Your 2024 Platform

[vcczar]

If you were running for president in the primary of your preferred major party, what would be your platform in the following areas?

 

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries?

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

 

Abortion & Planned Parenthood:

 

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption:

 

Gender transition/identity:

 

Gun laws/regulations:

 

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship:

 

Anti-racism/racism:

 

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics:

 

Supreme Court/reform:

 

Election reform/gerrymandering:

 

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts:

 

Education/Student Loans:

 

Big Pharma/Drug prices:

 

Obamacare:

 

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana:

 

Lobbyists/corruption:

 

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor:

 

Corporations/Business:

 

Environment/Climate:

 

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy:

 

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs:

 

Cryptocurrency:

 

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations:

 

Police reform:

 

NATO/UN:

 

Israel/Palestine:

 

Russia/Ukraine:

 

China:

 

Iran:

 

Syria:

 

Terrorism:

 

Foreign Aid:

 

Infrastructure:

 

Military Spending:

 

Domestic Spending:

 

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation:

 

Other topics not included above:

[Edouard]

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries?

Democrats

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

 

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: In favor of a 12 weeks abortion standart, up to 16 weeks in case of medical issue related to the birth (for example risk for the mother) and in favor of a criminal charge for those who interrupt birth against the consent of the mother as well as a delict for the mother if she interrupts the procession of birth beyond the limit fixed by law if it does not already exist. Of course the criminal charge for those who cause abortion against the consent of the mother should be more severely punished by law.

 

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: In favor of both, and for a constitutionnal amendment to protect it as the Supreme Court is under the threat of partisanship. The federal law compromise of religious freedom coupled with civil rights protections is a good model.

 

Gender transition/identity: In favor of comprehensive sex education in schools to present what transgender is but not to ask children what their gender is according to them, only to explain to them what transgenders persons are, how few they are, what they experience to feel different from their gender. Also in favor of a national law on protecting transgenders in their fundamental rights. And for intervention in school I would be in favor that a transgender person be part of this, also I would prefer that this happens exclusively from the medium school.

Both for homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders my personnal position is : Keep asking schools from medium schools to make education on who these persons are, explain according to science and consensus why they are attracted (for LGB) or feel to belong to the opposed gender (for transgenders) to promote understanding and respect while separing this fundamental need for education to the topics that create turmoil such as dragqueens in school or asking children to define themselves their sexual or gender belonging which feeds the culture war rethoric. It is however necessary that school specialists be there if teenagers want to express their questions regarding their attraction or gender affiliation but the initiative has to come from the children themselves (out the topic of sex education).

Also I think that below the majority or at least the age of 16 someone who feel to be from the wrong gender shouldn't have a physical operation just to be sure that this person is absolutely certain and would not feel any regret in future, it would take down the arguments of people abusively accusing transgenders of trying to push children to change gender. Of course, I would still be in favor that people below that age that are absolutely certain of not being from their gender of birth still be able to look like the opposed gender and ask for accomodation with school authorities and in life in general untill they turn 18. I know that a lot of transgenders feel not belonging to their birth gender at a very young age and so I understand that it is not easy for them.

In return of all those precisions, it would be crucial to cut federal aids to states that prevent transgender adults from changing their gender or denying their rights as well as those which would pass "don't say gay" or "don't say trans" laws.

 

Gun laws/regulations: In favor of a ban on assault weapons, and background checks particulary on people with mental disorders. It is time to END school shootings that are increasing more and more in the US. I would understand that americans remain attached to owning a personnal gun for safety.

 

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: In favor of free speech in all circumstance but to keep diffamation laws for allegations that are unfounded and aim to deter or dirt the personnality of someone. I wouldn't change much so. On terrorism, I would ask social medias to always track groups that plan to put a threat on national security but not beside this.

However in the specific case of schools, I would ask social medias to suspend any child or adult that commit school bullying online from social medias.

 

Anti-racism/racism: I would recommend a moderate approach. I would focus on every measures that aim to amplify social mixity and allow children from all background to evoluate. One of the main problem of racism is also that social mobility is broken or not efficient enough. In that aspect I would assume to push to increase education spendings to make schools more efficient and affordable particulary in rural and poorer areas.

 

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: I would favor mask mandates and vaccine research when necessary but I would not shutdown the economy unless there's a major evidence and need for that as we can't afford a lot of debt crises.

 

Supreme Court/reform: I would raise to 66 or 70 the number of senators needed to get a Supreme Court nominee to force both parties to find consensual names or focus on an independent commission to select names based on meritocracy. In this end the commission should be formed by a consens from the apropriation committee.

 

Election reform/gerrymandering: I would push for a national independent commission on ending gerrymandering. No one has interest to stop to gerrymander if not all stop at once.

 

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: Obamacare needs to be improved with the time and experience.

 

Education/Student Loans: I would push for making contributions equal to parental wages and make sure that parents do not abandon their child for that or refuse to cover for them. It is not normal that rich parents have children who pay the same tuition fees than students from poorer families. I would also make everything possible to slow the student debt crise. I would consider either transforming tuition fees to the equivalent on taxs on the revenue linked to family incomes or increase scholarships for poors or both. Buttigieg 2020 proposal was a good one in this end.

 

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Regulate it.

 

Obamacare: Already said.

 

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: In favor to decriminalize it at the federal level but leave it to state by referendums to know if they want to do that or not, not usefull to divide the country over it.

 

Lobbyists/corruption: Keep an annual report on commission made between government agencies and NGOs.

 

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Raise the federal minimum wage with inflation rate, let to state some freedom too.

