be a better country and more financially secure and the trade would be more controlled than that which we have with China. This September the embargo will be up for renewal, and to everyone I am saying it is the right choice to lower our embargo. As a conservative America, I am saying it is our duty to allow this $8.96 Billion to come to the people of the united States. Now is the time for reform.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Tuaregs on Libya

In the past few weeks news has been building up about the civil war in Libya that has taken the world stage and seems to be on the front of everyone's mind. We at Overworld Magazine have tried repeatedly to contact the Libyan Opposition, several tribes, even Muhammad al-Senussi, the current claimant to the Libyan throne. Just a few days ago we heard back from an old friend, an anonymous Tuareg officer in the Front des Forces de Redressment, who has many Tuareg counterparts in southern Libya and has even had the chance to meet mr. Muamar Qaddafi himself. The interview that followed sheds a great deal of light on the situation in Libya, and shows a path for the countries future.

First and foremost on my mind was the actual fighting. I wanted to know how things were going, and how the rebels felt about American intervention. Despite the chants around the world for the United States to not interfere in others affairs, the Tuareg's support intervention. It evens the playing field. The Tuareg officer told me, "The Libyan opposition forces feel reassured by American and British strikes. It is clear that any rebel movement with no logistical support from a power like the U.S. is doomed to failure, especially when the enemy, like Khadaffi, heavily armed and financially powerful. So without supports Western Libyan rebel lines go nowhere." My friend went on to tell about his situation in the bordering Niger, where a similar fight for Tuareg liberation has been taking place, and explaining the difference American support could make. It seemed clear to me that even the Tuareg's, who at one point got support from Qaddafi during their fight in Mali, felt that the regime must go.

From there we went to the future of Libya, where it seems that everyone sees a bright future in a new Libyan nation. Already France and Italy have recognized the National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate government of Libya, and they only have now to create a working system to control the vast country. Several times the FFR Tuareg officer stated that Libya would become a country representing each tribe equally, and obvious scar from Qaddafi's policy of favoring some tribes over others. "A future government should be a Libyan national unity government that reflects the multicultural identity... I believe that the Libyan opposition is for a multiparty system," he told me. He sees a Libya where Tuareg's, and Toubous, Berbers, and Arabs are all equal. A country free from King or Dictator.

It has become clear to me that NATO intervention is a good thing. We have sank our millions of dollars into Qaddafi's pockets, so we are responsible for what he does to his people. From there we can watch Libya shape into a free and fair country of many tribes and peoples working together. It was my good friend's final quote that had the biggest effect on me though. Words that show the very truth behind our efforts."I want to say to the world, and especially the western world, a great bravo, because without intervention in countries where there is much dictatorship, more innocents will be killed unjustly and that human rights will be trampled all over the world. I think a lot the role played by the Americans to give freedom and hope live to thousands of people around the world."

For more on the Front des Forces de Redressment, see their site at http://redressement.unblog.fr/

Monday, April 11, 2011

Shutdown: Is the Money Worth It

Just a few days ago, I received a message from my brother angry at the President because he had the impending fear in him that he would not get paid his salary to defend this country. I feel for him, and it would be hard to go without pay when you risk your life every day to jump from helicopters to rescue innocent civilians from drowning (this is my brothers job). The question that immediately popped into my head was, if he got paid, what is he getting paid? The United States government has worked its way into a situation where it can either go broke or not pay anyone, a situation that would mean even if the government didn't shut down or money still may become worthless.

First lets look at the shutdown. A shutdown is a monetary tactic that is used to force votes and save money. It usually happens when a budget cannot be agreed on, so the checks just stop coming out. Our government has shut down twice in 1995 and 1996 and has had the same problems since then. Its impact is that only services deemed "essential" would continue to receive funding, while nobody else would. In the words of Timothy McMahon of InflationData.com, "The government shutdown is not a plan it is the lack of plan. It is like a person maxing out their credit cards. The only difference is they are in charge of their own credit limit. So after pretending to deal with the issue for a few days or a few weeks, they will say OK we’ve approved ourselves for a higher credit limit and that will be the end of it. More out of control spending. Will it reduce spending? For a few days but it won’t have any meaningful effect. It is simply a way for congress to pretend to address the issue with lots of government posturing but no real results."

