Introduction
In every society that humankind has created there has been organization of the group effort. Because of this the structure of human societies have certain similarities which are based on the needs created out of this organizing, and the kinds of work that have to be organized. Modern social scientists see that most all human societies have six components to their structure: Government, Military, Religious, Family, Business, and Education. Each human society has means by which these six foundation institutions are expressed. The Party of the First Part has, therefore, organized its political tenets into six like named categories.
As you read the Tenets of the Party of the First Part decide how each of them suits you. Rate each numbered point in each of the six categories. The rating system is as follows: Zero, means that you agree strongly, one, you agree mostly, Two, you agree somewhat, Three, mainly neutral or undecided, Four, means you disagree, and Five, you disagree strongly. As you read write your numbers on a piece of paper. After you have read each item, and written your numbers, add them all up, and find the average.If your average is in the range between zero and one, you are a good candidate and should return to the Political Solutions page by clicking here, contacting me, and discussing how we might best pursue these goals.
For all others who may want to go your own way, I hope that you had at least some food for thought.
ECONOMICS A: Mythic and Heroic Tasks.
1)
The theme in this area is that if you have a task that is large enough, requiring large amounts of workers, large scale integration of and cooperation by national governments you cause populations to reorganize and integrate, you cause governments to cooperate for a peaceful task, you get full employment, you get peace, and you accomplish tasks which bring people together. For these reasons the Party of the First Part has as its first economic plank a policy favoring the establishment of Mythic and Heroic tasks.
2)
That it also be a policy to develop global scale projects the purpose of which would be to achieve overt, i.e. program goals, as well as more subtle social, and economic goals. The theme of the social goals would be the integration of the human societies on the planet, while the theme of the economic goals would be opportunities for those in the lower economic strata.
3)
Some possible projects to ponder are the following list:
- a) The gradual retreat of humanity from various regions of the Earth so that portions can be returned to the wild. Prime targets for this would be places like Alaska, most of Canada, and vast portions of the United States, Australia, Africa and central Asia. I think that for the vast most part, the nations of the Western Hemisphere as a whole should agree to the gradual removal of European and African peoples even as the ecology is repaired to a pristine condition. This monumental make work program would take a century or more to accomplish but it would, I believe, make way for the final step, the return of the Asian peoples as well, and the restoration of a completely natural environment. Controversial as this may be, it would be a great triumph of social organization.
- b) Outer space is a fine and challenging frontier. It can serve many purposes not the least of which is that humanity could sublimate a portion of its aggression into its development. The projects could be of an epic order. One such is the development of a self sustaining colony on the moon or another body in the solar system. Another is the construct of a series of space stations which would then be linked physically to form the basis for a constructed orbital belt of stations. The function is to create a task that would require large scale cooperation, foster interdependence among nations, and create wealth.
- c) Reclamation of deserts, such as the Sahara in Africa.
- d) A world transport net, including international bullet trains and transforming the intercontinental and international highway systems to a common standard of construction and design with duty free gates which would facilitate trade.
- e) The building of a new metropolis dedicated solely to the medical sciences and arts of healing and health. A city might be chosen to receive this project or some competition for being chosen might be derived. There could be other subject specific cities designed.
- f) Suggestions for the political restructuring of Africa African nations have artificial borders imposed upon them from the colonial times. These gradually need to be altered to allow for a good degree of tribal homeland unification within the nation state system. I see that a bicameral system like that used in England could be developed where one house of the legislature is open to any person who wins an election, and the other house is open to the ruling class of the tribal organizations. Much like the House of Commons and the House of Lords in England.
B: Military Transformation
4)Gradually the military organizations of today would be transformed into a new agency with a wider range of purposes.
5)
The Earth Services Agency would manage an Ecology Corps which could be a large scale organization set up much like the armed forces are today. The tasks of this huge force, which could easily have a number of workers equal to that of the armed forces today, would be the reclamation and restoration of ecological preserves, the repair and maintenance of the economic infrastructure, emergency disaster relief and aid, and could serve to assist ailing urban areas with items such as street security, urban renewal, and proactive crime prevention.
6)
Public employment programs would/could center around an Earth Services Agency. This agency would offer applicants room and board for the duration of service, training in a wide variety of skills, careers, and service programs, and a sum, perhaps 10,000 dollars a year that is invested and saved for the applicant through a variety of financial vehicles, this last is the nest egg which is developed during the period of employment for the use of the employee upon termination of the contract. A person working for the agency would be allowed a contract length of up to five years and would be able to sign up for other stints if the situation permits.
