A Platform in
Search of a Party [8-16-07]
Witherspoon member Dr. Ray Heer
has shared with us the results of his concern for our nation.
Rather than expressing his outrage at the situation (and our
political parties) today, he has tried to put on paper "a
positive vision of policies for a better future." He has put it
in the form of a "platform in search of a party," since he
recognizes that no existing party is likely to adopt it. It
reflects, he says, his effort to let his life "be influenced by
the teachings of Jesus."
We invite
your own comments.
Just send a note, and we’ll share it with Dr. Heer.
A PLATFORM IN SEARCH OF A PARTY
INTRODUCTION
This platform is written to
stimulate the dialogue about the fixture direction of this country.
I'm sending it to my email list and other interested persons. I
don't know what your politics may be, but I hope you will not be
offended by the letter and paper to my daughters. I am often
overwhelmed with all the political stuff that comes over the email.
Some of it I consider so vitriolic and so lacking in fact, that it
does not even allow for dialogue. I hope this response is reasonable
enough to stimulate thought and not inflame irrational anger and
hostility
A genuine party platform
must of necessity be the result of compromise and contain a
consensus acceptable to the majority. Not being constrained by such
a process, this is simply the idealistic dream of one citizen of
what a platform might look like with a concern for the common good,
overlooked in so much current rhetoric. It may not fit neatly into
the dogma of any existing party. That's why it is in search of a
party. Nevertheless I believe it represents a mainstream view
between extremes that could be used to advantage by any party. It
could even win an election!
Draft 5-6/11/06
A PLATFORM IN SEARCH OF A PARTY
(An Outline)
By Dr. Ray W. Heer
THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL PARTY
Faced with the contemporary
conditions of the country and the world, for a vision of the future
and current solutions we look to the wording of the preamble of the
Constitution.
"TO FORM A MORE PERFECT
UNION"
The party believes in Election Reform to
improve fair and equitable representation of all the people. This
should include elimination of the Electoral College, establishing
procedures for non-partisan drawing of district lines of
representation, and election processes that insure every vote shall
be counted and verified to the voter.
The party supports Campaign Finance Reform
and publicly financed elections to free elected officials from the
inequitable influence of money in campaigns. More stringent ethics
standards and their enforcement are needed to eliminate the
influence of money and privileged access to elected and appointed
officials, and the temptations to corruption. A bipartisan (equal
representation) or an independent Ethics Committee needs to
be strengthened to police all contributions to members of Congress,
with power to discipline or suspend members. Checks and balances
among the three parts of government are essential.
As a patriotic party it reemphasizes the freedoms
of the First Amendment, including the freedom of speech, of the
press, of assembly, and petition, allowing dissent as a basic
patriotic right.
"TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE"
Civil laws shall ensure every citizen shall get
the same fair trial and punishment from the government and the
courts. In the administration of justice, courts shall have the
freedom to suit the judgment to the crime, including alternatives to
prison. In the failure of a fair administration of the Death
Penalty and its demonstrated inability to reduce the crime rate,
it should be replaced with a policy of rehabilitation instead of
punishment of criminals. Laws and their enforcement shall protect
all persons from being held without charges, from extra-legal
executive orders, courts, and shadow judicial systems, and from
torture.
The United States shall become a member of the
International Court of Justice and benefit from its provisions.
"TO INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY"
The people shall live without the fear of
violence. Facing the realities of CRIME, there shall be strict
enforcement of criminal laws.
With the prevalence of gun-related deaths and
homicides, and the climate of violence especially in our cities, the
right to bear arms shall be restricted to state militias or citizen
armies such as the National Guard and the police.
Faced with the fears of Terrorism, and the War on
Drugs, the government shall initiate studies into the causes, both
domestic and international, and into non-military solutions. There
shall be a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of current
legislation and federal practice. The United States shall seek to
meet the challenge of terrorism and the drug traffic in cooperation
with other nations, preferably through the United Nations.
"TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE"
It is necessary to support military forces with
the strength to defend the United States. Veterans’ programs need
full funding.
It is in the self-interest economically and
morally for the United States to be leaders of Peace. The
best defense is not a military offense. U. S. Foreign Policy
shall be based upon diplomacy, using military force only as a last
resort and in concert with the community of nations. Democracy is
best and most effectively shared through reaching the hearts of
people by persuasion and practicing fair economics and justice. The
party is opposed to unilateral military attacks upon other nations.
The power to declare war is constitutionally the
exclusive right of Congress and can not be delegated.
The United States should be a responsible and
persuasive leader in the United Nations and use its influence with
other nations together, to be involved in cooperative military and
relief operations such as massive disaster, genocide, human
rights, and intra-national and international conflicts necessary
to preserve WORLD PEACE.
