I, President
I was recently asked by eater in the comments of duane’s blog what I would do if I were elected to the office of President in 2008. Honestly, I would probably shit my pants and use my new found power to score with some hot chicks until they realized I didn’t meet the minimum age criteria of the job. Drats…
But seriously folks… Being President doesn’t mean you can solve all the problems on your own. You can have the best solutions in the world but if you don’t have a Congress that is going to submit legislation for you to sign, you can’t implement shit. That being the case, if I were President, I would spend my time working with Congress on the solutions I believe could fix the current problems we face, such as:
- Passing the FairTax; The FairTax is Bill HR25 currently in the House of Representatives. It’s passage would replace the federal income tax with a consumption tax on all new goods and services. This would boost our economy and personal savings. It also provides for a prebate so the poorest among us would not pay a single dollar in taxes. [Read more.]
- Repealing the 16th Amendment: The FairTax Bill does not do this and to ensure we would not be taxed on income and consumption, we would need to repeal this Amendment.
- Enforcing the existing immigration laws: We have laws regarding immigration, we just aren’t enforcing them. This would make our country less appealing to immigrants thinking of illegally coming to our country.
- Closing the Mexican/USA border: We have to do this if we want to maintain our culture. The illegal immigrants crossing our borders do not want to assimilate into our culture. They do not want to be Americans. They want America to be Mexican. This is nothing short of an invasion. Every nation has the right to protect their border. This one needs protecting.
- Building new oil refineries: There hasn’t been a new one built in 30 years even though demand has increased significantly.
- Increased drilling of oil on our own soil: Specifically the East Coast and ANWAR. We are making ourselves dependent on foreign oil. We are funding terrorism. We are sending our money overseas. Drilling technology has come a long way. Spills are rare. Yes there’s an environmental concern but that is dwarfed by the economic and security concerns of not drilling on our own soil.
- Totally eradicate Islamic fascists from the face of the planet: These people have pledged to eradicate us or put us under Islamic law. If they were willing to live in peace with us, I would have no problem with them. The fact that they have pledged to eradicate us or put us under Islamic law means that is not the case. The only solution is hit them before they hit us.
- Privatize the space program: NASA should be nothing more than a regulating body such as the FAA is to air traffic. Private industry is better than the government at just about everything, space exploration is no different. One hundred years ago the Wright Brothers made the first flight. Look where that industry is now… millions of people crossing the globe daily and no one pays it any attention. It’s been over 46 years since the first man went to space and yet we still hold our breath the half dozen times a year we send a handful of astronauts into space. Space is the next revolution, why are we holding back?
- Establishing English as the official language: No government documents, signs, voting ballots, tests could be in any language other than English. For economic, security, and cultural reasons, we must have one language. That is English and unless we decree it as such, it will not remain that way.
- Repeal the 17th Amendment: The purpose of the Senate is to give state governments a voice in federal decisions. The 17th Amendment allowed for senators to be elected by popular election thereby defeating the purpose of the Senate. We are the United States of America, not the United People of America.
- Abolish federal support of unions: Employees do not own jobs. Employers own jobs. If employees don’t like the way they are being treated, they should go work for a company that will treat them better. An employer should have the ability to fire an employee for any reason at any time. Unions stifle industry and the economy.
- Abolish the minimum wage: If you do not have the means to make more than a federally established minimum wage, you’re pathetic and you don’t deserve the money.
- Legalize the sale and use of drugs: I’m no druggie but I don’t like the fact that the government says what I can and cannot put in my body.
- Repealing natural born citizenship: At least one parent of a child should be a US citizen before that child is given citizenship regardless if the child was born on American soil or not. Do we want our citizens to be raised by someone who is not a citizen and has no desire to become one?
I’m sure there’s more, but that’s all I have at this moment. I think one of the most important responsibilities of the President is to explain to the American people why he/she supports whatever it is he/she supports. This is something Bush has done poorly but Clinton and Reagan did superbly. I would hope that I have the ability to explain why it’s important to do each of the things I mentioned above. Granted I did a pretty poor job here so I doubt I would do much better sitting in an oval office.
Thank you, now I’ll take a few questions…
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June 27th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Here’s hoping you never become president.
June 27th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Oh come now duane, you’re not going to indulge me in specifically what it is you disagree with? Is it everything? Are you really that delusional?
June 27th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Yeah, screw them illegals, good for nothing deadbeat moochers…
Or something
June 27th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Most are not deadbeat and many are not moochers… doesn’t mean they should be allowed to violate the law.
June 27th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Whose talking points are you going to repeat once you move to DC? Boortz’s show doesn’t air there.
June 27th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
If I’m President, won’t what I say be the talking points everyone else is repeating?
June 27th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Neal Boortz makes perfect sense and so do you. You’d get my vote.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:22 am
So, I’d be curious to hear more about your “eradicate Islamic fascists” plan, since that was where the question originated. Details?