C: Ecological Issues
7)
That the position of the Party of the First Part be that ecology is truly a global issue, and that its transformation be the heart of the human business in the next centuries. I commiserate with the unattributed quotation that follows:
"The earth is the birthplace of our species, and so far as we know it is our only home. When our numbers were small and our technology feeble we were powerless to influence the environment of our world. But today almost without noticing our numbers have become immense and our technology has achieved vast and awesome powers. Intentionally or inadvertently we are now able to make devastating changes in the global environment. An environment to which we and every living thing on the planet shares. We are all adapted to the planet and now we threaten it in various ways. We must needs address this condition of wanton waste and unthinking development." It is a great little quote from a source that I have long lost. But the point is immediate. The ocean and the air are one, and forests and creatures of the land do not pay attention to borders, nor, often times, do people. Therefore be it resolved that:
8)
The realms of air and water being clearly international in nature give all a stake in their cleanliness. That although it may be argued that the land is not transnational in nature since it is not as mobile as the other two realms, clearly land use in one area can have far reaching effects in others, famine in one nation effects what bordering nations must do, poor land use in one area can cause desertification in others, as well as cause refugees to flood across borders. In the science of pharmacology it is well known how important it is to attempt to assess areas of rain forest and other areas in search of folk medicine, plants, and animals which may be helpful in developing medicines. It is also known that unintelligent land use can effect climate. These are the most concrete of reasons, the easiest to understand, for a rationale for international oversight of a given nations ecological policies. It is everyone's concern how a nation treats its ecological system. Therefore that the goal of any and all environmental agencies would be to work toward making the Earth's atmosphere, water, and land as unpolluted as we can measure it to be.
9)
That the design and manufacture of products be made efficient. A return to the zero defect ideal that was common in the 1950's in the United States would be a great step forward. This would reduce the requirements for raw resources, and diminish the pollution and waste inherent in throwing away vast amounts of goods. Energy efficiency ratings would be developed for any energy consuming product so that consumers could compare, easily, one product with another . That any manufacturer of products have a recycling system set up for those products. Simply throwing away items should no longer be sanctioned.
10)
Also that the goal of product design be that of zero impact on the environment. What this means is that any product, especially of the manufactured class, be composed of parts that are recyclable, reusable, biodegradable, or reformable into other products. The idea being that from the outset of its design its life span and end cycle is considered, and that a horizon for the products eventual and total recycling be set before it is produced.
11)
That the development of alternatively powered vehicles that have a high proportion of recylcability be given a very high priority. They should be powered by a renewable resource.
12)
That atomic power be returned to the lab, or moved into outer space. Until the fallibility of the human aspect of the systems are far better than they are and satisfactory arrangements made for the disposal of the waste I think that we put this expensive and unclean toy away for some time.
13)
That the function at the Federal Level for Ecological management would be to find good examples and fund or organize their promulgation. There are good ideas out there, being used, but they are not being copied.
- a) For example: In the ecological field there have been water treatment models that are as exciting as they are unique. Orlando Florida has a model that works. Since 1987 Orlando has processed millions of gallons of treated effluent through a wetlands that was created for this purpose. This is an example of a successful project that only needs to be copied where applicable and we would be on our way to having a healthier place to live.
- b) For another example, community based, cogeneration plants are being constructed in the region of Los Angeles California solving two problems, waste disposal, and power generation.
D: Various Economic Policies
14)
That our economic infrastructure be updated, this to include roadways, water and power systems and that creative means be found to renew and enlarge our parks and open spaces.
15)
Vigilante consumer support groups for assisting the individual with complaints against large corporate entities should be recognized and given some support from social agencies. The function of local, state, and federal governments should be to coordinate the information these groups gather and investigate any business whose products, processes, services, or personnel become questionable, suspect, or dangerous.
16)
The altered flat five tax plan is an income tax proposal that could be blended with any other tax proposals that exist in this document. It is proposed that any self employed persons or couples be taxed at a flat 5%. That any portion of a person's income that is derived from self employment be taxed at that same rate.
17)
In the area of retirement I think that any adult over age 65 should be entitled to a minimum earning floor. This means that they will only be taxed on income over and above their earning floor. I think that 20,000 dollars would be a nice place to start the debate.
EDUCATION Education is vital to the continued development of a society. It is the cornerstone upon which all else is built. An excellent educational system would provide the key for the continued vitality of our society.
A: Back to Basics
18)
At the Federal level the function of government in education is to find successful systems, schools, methods and techniques and promulgate them. It is also a level where pure research should be funded, and the place where basic standards should be constructed. It is also the place where methods of evaluation should created. Funding from this source would be supplementary to that which the other levels of government contribute. At the state level the primary function would be the funding of standard and experimental programs and the monitoring of the success or failure of the school systems under its jurisdiction. The local level's responsibility would be the direct supervision of the school system, oversight and the coordination of community participation at individual schools, as well as the direct oversight of the students and teachers.
19)
I would first set as a requirement that the classrooms and schools be run cooperatively between the teachers and parents. Parents would be required to provide support in the form of time and effort in and or/at the school site. Student to adult ratios in a class of 25 could be reduced if each child's parent had to spend 7 to 10 days in the class per year. Further that the class size should be reduced to a one to twelve ratio of teacher to student.
20)
I think there is great merit in a voucher system, if it is adequately funded. I feel that if each and every student had a voucher that was worth 7,500 dollars per year we would have a beginning. This money would be transferred from the student directly to the site that he or she attends. Each teacher would then be credited with the funds that their students generate. This money would become the total budget that the teacher has for their pay, the pay of any and all aids, equipment, books and other classroom items. From the funds of the teachers at a site would come the funds that support site maintenance, pay bills, and the like. There would be rational restrictions or limits on fundraising for large scale projects such as construction.
