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Edited on Fri Dec-09-05 12:33 PM by FormerRepublican
I'm starting a new thread so I can get all the edits in. Please read through this to see what you agree or disagree with, and make any comments regarding changes or additions.
"Test Party Platform
1. The public has become tired of the corruption rampant in Washington politics. It’s the opinion of the people that this corruption should stop, and those whom we elect should ensure that it does or be held accountable for their failure to act.
2. The future of our children demands an environment conducive to life. It’s important that we act to protect our environment so our children have a healthy world in which to live.
3. The US does not and should not tolerate torture, imprisonment without trial or rights, or the cover-up of these abuses. Our elected officials should put a stop to these practices immediately.
4. The budget should be balanced, and costs associated with this process should be spread fairly across the population and not borne exclusively by the poor and middle-class. Corporations should also pay their share to ensure the US has a strong economic foundation. Every effort should be made to reduce the current debt of $27,000 for every man, woman and child in the country, and to prevent the further accumulation of debt.
5. A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions without interference by the state should be protected. This right should not be superceded by rights of pharmacists or others to object to methods of her health care as agreed to by her and her doctor. Suggested by ayeshahaqqiqa, worded by me: The government shall not interfere with private, individual health care decisions, including end of life decisions.
6. The invasion of Iraq has placed the United States in a difficult and unsustainable position. The continuance of hostilities in Iraq increase the deficit and tax burden on American citizens, and the continuing deficit growth is unsustainable. A plan should be developed for the withdrawal of our troops and the end of hostilities.
7. FEMA should be appropriately funded and staffed to allow for effective responses to national disasters. Unqualified people should not be politically appointed to FEMA. Suggested by OregonBlue: FEMA shall accept volunteer offers of assistance in an emergency regardless of prior negotiated contracts, and all contracts should state that volunteer assistance will be accepted in the event of an emergency.
8. The lives of the poor and disabled should be valued by the United States, and these individuals should have the resources to buy food and obtain housing and adequate medical care. The resources of private charities are insufficient to meet the needs of the poor and disabled in our country, and the nation must do it’s part in helping the most vulnerable among us.
9. Social Security should be strengthened to make it secure for future generations. The promises of the government to our elderly and disabled citizens should not be broken. The government securities currently in the Social Security trust fund should be honored like all other government securities.
10. The federal government should be authorized to negotiate lower drug rates based on volume in the Medicare drug program.
11. The pension promises made to workers by Corporations should be honored, and these obligations should not be discharged through bankruptcy. Pensions should be properly funded, and fines assessed to those companies who fail to adequately fund their pension programs.
12. The right of each citizen to cast a vote, and to have that vote counted accurately, should not be denied. Suggested by MissWaverly: Voting machines shall have code that is accessible by election officials and shall meet certain minimum standards, in addition there shall be random quality checks performed on election day to ascertain that the system is performing accurately, there shall be a mechanism in the machine to allow recounts and there will be established national standards for procedures for recounts. Suggested by OregonBlue: No Secretary of State or political operative shall have access to any vote tabulator during an election. My addition: Any vote tabulator that malfunctions during an election shall be taken out of service for that election, and sufficient replacements be made available so there is no reduction in the number of voting machines available for that election. Election machines shall be distributed fairly based on registered voting population in each precinct and not by any other method of distibution. Denial of an adequate number of voting machines for the registered population should be a violation of election law.
13. The rights guaranteed to our citizens in the Bill of Rights should not be limited by subsequent legislation like the Patriot Act.
14. Tax incentives to enable and enhance the ability of American companies to move jobs overseas should be repealed, and a tax assessed for the same activity.
15. Suggested by Warpy, wording by me: All tax cuts enacted by the George W. Bush Administration should be repealed, and new budget sensible tax cuts enacted that are fair across the board.
16. Suggested by Peacebird, wording by me: Campaign ads shall be truthful and accurate, and the funding source of ads shall routinely be disclosed in detail. Elected officials shall be limited to two terms in office for the President and Senate, and three terms for the House of Representatives to reduce corruption of public officials. Should the President of the United States be consistently below 40% approval for many months, he shall be subject to recall by the people for his failure to conform to the will of the people.
17. Suggested by Mermaid, wording by me: It is fundamental to the values of our country that all citizens be afforded the civil rights guaranteed in the Constitution. We feel it is unjust that gay and transgendered people are discriminated against in the workplace, in public, and in our communities. The rights of gay and transgendered peoples are equivalent to those of all other citizens, as clearly stated in the United States Constitution. The targeting of these individuals for discrimination should not be tolerated.
18. Health care is critically important to the welfare of our citizens. We feel that some form of Universal Health Care should be created and be available to every citizen of the United States for a reasonable cost.
19. Campaign funds from lobbyists shall be no more than 25% of an elected officials total campaign contributions and shall be fully disclosed. Funds received from PACs and other soft money shall total no more than 25% of an elected officials total campaign contributions, and the source of contributions from PACs and other soft money shall be fully disclosed in detail. Contributions from lobbyists, PACs and other soft money shall not influence an elected official to vote against the will of his or her constituents, and it is incumbent upon the elected official to ensure this is so or be held accountable.
20. Suggested by tirechewer, worded by me: Profits for lifesaving drugs and medical treatments shall be limited to no more than 40%."
I look forward to reading your views!
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