Now that we have a better look at what the shutdown really is, lets look at what this budget problem could mean if we didn't resturcture our financial system. Like my brother, many in the military are afraid that they will not get paid, but even if they do the money may not be worth anything soon. According to Christopher Chantrill of USGovernmentSpending.com, "Inflation is caused by the Federal Reserve buying federal debt and paying for it with newly printed dollars." Which means continued spending while trying to pay off our debt will just cause increased inflation. Inflation would mean that even if all government employees were paid, their money would become worthless, there is more of a fear than ever that the dollar will fall. Mr. Chantrill continues,"It has already fallen by 98 percent since 1913. It will go lower."

So in the end, whether there is a shutdown or not, we are headed somewhere we don't want to be. Our only true option is to find sources of revenue that does not hurt americans, and to cut spending in ways that would have the least impact. As for the future of the dollar, Mr.McMahon sums it up best, "It’s almost certain that over the long run the dollar will fall because that is the only way the government can reduce the debt. In the short run who knows but the dollar has been falling for 40 years against the Swiss franc why would it stop now?" To my brother, my friends, and my countrymen I have to say don't worry, we will survive. "Governments inflate, default, shutdown, and renege on their promises all the time.  It all seems strange to us because Britain and the US have avoided defaults in the past.  That seems to be likely to change in the near future." Chantrill told me in his closing remarks. It is saddening, but it is a neccisary evil. We can only hope the bottom is not as rough as it looks from here. 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Electon 2012: Coverage Part 2

As you can imagine, the last time we did our article covering the 2012election, we could not get to everyone running. There were some that had not responded, and some that had not filed. In this article we have a few more candidates that have responded to show us their views so a full decision can be made about all candidates... that is truly fair and balanced. So without further delay, I give you the candidates.

Jon Greenspon - Republican
http://www.greenspon.org/

Tax/budget:
The US Budget is a train wreck, and needs straightforward corrections. I believe a rational starting point is to look at the last budget where a complete listing of “income” and “expenditures” exists – in 2012/13, this would be the 2010/2011 budget. The next, and all future budgets should be done in a balanced manner. I mean, simply, that if you look at the last budget, and look at the income section – that’s ALL the money you have to spend… No more. I do not agree with spending “tomorrow’s money” today, that’s political speak for either “we’ll print what we need”, or “it’s not our problem, it’s the next Congress’s”…. WRONG.
Also, with regards to budget cuts, it makes no difference if Congress is happy with the idea – if the United States wants to repair its “credit” with the people of this Country, we need to practice the same discipline that’s happening in household across the country. Make a budget, cutting spending where needed, and STICK TO IT. As far as I’m concerned, you demonstrate by example. The first cuts I intend to make will be with the Presidential and White House salaries, and the White House budget. Secondly, all federal programs that are duplicative, and then we look to the regular programs. There will be NO sacred cows. Most importantly, all money that is “saved” will not be redirected to the General Budget Fund, but to repaying on the mounting debt that our “elected brain trust” has decided to create.  
Foreign policy:
American Foreign policy, first and foremost, should NEVER be dictated by an agency other than the United States Government or, by proxy, the United States Department of State. Our Constitution states that it is the Supreme Law of the Land; not the United Nations Charter, the Talmud nor the North American Free Trade Agreement. When it comes to diplomacy, I believe our military should always be an available option, never “taken off the table”, but available only as a last resort. Military operations should, rightly speaking, only be left after all other options have been exhausted.

I cannot condone the use of military action in Afghanistan, Libya or other locations that have not been sanctioned by the vote of Congress. Similarly, I believe we, as Americans, need to re-evaluate the spending of taxpayer dollars in foreign aid, where there is clearly no authority for that waste of money to found in the United States Constitution.

Energy:
America is a nation that runs on the use of energy. However, we are also a nation that has become dependent upon foreign powers for that energy, because of our own Congress’s interest in the campaign contributions available by foreign interest lobbyists. I do agree that our environment is a precious resource, and that we need to develop energy resources with that in mind, but we also need to stem the loss of American money and jobs to foreign agencies for a resource we can provide here at home. I believe that many of the alternative energy options out there are viable, but need to be developed to a greater degree of reliability and efficiency then they currently have. Until then, we still need to rely on the energy systems currently in our grasp, and transfer knowledge and monies from these provable technologies to the alternative frontier – not turn our backs on working systems and tax them until they bleed.

Even with the Nuclear problems in Japan, our nuclear energy needs should not be “switched off”. Atomic energy is, in the long-run, inexpensive and safe. In Montana, we have coal reserves that can provide power to American homes for more than a century, and our on and off-shore oil supply can be produced at a fraction of the cost of drilling and shipping it from places like Saudi Arabia.

Alma Mater:
Victor Valley College, California/United Stated Marine Corps

Gun Control/Heath Care views:
I support the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. My general view is that Congress has the legal obligation to say that “weapons of indiscriminate destruction” (such as grenades, rocket launchers, fully automatic weapons, and the like) can and should be viewed as military hardware. This type of material should be destroyed when its military usefulness is ended, and not provided to the public, or worse yet – to foreign agencies or terrorists. Pistols, rifles and other small arms, however, should be regulated by State governments, where they have the ability to provide reasonable and less costly restrictions on the use and role in hunting and self-defense. I view groups such as M13, any of the various “Street Gangs” in our country, and such as internal terrorist groups, and should be dealt with accordingly.

Health care should be something decided upon between a doctor and his or her patient, not some mindless insurance drone, worse yet, a governmental bureaucrat. Our health care system needs repair, but the concept of “reform” has worn out its welcome. We need a common sense proposal, with realistic input from doctors, patients, pharmacists, and the like – with one government official and one insurance representative in the room, no more…. After all, the group does need someone to point and laugh at.

You can tell alot about a person by they're biggest inspirations and their favorite quotes. What are yours?
My greatest inspiration would be my Grandfather, a veteran of the Second World War, and a member of our greatest generation. Secondly, I would have to share that inspiration with both former President Ronald Reagan (whom I had the honor to meet once, at MCB Camp Pendleton while serving as a US Marine), and the late James Stewart.

Some of my favorite quotes by others:
Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair. (George Burns)
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. (Ronald Reagan)
Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. (Ronald Reagan)
Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. (Ronald Reagan)
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. (John Adams)
Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town. (George Carlin)
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way. (John Paul Jones)
The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon. (George Washington)
If this is one of the richest countries in the world, why is it so many of us can barely afford living here? (Kevin Costner, from the movie “Swing Vote”)
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. (John Wayne)

What are some original ideas of yours that have not been brought forward to make life and liberty easier for Americans?
I think two items that are essential are accountability and responsibility. In the case of the former, accountability, the people have a right to know what their government is doing with their money… I would propose that before my first full budget is provided to Congress, that a full accounting of the US finance’s from 2000 to 2012 is done – every department and agency, including the Federal Reserve and other independent agencies – by an outside group, like Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block. If Congress and the Fed don’t like this, OH WELL.

With regards to responsibility, our current government has often demonstrated a complete lack of regard to the concerns of their constituents, often in favor of the special interests that are funding their re-elections. That ends with me… If the American people can’t get through to their elected officials, I will get them through. Life’s full of potholes, and our elected officials deserve to hit a few dozen themselves.

Andrew Hastings - Independent
http://www.gimp4prez.org/

Tax/budget:
I propose a flat 15 percent federal income tax on any amount over $10,000 a year. One third  of the income tax goes to the government, to pay for essential government services,  one third of the tax goes to Social Security. The remaining third to pay for health care  "Guest Workers" would pay 10 percent as they cannot participate in Social Security but could partake of health care. The flat tax would only apply to new income, not income that has already been taxed. Inheritance tax would be eliminated. The vast majority of surpluses would come from budget cuts, by eliminating unconstitutional programs and spending.

