(October 25, 2012 at 6:00 am)Tino Wrote:(October 25, 2012 at 12:46 am)festive1 Wrote: Why is Obama more suspect than any other person who has run for President? Why is he always suspected of being un-American?
Obama is on the record as saying that he wants to fundamentally change America. Ask yourself, what is fundamental about America? Do you want to fundamentally change something you already like?
What is fundamental about America, in my view:
The freedoms ensured in the Bill of Rights, with limitations on gun ownership, I don't believe the 2nd amendment should or was ever intended to cover assault style weapons
The right for all Americans to vote for their representation, in a free and equitable fashion
That all Americans have the opportunity to pursue happiness, by which I mean a fair chance to support themselves and their families
Voting is not free and fair in America. If you are convicted felon, you get no say in anything, that right has been stripped away. Even convicted murderers, child molesters, and perpetrators of felonious white collar crimes should have a voice. To deny these people a voice is to deny they have any place in society. If the penal system's goal is rehabilitation and helping people reintegrate into society, I see voting rights as imperative to this.
Not all Americans start their lives in a position to allow them to achieve the ability to support themselves and their families. I'm not saying everyone should be fully supported by the government, but the government should support those who are not able to support themselves, either because of a disability (mental or physical, including mental illness in some cases) or because they are unable to acquire a job that provides the means to support themselves and their family. I am saying everyone should have access to the tools needed to attain their goals. Namely access to a good education (including higher education, because the days of American manufacturing are numbered, it's done cheaper elsewhere, those jobs aren't going to come back in the same number that they left), healthcare, and fair and balanced standards.
I am strongly opposed to the idea of corporations as "people." They aren't people. They don't have the same motivations as people. They don't care about anything other than the bottom line. Corporations should not legally be considered to have the same rights, freedoms, and privileges as people. I do not believe that America should cater to corporations. I do believe that America should support the rights of collective workers (unions). I believe that unions, can be an effective means of controlling corporate power-grabbing. I do recognize that unions are not perfect and have many flaws. However, instead of discouraging unions all together, I'd rather see effective controls put in place to hold unions responsible to those they represent.
I am opposed to lobbying. By this I am referring to big-pharma or big-farm type lobbyists, perks should not be given to congress for supporting legislation that benefits the few to the detriment of the many. I take no issue with them whispering in congress's ear, but the exchange of money, gifts, or any other such thing should be punishable. America was not intended to be bought, and that is what has happened, at the expense of the majority of Americans.
I also believe government should be transparent. I understand the need for withholding information in matters regarding national security, and I'm cool with that, as long as there are protections in place in the form of oversight committees with teeth and the ability to punish and prevent misuse. However, political donors and lobbyists should have to state how much money they are paying to buy politicians, or better yet not be allowed to do this at all.
Now do I have a clear plan to get us from where we are today to the version of America that I would like to see? No, that's why I'm not running for political office. This is just an "off the cuff" sort of outline, I'm sure I left a lot out, but this should get you started.
