Howdy Dave, some good questions.
1) I would work with congress to pass legislation replacing the current "Borrow and Spend" policy with a more benefitial "PAYGO" system. In 2000, the Federal government had a budget surplus of $236 billion, because this common-sense approach to managing federal spending was in place.
2) For medicare we need to take some worth while initiatives to simplify the system. I think that the plans need to be thouroughly explained to the American people. Also, before we rush a plan into action we need to test and make sure that it is going to work as expected. Finally, we need to keep these programs flexible so that they can be reformed as our knowledge of the problems increse.
The upcoming benefit cash in will be hard to deal with on a fiscal level but I suggest we cut certain pork barrel programs in order to compensate.
I do not feel that we necessarily spend too much on the military more so than I feel that we spend quite inefficently. While we are busy funding "Star Wars" programs to greater flash our global ego - we are sending our guys into battle with supply shortages and sub par equipment. I would retool the spending bracket to raise pay for active duty personel, troop readiness, and train programs.
3) Yes, I feel that between 90-95% of revenue should go to reducing the national debt. Leaving the additional 5% for programs of the upmost importance.
4) To very honest, I'm still doing the research on the gas tax. While the benefits of raising it are evident and very convincing, so are the issues regarding the American pocket book with the state, local, and federal gas taxes now representing up to 65 cents a gallon in certain places. I am definitely for reducing the demand for oil, but when looking at the big picture we need to first have to reduce the cost of being energy efficent. i believe that we need to lower business taxes on businesses that produce cars that run on alternative energy as well as alternative energy it's self. As it stands, there just isn't a plentiful source for us to work with. Before we lower demand, we would have to give them an alternative. Not everyone has a hydrogen station around the corner...they should, but sadly enough don't.
As I said, I am still talking to people...researching this issue and trying to formulate a posistion with the people in mind. I'd like to know exactly what I am dealing with before I go off and throwing out these platform planks just for the sake of having a platform.
5) Don't get wrong, I understand that Space Exploration is benefitial. But the debt/deficit situation we deal with now requires us to keep the most important programs while putting smaller things on the backburner.
6) #1 - Immigration reform. We need to crack down on illegal immigration and install assisted assimilation that teaches immigrants to speak english and live in American culture.
#2 - Environmental Protection and Alternative Energies. I would propose to strengthen the clean air/water acts and increase funding to protect the environment in a more efficent manor. I would also fund programs designed to research renewable enrgy sources to assist America in becoming energy independent.
#3 - Regaining Control of our Runaway Economy. - Since Bush took office in 2001, spending has increased by nearly 60%...in coordination with lopsided tax breaks that shift the budget to the average Americans in the middle classes. Fighting the debt via economci responsiblity should be a very high priority for our government.
You're a Democrat. You're not right-wing enough to be what is called a "centrist" in America.
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