Non-essential government spending and foreign aid should be stopped. If a spending item doesn't give the United States a strategic advantage, the spending item must be eliminated. Government agencies and programs that are not productive, no longer effective, or have outlived their usefulness will be cut.  Ear marks and riders circumvent Executive Branch merit-based or competitive allocation processes, and therefore must be eliminated.  If a proposal doesn't stand a chance of passing on its own merits, then it has no business being placed on a bill that will pass. We need to pay solely and only for essential services first, then the remaining monies shall be allocated to paying off the debt.

Highest interest rate loans must be paid off first and lower interest rates must be negotiated on our existing loans. Stop the nonsense of making unrealistic claims of savings and cuts, even in the face of the Congressional Budget Office's reports to the contrary. Such claims are "hopeful thinking".  As President, I will not continue down the same economic path previous administrations laid out.

Make social security optional and increase the age at which one can start collecting social security to 70. If a person opts out of social security, they will still be taxed the five percent social security tax, but this money will instead go into a personal savings account, which they or their representative can manage. Just as with social security, the investment cannot be withdrawn until age 70, but can be inherited, if the saver passes away prior to age of collection.  However, about two-thirds (2/3) of the money in the account must be in very low risk investments. To make it impossible for Congress to get ahold of this money, the savings accounts will be setup in privately held institutions. Every census, update the age to start social security so that the life expectancy on social security is about five years.

Foreign policy:
The Middle East:
We should get out of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iraqi and Afghani people do not want us over there. We’ve been there now for over ten years trying to “train” their forces, to what end? We did our part by getting rid of their oppressive rulers and their parties, now it’s time for these people to stand on their own. 
With Libya in unrest we need to do everything, short of going to war, to even the battle field for the “freedom fighters”. The reason we should not commit combat troops is because it is civil unrest. The Libyan people would have more pride, and would be quicker in setting up a government, if they won their freedom on their own.

Securing the Southern Border:
Two words "Land Mines". Place a 50 foot span of land mines, sandwiched by razor wire, all along the southern border. There has been a long history of building structures to keep invaders at bay, the best example is the Great Wall in China. This barricade is not like the wall that separated East and West Berlin.  Our "wall" is not intended to keep Americans in, but to halt the flow of illegal narcotics and terrorists into this country.
Revise the immigration policy to allow for guest workers. Guest workers would be allowed to stay in the United States for a limited time and then return to their country of origin. Seasonal permits would allow for one season of work, followed by a mandatory egress from the United States. Guest workers may not bring their families and they must have a job lined up, they cannot come across on a guest worker permit for day labor jobs.
To get a guest worker permit, the person would need to be finger printed, a DNA sample taken, and they would need to be checked for warrants. This information, along with the name of their employer and their vital statistics, would be saved in a smartcard.

Energy:
We must open up all of our land to oil and natural gas exploration and allow drilling in known oil and natural gas fields, but enforce strict inspections to prevent another Gulf oil spill.  Any oil obtained from U.S. soil must remain in the United States. Only after the needs of the U.S. are met may oil produced in the United States be sold on the foreign market. We need a network of fueling stations to sell Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Independent auditing firms should monitor cost/price ratios for the oil and natural gas companies, each fiscal quarter, to prevent price gouging.

Alternative energy power generation facilities must be developed. They should conform to the topography of the land: wind turbines in the plain states, wave turbines on the coasts, and solar in the southwest.

Alma Mater:
I have a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from San Diego State University (SDSU).

Gun Control/Heath Care views:
Gun control is covered by the second amendment. Every American, 21 or older, has a right to own a firearm. The only limitations should be that felons and mentally ill people are prohibited from owning or having access to guns and there should be a two week “cooling off” period for new gun owners.  Concealed weapon permits should not be denied to any legally qualified gun owner. 

Americans want affordable, quality health care, for which everybody has access. The only requirements would be a $40 co-pay per specialist doctor visit (see below) and a premium payment, if more than one specialist visit is required per year.

Setup "Band-Aid" clinics where people can go to get free basic health-care or extremely discounted, at most a $5 co-pay. To use these facilities, people would need to sign a waiver of liability. Which would release the doctors from malpractice suits except for cases of egregious incompetence. Such as if the patient has an existing illness, and the doctor doesn't take the time to study the condition before entering into a course of treatment, which leaves the patient worse off than before. The lawsuits would be looked at, on a case by case basis, by a board of 3 doctors, 3 non-doctors and 1 Judge (retired), to determine if the case has enough merit to go forward, sort of like a grand jury.