21)
However I do not want to have such a system exist in a vacuum. I am in favor of combining this with other items: there must be standards against which state or local officials can evaluate the school's performance, a curriculum which meets national standards or goals and community involvement in the measuring of the success of a given school. After this is all in place, let the schools compete the successful models will grow and the unsuccessful will be bought out. There is a lot of success out there, all we need to do is spread it around.
B: Specialized Cities
22)
That a city be chosen to be a focus for the medical sciences. The primary goal is to define what health is. What factors go into health and keeping healthy. Basic questions such as what do we need to live well and thence to assisting the development of national policies or programs that disseminate this knowledge. The focus here would be on prevention. Perhaps qualifying for any kind of medical insurance would require regular appointments at a health center and being strongly encouraged to take care of one's self and keep oneself fit.
23)
That a city be created solely for the rehabilitation of those found guilty of the most serious crimes. The city would be a total security system that would allow monitoring to a near complete degree. The purpose of any and all aspects of the environment would be to support, train, and guide those living in this city to be good citizens. This goal could be accomplished in many ways subtle and not, obvious and not, as well as anonymously and not.
C: Voter Education
24)
That a reliable means be made to educate the population at large on political issues of the day. That valid polling methods be developed employing both mass media and communication technology to allow such things as national votes or referendums on matters of import and of the moment. This process will give new meaning to the term "Vox Populi" and should be included as an option, even at the federal level, for lawmakers to challenge or garner support for proposed laws.
FAMILY A: The Family Act
25)
Resolved that there should be a cabinet level position specifically dedicated to the Family. That there be committees in the Senate and House of Representatives at the Federal and State levels for this same purpose. That these and other agencies coordinate legislation for the purpose of assisting the Family and evaluating any legislation on the merits of its likely effect on the families of the citizens of our nation. That all parts of this section be included in The Family Act.
26)
The Family Act recognizes that it be realized that there are six main social institutions of any society. Government, military, education, economics, religion, and the family. These six institutions are not equals when it comes to the revenue they generate for the government and just as unequal is the amount of revenue that is spent on each of these areas of society. The Family Act begins with the process of addressing this imbalance by taking an inventory of the moneys raised through taxation from each of these areas of society and then comparing it to where the money is spent. Currently, there is an imbalance between which institutions raise money and which receive it.
- a) We need to balance this out, to look at the budget as our priority list our decision on what is important. The family for too long has been high on the giving end and low on the receiving end of the budgetary process.
B: Marriages
27)
The following proposals may sound as though I am going overboard but the problems that come as a result of having millions of "bad" marriages are staggering. This is the proverbial elephant in the living room. Many social studies point to broken homes as a significant contributing factor in a wide range of crimes and social problems. Something more needs to be done. And so we have the following suggestions.
28)
That marriages be monitored by society. This means that something more than a blood test, a piece of paper, and a fee paid would be in order. We do more for a driver's license because we have a social responsibility to make sure the roadways are not dangerous. Well, the argument goes, do we not have to pay for marriages that fail, for children so poorly raised as the byproduct of those failures? Do we not, in fact, have children with severe problems as adults as a result of those failures? Well, I believe that it is incumbent upon society, its agencies, and institutions to find some means of sifting through potential couples or having them assess themselves to see if theirs would be good marriage is a viable problem to investigate. Perhaps the suggestions below might be a start.
29)
Marriage licenses would truly be a license to marry. I would think that some kind of social oversight would be helpful. This would involve some prerequisites such as time to develop communication skills, verification of health, ability to manage finances, stress, knowledge of family life, and a background check. I believe that the state should be able to provide some measure of guardianship through the licensing procedure, especially in view of the human costs that bad marriages, or children produced by such tend to create. I believe that if some such process was available it would provide couples with some preparation for this intense event.
30)
Divorce would not end the responsibility of parents to their offspring. A means could be found to end the charade of absentee parents who do nothing for the support of their children. There could be an incentive system for bounty hunters to find the delinquent adults and bring them to respond to their responsibilities.
31)
That genetic screening be part of the prerequisites for the marriage license, mainly to obviate what may be genetic complications for any offspring of a given couple. That a couple should decide to have children with foreknowledge of the risk, entitles them to a fuller financial responsibility for any social services a "special needs" child might have.
32)
That a new social form be developed. One that supports the family, the single individual, provides a safety net and a ready access to the federal agencies. In appearance this would be akin in accessibility to the ward boss in the old time political machines or the local cell of the communist party. A neighborhood person who would be on duty to help others as needed with managing their way through governmental mazes, coordinate things like welcome wagons, block parties, and neighborhood security.
C: A Childhood Bill of Rights
33)
To be assured of adequate food, shelter, education, and adult assistance, supervision and good modeling. As a teacher I hereby place this idea before the people: that teachers, or any licensed child care provider or social guardian such as police or doctors, be entitled to bring lawsuits against parents on behalf of their child's welfare if reasonable cause is evident.
