... and I Approve this Message

I am writing today, asking that you elect me President of the United States on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.  I would like to be clear that I'm not running because I want the job, I am running because I cannot, in good conscience, support either of the candidates from the two largest political parties.  I am completely disillusioned by Obama's last four years, and I don't believe a word that comes from Romney's mouth.

I'm going to restate my agenda, first by freely admitting that I don't have all of the answers, and acknowledging that I don't have a strong opinion about everything.  I am also confessing that I may be wrong about some things, which means that I might change my mind on minor issues.  With that said, let's talk about my stand on various topics.

Let's start with Federal spending.  Last I read, we borrow about $.30 of every $1.00 we spend at the Federal level.  This is obscene, and it cannot continue!  To illustrate this problem differently... if we were to stop borrowing money today, we would need to instantly cut Federal spending by 30%, raise taxes to cover this 30% spending, or some combination of the two.  In order to pay our debt in any meaningful way, this figure increases to 40%.  There is no painless method of fixing this issue.  The rich are going to have to pay more taxes, and the needy are going to have to accept smaller handouts.  The longer we wait, the more this will suck.  Deal with it.

With that said, the President cannot fix the budget.  My opponents keep talking about what they will do.  Well, there's not much they can do, other than make recommendations and sign or veto the budget.  The line item veto was a wonderful thing, but the Supreme Court struck it down.  It's up to congress to make and pass a budget.  By the way, they've failed to do that for something like three years now!  This is a pox on both parties, and only shows that our current legislators are unwilling to put aside their petty differences for the good of the country.  I can't promise to fix this, because, as I said, writing the budget is Congress's job.  I can, and will, however, call shenanigans when I see it.

I do believe that we should cut some of the chains that tether business.  Since I'm not a businessman though, I don't really know where to start.  I will need a bit of help here, so I'll talk to a few prominent business individuals from several different industries, put together a comprehensive plan, and propose it in 6 months to a year.  This would take another 6 months to a year to pass through congress, assuming they can play like grown-ups, and another year or so for the payoff.  In other words, I will change things, but don't expect instant results.

As for foreign policy, I'm tired of being the world's piggy bank and police department.  I just think it's time to back off a little bit overseas.  This is an oversimplification, but it gives you an idea where I'm coming from.  I like the idea that sparked the UN, but in practice, it's a toothless, petty bureaucracy that only likes us when they can get something from us.  I will honor our previous commitments, but will be disinclined to take on anything else until we get our own house in order.

I'm a fan of personal responsibility and personal choice, with a generous serving of humanitarianism thrown in for good measure.  If you don't support abortion, don't get one.  If you don't like guns, don't buy one.  If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a homosexual.  If you don't like our laws, change them or leave.  If you don't like drugs, don't take them.  My overall philosophy here is that you can succeed or fail to any extent that you see fit, as long as you don't take down everyone around you.  As for the humanitarianism, I believe that social programs such as unemployment benefits and welfare can be a good safety net.  The problem is that they're being abused.  Maybe a good solution would be to make a basic welfare/unemployment requirement, but leave implementation completely up to the states, up to and including collection and disbursement of the necessary funds.

Federal employees should be subject to the same laws as its citizens... up to and including social security.

Corporations are not people.

Our tax code is crazy.  We need to simplify.  I suggest getting rid of loop holes and having a mildly graduated tax schedules.  This will hurt everyone... no more earned income credit... no more mortgage deduction... capital gains will pay the same tax as income tax... No favorites here!

A balanced budget amendment sounds good on the surface, but there will come a time when this would bite us in the @$$.  Furthermore, it would most likely be a toothless law with no consequences for failure.  Instead of making another law, how about we just elect people with commmon sense and the ability to balance a checkbook?

If you vote for me, I promise that you will disagree with me on at least one issue.  That's okay.  I am willing to listen.  But I am not willing to compromise the needs of everyone else so that one select group can avoid discomfort.  If that costs me your vote, so be it.  As for those of you voting for one of my opponents because I can't win, I will say this... You're buying in to a false choice.  Some say that a person voting for a third party candidate is wasting thier vote.  I say bullshit!  The only ones wasting their vote are those who don't use it, and those who squander it on the lesser of two evils, as opposed to voting for the person they truly support.  Those who don't vote aren't speaking.  Those who vote for the lesser of two evils are not saying what they really believe.  Furthermore, they are buying into and perpetuating the lie that keeps the two major parties in power.  The only way to break the cycle is to select a candidate that you support.  Stop perpetuating the lie, and vote for me.  You know you want to.