American Platform

Developing a platform to serve the American people is easy...IF...one is based on the protection of individual rights as were written into in the US Constitution.

The Founders believed our country should be supported by three strong and enduring "beams", the individual, sovereign states and a national government with limited powers. The individual would have guaranteed rights, each state would have its sovereignty, and the national government would have limited powers, restricted by the Constitution.

Recognize this governing structure? It is hard to imagine our nation governed in this fashion looking at it today. I'm sure our Founders would not.

Unfortunately, two hundred-plus years later the power of the Federal government far outreaches anything our Founders could have imagined or desired.  And, worse, too many Americans do not seem to care. Most seem to believe the more government does, the less personal responsibility they must bare, which is fine with them.

But, we can no longer proceed as we have, the cost and burden on us and future generations will be immeasurable. We must stop the continuing growth and overreaching authority of the Federal government, the reduction of individual rights, and the weakening of state sovereignty. For this reason I am offering a platform to redirect the course of our nation to one which will may nation stronger and sage, our governing more accountable and efficient and our citizens more
self-reliant and responsible.

The platform would limit the power of the Federal government; repeal laws and regulations which are better suited to be the responsibility of the states.

This first step would be to convene a "National States Conference" composed of each governor, state legislative leaders and Congressional representatives who will be in attendance as a courtesy, as members of Congress need to be reminded they are in the employ of the citizens of each state, NOT the Federal government. 

(Note: This is an important point which will be reference later on)

At the conference all services and responsibilities (S&R) performed by the Federal government will be reviewed and  the states will determine whether or not to take them over or continue to rely on the Federal government. This will be decided by the states, not Congress!

The first step at the conference would be to review all S&R that both the states and the Federal government are doing. If the states determine this should fall under the state, than the Federal responsibility will be ended.

Each state should take responsibility for services that are logically better controlled locally rather than in Washington. Education and infrastructure would be two to be considered, as local officials are the best judges for the needs of their citizens.

Many services should remain under Federal control; interstate commerce, foreign trade laws, aviation control, national power grids, national security, financial institution oversight, are but a few.

Just as easily many responsibilities currently overseen by the Federal government would fall under the state. National parks might be better run if the states were responsible for the upkeep.  All highway maintenance, environmental guidelines, welfare and labor standards

 

Give the states the responsibility of determining how their Congressional representatives serve their constituents. This would include creating districts, pay and expenses, term limits, if any, campaign funding, state and local involvement as a start.

Public education (greatly reduce power of Dept of Education)

Road, Bridge, Tunnel repair and maintenance (shrink some of Dept. of Transportation which oversees this funding and eliminate Federal gas tax)

Eliminate Corporate Income Tax (Retain business taxes for Federal oversight)

This second step would address national security and the role of our military, restore the sovereignty of the states, something that has been  eroded as the Federal government has grown.

Some responsibilities to be returned to the states:

Give the states the responsibility of determining how their Congressional representatives serve their constituents. This would include creating districts, pay and expenses, term limits, if any, campaign funding, state and local involvement as a start.

Public education (greatly reduce power of Dept of Education)

Road, Bridge, Tunnel repair and maintenance (shrink some of Dept. of Transportation which oversees this funding and eliminate Federal gas tax)

Eliminate Corporate Income Tax (Retain business taxes for Federal oversight)