34)
A right to a safe and healthy environment.
35)
The right to be secure against abuse or lack of care.
36)
The right to petition to be released from parents or guardians if there is a reasonable assurance that the plaintiff is in a harmful situation that stands in violation of the first three rights stated above.
37)
Any adult with reason to suspect a violation of these basic rights to be taking place is duty bound to report such occurrences. Such persons would include but not be limited to: other family members, teachers, neighbors, and other persons or friends in the neighborhood. Once a report is made an evaluation could proceed and be decided on the basis of evidence gathered from the adults in the child's life. Children can be removed from the custodial care of their parents or guardians for such times and for such conditions that may be decided by the voters and or their representatives. If a child is removed to a care facility the parents are not absolved of financial responsibility but must provide for some substantial measure of support.
D: Foster Care Systems
38)
Foster Care facilities will be licensed and guarantee each of their charges all the basic needs set forth above in sections one through four. Between the ages of 12 to 16 Students in the foster facilities will be encouraged to combine education with vocational interests as talent is assessed or developed or as interests become serious. During this time they may apprentice and even be allowed to earn income under predetermined circumstances, and within limits that would be outlined and set forth in law.
39)
Between 16 and 18 persons in the foster facilities are prepared for being exited. Though there may be programs that include cooperatives that function like safe houses with supervision, counseling, and other kinds of assistance such as training programs, the young adult is allowed the freedom to plan their future and become an independent agent. At this stage the state may still provide some forms of support such as education loans, mentoring in various professions, or counseling and job training.
D: Abortion and Right to Life
Let me begin by saying that I agree with the moderate elements of both sides of this debate. I have bothered myself with debates and arguments. I have not found any statement that satisfies most persons on either side of this vital, and divisive issue. What I am trying to do here is create a position that a wide variety of persons on both sides of the issue might find acceptable. I am trying to find the largest possible middle position. If this could be found then, I believe, the democratic process would quickly bring peace to the tumultuous field of battle that now sparks hate and crime around our nation.
40)
That life would be considered to begin with the heartbeat. That this be the first contraindication for any abortion procedure. That from this point the infant be granted rights proportionate with its increased likelihood of survival outside the womb. The more likely survival to be the less likely that any abortion should be performed. I would go so far as to say that barring the likelihood of the mother's death or the presence of evidence suggesting that the child would be genetically handicapped or would have other problematical circumstances that the child should be carried to term if the heartbeat begins. Each and every statement in this paragraph would have to be haggled over and defined, of course, and I expect that. This is, hopefully, a place to start.
41)
I might add that this is one proposition with which I am most uncomfortable. Not because I approve or disapprove of abortion, but because I can see both sides of the issue so clearly while at the same time I know that some resolution needs to be made as to when it might or might not be allowable. On the one hand life is sacred, on the other, there are simply to many unwanted children and unfit parents whose own lives preclude their children's healthy development. We cannot properly care for the children that we currently produce. I will also be the first to admit that the whole issue of abortion is not the real problem, the real problem is the pregnancies which are produced by irresponsible persons who currently get off the hook with little more than a visit to the doctor and a bill on their charge card a kind of behavior that is morally abrupt and insupportable. I will also admit that solving this problem is currently beyond me, or, it would seem, the law, and the morals of many.
E: Housing
42)
A related area is housing. As someone who would be president once stated, and I will paraphrase here: "There are solutions aplenty for this problem, there are studies and papers showing what has to be done. What is lacking is the will to openly discuss them, experiment with them, and find out empirically what works and does not work." I believe this. I believe that Co-housing or cooperative grouping of families may be a viable means to the ends we desire: every person having a place to call home. The solutions are there, all we need to do is go and find them, try them out, use the ones that work and find out why the others don't.
F: Welfare and Assistance
43)
Thoughts on welfare: That the role of the federal, state, and local governments be varied.
- a) First, these agencies should maintain an inventory of the charity and philanthropic organizations in a given community and know what their programs are so that the governments could design programs that supplement and/or support those that already exist in the community. The governmental agencies should have programs that work with those created by private interests. The governmental agencies could provide the community organizations with logistical support, fiscal assistance, and methods to screen any recipient of welfare to track them and evaluate their progress, so that the benefits of any such program can be monitored and assessed. This would involve tracking cases and some investigative work.
- b) Second, the governmental agencies would be involved with providing work for the individuals, if they could not find their own. The object of all this is to reduce the number of persons on public welfare programs who are not qualified to be on them and to actively encourage those on the system to work their way off of it. This would serve to bring a sense of integrity not only to the program but to the people it serves and to the public which supports it through their taxes.
G: Various Propositions
44)
That any cooperative of families producing certifiably organic produce be given tax incentives to foster increases in production. The goal here would be to support the family farm and give incentives to sustainable agriculture.
45)
That price supports and many of the economic incentives that have become standard are, on the whole, harmful, and need to be reviewed, debated, and overhauled in open, public, forums
GOVERNMENT A: Federal and State Incentives for Reinvestment
46)
That it be governmental policy that through investment and or tax incentives new industries are encouraged to arise to the task of addressing the overall ecological status of our nation and others. We are able to understand how to assist its return to vigorous health that it requires in order to allow it to support ours. This would include everything from household gardening to continental scale terra forming. There would be a commitment to involvement with and concern for the ecosphere - primarily this would be a massive works progress concept.
B: Taxation
47)
The subject of taxation is always thorny but this is one of the ideas that I have considered. This is it: that each individual pay an annual fee of 10%. The flat tax it is called. I believe however that the moneys are to be paid in the following unique way. The tax producer though still required to keep track of earnings and determine from that what their 10% amount is, is given the further responsibility of choosing which federal, state, or local governmental agencies or public service agencies are to receive their money. The point being that as long as one pays ones debts, one is a valued citizen. The rate for partnerships and small companies and passive income would be 8% rate while corporations would be subject to a higher valuation of 15%. These figures represent what the federal government would expect. There would be a limit of half that total amount applied to any combination of state and local taxes. Also, I do not wish to continue the unlimited tax exemption of Non - Profit organizations. They too benefit from the goods and services maintained by the taxes of others and depend on educated individuals, and utilize all manner of goods and services. They are part of the mix and should give some measure of support to the community chest as well, certainly not 10% of earnings, but perhaps three percent of any unearned income from their investments or the like. What this all means is that although you still pay taxes you choose where your money is spent. The IRS would have the task it does now making sure you have paid to organizations that are qualified to receive the payments and paid the proper amounts. There would be some adjustments to this scheme, and that is that there would be some minimum proportion of these amounts that would be used solely for governmental operations overhead, salaries, physical plant, or the like, see number 48 below.
48)
Now there will probably have to be some minimum percentage that is allocated for the support of governmental infrastructure for the federal, state, and local governments, but what I am stating here is the goal. The information age that we live in makes it perfectly possible to allow the citizens to be able to support those services that they feel need support. If the citizens are allowed to send moneys to their representatives to allocate for programs the people would have more control over how the congress spent.
49)
Needless to say that a balance budget would be a goal. But I have a wilder idea: how about a goal of a regular surplus equal to the average annual inflation rate. This grand surplus would have be spent on "worthy causes" that are brought before the local, state or federal legislature, debated while voters look on via the media, and who subsequently pass on or reject the resolutions instantly, via the internet or other means. The proposals are voted on directly by the public. I would think that there would be plenty of interest in this king of thing, in as much as problems disastrous accidents, property damage, personal injury, any overwhelming personal or community disaster would be eligible for this petition.
In addition to this goal of achieving a surplus in each budget period borrowing to balance the budget shall, for the most part, cease and that no new such debt may be created by the Federal Government for three fiscal periods. After this time of restraint, the limit on said borrowing will not exceed 3% of the total budget for the Federal Government or more than one point less than the rate of inflation for the budget period in question, whichever of these is less. Exceptions would have to be outlined and discussed as would the process for allowing such exceptions and procedures. I would hope that all of this would be public, and that the public would hold the government to account for what is done with the requested funds.
Government loan programs need to be completely reviewed and made to be responsible. That is to say, defaulting on such loans should be obviated by prior qualification procedures, and the high probability of being sought and being forced to make restitution.
C: Redefining the Role of the Federal Government
50)
The role of the federal government is set forth in the Constitution of the United States of America. It includes now such things as the maintenance of the interstate economic infrastructures, oversight of transport and information systems, coordinating of nation wide resources especially during national responses to local emergencies, defense and foreign policy, minting money, lawmaking and maintaining the judicial foundation, as well as developing national standards for such things as weight and measure. The need for national government is clear in many areas. There may be areas where it is not so clear. What is needed is a place to start a debate wherein the limits of the federal government is discussed.
C: Penal codes, Prison and Reform
51)
The principle I would like to establish is that criminal acts must always be completely redressed by the offender. Meaning the guilty party must "pay for" the actions they are guilty of. The party so encumbered would be expected to compensate the victim for all assessable damages. This would be the basis for the criminal's consequence upon being found guilty. If the state should recognize that the guilty party cannot provide for the needs of the victim then the state shall supply the needed resources. In turn the guilty party will be responsible to the state for the reimbursement of the expenses incurred. In most cases the guilty party could make a monthly payment plan, agree to the garnishment of income, or the seizure and sale of any property owned by the individual. If it becomes evident that an individuals debt is so great that there is little or no likelihood that the state would recover the expenses incurred in ameliorating the concerns of the victim(s) then the state has the right to increasingly restrict the individual, even to imprison them.
52)
My notion of paying for your crime is exactly that, paying for it. When an individual is sent to prison they will be expected to work and produce products or services that when marketed continue to provide not only for the cost of the inmates own overhead, but provide for the relief of the debt that the state incurs as it assists their victim. These "Working Wards" can be assigned to camps and or factories where products are made, or have their contracts sold to those who would have to the ward's salary sent to the state. I have in mind a monitoring system that could be developed so that their escape would be impossible even if they are assigned to an urban situation. A person's sentence therefore would always be reparations for damages done. They would be free when they have paid their debt to society.