 

Corporations/Business: Keep low taxes on most business.

 

Environment/Climate: Invest and pass fiscal measures on research and development.

 

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Push to reduce natural ressources and increase alt-energy that cost few Co2 emissions including the nuclear energy.

 

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: In favor of free trade with countries that have the same social standards than the US so the european union, Canada, Japan or Australia and New Zealand for example.

 

Cryptocurrency: No position but this money is too deregulated for being stable.

 

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: I would surprisingly be tougher on this issue. No to borderwalls but increase means for making sure that immigrants become real americans while submitting value tests, language verification and I would favor refugees who want to come to the US because they left a dictatorship or went to be free from oppression rather than economic immigration. I would then favor immigrants who were oppressed for standing for democracy before the ones that come for economic reasons. I would of course keep supporting student immigration and try to make sure that these immigrants can speak english for at least a majority and are well followed to be able to learn and speak it in a short time in order to get citizenship.

 

Police reform: No to defund the police but yes to improve police formations.

 

NATO/UN: In favor of both, probably to give more weight to all countries in NATO to improve their participation.

 

Israel/Palestine: Keep promoting Clinton proposal, Palestine should get statehoood, Israël should be recognized by every countries in return.

 

Russia/Ukraine: All supports to Ukraine untill the end of the conflict. I would increase donations of highly advanced technology particulary in canons and aircrafts which can push for a quicker resolution of the conflict. It is necessary for Ukraine to win the war to preserve international stability. It's because Japan invaded China in 1931 with no resistance that Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1936 and that Austria followed. If Ukraine falls, others countries will get invaded in the future, not by the same countries than in the 30s but there's enough territorial disputes in nowadays worlds.

 

China: I would try to keep a diplomatic discussion with China. Xi Jipping is not Putin, he still hesitates to advocate for international order, this hesitation should be supported by the West as things can still be prevented in China. Taiwan is not yet invaded.

 

Iran: I would be much more in support of Iranian women that are being oppressed and would put more means on controling that Iran does not devellop nuclear arsenal.

 

Syria: I would not propose anything as the country suffered a bloody civil war and not it takes time for stability. I am no fan of Bachar Al Assad but there is no coherent alternative.

 

Terrorism: I would track down any fundamental groups either religious or for the far right and left that threaten to make terrorist acts and would ban them if they show any risk.

 

Foreign Aid: My foreign aid would be conditionnal to the promotion of democracy and environment devellopement. The more countries do efforts, the more I would help them.

 

Infrastructure: Bipartisan deals to continue.

 

Military Spending: I would keep military spending for the time being to settle the war in Ukraine then I would reduce it by 200 billions unless China or Iran raise its military spendings.

 

Domestic Spending: I would focus on education and healthcare as well as developping refugees for LGBT that are being rejected by their families and I would also fund associations that aim to help unemployees and people who suffer past drug addiction to get back to society and recover and rebuild their life.

 

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: I would not do much, there needs to be a balance between the states and the federal level. Taxs have been reduced enough under Trump.

 

Other topics not included above: I think enough is being said.

Edited Tuesday at 07:20 PM by Edouard

[Rezi]

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries?

Democratic

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

 

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: Publicly voice my support for reproductive rights, pushing on the states to allow for abortion through viability. Appoint pro-choice justices. Push strongly for state and national policy which would reduce abortions by increasing access to contraception, bringing back the COVID Child Tax Credit changes, pushing states to implement comprehensive sex education, etc.

 

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Attempt to push through a bill which would expand the Respect for Marriage Act and officially take gay and interracial marriage away from the courts, as well as LGBT adoption.

 

Gender transition/identity: Any state that puts limits on the ability of adults to transition will lose their federal highway funding because fuck you.

 

Gun laws/regulations: This is a states' issue, but push states to repeal red flag laws and implement full Castle Doctrine/Constitutional Carry/Stand Your Ground, while also publicly declaring that anyone who open carries has a small dick.

 

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: Social media can do whatever they like since they're private enterprises. Publicly declare Florida and any other states that follow their lead on free speech to be in violation of the First Amendment and take away their federal highway funding.

 

Anti-racism/racism: Status Quo.

 

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: No government mandates.

 

Supreme Court/reform: No policy changes, but appoint liberal constitutionalists to the court.

 

Election reform/gerrymandering: Attempt to push through a federal gerrymandering ban, encourage states and localities across the nation to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting.

 

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: Remove the Payroll Tax cap for Social Security. Generally keep welfare the same, but expand where reasonably possible if we enter an economic recession.

 

Education/Student Loans: No more interest on federal student loans, continue targeted loan forgiveness, but only if we enter a recessionary period. Push for free public college nationwide.

 

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Allow Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices. Targeted deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry as means of further lowering drug prices. Allow greater access to experimental drugs.

 

Obamacare: Public Option, but only once we've seen a successful reduction in healthcare costs. 

 

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: Legalize marijuana and all soft drugs/psychedelics.  Begin a slow process of decriminalization of hard drugs. Keep the DEA entirely targeted towards cartel activity, which should be greatly weakened anyways due to my drug policies.

 

Lobbyists/corruption: Appoint justices who will overturn Citizens' United. Fully revive the McCain-Feingold Act.

 

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Maybe raise the federal minimum wage to $10 or so. Encourage states to take on Oregon's minimum wage laws, which would raise the minimum wage but keep it higher in urban areas and lower in rural ones. Fully support the labor union, appoint local union leaders to the NLRB, join workers on strikes.

 

Corporations/Business: Raise the Corporate Tax Rate back to 28%, higher than it is now and lower than it was pre-Trump tax cuts. Targeted deregulation where lower prices and economic growth would outdo any potential negative impacts to consumers and workers. Find a way so that small businesses pay less in taxes.

