User:Midian/Positions

I believe that the Democrats (faux-gressives) and Republicans (neo-cons) have both proven repeatedly that their only motivations are selfishness and corporate sponsorship, and that they are clearly and quickly driving this country into the ground. There are a few exceptions (Bernie Sanders [I-VT], Ron Paul [R-TX], Elizabeth Warren [D-MA]) which stand out due to their altruistic positions, averse to their party's.

This country needs a third party that puts the needs of the common good over the needs of the few, or the one. A REAL progressive party, like that of Theodore Roosevelt. An altruistic party.

Basic Principles

• There should be no power without accountability.
• Every citizen should be held to the same standards. No politician should be allowed to pass laws to which they have an exception.

Corporations

• Corporations have no motivation but profit. This is both obvious, and unalterable. They are not, and should not, be regarded as People. Citizens United is bad for the common good and should be repealed.
• It is known that money influences unduly and most corporations have laws against accepting money, why should politicians be any different? Allowing politicians to accept money/gifts (bribes in everything but name) from corporations or individuals should be illegal.

Careerism

• Politicians who make being a politician a career are invariably negative to the country as a whole. They should have the added motivation of having to live, and work, in the world their laws create, and should have limitations on their political careers.
• There should not be a retirement plan for Congress that sets them up for life. As stated previously, they should be motivated by having to work within the laws they create.
• Politicians compensation should be directly related to the performance of the country, tied to something like the average American salary. If the country does well, their compensation reflects this. If their policies cause the country to do poorly, so again should their compensation reflect.
• As judges who have vested interests in cases must recuse themselves, so should politicians.

Direct Democracy

• We have the technology for a direct democracy. The electoral system should be replaced.

Abortion

• Scientifically, the moment an egg is fertilized it becomes an unique, distinct individual (although parasitic for the first 9 months of existence). While abortion should not be made illegal (causing greater problems than it solves), it should neither be subsidized by the government.
• If a health-insurance company wants to cover elective abortions, they should be allowed to, but not forced to.
• If an abortion is required for the health/life of the mother, health insurances should have to cover the costs.
• The government should subsidize the health of the mother and child through services like WIC.

Taxation

• Those who make the most profit, benefit the most from the government (infrastructure, safety laws, etc.) and should pay a higher rate of taxes.
• There should be no tax exceptions. It should be simple and straight-forward to pay your income tax. Exceptions should be transitioned into subsidies (see below).

Basic Income

• As more and more jobs are becoming automated, the idea for basic income should be researched and we should be planning for this future of increased automation instead of reacting to it.

Morality and Emotion

• Laws should not be based on morality or emotion. Punishment for victimless crimes cause more harm than good for the people. Laws preventing drug use, prostitution, gambling, etc. should be repealed.

Drugs

• Access to medicine should not be prevented from those who need it. Marijuana is not, and should not be classified as, a Schedule I substance.
• Illegal drug use should be treated as a social issue, not criminal, as Portugal does.

Firearms

• Criminals fear neither the laws nor the police. They need to fear the victim. Constitutional carry should be legal country-wide.
• "Gun-free zones" should be required to have armed guards so they are not simply shooting galleries.

Marriage

• The government should have no input on religion, and vice versa. The government should not be allowed to force religious institutions to marry people who do not belong to their institution, nor should they prevent legal unions between people.
• "Marriage" should become defined as a religious ceremony which the government has no part of, and "civil unions" should be legal contracts set up for any and all who desire them, and should be recognized by all states.

Offended

• The First Amendment of the Constitution is contrary to any so-called "Right to not be offended." People should have to the right to say whatever they want, especially if it is offensive, up to the point where it can be construed by the common rational person to be directed to inciting, and is likely to incite, imminent lawless action (Brandenburg v. Ohio) "Your right to throw a punch ends at my face."

Subsidizing

• It is self-evident that everything the government subsidizes, it is de facto promoting. It should only subsidize things that are for the common good. e.g. Solar and other sustainable energies, healthy food production, etc. It should not be subsidizing NOT farming.
• Inversely, the government should tax (disincentive) things negative to the common good, without making them illegal. e.g. Tobacco, alcohol, junk food, etc.

Health Care

• The profit-driven system is bad for the common good, but it's been shown that a federal government run system (i.e. the VA) is worse.
• The federal government should create their own national health insurance plan that people can choose to enroll in, or keep their existing plans. If the government run system is better (cost-effective, wait times, doctor quality) then it will subsume the corporate systems, or they will adjust to be competitive.

Intellectual Property

• Genetic code (our DNA) is not intellectual property

Immigration

• Open the borders and allow all who want to be an American to be an American, legally. This includes naturalization, language classes, etc.

Language

• There are too many barriers to communication already, we should not allow language to be one of them. Define American English as the national language, and immerse all school children to prevent compounding problems with law enforcement, education, etc. Make all government documents (voting, road signs, etc.) be in American English only, but still allow requests for accommodation.