53)
For example if a criminal severely injured a person in the course of a robbery. The guilty party would have to pay for all the hospital bills, the court costs, the cost of getting the persons job back on line, and the counseling that may be needed to fully restore the person to what might be called normal. If the guilty party had a skill that would allow them a great income then the state could elect to allow them to continue their career so long as they show good faith in paying for their damages.
54)
Prison, as we now know it, would only be for those whose violence is a threat to others or themselves. Even in this place though they must be productive and redress the costs that their victim incurred and the costs of the state while they are incarcerated. These people must be examined both physically and psychologically to determine all that is needed to restore them to society. Control of inmates will be mainly done by having them wear helmets which are fixed to their heads with a shield in front of their faces which may variously be controlled by them to access eating or remotely by guards to control them. These helmets would be able to close off a prisoners sight, effect their hearing, be connected to the global location system, to monitor the prisoners sight, hearing, pulse, and breath rate, and be programmed to alert 911 under various conditions which would be structured to circumvent the prisoner from attempting any criminal activity. Such helmets would allow offenders to work in the field and be under control. In prisons the helmets would obviate many of the currently uncontrollable and illegal activities that plague even the most restricted and secure systems.
55)
That the death penalty be recognized as unconstitutional. After all it does say that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However if one is capable of totally abrogating another's' right, meaning killing, one is expected to redress and ameliorate the offense to the fullest extent possible. For detailed arguments please see the link referred to near the beginning of this document. I believe that you will see that there is no reasonable argument left for capital punishment.
56)
Those whose debts are so high or crimes so heinous that they are truly a danger to others, would be in the most restricted sort of environment, something like a prison. They would still be expected to work however even if it is ditch digging or pulling weeds. Be it known that those who have committed murder have abrogated their rights as totally as they abrogated the rights of the person who has, through their death, had theirs abrogated, meaning their right to life. Murders would almost never be repatriated into society. Despite this these must still work to compensate the victim's family and friends for the only chance at parole or some chance to return to life outside is when those debts have been paid. Only then could the and the family and friends of the person petition the state for the murderers release. Or, if the person killed returns to life in some miracle and is willing to forgive their transgressor then, of course, a hearing would be held to discuss the matter fully and to everyone's satisfaction.
56 AIt is my belief that government representatives, their direct employees, or others acting on behalf of them, agencies of the government, in general, any person, company or set of persons acting on behalf of the people should be held responsible for any illegality they participate in. Also, if they have knowledge of such illegalities and take no appropriate action that they be held as being passively complicit in them. By being responsible, I meant that the statute of limitations for such crimes be eliminated.
D: Election Reforms
57)
In the realm of elections any ballot selection containing candidates for office should have a space for non-votes such as "none of the above", "neither of the above", or a vote of "no confidence". Whichever is appropriate.
58)
In ballot selections that involve issues along with the yes/no selections there should also be a non-voting space for: do not know enough to make an educated choice.
59)
There should further be ruling that in cases where the number of "none of the above" votes exceed the margin of victory that a special election would be held between the top two candidates, if that is applicable. Or that another special election be held in which another set of candidates must vie for the office. In such an event a shortened election would be prudent. Therefore a publicly funded series of public hearings, community meetings, would be arranged so as to find another set of candidates willing to run for the office. Community meetings would provide a format for potential candidates to obtain support before the special election. The community meetings would be given media attention thus allowing the public at large to have some basis for choosing between the candidates who gain exposure in these public debate before the use of the Vox Populi method outlined above.
60)
Voting be encouraged in the educational process and be part of school life from the beginning. That a certain percentage of the registered voters must participate in a given election for it to be considered valid. Or that a certain percentage of approval be required to pass an unopposed measure or an unopposed candidate for office. What I am after here is a certain minimum standard of public approval.
61)
Notions on voting: That one may register to vote as part of the payment of taxes. That registering to vote in this manner registers you in a national tax free lottery. Also attaching proof of voting provides a 25.00 tax credit for the year in which you voted. These two measures are to encourage the voting process. Further that for each person receiving the aforementioned tax credit the federal government would contribute 2.50 to a fund for an Election Management Committee.
62)
Campaign Reform Issues
Campaign reform, The Local Level:
A simplistic approach might well work. On a local level, city and county, elections should be district based where there are executive boards. This would allow that a given contender would have a set geographical territory to campaign in and limit the cost of running a campaign. This would allow create a training ground for would be politicians most of whom start out competing for local offices, either city or county. The citizens, by signing a candidate's petition for office would allow the candidate credibility in statistical terms, as their petition lists are matched to the voter registrations lists. Or a voter could give a candidate a formal voucher which would serve the same purpose. This would be done during a local campaign as vouchers or petitions are verified candidates would be garner media attention and cause further voters to send in their vouchers to the candidates of choice. Funding would follow as polls indicate candidates gaining or loosing support. The funds would be held in trust for the candidates as they are donated and until they are expended. Each candidate would have a credit system that would track expenditures and this information would be public knowledge. This process would continue up until election day.