 

Environment/Climate: Permitting reform and build the fuck out of some nuclear reactors.

 

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Try to slowly phase out natural gas and oil in a way that would protect the environment without majorly harming workers.

 

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: Revive the TPP, Free Trade Free Trade Free Trade Free Trade.

 

Cryptocurrency: Not a government issue.

 

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: Increase enforcement of the border while also making it much easier to immigrate legally and providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

 

Police reform: Ban no-knock raids, pressure for a nationwide weakening of police unions and implement any other policies which would make it easier to punish bad cops.

 

NATO/UN: Expand NATO as much as realistically possible, create a Pacific Version of NATO, including primarily Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Canada. Expand this if we get better relations with nations in this region.

 

Israel/Palestine: Platitudes to Israel since they're the lesser of two evils.

 

Russia/Ukraine: Keep on what we're doing. Give Ukraine more aid and training, push Europe to do the same. Fuck Russia, do whatever we can to destroy their economy and government. Maybe some covert attempts to overthrow Putin while ensuring it wouldn't lead to something worse.

 

China: Aforementioned Pacific Alliance. We'll slowly work our way towards full recognition of Taiwan. If China wants to stop working with us economically, they're just signing their own death warrant.

 

Iran: Covertly support a new government.

 

Syria: Syria is still an issue?

 

Terrorism: Extremely limited strikes, only if you can ensure limited civilian casualties to kill an important target.

 

Foreign Aid: Increase foreign aid to countries in an effort to improve their quality of life, democratize them, and bring them into our sphere of influence.

 

Infrastructure: Probably just another infrastructure bill.

 

Military Spending: Keep it.

 

Domestic Spending: Some targeted cuts and targeted raises in certain areas. Focus on decreasing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency.

 

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Revive Paul Volcker. Taxes already mentioned above. I guess also increase inheritance tax.

 

Other topics not included above: Repeal the PATRIOT Act and strengthen the 4th amendment once again. Weaken copyright laws. Encourage YIMBY policies in localities.

[Pringles]

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries?

Republican

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: Generally leave it to the states as the original pro-life movement intended. No national ban, attempt to explore a bipartisan national minimum though. I personally would encourage 12 week/6 week bans to be the standard, if states want to pass a 6-week ban they have every right to do so. Push back against talk of punishing women in terms of criminal offences for seeking abortions... just ludicrous. 

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Any stable family deserves the ability to adopt a child in need. Uphold the Respect for Marriage Act. 

Gender transition/identity: Ignore the culture war rhetoric on the issue, however, I do not believe any minor should go through with this until becoming an adult. There are so many things you can't do until turning 18 years old in this country, and with a decision as critical as gender transition, it needs to be deliberated upon heavily. Regardless, I support the rights of all Americans, Trans people aren't excluded from this. 

Gun laws/regulations: Continue to push Bipartisan gun reform, but ultimately we're respecting the Second Amendment. No assault weapons ban. 

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: Hate speech is free speech Constitutionally speaking (unless inciting violence, etc.), but companies have the right to enforce policy on their platform regardless. Seek efforts to monitor misinformation and nip it in the bud before going viral, I am also becoming increasingly open to some kind of internet version of the Patriot Act. Unfortunately, things are starting to get too out of control, and this demands action. 

Anti-racism/racism: Part of the problem of this relates to social media, but obviously racism has no place in modern America and should be shunned at every opportunity. 

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: I think the worst of COVID has been over for a while, even with a small resurgence perhaps. Locking down this country under Donald Trump did a lot of damage. Never again. I think we should heed the consensus of health experts and workers. Whether that be wearing a mask or taking a vaccine. I got the Moderna 2 shot vaccine, and I've seen no reason to get a booster given I'm very young and healthy... I'll wear the mask if where I'm going requires it. Just depends on who you are and your health. Not in favor of federal mask mandates generally. 

Supreme Court/reform: Roberts Court has been very good in my opinion, explore ethics reform but no further. Continue appointing mainstream judges, no MAGA justices or "legislate from the bench" Justices. Textualism is my preferred judicial philosophy, I'm supportive of swing justices as well generally. 

Election reform/gerrymandering: Election Day ought to be a Holiday, it'd be nice to end gerrymandering but I don't see it as a feasible possibility at the moment. States have the right to run their elections the way they want as long as it isn't violating the law, voters' rights, etc. Mail in ballots? Go for it. I strongly support voter ID and believe it should be necessary when voting, just as it is for plenty of other life interactions with the government. 

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: We aren't going to touch Social Security other than reforms to make it sustainable for the long term. Scale down other forms of welfare, and cut unemployment benefits that were raised during COVID. Increase the requirements in order to be eligible for other forms of welfare outside of social security, and explore repealing and handing over welfare completely to the states.  (SNAP, WIC, etc.) 

Education/Student Loans: No cancellation of debt for those who were irresponsible with their education decisions. Focus on lowering tuition costs. I'm accepting of the provision that the Supreme Court upheld of Biden's plan that allows income-based repayments with little to no interest. If you get yourself in debt, you're paying it back. Personal responsibility and it is the fairest option. Unless you preach an "equality" that cancels one group of people's debt, but not another like Elizabeth Warren professed. 

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Deregulation, and encourage Mark Cubans pharmacy website as an alternative. 😛 

Obamacare: Seems drawn out the whole Obamacare arguments... it failed to get repealed, and the program itself didn't work as intended. I don't support the program, but we need an actual plan if we're going to replace it. I'm open to a public option. I'd never support universal healthcare or any major program involving the federal government. States can handle this if they wish. The country and middle-class Americans who are content with their private insurance (many are) should not be thrown off by the whims of a loud minority. 