Remember, you’ll have to pull that off in spite of a fairly large portion of the populace who vehemently rejects any military action whatsoever.
June 28th, 2007 at 5:29 am
Hooray Fair Tax…I’m all for being taxed on what I consume. Every time I look at my paycheck and see what the government takes I get angry…why not let me have my money and I’ll give it to you every time I buy something? I also agree that it would begin to alleviate some financial strain off those who don’t have lots of $$$$.
June 28th, 2007 at 7:57 am
So many people in politics have great ideas when they begin. Then comes the money from the big businesses and all the perks and before you know it another corrupt politician. I am afraid you would fall right in there with them Dave. Not that I don’t love ya!
June 28th, 2007 at 10:20 am
dave, you are crazy. You suggest that genocide is a good idea on my blog. I can’t even reply to most of this stuff because it is just ridiculous. I don’t understand why you are so against government, when they have the POTENTIAL to do so much good.
It is just so frustrating, that I don’t even bother to “retort”, because it is unnecessary.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:25 am
“I don’t understand why you are so against government, when they have the POTENTIAL to do so much good.”
Yeah, there’s the rub… Potential is nothing, potential is nothing tangible, everyone has potential, you and I both have potential to do anything… Doesn’t mean it’ll happen, of course we have the potential to do nothing too!
June 28th, 2007 at 10:37 am
You have my vote. An added benefit of repealing the 17th amendment is it hopefully gets special interests out of senatorial elections and every state representative election becomes more important.
Also, can I be an ambassador? I’ll take the Bahamas or someplace else nice. Don’t send me to Saudi Arabia!
As for Duane’s comments that government must be great because they have “potential.” That is either brilliant satire or the disturbing result of a government education.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Closing the Mexican/USA border: Forgive me for sounding like an a-hole on your website, but you do know what culture means, right? Our country does not have a culture. Regions within our nation, however, do. So let’s be straight on what closing the Mexican-American border will do. Saving our “culture” is not one of them.
Fairtax: Even if the next administration continues this AWESOME trend of ignoring the separation of powers, it’s not really possible for a President to “pass” legislation. I’m just sayin…
Totally eradicate Islamic fascists from the face of the planet: Nuke their ass and take their gas, right? While we’re at it, I’d like to rid the world of fire ants. I think both are of equal difficulty.
June 28th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Well said, Greg! It doesn’t really help if everyone in DC sits around and THINKS about doing something, but never actually does it. I think Soichiro Honda (of Honda fame) said it best… “Action without philosophy is dangerous. Philosophy without action is worthless.”
June 28th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Wow, a lot to catch up on… here goes folks:
eater, I would really have to defer to Generals on the best way to eradicate the Islamic Fascists. Militarily speaking, I suspect we need to beef up the number of troops sent to the Middle East. The American people can get in as much of hizzy as they want. I’ll do my best to explain to them why this is important but in the end, I’m the Commander and Chief, I have to do what I believe what is in the best interest of the country regardless of what the people want. They can vote me out after 4 years.
mitch, you’re absolutely right. This whole post is in theory, it’s not like I’m running for President nor would I have a shot even if I did. We all know what I would do if I were really Prez… lower the age of consent.
duane, I did not suggest genocide was a good idea, you are dumb. Leave out the war stuff and what about any one of my positions is ridiculous? Sure, the government has POTENTIAL to do great things but it’s not their role. When has the government done anything better than the private sector? You want potential for great shit, turn to industry. They’ll blow government out of the water at every turn. Why do you wish to give up so much of yourself to governmental control?
Craig, if you’re ambassador of the Bahamas, who’s going to be my BBQ competition partner? We could call our team, “Nothing but Pigs in Politics”
TJ, I sound like an asshole every time I post, you are more than welcome to sound like an asshole here to. It’s a free-for-all! Re: American culture - sure we’re a mix of a bunch of cultures but the illegals over here don’t care about what we’ve done or where we’ve come from. They only care about getting every sign put into the peasant language. Look at Mexico, is that the type of culture we want? There’s so much corruption in their government it makes our own government look utopian. Re: FairTax - As I stated earlier in the post, the President can only sign into law what the Congress sends him. My mission would be to convince the people that the FairTax is best and have them put pressure on their Congressmen. Re: Islamic Fascist Eradication - As you’ll notice, I said we should drill for our own oil, not take theirs. Nuking? Nah, they’re not worth it… We’re going to be at war against terrorists for a long time. I recognize that. I was simply stating that we need to step it up notch and take it more seriously. Dancing around like a little pansy isn’t doing the job.
BriDawg, agreed.
