Pacaderms for Progress
www.pacadermsforprogress.org
The Pacaderm Platform
Reorganizing our National Security Apparatus – Since the passing of the Patriot Act, America has restructured its intelligence and national security procedures to prevent another terrorist attack. PFP understands the need for surveillance methods to prevent another attack on the American people and our property. However, we do not support the use of fear to systematically change the social contract between the government and the people regarding their civil liberties under the law. PFP supports a reexamination of segments of the Patriot Act that will re-establish the proper bounds between government necessity and individual liberty.
Immigration Reform – Over the past two decades, our borders have become porous and that lack of attention has threatened our national security. PFP understands that many of these non-documented visitors are hardworking people who currently serve in many important aspects of the American economy. In our opinion, it is not feasible or in our best economic interest to seek to deport millions of people who contribute to our fiscal and social vibrancy as a nation. To do so would require creating a new agency of the national government with thousands of employees to implement this deportation policy. PFP feels this type of reactionary policy is short-sighted and centered more on partisanship rather than on providing a common sense solution. For these individuals, PFP supports a policy that will identify benchmarks to obtain United States citizenship.
Foreign Policy – In numerous media interviews with foreign television network bureaus over the past few months, PFP leadership has learned that the number one issue of foreign policy that has to be addressed by the 44th President of the United States is a rebuilding of a relationship of mutual trust between us and our European, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American allies. America has lost its leadership position in the world over the last six years. This is not only damaging to the relationship with our allies but also hazardous to our diplomatic maneuverings with countries such as China, Iran and North Korea. PFP supports a direction of foreign policy that is practical and pragmatic – a foreign policy that uses diplomatic, economic and military assets to reach achievable goals on the international stage.
Healthcare – Millions of Americans can not seek preventative healthcare assistance to address the myriad of issues they face on a daily basis. These unchecked health concerns eventually become emergency room visits that help to drive up insurance costs for employers and employees covered under medical plans. PFP supports the development of a voluntary universal healthcare plan that allows flexibility of services and allows for states to meet the needs of their citizens through the federal system of government.
The Economy and the War in Iraq – Under the reasons for establishing a new government, Thomas Jefferson stated that government is charged with protecting “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” of its citizens. A strong, robust economy falls under the heading of the “pursuit of happiness.” The U.S. has spent $100 Billion a year on a war that over seventy percent of the American people do not want – this amount represents twenty percent of our annual GDP. Our current economic condition, with rising prices for everything from gas to food coupled with stagnant wages, has only provided a very few people with the ability to pursue happiness. PFP supports a plan to withdraw our troops from Iraq. PFP would want the financial resources used to pay for the war to be focused on an economic stimulus plan that will be focused on re-training American workers and businesses to be competitive in the global marketplace. Other key features of this policy include educating our children and a plan for reintegration of our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans so they can find good jobs and live the American dream.
Cultural Socialism – Government should exist to provide needed services to its citizens, NOT to mandate the societal wishes of a few on the entire citizenry. Issues such as ensuring our National Security, improving our Economic Viability, and adequately funding needed domestic policies, such as Education, should be the purview of the national government. Over the last eight years, our government has decided that it would rather focus its energy on banning gay marriage, deciding the right to live or die, and censoring broadcast content (i.e. kicking Howard Stern off of the public airwaves). It is NOT the responsibility of the government to mandate to the people what their individual decisions should be. This is the antithesis of individual responsibility.
This election is too critical to waste on partisan rhetoric that does not solve any of the serious problems of our country. We need to move beyond the name calling and finger pointing of the politics of the last twenty years. PFP is focused on issues that will strengthen our borders, reduce our debt, and allow the middle class to prosper by cutting taxes and reduce overall spending. We should let individuals deal with the moral issues surrounding their decisions; let’s get back to idea of the founders of this republic that government should not mandate the extent of individual liberty.
Media contact: info@pacadermsforprogress.org