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: Legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. No legalization of other hard drugs, continue major efforts to go after cartels and dealers. 

Lobbyists/corruption: Consider legislation to regulate the amount of money being pumped into politics, but unsure of what can *actually* be done on this front. 

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Leave it to the states. Weaken teacher unions to the fullest point possible, get politics out of education and any teacher union that forces someone to join ought to not exist. The minimum wage is up to the states. Unions across the board are too political and have way too much power. 

Corporations/Business: Doing fine as is currently I suppose. They've had plenty of bailout money in the last 3 years from COVID subsidies. However, stop Biden's initiatives of punishing corporations over environmental issues and the "closing loopholes" argument which have been driving up prices across the board. 

Environment/Climate: Pursue international action. Stop imposing policies upon ourselves that hinder us and hurt consumers at home. Remain in the Paris Agreement for International coordination. 

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Drill baby drill. Bring back the Keystone project, alternate energies such as solar are not, and likely will never be able to have the capabilities of other sources. More nuclear energy. More fracking, but with careful consideration of where we are fracking. 

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: Free trade, low tariffs. Phony trade wars and high tariffs in the modern day only drive up prices, hurting consumers. 

Cryptocurrency: Leave it mostly unregulated, and consider options to engage/stop criminal activity and suspicious money flowing through crypto accounts. 

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: Strong border, generous immigration. Stop the slaughter at the border of both the border patrol and immigrants. No wasting money on a wall but we need some kind of barrier, high-tech surveillance as well. Deport illegal immigrants with criminal records. 

Police reform: Weaken police unions, but we back our police officers. More funding, more training, and more education requirements to become an officer of the law. 

NATO/UN: Expand NATO as much as possible, support the UN but consider reforms to make the organization more efficient. All efforts to combat Sino-Russian influence. 

Israel/Palestine: Support for Israel 100%. Encourage coexistence between Israel and Palestinians, but one resorts to terrorism, the other is the only true liberal democracy in the Middle East. Also, encourage Israel to veer away from potential controversial illiberal reforms they've considered concerning their Supreme Court (thankfully it seems to be winding down).

Russia/Ukraine: Full support for Ukraine. Give them whatever they need to win, even if it's high-tech military equipment. F16s and Abrams, drones and more.  

China: Hawkish approach on China, contain Chinese influence, protect Taiwan at all costs. I'm optimistic the Chinese system is eventually going to collapse in on itself. Consider covert methods to destabilize the regime. Seek alternatives to tariffs concerning combatting China economically. 

Iran: Stay tough on Iran, covert operations supporting freedom lovers in Iran. If the continue to step out of line, punish accordingly.  

Syria: Status quo. Continue denouncing Assad, and consider covert operations. Humanitarian relief where possible. 

Terrorism: Continue utilization of drone strikes, thankfully terrorists have had a really bad several years. Continue to be proactive, and continue killing their leaders. 

Foreign Aid: Scale back foreign aid to countries with major human rights issues, and countries that denounce the US at every turn. My goals on this front align with Nikki Haley.

Infrastructure: Retain support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Continue efforts to expand internet access, and highway/interstate expansion. 

Military Spending: Keep it at current levels at the least. Increase for more funding towards satellite warfare capabilities. More research for new technology to make soldiers better, safer, and stronger. 

Domestic Spending: Basically ties into previous topics. Nothing else to add at the moment. 

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Don't tread on the Fed. Keep the gas tax suspended. Once inflation continues to decrease consider major tax relief for the middle class for what they endured in 2021. Reduce capital gains taxes as well, along with introducing marijuana tax as mentioned in drug policy. Repeal provisions of the American Rescue Plan requiring taxpayers to report additional income over websites or applications involving money transfers. 

[DakotaHale]

Might be a few surprises in here. I could run as either main party.

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: Push for abortion bans in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. But support child tax credits, universal Pre-K, allowing mothers to claim unborn children as dependents, and guaranteed maternity leave for businesses with 100+ employees.

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Don't care. Let both be legal.

Gender transition/identity: Don't care. Just don't do it to children or fund it with taxpayer money.

Gun laws/regulations: Wouldn't change anything.

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: Protect the 1st Amendment.

Anti-racism/racism: Have an aide take away my Twitter when I'm drinking.

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: Wouldn't be any federally.

Supreme Court/reform: Appoint Neil Gorsuch-like candidates to the court.

Election reform/gerrymandering: No better alternative; wouldn't do anything. Election Day holiday though (but only for presidential general elections).

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: I support the current system. Get rid of the cringe $250k cap. End corporate bailouts.

Education/Student Loans: Abolish the Dept of Education. Don't pay back current student loans, but create a low-income grant subsidy.

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Allow Medicaid/care to negotiate drug prices.

Obamacare: Repeal in favor of an actual universal health insurance plan.

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: Legalize marijuana federally. Decriminalize drug possession federally (but still arrest distributors). Set up treatment centers.

Lobbyists/corruption: Look into increasing the amount of time before a former congressman can become a lobbyist.

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Abolish the minimum wage. Support private unions rhetorically and meet with private sector union leaders. Reform or abolish public sector unions.

Corporations/Business: Raise the corporate tax rate 27%. End loopholes, but also decrease regulations.

Environment/Climate: Push for nuclear and renewable energy, but continue using oil in the short term. No subsidies, but consider tax credits for renewable energy companies.