The amount of your co-pay would be reduced, if you see a government specialist doctor. The government would pay for medical school and give the doctor the option of indentured servitude, making cash payments or a combination to repay the loan. The term of service would be dependent on the amount borrowed and the marks (grades) they received. These doctors, that work for the government, would receive an annual salary. The doctors compensation will not be based on the number of procedures completed or number of patients seen in a day. This will control the amount doctors charge, this along with government owned (price controlled) facilities, would introduce a free market system back to the medical field. Have an agreement with the government doctors and facilities, whereby they will not charge an excess fee, so as to get reimbursed by insurance companies the amount it actually costs them. In this agreement the insurance companies would pay for the entire amount of the claim.

This system would still allow doctors, who wanted to specialize, specialize. It would not punish them for doing well, instead it would allow them to be better. Staff the "Band-Aid" clinics with doctors working off their servitude.

You can tell alot about a person by they're biggest inspirations and their favorite quotes. What are yours?
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.”

“Speak softly and carry a big stick.”  Theodore Roosevelt

“That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong - This is inspiring and marks one of Americas greatest achievements.

“Who throws a shoe? Honestly!” Austin Powers - What George Bush should have said after he was pelted with shoes.

What are some original ideas of yours that have not been brought forward to make life and liberty easier for Americans?
High School Juniors and Seniors should be allowed to take an internship or apprenticeship to begin learning a trade, or gain experience towards a profession. Schools need to teach financial responsibility starting at an early age, including how to save money and spend wisely (President Obama would have benefited greatly from this).

I support a balanced budget amendment and a congressional term limit amendment to the Constitution. I also support a means by which any elected official can be recalled if the public feels they are not doing a good job.

Make every state have a “right to work”. One shouldn’t be forced to join a union to gain employment anywhere. If workers feel as though they are being mistreated, then by all means let them unionize. If the workers do not feel victimized, and feel they are treated in a fair and equitable manner. They should not feel pressured to join a union.

Thomas J. Miller - Republican
http://www.reducegovernment.com/



Tax:
The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on February 3, 1913. It gave Congress the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. The total number of printed pages for all Federal tax rules in 1914 was less than 400 pages and the highest tax rate was 6%. In 2010, there are now over 78,000 pages of Federal tax rules with the highest individual tax rate of 36%.
 
Our Federal tax code has been transformed from its sole purpose of collecting income to pay for the operating expenses of our government to becoming an authoritative power to socially control our lives. Career politicians have used this tool to encourage/reward behaviors that they want to see happen with tax breaks and refunds while financially penalizing/punishing behaviors that they disapprove of with higher tax rates. This code has also become so unmanageable and incomprehensible that our own Secretary of the Treasury (Tim Geithner) and 26 other members of our Presidents staff cannot figure out their own taxes. It is impossible to reform a document that is composed of more than 78,000 pages.
 
I will terminate this 78,000 page failure and sponsor the consumption based Fair Tax. The new tax system will restore the intent and impartiality of the Sixteenth Amendment. This will not only save our economy more than $600 billion every year in administrative costs, free up millions of man hours currently spent for regulatory research and compliance, but increase Federal revenues. American citizens and businesses will be able to live, compete and grow in an impartial, reliable and globally competitive tax bracket once again.
 
The Federal government and several States have proven that assessing tax at the cash register is an efficient, easily understood and reliable method of collection. This will remove the Federal control and influence of our individual buying choices and allow our free market economy to be free again. By removing the politicians influence of what behaviors are rewarded or penalized, our economy and our citizens will have their freedom of choice, along with a dependable foundation, to begin making long term planning and investments.
 
