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Which candidate

Red Robin

Well-known member
would implement these ideas?

1. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and oppose the creation of a widened Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

2. We call for worker and community ownership and control of corporations within the framework of a decentralized and democratically determined economic.
3. We call for a minimum wage of $15 per hour, indexed to the cost of living.

4. We call for a full employment policy. We support the provision of a livable guaranteed annual income.

5. We call for all financial and insurance institutions to be socially owned and operated by a democratically-controlled national banking authority, which should include credit unions, mutual insurance cooperatives, and cooperative state banks. In the meantime, we call for re-regulation of the banking and insurance industries.

6. We call for a steeply graduated income tax and a steeply graduated estate tax, and a maximum income of no more than ten times the minimum. We oppose regressive taxes such as payroll tax, sales tax, and property taxes.

7. We call for the restoration of the capital gains tax and luxury tax on a progressive, graduated scale.

8. We call for compensation to communities-- and compensation, re-training, and other support service for workers-- affected by plant and military base closings as stop-gap measures until we reach our goal of creating a socialist society totally separate from the global capitalist economy.

9. We oppose the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization as instruments of capitalist oppression throughout the world.

10. We demand cancellation of Third World debt.

11. We call for a National Pension Authority to hold the assets of private pension funds, and a levy against corporate assets for any pension fund deficits.

12. We call for increased and expanded welfare assistance and increased and expanded unemployment compensation at 100% of a worker's previous income or the minimum wage, whichever is higher, for the full period of unemployment or re-training, whichever is longer.

13. We support a program of massive federal investment in both urban and rural areas for infrastructure reconstruction and economic development.

14. We support tax benefits for renters equal to those for homeowners.

15. We call for the elimination of subsidies and tax breaks that benefit corporations and all other forms of corporate welfare.
 

MoGal

Well-known member
What would they do with our borders and the illegal aliens??
What is their stance on wars in the Middle East??


Edwards is the only one I've heard who says min wage should be $9.50 hour.

There's a woman running on the independent and I've not heard or read what she is standing for or against nor have I looked to see what Gravel is about.

These candidates can make lots of promises that will have to be broken because they'll have to get them through congress first and our congress is owned by corporate lobbyists.
 

Tex

Well-known member
Red Robin said:
Would you vote for them if I tell you?

I think ff, oldtimer, tex, the girl from missouri, and Kraven would.

No, I wouldn't --unless this two party system of ours keeps failing. Sometimes you have to pick the lessor of two evils.


I would just like a party that can enforce the existing laws on the books as they are written--- even if it means against themselves.

It is called the rule of law and we don't have it anymore.
 

backhoeboogie

Well-known member
Red Robin said:
would implement these ideas?

Russia tried to implement most of those concepts for years and years. Plus some others. It didn't work. But they had guaranteed jobs.

They even had the iron curtain that curtailed most all illegal immigration too :D I think it worked well for them.
 

cutterone

Well-known member
Presidential candidates miss important issue

Hoosier Ag Today
Gary Truitt
For the past year we have been subjected to a seemingly endless series of presidential candidate debates. </p><p>
During these debates, a long list of major and minor White House hopefuls outlined their positions on a myriad of issues. Yet, none of them, Democrat or Republican, have shown leadership or advanced any new ideas on the most critical issue facing our nation. The ever-arrogant, watchdog national media, so eager to catch any political misstep, has ignored this obvious failure. </p><p>
Even with oil prices above $100 a barrel, gas prices above $3 a gallon, and the U.S. economy teetering on the brink of recession, the men and women who would be president have not figured out that energy is the most critical issue of the campaign.</p><p>
In one of the most intelligent, clear, and forthright speeches I have ever heard by a sitting politician, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) made the case that energy must be the top priority of the next president.</p><p>
“In the absence of revolutionary changes in energy policy, we will be risking multiple hazards for our country that could constrain living standards, undermine our foreign policy goals, and leave us highly vulnerable to economic and political disasters with an almost existential impact,” said Lugar.</p><p>
His criticism was candid and aimed at past and future administrations. He correctly observed that, “Advancements in American energy security have been painfully slow; and political leadership has been defensive, rather than proactive.”</p><p>
During the energy crisis of the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter told us to turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater. Both Democratic and Republican energy policies have not evolved much since then. </p><p>
While lawmakers and the president fell all over themselves recently to pass an energy bill, it, for the most part, simply continued the policies and practices of the past. It will not foster the kind of revolutionary change needed to avoid serious domestic and overseas disasters.</p><p>
As Lugar pointed out, our nation’s continued dependence on imported oil is causing problems far more serious than just high-priced gas.</p><p>
“Our energy vulnerability is intensified by the increasing percentage of U.S. public debt – now 44 percent – held by foreign entities and the dimming luster of the dollar. </p><p>
A very significant recession could be triggered by economic or geopolitical forces over which we have little control.” In addition, our foreign policy and military influence in the world has diminished because of our addiction to oil from nations hostile to us. </p><p>
Lugar pointed out that many of the billions of dollars we shell out for oil each year are used to fund terrorist activities or purchase the assets of large U.S. banks and corporations. </p><p>
The Senator laid out a blueprint for the next occupant of the White House, “I believe the next president should communicate in the early days of his or her Administration that the Federal government will use every power to make competitively-priced biofuels available to every motorist in America. Such an accomplishment would transform our transportation sector and cut our oil import bill. This goal will not be easy to meet, but not impossible if the weight of the Federal Government and high profile presidential advocacy is devoted to its realization.”</p><p>
Renewable energy is only one aspect of the puzzle. Wind, nuclear, coal, and other energy sources all have a part to play but, again, in a new way. </p><p>
We tend to think of a solution to our energy crisis as a scientific or technological one. </p><p>
We think if we just pour enough money into research we will find the magic solution.</p><p>
But as Lugar aptly observed, “Energy security is a political problem. The United States has the financial resources, scientific prowess, productive land, and industrial infrastructure to address our energy vulnerability. The question is whether we will heed abundant warning signs and apply the political will to deal with this problem in the present rather than suffering grave consequences in the future.” </p><p>
As citizens, we must demand that our leaders address this vital issue in a serious and effective way. We must demand the kind of visionary leadership and unity of purpose we have not seen in this nation for a very long time.</p><p>

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.
 

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