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Increase oil drilling. Increase oil refining. Approve keystone. Re-achieve energy independence before transitioning to renewable.

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: Find a way to maintain free trade agreements while attempting to make America a manufacturing powerhouse again. Make Pacific trade deals to isolate China economically.

Cryptocurrency: Wouldn't regulate it.

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: Grant one-time amnesty to all current illegal immigrants who are willing to pay back taxes for citizenship. Increase worker visas (low and high skilled). Build a wall, but for drug convoys; not people. Continue deporting immigrants encountered at the border.

Police reform: Consider abolishing police unions. Push for body cameras and community policing. Keep current funding, but redirect from militarization to social and deescalation training. Stricter education requirements and maybe require public-sector experience prior.

NATO/UN: Maintain our presence and leadership. Increase military exercises with NATO.

Israel/Palestine: Maintain status-quo and current aid to Israel (but don't increase it, so it gradual becomes a smaller % as the years go on).

Russia/Ukraine: Maintain military aid to Ukraine, but no more financial aid. Encourage a peace conference.

China: Isolate them economically via Pacific and Latin/South American trade deals. Increase domestic manufacturing to cut off reliance on Chinese imports. The US can beat China but it's a choice we have to make.

Iran: Call them cringe. No deal with Iran. Fight them diplomatically via the United Nations. Rhetorical support for Iranian protestors.

Syria: Pull out. ISIS is destroyed and Assad has basically won the civil war. Let Assad negotiate with Erdogan over disputes, but maybe offer to mediate it.

Terrorism: Continue current policy, but with more oversight. Reject missions/strikes that could kill civilians.

Foreign Aid: Keep current spending levels.

Infrastructure: Keep current spending levels to allow states to decide what best to spend on. Look into a national high-speed rail to link biggest cities.

Military Spending: Keep and freeze current levels throughout my term, but adjust what we're spending it on to be more efficient. Audit military spending.

Domestic Spending: Increase NASA budget by 25%. Attempt to reduce bureaucracy in the USA by doing the following: Abolish the Depts of Homeland Security (move responsibilities to Justice, Defense, Commerce etc.). Attempt to merge Depts of Interior/Agriculture. Attempt to merge Depts of Defense/VA. Abolish FDA and allocate its responsibilities to the Depts of Health and Agriculture. Merge/abolish agencies that do the same job.

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Maintain IRS, but get rid of the new agents and cringe $600 thing. Maintain the federal reserve, but put a monetarist in charge of it. Increase all income taxes by 1%, with an extra 1% on individual incomes above $100k, and another 1% bump on incomes over $400k. Reform the estate tax to start at $5M, with a progressive tax bracket starting at 15%, and going to 40% at the $80M level. Slightly expand child tax credits.

[DakotaHale]

5 hours ago, Rezi said:

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries?

Democratic

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

 

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: Publicly voice my support for reproductive rights, pushing on the states to allow for abortion through viability. Appoint pro-choice justices. Push strongly for state and national policy which would reduce abortions by increasing access to contraception, bringing back the COVID Child Tax Credit changes, pushing states to implement comprehensive sex education, etc.

 

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Attempt to push through a bill which would expand the Respect for Marriage Act and officially take gay and interracial marriage away from the courts, as well as LGBT adoption.

 

Gender transition/identity: Any state that puts limits on the ability of adults to transition will lose their federal highway funding because fuck you.

 

Gun laws/regulations: This is a states' issue, but push states to repeal red flag laws and implement full Castle Doctrine/Constitutional Carry/Stand Your Ground, while also publicly declaring that anyone who open carries has a small dick.

 

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: Social media can do whatever they like since they're private enterprises. Publicly declare Florida and any other states that follow their lead on free speech to be in violation of the First Amendment and take away their federal highway funding.

 

Anti-racism/racism: Status Quo.

 

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: No government mandates.

 

Supreme Court/reform: No policy changes, but appoint liberal constitutionalists to the court.

 

Election reform/gerrymandering: Attempt to push through a federal gerrymandering ban, encourage states and localities across the nation to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting.

 

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: Remove the Payroll Tax cap for Social Security. Generally keep welfare the same, but expand where reasonably possible if we enter an economic recession.

 

Education/Student Loans: No more interest on federal student loans, continue targeted loan forgiveness, but only if we enter a recessionary period. Push for free public college nationwide.

 

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Allow Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices. Targeted deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry as means of further lowering drug prices. Allow greater access to experimental drugs.

 

Obamacare: Public Option, but only once we've seen a successful reduction in healthcare costs. 

 

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: Legalize marijuana and all soft drugs/psychedelics.  Begin a slow process of decriminalization of hard drugs. Keep the DEA entirely targeted towards cartel activity, which should be greatly weakened anyways due to my drug policies.

 

Lobbyists/corruption: Appoint justices who will overturn Citizens' United. Fully revive the McCain-Feingold Act.

 

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Maybe raise the federal minimum wage to $10 or so. Encourage states to take on Oregon's minimum wage laws, which would raise the minimum wage but keep it higher in urban areas and lower in rural ones. Fully support the labor union, appoint local union leaders to the NLRB, join workers on strikes.

 

Corporations/Business: Raise the Corporate Tax Rate back to 28%, higher than it is now and lower than it was pre-Trump tax cuts. Targeted deregulation where lower prices and economic growth would outdo any potential negative impacts to consumers and workers. Find a way so that small businesses pay less in taxes.

 

Environment/Climate: Permitting reform and build the fuck out of some nuclear reactors.

 

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Try to slowly phase out natural gas and oil in a way that would protect the environment without majorly harming workers.