June 28th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I think what most people want is simply to be left the hell alone so they can live and enjoy their lives peacefully without interface from the government. If I want to smoke pot, gamble online, play violent video games, and surf porn on the Internet all day long, then as long as I pay my mortgage on time every month, pay my taxes, and act cordially in public like a good citizen it’s none of the government’s business what I do in the comfort of MY OWN HOME. The first person to offer me that is the one I’ll be voting for in the next election.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Titus, I wish you were right. I think there are a good number of people that do want to be left alone. Unfortunately, there are a good number of people that want the government to “right wrongs.” The problem is, what they see is a “wrong” other see as anything but. I’m all about individualism and self responsibility… for some reason, many aren’t.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:42 am
“We all know what I would do if I were really Prez… lower the age of consent.”
Yeah, I thought you had missed listing that one!
LOL
June 29th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Sorry, I thought wiping out an entire region of innocent people would count as genocide; I guess you are right, I am pretty dumb to think that genocide really is genocide.
As for naming one government program that works, I will go with Medicare. Not only does it work, they keep trying to mess with it and fuck up the one good thing that does work! I am not trying to suggest that there is an easy fix for anything dave, and you and I tend to see eye to eye on some things; even though we are coming at it from different angles.
Just because I have a different value system, and a different belief as to what the government COULD do for us, doesn’t make me dumb.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:26 am
“Just because I have a different value system, and a different belief as to what the government COULD do for us, doesn’t make me dumb.”
Duane, you are not dumb, but the fundamental position that you take assumes by definition that people are stupid. You make me pay social security when I don’t want it and I don’t need it. If I start at the age of 20 and invest $10,000 a year until I retire, I will have more than enough money to support myself without any help from the government. But you assume that people are stupid and irresponsible, and therefore you want me to pay it anyway. Thanks for giving me money that I DON’T NEED when I retire!
I keep an emergency fund of almost liquid cash of $20,000 dollars for automobile problems, home repairs, and other emergency needs. It took me over six years of living frugally and living within my means to create this fund, but I did it (actually, most of it’s gone now — I paid cash for my last vehicle after weighing the risks). Yet you want me to pay car insurance every month, when I can’t find a single car insurance company who will give me a $10,000 deductible. So again, you assume that people are stupid, and make them pay for things they don’t need. I am fine with car insurance; after all I’m on a public road and public safety is important. But you want to assume that people are stupid and irresponsible yet again, and you won’t allow them to have high deductibles.
I’m young and I don’t want insurance. But thanks to the government, my employer is pretty much is required to provide it, and I get to pay for it (by having a lower salary) when I haven’t been to a hospital in nearly 10 years. My insurance policy also covers me in case I get pregnant. Wow, how useful that’s going to be for me!
Every position you take involves assuming that people are stupid. If you instead start by assuming that people take personal responsibility for their lives, you’ll then see how silly some of your arguments become.
You want social security. Good for you, keep paying into the system. I don’t want it, and I officially waive my rights to have access to any social security money in return. Heck, let’s make it effective now, you can go ahead and keep what I’ve already paid into the system and I’ll just suck it up and take my loss. But hey, people are stupid right? I’ll probably end up screwing up my own retirement investment at a poker game and then where will I be without good old Government to protect me.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I hate to break it to you but you won’t get those Social Security benefits. Too many wastes of flesh ( “disabled” folks) haved abused the system and we shall be tapped out very soon. But I have no problem paying SS and Medicare if it helps out the Baby Boomers in the future.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Titus, instead of this:
What I am doing is assuming that not all people have the ability to take care of themselves, and as such, I optimistically want the government to help out. I think that the fundamental difference between dave and I, is that he doesn’t think that it is the role of the government (which I think is a totally valid point), whereas I do. That is why we will never agree.
It really isn’t anything more than different approaches to policies that affect us as a society. I tend to lean more towards societal responsibility for all members that belong to it, as an anthropologist.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
The difference is that with Dave’s philosophy, you can donate as much money as you like to charities and other organization, in in lieu of taxation, after paying taxes of course for the necessary services needed to run the minimal government services (roads, police, military, and son). He’s not stopping you from doing what you want with your own money. Your stance requires that I give away my money, regardless of whether or not I believe in it’s causes.
If you are going to argue that people will not donate money without taxation, and if this group of people constitutes the majority of the population, then it is only a matter of time before their ideas prevail through the political process anyway. If on the other hand, you believe that these people constitute a minority of the public, then you have nothing to worry about in the first place, do you?
June 29th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
duane,
Innocent people? REALLY? We are not the ones attacking civilians! Sure some have died at our hands but we’re at WAR. Innocents die in war. We try to minimize it but it happens. And I don’t believe I said wiping out the entire middle east was the solution. A solution? Yes, but not THE solution. u r dum
Re: Medicare. If it worked, they wouldn’t be fucking with it.
Titus, I couldn’t have said it better myself. I know because I’ve tried.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
You got my vote.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
If you are interested in more information concerning the history of the 17th Amendment and the repeal movement, check out my weblog, Repeal the 17th Amendment. Along the right hand side of the page I have a number of scholarly articles that discuss this in detail.
Thanks,
Brian
http://repealthe17thamendment.blogspot.com/