Me, for President!

Waving at the Waves. Boulder, Colorado, 2016 (iPhone)

One thing that these last nearly four years has taught me is that, in the United States of America, it is absolutely true that anyone can grow up to be the President. (Snark alert.)

Given that, I thought I’d offer up my own candidacy in case you aren’t satisfied with your 2020 choices and you want to write in someone on your ballot.

So, what would be my platform, you ask?

This:

–Slogan: “AMERICA RESURGENT!” Or, “WE’RE BAAAACK!”

–Nationally, education, health care, and infrastructure would be the main pillars of my approach.

–Internationally, I would emphasize a smart, layered defense, engagement with allies, support of human rights, and mutually beneficial trade agreements.

—Election reform–an agency to monitor and report on foreign interference and defend against it, elimination of dark money in political campaigns, eliminate gerrymandering, have a national day-off to vote, automatic voter registration at age 18, option for electronic/mail-in voting with paper back-up.

–Enthusiastically, jump back into the 2016 Paris Agreement. Become the world leader for environmental and climate change research and reforms. 

–A “Marshall Plan” project to convert ours to as green an economy as possible–while creating entirely new, modern, job sectors at the same time.

—Economic reform–readjust the tax structure, banking and Wall Street regulations, etc with the goal of reducing the inequality in our society and ensuring no one financial entity is “too big to fail”. (Yes, the rich will pay more. The middle and lower classes will pay less. The boom years of the 50s? The top marginal income tax rates varied between about 80-90%. Currently, it is at about 37%.)

—Mandatory national service for all 18-year olds (no exceptions for being rich) for 18 months (“18 for 18“). Possible options: the military, hospitals, public schools, programs for at-risk youth or at-risk elderly, environmental projects, etc.

–A national permanent working group to continually develop, refine, and communicate to the States recommendations on a national curriculum, national minimum standards, and most importantly best teaching practices. Let’s get creative and look to other successful countries for ideas. Oh, and pay teachers WAY more! The goal: make American pre-school, primary, and secondary education the best in the world (to match our university systems!).

–Educational programs and vocational training to help adults and older Americans caught in shrinking industries (coal, for example) transition to new career paths. 

–Make college and university education affordable again for the average working/middle class family. Consider options to make it nearly free… and student loan relief.

—A single payer health care system–American-style. Yes, taxes would likely increase, but you would have no health care premiums or copays and your health care would no longer be employer-based–you’d have it wherever you go with your career. Include family planning, eye care, mental health, and geriatric care. Yes, private insurance would still be available for those wanting additional coverage.

—An infrastructure “Marshall Plan” for our bridges, highways, dams, and National Parks–let’s make them second to none in the world!

–A “layered national defense“–it starts with a fully funded and manned (“womened!”) State Department, and an intelligence community second-to-none (but operating within the law, of course). The next layer would include international arms control agreements and mutual defense treaties/organizations (e.g., NATO). Another layer: take the moral high ground and set the example by promoting human rights and operating well within the bounds of international law at all times (no torture!) and pressuring those who don’t.

–Finally… and I’m a vet saying this… a Defense Department budget reduction to help pay for much of the above. Instead of spending as much on defense as the top seven countries in the world, just maybe we get away with a bit less, especially considering our nuclear umbrella–no one is going to outright attack us, with their nucs or otherwise.

–I would commit to diversity in all of my Cabinet and appointed officials that would at least reflect the diversity of the American population as a whole. Yes, that means at least 51% women, 18% Latino/Hispanic, 14% African American, 6% Asian American, and a minimum of 1% Native American.  Same thing with religion.

–Complete vetting of all of my appointed officials to include putting the most expertly qualified in appropriate posts, regardless of their politcs. Cabinet officials will be appointed based on how their expertise can improve their Department (not on how they can destroy it–the current unfortunate paradigm). 

–Use data and science to determine the effectiveness of programs and to help guide policy.

—Reform of our immigration system to reflect our heritage as a “country of refuge” for those seeking a better life. Legalize the DACA “Dreamers”. Set up a worker visa program. Develop a pathway to citizenship for those who have been in the country without papers for, say, more than five years, with no criminal record, and can show educational or employment achievement/stability. The goal: Have no one be in the U.S. without papers of some kind–you would either have a temporary work visa, a refugee visa of some kind, a permanent resident card, citizenship… or you don’t come in.

–I would push for sensible and obvious gun control measures such as a national gun registry for all firearms, raising the minimum age to 21, closing of gun sales loopholes, background checks for all purchases, and other options determined by a gun control working group.

–As opportunities arise, the appointment of Supreme Court judges who might be inclined to reverse Citizens United and reinforce Roe v. Wade. 

–Push for the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution.

–Consider eliminating the Electoral College, or at least examine possible modifications.

Finally, given current events:

–Assign a diverse and community-smart working group of experts to look at the report from Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and take it to the next level–then we need to push those law enforcement reforms hard throughout the country. Maybe award a special “Federal Seal of Approval” when police forces meet the new standards? This should be combined with overall criminal justice sytem reform–addiction treatment, mental health treatment, job training/rehab for appropriate candidates, while keeping the most dangerous criminals off the streets. Oh, and no death penalty.

–Establish a “National Reconciliation Commission” (with experts who reflect the diversity of our country) and charge them with coming up with recommendations on what to do with our historical monuments and flags, history textbooks, the possibility of reparations (perhaps via educational programs or home loans… a sort of “GI Bill” for the economically disadvantaged of all colors), and so on.

–Re-establish the Global Health Security and Biodefense Unit as a separate entity under the National Security Council (NSC). Or, at a minimum, seriously beef up the biodefense directorate element of the current NSC. (Under Trump, the GHSBU was disbanded and it’s remaining staff comingled with other groups within the NSC in what was called a move to “streamline” the NSC.)

So, do I get your vote!