63)
Campaign Funding Reform
Committees and organizations needed to manage these events would, in part, be funded by the Election Management Committee.
Provided that whereas any candidate for local, federal, or state office hold the common weal in trust, that their duties in these offices are vital to the preservation of Democracy and freedom, it is in the publics interest that the public enjoy a right to know concerning any and all agreements, promises, deals, or arrangements a candidate is party to in the course of their campaigning for or while holding office. Further, just as the public has a right to know the candidates political beliefs, philosophies, and positions concerning the important issues of the day, so do they have the right to have knowledge of any other attribute which might effect their support for the candidate.
Therefore any candidate seeking office in the state legislatures, the congress or for the federal eexecutive level must be subject to the following Sunshine Law:
Any candidate for the offices outlined above must make public any agreement made between themselves or any interested party, contributor, supporter, or friend if the agreement is one that is in any way related securing support for the candidates bid for office.
Any candidate for the offices outlined above must make public the minutes of any meeting that is in any way related to their bid for office, the attendees of the meeting must be listed and an accurate, substantial, summary of the essentials of the meeting must be made public.
All of the foregoing is to be true for any of the managers of the candidates campaign.
All moneys donated in whatever amount, from whatever source must be kept in account and balance within a ledger containing the sources of income and the expenditures for which outlays were allowed. All financial officers in the candidates campaign would be as responsible for the legality of income received and payments out as the candidate.
All contributions to any candidates campaign would first be deposited in a central accounting office where the legality of the contribution would have to meet current standards. Checks, vouchers or other expenditures allowed by campaign committees, the candidates or anyone acting on their behalf would have to be cleared through that same committee. All accounts so kept will be public record. Fully 5% of all funds do collected will be kept for the use of the Election Management Committee as a means to fund its programs.
Further, be it stipulated that the moneys, funds, or contributions donated to any candidate for the aforementioned offices and held in trust for a given candidate would be tracked so that the contributor's identification, as well as that of the person or persons delivering the funds, and the organization that they are affiliated with would be known. All dispensing of funds from a candidates account would have to on record with supporting documentation to verify the moneys were spend as indicated.
Any candidate for these offices would have a "shadow" a person who would, by law, have to attend every meeting of each candidate. They would have to countersign any and all agreements made for the agreement to be valid or binding. Each candidate would have three Shadows so that the candidate would never be without coverage.
All the information that is mentioned in this reform package would be made public knowledge, through the internet, or in documents available to the public through the offices of the government that the candidate is bidding for.
64)
Part 2 Primary Election Reform, the state level.
Committees and organizations needed to manage these events would, in part, be funded by the Election Management Committee, EMC.
And whereas attempts to run for office are expensive and that many able persons cannot possibly afford to bid seriously for office, let it be that the primary system be altered to foster an opening of the system to those who otherwise have been disenfranchised. To this end each state will create new "primary" districts with each election. Candidates desiring to run for state office would have to go to each of these special districts to campaign. These districts, on the state level, could be counties, cities, or other defined areas. The concept is to reduce the territory that a candidate has to campaign in, and by so doing, reduce the cost of running a campaign, and thus allowing more persons to run for office. The primaries will consist of contests between candidates. The state governments will create, from the pool of eligible voters in these districts, a group of Electors. These Electors will be paid by the EMC to hear and judge those candidates bidding for any of the offices covered by this reform package.
The qualifications for being an elector would be as follows: they must be a registered voter, willing to participate, and to maintain their anonymity. The group as a whole must be randomly chosen and their numbers should be substantial numbering in the thousands for a typical state.
The candidates will not know who the paid electors are but will have to campaign none the less in an attempt to reach them. The electors will in undertaking this employment be charged with being "professional voters". Their task would be to come to a decision and winnow down the field of candidates during a primary.
The candidates will be campaign through media, the internet, and traditional news media. While the electors would have access to all information the candidates produce.
The electors will be employed solely as an elector during the time of the primary. Their pay would be substantial and anonymity would be both on the part of the elector and the agency providing the funding for them. When the primary period has concluded the public will be made aware of the standings of the candidates. The process, in a given state, may be repeated several times, depending on the size or diversity of a state. Each primary might have additions to the field. However, the public at large is given a chance to hear the candidates and come to their own conclusions. The cost of campaigning to a few thousand persons, in a restricted geographic area would be much less while the public at large gets to see and hear the candidates debating each other, answering questions and making choices.
On a federal level the election process would similarly consist of candidates running for a primary in a given state or well defined region. There would have to be several states, or regions in diverse parts of the United States, however the principles of operation would be the same. The Elector system would be used to make the campaigns less costly, allow more diverse viewpoints into the debate, obviate excess campaign contributions, and winnow a wider range of candidates down to a smaller number that the public would be able to choose between.
E: Clean Government
65)
Public officials who lie to the public, especially for personal gain or protection, or gather other to assist in the covering up of questionable or illegal activities do not currently have strict enough consequences. The public should expect that the persons ensuring the public trust should not violate that trust. This is a scourge that must needs be eliminated. I consider having a shadow for most all representatives and other responsible persons in the government. This person would be persons trained to watch over and safeguard the spirit of the law as the government does its day to day operations. This might prove an expense but it would be immensely cheaper if honesty and trustworthiness was absolute in the public servants. The shadows would work 24 hours a day in shifts if need be, and rotated or scheduled so that corruption could be kept at bay.
