Election Issues 2008

It is now February 2007, and the 2008 election is already in high gear. The democrat and republican parties have numerous candidates from both the far right and left of where the center of issues that are important to the average American ideals are. Most politicians are out of touch with their constituents, in what issues are important.

Iraq War: No matter who manufactured the lies and deceptions that started the Iraq War, it is time to end this conflict. Iraq had no involvement in terrorist attacks on the United States, and now Iraq is used as a terrorist training facility.

A. Divide Iraq into four major sectors.

1. Shiite
2. Sunni
3. Kurd
4. Bedouin

B. Negotiate with Iraq’s neighbors to supervise Iraq’s rebuilding.

1. Iran - Shiite
2. Syria - Sunni
3. Jordan - Kurd
4. Kuwait - Bedouin

C. Divide Iraq Oil Revenue equally between each sector, supervised by Euro nations with no connections with the United States.

D. Redeploy US military personnel out of Iraq starting Aug 2007 at a rate of 20,000 each 45 day period until all forces are removed, to be completed before October 2008.

National Security: With the redeployment of the US military, the US can direct its attention to resolving terrorist activities round the world, Afghanistan, Sudan, Jakarta, Bali and the Philippines; increase patrols of international waters surrounding the United States; increase screening of shipping containers coming into the US; contain the land borders with Mexico and Canada; implement background checks of foreign nationals attending schools in the US; and reduce carry-on baggage during air travel.

Social Issues:

1. Health Care. The US needs to implement a semi-social medicine system to provide basic care (colds, flews, viruses, broken bones) at no cost for all citizens in the US legally.

2. School System. School systems inside the US must accomplish basic education of citizens to become a competent work force, to include the elimination of sports and extra-curricular programs if necessary to attain a 90% graduation ratio.

3. Public Transportation. Since 1996 public transportation has either been put on the back burner or completely dismissed by the national government. During the years previous both metro and rural regions were served by an adequate bus and rail system. Living in Eastern Oregon, I had access to at least one east or west train or bus each day, since the town I live is located along a major rail line and east/west freeway. While the state spends $100s million to improve access roads and light rail systems around Portland, Salem, and Eugene, in rural Oregon I am forced to depend on my private car or truck.

A. The US needs to restructure the rural bus lines serving communities along major highways so people have access within 25 miles of the nearest bus stop.

B. The US needs to reestablish major Amtrak connections between rural areas to major metro areas such as Portland, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver where major connections can be made for east coast locations. This would be of great assistance to rural communities that can not afford airfare, considering air connections in rural areas are extremely high.

4. Environment. Problems with our environment can be described as decisions of the human race being based on greed and arrogance, with profit the ultimate goal. As the human population grows in the world, people must adapt a more environmentally orientated lifestyle.

A. Green house gasses are at a dangerously high level because of emissions from fossil fuels. We must adapt to fuels that come from live plants such as sugar beets, sugar cane, corn, etc. Instead of pocketing profits, we must invest in update processing and manufacturing plants. During World War II, the United State industrial complexes did not suffer any major loses from bombing so many plants today are just now considering to rebuild, 65+ years after the war. Some oil refineries are 100+ years old, and oil companies are using breakdowns as excuses to raise fuel costs to consumers.

B. In many countries clear cut logging is still the preferred standard. Forests are like living air filters, the greater the population the greater the need to maintain the proper balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Logging must be restructured to that of pruning old trees that allow the younger ones to flourish and also to protect the forests floor for wildlife.

C. In the beginning, cars were no more than tin boxes with small motors to provide basic transportation. In the fifties and sixties, the small cars such as Volkswagen, Datsun, and Toyota were still tin boxes with small motors, some reaching as much as 40-60 MPG. To become more acceptable to American drivers, foreign companies now make their products larger, heavier and more luxurious and their products are now averaging only 22-34 MPG. Another thing needed is reengineering the approach to transportation. I purchased a new Chevrolet Colorado a few years ago with the largest motor available (5 Cyl) and the lowest gear ratio (3.73) for power, and installed a tonneau cover over the bed producing highway mileage 29-32 as long as I drive at speeds at 60 MPH or lower, and sufficient power to do all I need. Drivers of this same truck equipped with a the standard 3.08 and 3.23 gear ratios and driving speeds of over 60 MPG report gas mileage 22-24 highway and complain they lack pulling power when loaded with maximum weight or going up hill. During the 1973 gas crisis President mandated a national wide 55 MPH speed limit, today not only is there higher speed limits but not enough police to enforce the higher limits.

5. Economics. The population of the United States has a problem of excess.

A. Growing up in a family of six, our house was approximately 1200 sq. ft. In today’s’ housing market the smallest new house I have seen is 1460 sq. ft., most are averaging 1860-2260 sq ft. The bigger house the more lumber is needed, the more power is needed to heat or cool, and of course more taxes to pay.

B. Today most family members think the deserve their own television, computer, phone, car, and bathroom.

C. People re making their lives more busy that they must eat out more often. While my wife eat restaurant quality food at home for an average of $2.60 per person, eating out cost $4.80 and up.

D. People buy so much stuff that there undeveloped properties are now filled with storage facilities.