Budget:
As President, on 1/20/13, I and I alone will be responsible for the financial state of our Union. The Federal
accounting tactics of denying the true cost of legislation, hiding debt and deferring permanent solutions with
"temporary" fixes will stop. I accept the direness of our government's balance sheet and will protect our solvency by immediately;
1) Keeping the National debt ceiling (limit) at its present dollar amount.
2) Terminating the bailout and Tarp programs.
3) Stopping the printing of new money.
4) Terminating the policy of paying off debt with debt (quantitative easing).
5) De funding the Health Care and education reconciliation act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-152).
6) Permanently cutting Federal wages (except military) to bring parity with the private sector.
7) Ordering a complete audit of the entire Federal government.
8) Amortizing the $16 trillion National debt into a 30 year fixed loan.
9) Privatizing or de funding the departments and agencies that should be owned or controlled by the private sector (i.e.: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac).
10) Balancing the Federal budget by sacrificing the wants of today for the needs of tomorrow
I will make the bold, unpopular and permanent decisions that are needed to be made today to guarantee that our creditors and other Nations don't make the decisions for us tomorrow.
 
Foreign policy:
The United States of America is "the land of the free and the home of the brave", not a global police force that solves every other Nations problems. While we do have interests in every corner of the world and a global diplomatic and military presence that reflects our dedication and commitment to those interests, the time has come for common sense and accountability to be included into our foreign policy, even as it relates to our relationships with our most respected allies.
 
On January 15, 2010, the government of Dubia offered to be the host for the headquarters of the United Nations from it's current location in New York City. As President of the United States and a permanent member of the United Nations, I will accept this offer and make sure that this transaction will be expedited as quickly as possible. It has been more than 50 years since the Korean War and WWII. Within both Asia and Europe, there are several developed countries that no longer need our men and women defending their borders 24/7. I acknowledge that there are many strategic airfields and vital installations around the world that must always be secured for global peace, for the other locations that can and should be defending their borders (Israel is the exception) respectfully, the time has come to defend your own people. I will bring home more than 250,000 American troops and their families from abroad.
 
My foreign policy will be to support and promote democracy and the will of the people in the Middle East and throughout the world. We will support the leadership of countries that allow their people to be free and we will support the people when their government takes away their freedoms. Unless our allies borders are breached by an enemy, the 192 member United Nations must be be responsible for internal civil conflicts when help is requested. For the countries that want to do us harm, we will not be purchasing any goods or services from you any more, nor will we be providing you with any aid.
 
Energy:
The U. S. Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Since then it has ballooned into a Department with 22,000 employees and a budget of more than $28 billion a year. Also over this last 30 year period, we have increased our oil imports by more than 300%. Current U. S. energy Regulations, policies and taxation are sacrificing millions of American jobs, removing hundreds of billions of dollars from within our economy and unnecessarily increasing energy prices. They are also trying to socially and financially penalize our
American way of life and our business practices through energy taxation and regulation. The American way of life (business/leisure) was created, in part, by low cost energy. As a sovereign Nation and the sole owners of our own energy supplies, we should not be shamed or penalized for choosing to use the resources and technologies that we own. We must be respectful and responsible with the creation and use our energy, but not to the point of our government dramatically lowering our standard of living and way of life.
·  Reset Cafe standards to 20 MPG. This will save approximately $4,000.00 per vehicle produced.
·  Limit the participants and volume of trades within the energy commodities market. This will save our
economy billions of dollars annually, while stabilizing the markets to be more reflective of the true price of
supply and demand of each source of energy.
·  Authorize the private sector to construct two new oil refineries within the United States. This will create tens of thousands of jobs, incorporate the most advanced and efficient processing methods and lower fuel prices.
·  The Bakken oil formation that runs through the Dakotas and into Montana contains an estimated 200 billion barrels of oil that is more than 2 times the reserves of Saudi Arabia. Authorizing the drilling of this 100
year+ energy supply will not only create tens of thousands of permanent American jobs, lower fuel prices,
but keep hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars within our economy.
·  Authorize the private sector to build large scale trash incinerators around the country. This will relieve stress on our over filled landfills, clean up our polluted water supplies and create tens of thousands of jobs. Also this process will generate clean, efficient and low cost energy.
·  Authorize the private sector to drill, process and utilize our natural gas supplies. This energy source alone
can power both our cars and our homes cheaper and cleaner than our current sources without expensive
conversions. The natural gas market alone will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, generate tens of billions
of dollars of revenue and reduce pollution significantly.
·  Authorize the private sector to build 50 new nuclear power plants. This will create tens of thousands of jobs, lower energy prices nationwide and reduce pollution significantly. This one act alone would bring $400-
$600 billion dollars home that is currently being spent overseas.
·  Identify, evaluate and then eliminate as many Federal mandates, quotas and energy subsidies as possible.
·  These energy initiatives will create a new industrial and manufacturing revolution within our borders.
 