F: Consumer Advocacy
66)
That consumer advocacy groups have access to the information superhighway in order that consumers can be made aware of what is newsworthy in the fields of car insurance, car repair and maintenance, banks, and any business in their community.
67)
That each business have an ID number so that as it functions in society a data base can evolve that would be the basis for the rating a business is given. Suitable systems for evaluating data updating data and maintaining its integrity must be put in place.
G: The Dynamic role of The Party of the First Part
68)
That some form of world management be on each nations agenda. This management would at first be one that would coordinate emergency relief or assistance for people in places overwhelmed by natural disasters, provide a coordination of development aid, support for health related projects, and agricultural improvement. There would be an incremental approach to the development of a global society with a unifying form of management. I know you will say that is what we have the UN for. But what I am wanting is for the party to become international, and cause the various governments to actively seek integration of their own assistance programs both domestic and foreign
MILITARY 69)
That the function of the military be that of peacemakers. That in accord with the values derived from delegitimizing murder, establishing a true international peace, and performing the duties and tasks assigned to them in emergencies, they would gradually alter their role in the society and the world.
70)
One of the greatest problems in our world today is the belief, held by many, in many lands and walks of life, in various faiths, that under certain circumstances it is permissible to kill others. The party disagrees with this.
72)
In my mind one of the chief functions of the military would be to challenge those groups or organizations who would demonstrating the ardor of their belief and undertake to kill persons for whatever reason they deemed justifiable.
73)
I had a vision of a way in which I would like to have had the world as a group handle the most recent Balkan war. I would have had any and all persons living whose ethnicity stemmed from the nations involved, no matter where they were living in the world, take part in a global discussion as to what the United Nation's policy should be. This inclusion of all the millions of relatives and countrymen in the policy decisions would have been quite interesting. Of course, if the persons who were warring wanted to add their votes, or, by joining the discussion, argue their cause, I would think that that would have been allowable. All of these people could have their say, so that the peoples who manage the United Nation's security council could attempt to comply with their overall wishes. In this way the community of nations would serve the "interested parties" helping them cease their violent interactions. The discussions by these interested parties would guide the world community in formulating its response. Once a point of consensus was reached action would be taken and, I believe, that, with practice, such a procedure would provide legitimacy for the use of sanctions, the giving of aid or assistance, as well as armed protection, all with the aim of reducing the ability of those who believe that killing can be legitimized from taking action on this belief. The United Nations forces would be armed of course, for their own protection, as they carried out the tasks assigned them.
RELIGION 75)
Freedom to worship in ones own way is an ideal. Perfection is not expected with this or any other opinion regarding religion. It is expected that community debate and discussion will formulate a true and just policy as regards the place and role of religion in the community.
76)
That heroism be recognized and philanthropic organizations and civic government be encouraged to support the development as heroism a as a norm.
FOREIGN POLICY The Party of the First Part so far has not discussed foreign policy. It is my belief that such policy be based on core values of the United States. Values that most all Americans treasure, and consider worth maintaining. I say that we could do worse that fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That we could do worse than support the Bill of Rights and substantial portions of the remaining amendments to the Constitution. What else? That we build consensus and act with others collectively as a concerned community to effect, for the better, the lives of those peoples who find themselves in need and who would petition the world community on behalf of humanities sake.
For this reason I argue here in support of the UN activities in Yugoslavia in general and Kosovo in particular. The decade of the 90's has seen Somalia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan, all places wherein national governments abuse minority populations. Until Kosovo the world would wring their collective hands while the slaughter would go on. I believe that we, in the United States, have been brave to hear the wake up call. No longer can human society be something that stops at arbitrary lines drawn in the ground. The cries and anguish carry, and we cannot ignore what we hear. It behooves the United States to intervene in cooperative ventures which serve to forward the cause of liberation. Liberation from tyranny, injustice, racism, and violence. We feel a new future calls when all nations will stand in judgment of each other, as a community dedicated to fostering a world of prosperity and peace.
CONCLUSION If you have read all of the 76 or so points described above and, to a substantial degree, agree, then you are, without any further fanfare, a party member.
The instructions given to you in this site are deceptively simple and are meant to be just that way. By that I mean this: because of our agreement on these various points we the people can hold our governments accountable for the violation of its responsibility(ies) to us, which is to say that we have a right to alter the social structure that we live in to benefit us as we pursue life, liberty and happiness. At the very least we can start with the right to life as being sacrosanct. Death penalties are not allowable and violate the basic rights of any human, besides I think they really ought to pay for their crime don't you?. Where one is diminished and abused so are we all, ask not for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee, no man is an island- and so forth. We must stand united. Ghandi was one who showed us a way, King showed us in another time and place, many persons showed how people, working together for what is right, can achieve great results. We must bring our power up, focus it to bear upon our governments and train them to be the tools of the people.
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