 

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: Revive the TPP, Free Trade Free Trade Free Trade Free Trade.

 

Cryptocurrency: Not a government issue.

 

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: Increase enforcement of the border while also making it much easier to immigrate legally and providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

 

Police reform: Ban no-knock raids, pressure for a nationwide weakening of police unions and implement any other policies which would make it easier to punish bad cops.

 

NATO/UN: Expand NATO as much as realistically possible, create a Pacific Version of NATO, including primarily Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Canada. Expand this if we get better relations with nations in this region.

 

Israel/Palestine: Platitudes to Israel since they're the lesser of two evils.

 

Russia/Ukraine: Keep on what we're doing. Give Ukraine more aid and training, push Europe to do the same. Fuck Russia, do whatever we can to destroy their economy and government. Maybe some covert attempts to overthrow Putin while ensuring it wouldn't lead to something worse.

 

China: Aforementioned Pacific Alliance. We'll slowly work our way towards full recognition of Taiwan. If China wants to stop working with us economically, they're just signing their own death warrant.

 

Iran: Covertly support a new government.

 

Syria: Syria is still an issue?

 

Terrorism: Extremely limited strikes, only if you can ensure limited civilian casualties to kill an important target.

 

Foreign Aid: Increase foreign aid to countries in an effort to improve their quality of life, democratize them, and bring them into our sphere of influence.

 

Infrastructure: Probably just another infrastructure bill.

 

Military Spending: Keep it.

 

Domestic Spending: Some targeted cuts and targeted raises in certain areas. Focus on decreasing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency.

 

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Revive Paul Volcker. Taxes already mentioned above. I guess also increase inheritance tax.

 

Other topics not included above: Repeal the PATRIOT Act and strengthen the 4th amendment once again. Weaken copyright laws. Encourage YIMBY policies in localities.

I just read urs after posting mine and I'm surprised how much we agree on. Although we both have some disagreements, I don't think it would be inaccurate to say that we are both (lower-case L) libertarians but will still err on helping the needy.

[Pringles]

15 minutes ago, DakotaHale said:

Maintain IRS, but get rid of the new agents and cringe $600 thing.

Glad I’m not the only one on the cringe $600 thing. Fuck the ARP. 😤😤

[DakotaHale]

Would a triumvir of me, @Pringles and @Rezi do a better job governing the country than Brandon? I say yes.

[DakotaHale]

21 minutes ago, Pringles said:

Glad I’m not the only one on the cringe $600 thing. Fuck the ARP. 😤😤

Yeah these fuckers ain't getting past the claymore or chainsaw Roombas

[WVProgressive]

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries? Democratic

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: I am vocally pro-life, and will fight for a rebirth of the Hyde Amendment. Beyond that I will fight for comprehensive sex education, and increased access to contraceptives, but otherwise leave abortion to the states.

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Uphold, and strengthen the Respect for Marriage Act, and work to bring in full adoption rights for homosexual couples.

Gender transition/identity: Do everything in our power to protect transgender rights at the federal level, and encourage states to do the same by withholding federal funding. Beyond that, use the bully pulpit to preach acceptance of transgender people.

Gun laws/regulations: Bring in universal background checks, a national gun registry, ammo limits, and an assault weapons ban, while also bringing in national stand-your-ground, concealed carry, and open carry protections.

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: Find ways to suppress hate speech, and misinformation while also protecting the first amendment.

Anti-racism/racism: This is mainly an issue for local communities, and states to handle, but use the bully pulpit to advocate racial harmony

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: We'll cross that bridge the next time there's a once in a century pandemic. For now, just listen to the experts, and do what they recommend.

Supreme Court/reform: Appoint moderate justices, no litmus tests.

Election reform/gerrymandering: Make election day a national holiday, and work to beef up the Voting Rights Act. Look to Pennsylvania as a model for Automatic Voter Registration.

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: Increase Social Security benefits, paid for by removing the payroll tax cap. Simplify the welfare state by consolidating all our entitlements into a Universal Basic Income paid for by a VAT, and a Wealth Tax.

Education/Student Loans: Work to make Community College free, continue federal loan interest moratorium, and work to make college affordable for the middle, and working class. Increase funding for K-12 Education, including universal pre-k, and universal free school meals. Grant impoverished districts extra funding.

Big Pharma/Drug prices: Allow the government to negotiate for prescription drug prices. Increase funding for medical research, and for the FDA in order to expedite the drug approval process. Create a presidential commission to honestly study the benefits, and dangers of mRNA vaccines. 

Obamacare: Move towards a public option, but defend Obamacare's positive regulations.

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: Legalize medical marijuana, but otherwise continue fighting the war on drugs. Reorientate our efforts to stopping the flow of narcotics from Latin America, and getting rid of the customer base by treating addiction as the medical issue it is.

Lobbyists/corruption: Lobbying is a natural, and healthy part of any democracy, I honestly don't think the system needs many reforms.

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: Unions are a natural part of the economy, and like any part of an economy should be regulated to prevent abuse. The governments should seek to balance the concerns of with the concerns of business. Increase the minimum wage to $12.50, but beyond that, minimum wage increases should be pursued at the state level

Corporations/Business: Increase taxes on large corporations, decrease taxes on small business. Decide regulations on a sector-by-sector basis.

Environment/Climate: End oil subsidies, increase subsidies to alternative energy companies including nuclear, and companies attempting to clean up the environment. Bring in a Carbon Tax. Also increase funding for R&D.

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Transition away from fossil fuels as quickly as practical.

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: Free trade all the way, protectionism is so 19th century. Bring back TPP, and negotiate further trade deals to strengthen our global position

Cryptocurrency: Let's hold off on pulling the regulation trigger, half the appeal of block-chain technology is that it isn't regulated.

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: The current system honestly works fine for the most part, illegal immigrants give us a nearly inexhaustible workforce with no access to welfare or worker protection or all the other things that hurt businesses. Work to make it easier to both immigrate, and become a citizen. 

Police reform: At the local level, I'd encourage body cameras, community policing, increased funding for better equipment and training, but again that's something for local communities to decide on. At the national level I would try to coordinate domestic intelligence agencies against far right radicals, which I believe are the number one domestic threat currently.

NATO/UN: Expand NATO to isolate Russia, and reform SEATO to isolate China. Increase cooperation with our allies, and encourage reforms in the UN.

Israel/Palestine: We are behind Israel 1000%, increase aid, do what we can to fight terrorism, and eviscerate BDS. Support the settler movement, and encourage the Arabs to leave for Jordan or some other Arab country in the region.

Russia/Ukraine: Support Ukraine, give them everything they need to beat the Russians. The war could last a million years, if that's what it takes to see a Ukrainian victory. Covertly subvert Putin's reign over Russia.

China: Isolate China militarily, and economically. Recognize Taiwan, and encourage democratic movements inside the PRC.

Iran: Covertly support the opposition, and do whatever is necessary to prevent them from getting the bomb

Syria: Support the moderate rebels, and the Kurds.

Terrorism: Thankfully foreign terrorism seems to be on, but we should remain vigilante, and proactive in combating the enemies of America. Also crack down on domestic extremism on the left, and right which is currently a more immediate threat.

Foreign Aid: Increase foreign aid in general, but especially to Latin America, South/South-East Asia, and Africa.

Infrastructure: Encourage green infrastructure, mass transit, and public transportation

Military Spending: Increase defense spending in order to maintain our primacy.

Domestic Spending: Is there anything covered here that wasn't covered by a different category? Increase efficiency by increasing funding. Repeal the debt ceiling, Reagan, and Roosevelt both realized that the deficit doesn't matter in comparison to strong policy.

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Appoint a Volcker-Greenspanite to be Fed Chair once Powell's term is up. Increase funding to the IRS to crack down on Tax Fraud, and ensure that out tax laws are respected. Raise taxes slightly on the upper class, and maintain our progressive, tiered system.

Other topics not included above: Pare down agricultural subsidies, repeal the Jones Act, Increase NASA funding, and build more public housing.

[vcczar]

7 hours ago, WVProgressive said:

Support the settler movement, and encourage the Arabs to leave for Jordan or some other Arab country in the region.

If this becomes active policy, it's going to create a messy fiasco. Other Arab nations aren't going to allow 1.6 million (20% of Israel's population) to just move to their country. You might get a situation in which migration is blocked because these other nations haven't the resources, jobs, or infrastructure or housing to take them in. With no escape from Israeli aggression on who are technically their own citizens, the Palestinians would have to fight back, unless they do some Gandhi non-agressive protest. In this scenario, Israel and the US would look terrible. Those are 1.6 million people, not 1.6 million terrorists. They're just wanting work, live, raise their families, keep their homes. The Israeli settlement policy is basically a modern day Indian Removal Act. 

I say this while support Israel's right to a nation, but also as someone that think Palestine should have their own nation as well. If it helps Israel break Palestine in two, I'm okay with that as well. Gaza and West Bank could be different countries. Israel can even have all of Jerusalem. Palestinians just need a homeland of their own somewhere within Israel's current boundaries, as that's their home. I say the same for Kurds in Turkey, Syria, and Iran. They need their own country too. 

I say this not completely versed in the settlement issue. Do they even pay the Palestinians for the land their taking? Is it a real estate transaction? If it follows a legal, ethical path then that's a different story.

[Cenzonico]

This seems fun.

First, what major party would you run under in the primaries? Libertarian

Secondly, Give us your platform using the following topics:

Abortion & Planned Parenthood: Allow abortion rights on the basis that it is a decision made between private actors (the mother and her doctor) that shouldn't be regulated by government. Ultimately, try to follow the "Safe, Legal, & Rare" philosophy by encouraging comprehensive sex ed so people can be properly informed when it comes to decisions regarding sex.

Gay marriage and LGBT adoption: Who cares? Let a man marry another man, let a woman marry woman. I don't see a reason to bar them from adoption.

Gender transition/identity: When it comes to minors, have them go though a comprehensive psychological process to confirm their feelings (or perhaps not). Nothing should be done until they reach the age of consent. Adults can do whatever they want.

Gun laws/regulations: The constitution is very clear, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  This is non-negotiable outside of a few basic background checks to prevent people with a criminal history or medical diagnosis that may predispose them to violence from getting firearms.

First Amendment/Hate speech/social media censorship: All speech is free speech (including hate speech). The line is broken when someone begins to incite violence towards specific people and/or groups. Social media sites can do what they wish on their platform, but at times they can definitely be a bit trigger happy.

Anti-racism/racism: Racism is something that will always exist in some form, but the best way to minimize it is through education and getting boots on the ground to fight it's effect. Not much that government can do here.

Government mandates during epidemics/pandemics: A nationwide lockdown for a week or two while we figure out what the hell is going on is acceptable and I wouldn't mind that. From there the federal governments job should only be to work with the states to help stop the spread and get more medical equipment in. Any mandates or lockdowns will be at the discretion of the governor and state legislature.

Supreme Court/reform: The Supreme Court is fine in it's current state, I don't believe this is a issue we need to rock the boat on.

Election reform/gerrymandering: Expand the number of house representatives to a number similar to that of the House of Commons (we are a nation of over 360 million come on now), switch from FPTP and WTA to Star Voting and MMP, aim to give all parties equal coverage, independent commissions for all states. This would severely lessen the effects of gerrymandering and help to break the current duopoly held by the Dems and the GOP.

Social Security/Welfare/Bailouts: Welfare in it's current state only creates a cycle of dependency that has ripple effects in generations and the communities that rely the most on government assistance. Abolish the welfare state and replace it with a Universal Basic Income. How much depends on the person but it will only cover rent, bills, and a bit for food, the idea being that people will still be encouraged to work and better themselves while at least having the peace of mind that they will have something to fall back on if needed. A negative income tax in tandem is something I've considered but I would need to look more in the specifics before making a definitive answer. Bailouts are a distortion of the free market, as they say "Too Big to Fail is Too Big to Exist!".

Education/Student Loans: Student loan forgiveness is stupid, I don't believe we should be punishing taxpayers for the financial mishaps of others. The issue is that the federal government preys on people since they just give out loans like it's nothing. Restrict access for federal loans, only allowing a certain income level to use them. Let the banks and other private actors do the job for everyone else. Consider changing around (lowering?) funding for higher education to encourage colleges and universities to lower tuition.

Big Pharma/Drug prices & Obamacare: Obamacare? Gone! Medicare? Gone! Deregulation the shit out of our healthcare system and take away power from Big Pharma so physicians can provide care directly at the prices they decide. Encourage alternative means of acquiring pharmaceuticals as well, I've seen sites that do it and it's pretty cool.

Drug laws/War on Drugs/Marijuana: The War on Drugs is one of the biggest shams in history, a very costly one as well. Abolish the DEA and fully legalize all drugs on the federal level. From there the federal government should facilitate the legal sale of drugs at first with a model akin to that of an ABC store, ensuring that all drugs are "safe" (by safe I mean not laced or anything) and can be bought and sold at legitimate vendors. After a bit the federal government can let go and let states and localities deal with them. The idea is that 1. This will effectively kill any value hard drugs carry, crippling organized crime organizations such as the Cartels and 2. Addicts will be able to get the help they need without fear since this will finally become an issue of public health.

Lobbyists/corruption: Campaign fiance reform and overturn Citizens United, though most of this is something that individuals would have to solve.

Minimum Wage/Unions/Labor: There should be no such thing as a federal minimum wage, let the states and other localities decide what is best. I do believe that Unions inherently are a good thing, but they must be curtailed as too not have too much power (see Police and Teacher unions). Support private unions wholeheartedly though.

Corporations/Business: Big business are not our friends, anti-trust laws are great! That being said, deregulation and lower taxes are key for the growth of our economy. Small business make America go round.

Environment/Climate: With the scientific consensus on Climate Change, oil and coal will die out as our primary source of energy anyway. We can provide the right incentives to speed the process up though, encourage our inventors and entrepreneurs to look into renewables and provide tax credits to companies who spearhead the process. Allow West Virginia to burn coal, and let Alaska frack, but let California build solar panels. We should aim to make Nuclear Energy our prime renewable energy source.

Natural Resources/Oil/Alt-energy: Basically what I said above.

Trade/NAFTA/tariffs: The freer the markets the freer the people. Free trade is the only forward, and we should aim to promote trade with the world! Soft Power 101 people!

Cryptocurrency: Who cares?

Immigration/Borderwalls/Deportations: Freedom is movement is a basic human right, support a policy of open borders and let all make the American dream for themselves! Border patrol can stay merely to make sure everything is in order.

Police reform: Decentralize police departments in smaller groups that all work together but each properly represent the neighborhoods they serve. Demilitarize the police, get rid of qualified immunity.

NATO/UN: The U.S. has a place in the world that we must flex whether you like it or not, remain active in NATO and actively push for it's expansion. Try to see if we can reform the UN into a more effective organization.

Israel/Palestine: Withdraw support from either side, flex our diplomatic process and aim to force both sides into beginning proper peace talks for once. The U.S. can mediate and oversee it all.

Russia/Ukraine: Putin is a despot who wants to fulfill his wet irredentist dreams, America shouldn't just sit there and do nothing. Continue our support for Ukraine's struggle full throttle.

China: Don't antagonize China with nonsense trade wars, and trade with them as normal. Instead we should work to better manufacturing here and cultivate trading relationships with the countries that surround China, we can isolate them that way.

Iran: I think the status-quo with Iran works at the moment, let's just watch them and contain them properly if they decide to be a bit too quirky.

Syria: Assad is cringe but not much we can do here.

Terrorism: Work with foreign nations to combat terror around the world, just no drone strikes or bs like that.

Foreign Aid: Cut most foreign aid, reinvest it in countries such our Latin American neighbors and the homefront.

Infrastructure: "Buh Isaiah, who will build the streets!"  I don't know, private enterprise... as it always has?

Military Spending: Cut by half and reinvest the rest into R&D in a shift to focus on getting the latest and greatest tech. Sell it to our allies and boom America is it's own arms dealer!

Domestic Spending: Most of the federal government would be abolished or trimmed down significantly in it's current state so we'd have much more money to spare overall. Philosophically I am a Minarchist, but I know that won't be happening anytime soon.

IRS/Fed Reserve/Taxation: Taxation is thief folks! IRS? Gone! Taxation should be dropped across the board! Get rid of the Federal Reserve and move towards free banking.

Other topics not included above: Get rid of the Patriot Act, NSA, and other excuses the federal government uses to infringe on civil liberties. Liberalize zoning laws dramatically so we can build build build.