Oh, America. The Land of Opportunity. The wealthiest, and arguably the most advanced country in the world.
Our forefathers crafted for us a vision. A state of independence, built upon fair trade and protecting our borders, built upon a premise of religious and personal freedoms by which one can pursue their dreams.
The state of the nation can no longer be placed upon another's shoulders. The politicians that constantly get re-elected, indeed, spend a career doing such, have been doing so by your will. Your vote. Your influence.
This trend has been building for 20 years. Only now are we finally starting to pay the price.
Be prepared, America, for one of two things. You can continue down this path, or step off of it. You already know where this path leads - plenty of politicians around to remind you.
If you're interested, however, in setting wrong to right, in re-establishing the country as our forefathers had intended, lend me your ear.
Our interest in international events must be honed back. There are far too many domestic issues - we are in no position to protect the interests of other countries when our own interests are in such jeopardy.
It is my belief that the government has turned from a regulatory and lawmaking body, into more of an active and caretaking body. This leans heavily towards the Socialist ideal.
I am not interested in transforming a capitalist foundation into a socialist regime. I'm not. There will be a price to pay, luxuries to give up. Are you ready to be accountable for your decisions? Are you ready to believe in the American dream, the old "pull yourself up by your boot straps" adage?
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There's a national threat in regards to terrorism. It is time to hone our technology, to fight smarter, not harder. To cost less lives, and cause greater impact when we strike.
The threat from terrorism, however, begins with our interest in fuel. We have long advised the public that our fuel consumption is irresponsible. We have long warned you of the costs to our environment, to our natural resources.
We are virtually enslaved by our desire for fuel and energy. It is this observation which gives them so much power over us. We are not going to stop using fossil fuels overnight, friends, I realize this.
I appreciate that it's better for the planet to use other fuels. I appreciate that it's cost effective to turn to hydrogen fuel cells, solar energy, wind power to operate our homes. But, beyond all of that, it will put an end to our fuel costs being driven by the latest religious or social unrest overseas.
This is a land of religious freedom. To stand by this, to uphold our integrity, we need to extricate ourself from such wars. I will see to this, enforce it.
The laws that our previous leaders held in regards to monopolies and corporations need to be more diligently applied. To not only steel and auto industries, as it has been done, but to our real estate, medical, technology and fuel interests. All corporations need to be held to the same standards.
That there exists cures that are not made available in order to further the medical industries' recurring incomes is morally reprehensible. The entire Food and Drug Administration has been incredibly lax in their duties. The general health and nutrition of our average citizen has decreased exponentially in the last century.
Understand that poor nutrition leads to the need for medicines.
There will be sacrifices made. As it stands, we do not have enough farmland to provide for our population. I would ask that you take a role in population control. Planned parenthood is to be encouraged. While we rebuild our resources, I encourage you to take measures by which to control the needs of your family. This will not become law until it is necessary - it's not necessary right now.
To provide for the nutrition of our fellow Americans, maintaining international trade continues to be necessary.
To discover newer forms of fuel, medicine and technology, maintaining international relationships becomes imperative.
However, our issues are at home. We need homes for the homeless. We need education for our children, so that they can be on the international cutting edge of new discoveries, new cures, new technologies.
Teachers' wages have become an insult. As our population ages, and more professionals in the medical field become necessary to care for our aging population, we require more teachers to bestow and share the knowledge. But, more times than not, it doesn't pay to teach. This changes. A minimum wage for educators will be implemented. The states that are overpopulated will receive government funds, drawn from taxes, until they are able to meet the requirements.
As a consumer and as a worker, America, you will need to decide what is more important. You cannot demand higher pay and expect to pay less for consumables, and expect all goods to be made in America. It doesn't make sense, it doesn't add up.
What are you prepared to give up?
Personally, I'd like to see the burden of minimum wage be removed from the small business owner. I do not propose to remove it, I simply propose that it should not be a measure of cost of living. It's not necessary to constantly monitor and increase. Rather, it's more important to make consumables more affordable without being forced to rely upon importing basic needs - particularly things which can, and should, be made in our country.
I propose a country where education is more valuable, and more accessible, that minimum wage jobs are just temporary tasks... given to new wage earners and part time job holders. As a young man, I worked many minimum wage jobs, through which I developed basic knowledge of the industry at hand, and gained basic skills which carried with me through adulthood.
Unions will be held to the same accountability as corporations and monopoly laws. High wages that are passed onto the consumer will be reviewed in exchange for employee benefits, retirement packages and other such benefits which can be spread out over the lifetime of the employment.
This will reduce the cost of production and reduce the cost to the American consumer.
You do not like this? No one wants to take a cut in pay, I understand. If we do not make this move, we will continue to suffer losses to international competitors for domestic goods and services.
I want American dollars spent in America, if and when it is remotely possible. I will take every step to support the small business owner. I will use your tax dollars to supplement our own capitalist economy until we develop the foundation that our forefathers intended.
Social security was never intended as a permanent answer. Our population does not support it. The system is bankrupt. We're taking $40 a week from the average 20 year old minimum wage employee towards this fund which will not exist in 45 years when he goes to collect on it. It's morally irresponsible.
