Major Issues

Issues

I am running on the core Libertarian message of Peace, Liberty and Prosperity. I intend to discuss other topics, including Education and Science Policy, Energy and the Environment, and Medical Care. These topics do not amount to a full set of policies for a Federal government, but they are topics that concern large numbers of our fellow citizens. A short summary of proposals follows. For extended discussions, please follows the links.

Peace

We have a foreign policy, which describes how we govern our relations with other nations, and a military policy, which describes how we protect ourselves against other nations. For foreign policy, I propose to end the Iraq War, end Cold War entanglements that refer to a potential enemy that no longer exists, and reduce our military to a size appropriate to the situation that most of the rest of the world is filled with our friends and allies. In particular, I propose:

End the Iraq War immediately
Greatly reduce the Defense budget
End foreign aid
Stop supporting foreign tyrants.

(Read more about my Diplomatic and Military Policy proposals.)

Liberty

The first purpose of the Federal government is to protect the civil liberties of every American. In recent years, our civil liberties have come under great stress. To protect liberty for our children and grandchildren, we need to make major changes. I propose

As President, I will defend all your constitutional rights
I will swear my oath of office with my hand on our Constitution
My advisors will be loyal Americans
Our government should obey our laws
Torture is Unamerican and illegal
The Kelo decision should be reversed
I support equality before the law for all Americans
The right to keep and bear arms is a purely individual right
I am 100% pro-choice
School-enforced prayer has no place in public schools
Prohibition -- It failed in 1932. It's still failing in 2008.
Prisoners of War will receive the full protections of the Geneva Conventions
We have a President, not an Emperor.

(Read more about my Civil Liberties proposals.)

Prosperity

Prosperity is something that we Americans must create for our selves through hard work, sound investment, and frugal spending habits. Uncle Sam cannot make us rich. We Libertarians would like him to stop throwing up roadblocks in our path. I propose:

The current economic crisis arises from a liquidity shortage and counter-party risk. Tax cuts and rebates will soak up capital, making the current economic crisis worse
The first tax to eliminate is the national debt -- the tax on grandchildren.
Federal corporate welfare should be ended, but that won't solve the budget deficit.
We should make Washington, D.C. a model for how business deregulation lets small businessmen make their community wealthy.
The Social Security system is in a near-impossible financial situation. We could encourage people to opt irrevocably out of the system and to invest what would have been their Social Security tax. That change will relieve the strain.

(Read more about my Economic proposals.)

Education; Engineering and Science Policy

There is no more fundamental responsibility shouldered by a parent than to assure that each of their children gets a good education. Of all the ways we have to invest in the future of our country, investing in a sound education for each child is the most effective. American prosperity and security is based on our excellence in science and engineering.

I propose

No Child Left Behind should be repealed.
Move education in Libertarian directions by associating a $5000 a year education tax credit with every child.
Use foreign visitors to strengthen our education, science, and engineering.
Strengthen university education and create allies around the world by expanding student visas.
End wasteful science research boondoggles. Don't let science policy be dictated by particular religious sects.

(Read more about my Education and Research proposals.)

Energy and the Environment

The climate is changing. Oil is a finite resource; world oil fields are being progressively exhausted. Fortunately, Americans thrive on change. We will have dramatic changes during the rest of this century. My policies are steps that would reduce the impact of expected changes in our climate and energy stockpiles.

I propose

Energy costs are changing because there is more and more demand for a limited resource--fossil fuels. Americans thrive on change, and this one is coming.
The Federal government should use private enterprise and long-term contracts to move to renewable energy as its power source.
Americans will need to adopt to changes in climate. Fortunately, we thrive on change.
Environmental protection is a property rights issue. Litigation does not make sense as an environmental defense when there are vast numbers of small polluters whose cumulative effect is bad.

(Read more about my Energy and the Environment proposals.)

Medical Care and Costs

Many Americans are frightened by the high cost of medical care, not to mention uncertainties in its delivery. The Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly use Federal legislation to intervene in questions that many Americans viewed as strictly being their private business.

Congress should stay out of family decisions on life and death questions for the dying.
I will not force a primary care physician on you.
I am 100% pro-choice; government should have no role in this matter.
There are no magic cures to medical care costs, so I propose some simple partial remedies.

(Read more about my Medical Care proposals.)

Immigration

Immigration is a great strength of our Republic. Foreign immigrants enrich our culture, our cuisine, our sports, our science and engineering, and every other positive aspect of American life. By welcoming foreigners to come and live in America, as we now do, we make ourselves richer and better people. It was in great part foreign immigrants that made America a powerhouse of high-technology life. Other countries may produce far more engineers than we do, but when we welcome the best of the best we ensure that their talents will benefit our people.

In particular, I propose: