2007 Articles Index
America Can Be Better
For America to Be Better
Here's What We Need
Victory over violent extremists, on the field and in the market of ideas. Right now that includes Islamic extremists in Iraq and elsewhere around the world, but violent extremists of any stripe must be defeated. Civilization cannot flourish where security cannot be maintained.
Some legal recognition of the union of two persons in a committed relationship, call it what you will. I'm not interested in a solution that forces a church to accept something that its tenets deem immoral. I am interested to see that a mechanism exists for two persons of whatever gender to form a legal union that gives them equality in matters of secular law with what we now restrict to male/female couples.
Outrage and indignation over the ongoing corruption found apparently at every level and in every wing of government.
An end to the far right's stranglehold on the Republican Party.
An end to the far left's stranglehold on the Democratic Party.
And end to the "drug war" and a sane policy of legalized, though restricted, use of some recreational drugs. We tried the current approach but against alcohol in the early 1900's with Prohibition, with equal success. We saw the same creation of a powerful, wealthy, violent underworld.
An end to abuse of substances. I would love to see every drug available and dangerous ones found to be of no interest to anyone.
Outstanding education available to absolutely every child, regardless of place of residence, and no child in school who makes education impossible for others.
Secure borders, with armed guards able to repel armed incursions across our borders.
Some reasonable guest-worker program, but not something based on saying that 12 million illegal aliens can just "come clean" and stay here.
Every illegal alien removed, preferably voluntarily, from the country. Start with the companies that knowingly hire illegals. Go after them with a vengeance. Then announce a deadline 90 or 180 days away, letting everyone know that after that deadline we start going after individuals. Let everyone know that we won't be too energetic about checking status on the way out of the country. If you make it out before you get caught, well good for you. Now getting back in...control the borders, keep everyone out unless he or she comesin legally.
An end to automatic citizenship for children of aliens who entered the country illegally. I'm not sure it's wise even to grant citizenship to children of aliens visiting or residing here legally, but I'm open to discussion. I might set the threshhold at being the child of a natural-born or naturalized citizen. For all others, apply and go through the process.
An end to requirements that the government provide services and documentation in multiple languages. If businesses want to serve customers in ten different languages, that's up to the officers and investors. If non-profits want to serve multiple linguistic communities, that's up to their officers and contributors. The government (city, county, state, federal) should not be under obligation to translate its documents into any other language. If you plan to come here and stay here, learn English, just as you would have to learn French to live in France or Spanish to live in Spain.