It is our moral responsibility to care for our elders, as our elders cared for us, as our elders cared for their own elders.
If the government gives you more money, makes things affordable, do you have the responsibility to do what's right?
We've long encouraged you to "Buy American". We've long preached about family values. Given the opportunity to actually pursue the American dream, will you do so?
The temptation to buy from somewhere cheaper will always be there. It's the market economy, and it cannot be helped. I will make it harder to do so, less tempting, but it will still exist. I want you to be proud to be an American again.
We have given the media too much power to influence our decisions. I want modern technology to be taught to our children, be made available to every household. I want you to be able to get on the internet, learn the truth of things, rather than the spin of what's more sellable, exciting, racy.
We're in the 21st century. Where previous presidents made a weekly radio or television address, I propose a series of internet discussions. Chat rooms restricted to American voters. We'll pick a topic, and take some opinion polls, and let your congressman or woman become your true representative.
If World of Warcraft can have 10 million subscribers, so can we - and having real influence on your life, through your elected representatives, is nearly as exciting as defeating a demon and earning a sword of doom. If not, then I'll try and make it so.
This won't happen overnight. As a country, we must stop looking for quick, bandaid answers that help us get our career politicians re-elected.
In fact, I'm going to propose term limits for all elected offices. The current leadership must represent the passions of the people, the interest, the latest concerns. This cannot happen once someone is entrenched in Washington for decades at a time.
Let's talk about hot topics.
Gun Control. I don't believe that weapons made for war need to be available to non soldiers, or non law enforcement agents. But, I do believe you have a right to protect what you have worked so hard for. I believe certain areas of the country have more crime than others - I'm not a fool. While I'd like to think that the opportunities will soon come to exist for those who are down on their luck, there will always be those who will choose a quicker path, or who choose to not respect their fellow citizens.
Jail, Prison, Capital Punishment. I find it discouraging that our tax dollars go to provide for criminals who are given, in many cases, more rights and opportunities than a law abiding citizen. Let's allow our criminals to prove their worth to our country. Let's send them overseas to face the religious zealots, to learn the value of being a free American, to risk their lives to earn their rights and freedoms. Let's rehabilitate and educate those who are mentally damaged. And let's stop talking about harsher penalties and start enforcing them. The God I believe in stated it quite clearly, "An eye for an eye." I think we've moved too far away from that premise. I think taking another's life or property limits the rights that you are entitled to.
Abortion. I believe in family values. I believe there are plenty of alternatives to abortion. But, it's your body, it's a personal choice and I don't believe the government should be making rules about what you do with it. That decision is between you, your family and your spiritual beliefs. I encourage adoption as a healthy and morally strong alternative. I will make it easier for you to keep your child rather than abort. But, it is your choice and will always remain so.
Wall Street is a great hub of capitalism. It's a great opportunity and a great risk. All of these companies had no problems making money while they charged exorbitant, if not illegal, fees to the American consumer. There will be no bailout. When they crash, there will be a reduction in the values of the things that they clearly overvalued. This will make more things available to the average consumer. It will be ugly, but it will balance out the way that it should in a capitalist economy.
Social security is going to be highly reduced. Those who are already receiving benefit will continue to do so. We will calculate the scaling benefits backwards from retirement age, using what funds are currently available. Those funds will then be paid out and the program cancelled. Take that money and invest it yourself, plan for your own retirement, your own insurance. There are plenty of choices. The government is not an insurance company, this is not a socialist country.
From here on forth, the laws passed will be ones that have direct benefit to the American consumer, in a socially and morally responsible way. The taxation of popular consumables will be decreased, it's an irresponsible method for our government to make money. There will be a cap on how much someone can make as a public servant, and a greater cap on how much they can be given by "supporters". Pork barrel politics will cease and desist.
Likewise, once taxes are reduced on popular consumables, those industries will be examined to be sure that they are not preying upon a unsuspecting public. The government will provide small business loans as we have always done - however, greater loans will be provided for what we establish as industries where the consumer is being charged over much.
For instance, once we reduce the tax on tobacco, if the prices continue to remain high, then we will start offering grants and loans to more conservative and responsible tobacco farmers. Same with all the major industries, from auto to steel to technology. This circumstance where a few massive companies control the market on a popular American consumable is going to be seriously addressed.
It is your nature to want to make more money and have to spend less to buy groceries and other consumables. It's going to require some patriotism to make the responsible decisions, to buy American. But, I promise to make this easy for you.
I promise to remind you, in every act, in every legislation, that capitalism will always require hard work and diligence. But, this country will be the single best place in the world to find opportunities. To make your way, to make your mark upon the world, to raise your family in a socially and morally responsibile environment. One that will make you truly proud to be an American, not just a bumper sticker you put on your foreign made car.
I'm going to do it, not because I want your vote, or I want to be a hero, or some other fantastic notion of how hard this job really is. I'm going to do what's right. I'm going to make hard decisions and face criticism in the face of doing so. I'm tired of our country living in fear, in doubt, of our citizens being unempowered and waiting for the world to fix itself. It's time for you to make a difference in your life, and I'm going to help you do so. That's what a government should do - provide the environment within which you can realize your dreams. We are your servants, you are not ours.