In an era of the danger of Nuclear War the
United States shall sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and
taking the lead together with the other signators, seek to eliminate
all nuclear weapons. The United States shall also honor and
implement the other international treaties it has signed.
"TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE"
A primary focus of all levels of government is to
strengthen support of Public Education to the end that all
persons shall be literate in English, and provide a unifying force
in a diverse population. Opportunities for Higher Education
should be expanded. Governments shall also strengthen Social
Services to provide for the survival and support of
disadvantaged persons so they might live worthwhile lives. Though
faith based organizations provide many of these resources, their
contributions can only be considered supplementary. The government
shall recognize its primary role in these services to all. No
national tax payer dollars shall be allocated to any sectarian
organizations that teach religious doctrine or practice any form of
discrimination.
Using the successful model of Medicare ,a
Universal Health Care plan shall be designed and implemented,
incorporating and improving Medicare, Plan D.
The national government's role shall include
insuring Clean air and drinking water, safe food, and a safe and
protected environment. Energy Independence shall involve
conservation, and development of new sources. The U. S. should sign
the treaty on Global Warming, which is one of the most alarming
environmental trends. Such policies shall reflect scientific
evidence and not partisan or other philosophic views. It shall not
limit a state's rights to go beyond national standards in order to
fulfill those objectives.
This party believes in Marriage and the Family
as a basic foundation of the country's welfare. Faced with the
current disintegration of the family, the government has a positive
role in attacking its root causes whose amelioration would also
benefit the general population.
EMPLOYMENT - The government shall encourage a
healthy business climate and economy, and increase its support
of education, job training and wage laws that will provide
economic opportunities to help eliminate POVERTY.
Support for more low income and affordable
housing will reduce some of the causes of HOMELESSNESS. More
support for DRUG AND ALCOHOL rehabilitation as well as MENTAL
HEALTH care would reduce homelessness, improve marriages and
reduce the divorce rate.
Marriage is a stabilizing human relationship.
In the eyes of the state, marriage is a civil contract and
ceremony, and shall be available to all who are willing to
accept its responsibilities, rights, and privileges.
The General Welfare is threatened by a financial crisis This party
is a party of Fiscal Responsibility, and believes in a
balanced budget and reduction of the national debt. It is impossible
to provide for urgent domestic needs and continue tax cuts,
especially for the wealthy, and continue a war in Iraq. To bring the
nation into fiscal balance and avoid financial crisis, it is
necessary to refine a graduated tax structure on the basis of "to
whom much is given much is required." Concurrently, the United
Stares must withdraw its military from Iran immediately. It should
admit its mistakes and request cooperation of the United Nations in
Iraq’s "nation building." The United States should give up its
unilateral claims to further involvement in that country.
There shall be an intensive bi-partisan review of
the economic and other aspects of Globalization and fair trade,
and its effect on the American economy and the citizenry. It shall
include research and proposals concerning the growing disparity
between rich and poor nations, its effect on immigration and human
rights.
Immigration policy needs to be stabilized.
A fair policy shall include future equitable quotas for all
countries, firm enforcement of current laws including those
involving employers, smart border security, collaboration with our
neighbors, a guest worker program, and stern provisions for current
residents to become citizens. It is unrealistic to seek to deport
millions of people without terrible human cost and disruption of the
economy.
The United States shall continue and in some cases
increase Foreign Aid. It should be directed to programs that
go directly to relief such as FAMINE, AIDS and economic needs of the
people, and not be siphoned off by corrupt leadership. Properly used
it can be a powerful instrument in reducing the flow of illegal
immigration and Terrorism.
"TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO
OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY."
Freedom begins at home. The U. S. tradition and
laws guarantee that individuals have the Right of Privacy. No
part of the government has the right of surveillance, or to tap
telephones, review phone records or e-mail without court approval,
The government shall make no laws that intrude
into the relationship of a doctor, a patient and their faith.
The first Amendment protects citizens from a state
"establishment of religion," and guarantees "the free exercise
thereof." Come to be known as Separation of Church and State,
this means that there shall be no state church and that churches
shall be protected from the intrusion of the state, though churches
have the freedom to exercise their religion freely and express their
opinions to the state. A bi-partisan commission shall review the
Patriot Act, the War on Terrorism, and the War on Drugs and
eliminate all provisions that impinge upon the people’s civil
liberties. More focus should be placed upon understanding the causes
of terrorism and the drug traffic in order to address their
elimination.
The United Stales shall implement the protection
of Human Rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
We invite your own comments.
Just
send a note, and we’ll share it with Dr. Heer.
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