My Platform and Proposals
This page contains editorials that I endorse, and essays I have written or my supporters have written. This list of topics is not comprehensive, and it grows every day. Newer additions are at the top of the page.
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NEW: “God Bless Our Two-Party System” video. This short film makes fun of the two party system and thinking in a bipolar political manner. It is artistically well done as a rap video.
Americans need to encourage new energy technologies, such as solar power so abundant here in Arizona, but the idea of “energy independence” and eliminating America’s dependence of foreign oil is a foolish and impossibe policy. It has led to the enormously expensive boondoggle for ethanol, which is not only a hugh expense to the taxpayers but wasteful of natural resources, depleting groundwater in the midwest, and driving up food prices worldwide. Solar photovoltaic technology is making giant strides in efficiency and cost reduction, particularly for homeowners. But it will be decades before solar replaces conventional electricity, and airplanes, autos, as well as industry will continue to need imported oil and gas for the next century or two.
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Gun control advocates have received a major setback with the Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. The desire to ban handguns is an example of wishful thinking as public policy. Wishful thinking is the source of most authoritarian proposals that become public policy. It is always good to see examples of wishful thinking struck down.
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Marriage law: Vote NO on Arizona Constitutional Amendment Proposition 102 on November 4.
“Gay Marriage is Good for America,” and Arizona, by Jonathan Rauch, The Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2008.
The Right to Love
Editorial from the Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2008
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Immigration: Jason L. Riley, “Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders,” by Jason L. Riley. Penguin/Gotham Books, $22.50.
You should buy and read this book.
Illegal Immigration: Surely, This Is a Victimless Crime
by Joe Cobb
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Restore federalism: Repeal the 16th Amendment. The Income Tax Must Go! Federalism is the basis of our American constitution, but spending and taxing by the central government has wiped out State autonomy. Repealing the 16th Amendment and the Federal income tax is the key to restoring a federal form of government in the United States. Barry Goldwater in Conscience of a Conservative (1960) saw this bad trend in progress. He was my first strong political influence.
My original book with this proposal was published in 1982, and it remains my fundamental Federal income tax policy today. Abolish the Federal income tax. Restore State governments; diminish the Federal government.
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The Government Budget Folly. The Federal and Arizona governments – all governments – should stop adopting annual budgets based on tax revenue forecasting. A “look back” method, critically reviewing expenditures that have already been made, is needed. Funds for future expenditures should only be appropriated for a half-year (at most) ahead. The question should always be asked: Where is the money coming from? Do we have the money at all? Spend only revenue that has actually come into the Treasury.
Government spending can never be reduced, nor can malfunctioning government programs be cut, if the system of revenue forecasting and legally bindling appropriations continues. This system has only been used for about a hundred years. The earlier American fiscal system worked better, before 1890! Government “budgets” are examples from history of a failed procedure that needs to be changed.
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Central banking: Should we abolish the Federal Reserve? This very controversial and misunderstood policy is linked to the question of a gold or silver coinage standard – and with the problems of inflation and business cycles.
The United States needs a “monetary constitution.” Congress could, even without taking the scary step of abolishing the Federal Reserve, open up the legal-tender system to competition from gold, silver, or whatever. This would allow a parallel, competitive “free banking” system to evolve (if the market wanted it to grow up). Not one person in a million understands these complex issues, but you can read my scholarly analysis [click here] in favor of a parallel currency system for the United States.
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[More topics to come soon]
