My platform or What I'd like to see a President do

Every person has their own set of things that are important to them. They'll focus on a single issue or support their traditional party or whatever. Unfortunately, my experience is that most people don't know what they believe and so can't make good informed decisions about who to vote for. Therefore, I decided that I should define what I want to see in a candidate rather than allow the candidates to define the debate. That way, right or wrong, at least I know what I believe and can therefore make an informed decision about which candidate comes closest to my platform. Below are the major issues as I see them and what I'd like to see a President do regarding them:

1. Comprehensive energy strategy
Drill baby drill (yes, even in ANWR)
Build many more nuclear power plants
Continue investments in solar, wind, etc.
Invest in energy infrastructure
Do NOT regulate carbon emissions but support carbon sequestration efforts
Reduce foreign importation of oil to no more than 20 percent
2. Shrink size of government starting with unconstitutional agencies
Return airport security to airports and airlines
Abolish TSA and Dept. of Homeland Security
Abolish Environmental Protection Agency
Abolish Dept. of Education
3. Bring troops home
End Iraq War and bring all troops home
Remove troops from Germany (we aren’t defending Europe from the Soviet menace anymore)
Remove troops from DMZ in South Korea
4. Stop behaving as world’s police
The army and air forces shouldn’t be spread out everywhere…use navy to project power
5. Submit Constitutional amendments to the Congress for:
The doctrine of incorporation (applying the Bill of Rights to the States)
To allow States the ability to override and nullify federal mandates
Term limits for the House (8 terms … 16 years) and the Senate (3 terms … 18 years)
6. Taxes
Raise taxes on rich by 5 percent
Make middle and lower class Bush era tax cuts permanent
Restore inheritance tax but increase minimum amount to 5 million dollars
7. Change Welfare programs into a leg up system rather than a hand out system
8. Keep Social Security as is for anyone 50 and over and establish a new system based on the Chilean model for everyone under 50
9. Comprehensive transportation policy
End government subsidies of Amtrak while supporting private investment in high speed rail
Inspect and repair all interstate roads and bridges
Remove barriers to road funding (like federal mandates on speed and drinking age)
10. Secure the borders
Build the fence
Enforce existing laws
Change immigration policies to make it easier to come
Decrease wait times
No Amnesty, but those who are already here may apply for status without retaliation
11. Continue policy of supporting freedom around the world
This requires a willingness to butt out that we don’t currently have
Supporting freedom means opposing tyranny no matter how strategically important
12. Economy
Reduce bureaucracy and regulation on corporations, especially small businesses
Eliminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Cut spending (this will happen if the agency eliminations and other things I’ve stated take place)
Discontinue monetizing debt
Pay off foreign debts before reducing taxes
Balance the budget
Support free trade efforts around the world
13. Increase the number of representatives in the House of Representatives
Legislate a total number of paid staff allowed per Congress member to control costs
14. Abolish all “Czar” positions
Only official agencies can be appointed
ALL appointees must be approved by the Senate
15. Rescind all written Executive Orders that go beyond the scope of activities in the Executive Branch
16. Appoint a commission to study the history of Supreme Court cases
Any instances of judicial activism are to be submitted to the Congress for legislation or as constitutional amendments…if they do not pass, they are to be abolished
17. Lead efforts to reform the UN to abolish WWII model and replace it with a new model
18. Health Care
Abolish the 2009 health care legislation commonly referred to as Obamacare
Lead efforts to create common sense legislation that understands the difference between health care and health insurance and minimizes the role of government in the decision-making process
Allow for denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only when changing insurance is a choice of the consumer, not because they were dropped or changed jobs
Getting the government out of health care (Medicare) would significantly reduce overall costs but is impractical at this time. Reform Medicare significantly over time for new recipients, but do not reduce coverage for current recipients
Not require anyone to go on Medicare if they are employed and have insurance or are happy with their current insurance
Medicare should cover things that other insurance does not, not be a comprehensive program
19. National Security
Strengthen the CIA to be able to identify and counteract threats from abroad in conjunction with the FBI domestically
Abolish the Patriot Act

Sports history? Probably not...

Most people probably wouldn't think of this weekend as a particularly historical one when it comes to sports. However, considering my history of rooting for teams that don't perform well, especially not all at the same time, I'd have to say this is a pretty historical weekend.

I am a real fan of only a few teams. The Braves, the Redskins and Baylor University. Sure, I root for hometown teams, but these are my loves. That said, the Braves are leading in the wild card race in the national league, while both the Redskins and Baylor's football team have started their seasons 2-0. That might not be particularly remarkable that any of these things would be true, but as a long time fan for all of these teams, I have the feeling that it is pretty remarkable that it would be true all at the same time. The Braves started their great run back in 1991. The last time that Baylor started 2-0? I don't know exactly, but I can say with certainty that they were 5-0 in 1993. The Redskins won the Superbowl for the last time in 1991. So, Baylor was pretty good back in the early 90s, the Redskins won the Superbowl back in '91 and the Braves started their great streak back in '91.

As you can see, for a fan of these three teams, I pretty much have to go back to 1991 to find a time when I could cheer for all three teams and actually hope for a win. It is premature to say that any of these teams will perform well. The Braves haven't won it yet, the 'skins aren't expected to continue and Baylor wasn't expected to win more than 3 games by the preseason prognosticators. Nonetheless, regardless of the outcomes of the seasons for any of these teams, I've had a pretty good couple of weeks...sportswise.