Viable Centrist Third Option in 2008

[Wyatt Chesney]

Heya Everybody!

I got  a message from a friend on the Reform Party board and decided that I would drop in and see what's going on.

I'm glad to know that there are more independent thinkers out and around the web. I would be glad to answer any questions you might have about my platform and campaign.

[Wyatt Chesney]

Wyatt,

Welcome to the forum, first of all.  Glad to see some third-party representation here.

First off, I love the Mo Udall quote.  I had that in my signature a few months back, in fact.

I have a few questions based on your "on the issues" page.  You may have to forgive my only basic knowledge of some issues; I am a high school student who has not yet had the pleasure of filling out income tax forms or dealing with social security.

First of all, I see that you are a deficit hawk (if this would be an accurate description).  Your page says that we should re-evaluate some programs and replace them to reduce the load.  Certainly, with a deficit of this size, that would constitute some significant cuts.  What specific types of cuts would you first consider?

Secondly, I see that you support banning PAC groups.  I personally disagree with this, but that's a Constitutional issue.  I assume this ban would also include 527 groups?  What is your position on corporate donations?

Thanks.

Yeah Udall was an awesome guy, I had the pleasure of growing up in his district. =) Anywho, to answer your questions...

The my main focus as far as budget cuts are to eliminate the pork and to scale back programs that hold little function andlittle purpose to the average american. Such things include...

- Corporate Welfare
- The War on Drugs (rather than fighting it with money, I intend to fight it with border security. Did you know that our neighbors to the south are accountable for over 80% of illegal drugs circulating within the United States?)
- Space Exploration Programs
- National Missle Defense (Star Wars)
- Special Intrest Subsides

Also to fight the debt I suggest we privatize a portion of the social security system. The truth is that we spend too much money into the trust fund and discourage fiscal integrity by doing so.

Secondly, the main reason I support the aboliton of PACs is because they usually swing the elections away from the intrests of the American people and and right into the intrests of pocket stuffing...the doing away with PACs and 527 groups would definitely clean up elections.

Finally, I feel like we really need to put campaign donations back into the hands of individuals and the little guy. When corporations dominate the donation process, it's their intrests that will be attended too. I suggest a drastic but effective measure to even the playing feild. Restrict corporations to the same donation limits as an individual.

I hope this answers your questions, and thank you for the welcome.

[Wyatt Chesney]

Wyatt, if Hillary Clinton is the nominee for my party (which means she would have no chance winning in Arkansas) and you get on the ballot there's a very good chance I would vote for you.

I disagree with you somewhat on funding for NASA and aid to Isreal, but the rest of your platform looks good.

Thanks, I'm glad to know I have your support.

[Wyatt Chesney]

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.

[Wyatt Chesney]

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.

My campaign focus is dived three ways with two of those being a limited immigration platform plank and fiscal responsibility - both traditional conservative ideas. I use to be a Democrat, but as my intrest in social issues dimenished in coordination with the worsening of the illegal immigration situation I decided to leave the party after one election season.

I would say my platform is very "Reform" and thus very "centrist".