The Federal government has established the business and environmental regulations concerning our energy policies and they still refuse to allow our free market economy to bring the best American products to market. The government should only intervene if there is non compliance with the environmental concerns or illegal business practices. These are not my proposals, these are proposals from the people. Americans themselves can create low cost energy and reduce pollution in a responsible way. It is our government that is driving up energy prices, terminating millions of American jobs and shipping our money and revenue to foreign countries.
 
90% of these resolutions can be implemented today without involving Congress. Under the directive of the
President, the Secretaries of Energy, Transportation and the E.P.A. can authorize private sector applications for approval under current regulations. They choose not to sign off on hundreds of business proposals. As President, if these applications meet current regulations, I will give that directive allowing us to become energy independent, create tens of millions of jobs and infuse almost one trillion dollars into our economy.
 
Gun Control: I support and defend the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
 
Heath Care views:
Our Federal Government has taken the first step to create socialized health care through the legislative process, while denying the American people of a free market alternative submitted by the Mayo Clinic. In May of 2009, Congress was presented with a complete package of viable, detailed, long term solutions that would not only reform Medicare, but would also establish affordable private health care for all Americans. These proposals are cost neutral when paid for with the savings from Medicare reform. What is now the law of the land, will not only systematically shift a majority of all health care and its decision making into the control of our government, but it will also push our country closer to insolvency because of its unfunded and factually unknown costs.
 
Congress rejected the Mayo Clinic's proposals for three possible reasons: 1) Control over trillions of dollars of revenue would have been removed from the government's coffers to the private sector 2) True decision making and control of health care choices would have been taken away from the government and would have been given back to the people and their providers. 3) Healthcare is a foundation to socialize and redistribute the wealth of 25% our economy. It seems politicians are choosing to increase their financial power and control over our lives instead of supporting a practical, cost effective, free market solution to our nation's health care crisis.
 
In May 2006, a group of 250 participants created the non-profit organization: The Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center (HPC). The HPC represents the entire spectrum of today’s complex health care systems, government and the patients they serve. Over a three year period, these industry leaders have consulted with thousands of other national representatives to resolve this crisis themselves. The time and money invested has been motivated not by prestige, but for better patient care and the long term viability of the jobs, agencies and systems involved.
 
The four cornerstones of their proposals apply to both Medicare and private health care. 1) Create value 2)
Coordinate care 3) Reform the payment system 4) Offer a voluntary private health insurance plan to all Americans (not mandated). Their proposals are cost neutral when paid for with the savings from Medicare reform. I respect the author's credentials of this plan and will endorse their proposals as submitted by the HPC.
 
This is factual evidence that private American ingenuity can fix a multi trillion dollar nightmare like this in a timely and cost effective manner. This also appears to be proof that our elected officials are using national problems to increase the size of our government and increase the depth and range of their control over the American people. Now we must elect a President who is willing to make politically unpopular decisions and break away from thestatus quo and the lobbies that have a stranglehold on our government. I will support the repeal of the current healthcare law and support initiatives like these, so that together, we can give our children a country that is better than what was given to us.
 
You can tell alot about a person by they're biggest inspirations and their favorite quotes. What are
yours?
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I don't shrink from this responsibilty-Iwelcome it." President John F. Kennedy.
"Keep the faith and base your decisions on it." George H. Miller.
 
What are some original ideas of yours that have not been brought forward to make life and liberty
easier for Americans?
I will re-empower the American people with the freedoms they need to rebuild our economy, to restore the
American dream and to give our children an America that is better and stronger than was given to us.