The Manifesto

The Manifesto

As a country we need a coherent set of ideals to follow and to require our leaders to follow. The constitution represents many good and useful concepts. The declaration of Independence has others, but lest we feel these writings of white capitalists of 230 years ago are not relevant to today's world lets see what can be added.

Economics: The basis for a free society is a free economy where every person or family can maintain the standard of living they want and are willing to work for. When people can work and actually afford those things they want and need they don't feel apart from society. Our new manifesto must show how everyone can interact with the economy and meet their needs.

Honesty: We have to make a commitment to the truth. Lies and half truths and withholding information or using secret information to gain an advantage have a long tradition in the world. It causes harm. It is bad. We need to acknowledge this and try to do better.
Our leaders must be at the forefront of the honest movement. It's real hard to trust a president who lies and conceals truths with the bald faced confidence of a street con. Does he believe his barrage of bull&*#$? No one else does, but his actions have taught us the truth is relative to our own perceived needs and desires.

Big Business: Business has made this country the super power that it is. Without capital to invest in new technologies and new industries we might still be hauling coal to heat our houses and driving one horse carriages. Money talks. Unfortunately money doesn't always talk to the betterment of the society. Governments through the centuries have manipulated the way money flows in the economy some for the better, most for the worst. We as a country need to set guidelines for the business world not vice versa. They need us. We need them.

Politics: Both our political parties are frauds. Neither one tries to represent the people. They only want to manipulate the people. Somewhere we need to remind them that "politics" is about the will of the people. We the people form this country. The politicos are supposed to work for us. Enough complaining, lets do something about it.

Politicans shouldn't keep campaign donations. If they've paid all their bills then the balance of the "war chest" needs to be turned over to the IRS to settle tax debts. Politicians should not be allowed to work for lobbyists. Ever. Period. The term "honest politician" needs to stop being an oxymoron.

Lobbyists. These vampires are the spawn of Satan. While there are times when our leaders need expert opinions on matters beyond their education and experience, they certainly don't need devils tempting them with all the kingdoms of the earth and all its riches. We need limits on lobbyists. EXTREME limits.

Health care: We have the best health care money can buy but we're going broke buying it. TANSTAAFL (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch) but the economics of health care are broke. Someone's making a lot of money off of other people's misery. It must stop.
Socialized Health care is an option. We need answers not platitudes.

Society: who are we? Are we white bread Europeans? Are we African? Are we Hispanic? Are we Native American? Are we Japanese or Chinese? No. We're Americans. Our fore fathers were driven out of every decent country in the world at one time or another (yeah that's a quote from Stripes starring Bill Murray), and that includes our African brothers. After all the nasty white man slave trader was only a trader. The sellers were also natives of Africa.
Did our forefathers do bad things to each other? Yes. Let's agree it was not the kind of country we wanted and now it's different. We all need to get over it. The only differences we have are the ones we push on ourselves. If you act ghetto then you're from the ghetto. If you act like a cracker your a cracker. Stop it. It's bad. Let's move on for the love of all.

Religion: If you say "I'm a Christian and we're different", please read the passage in the gospels about praying on streetcorners. It was a parable for all people who profess they are holier than the rest of us. Freedom of religion is a key guarantee in this country. Let's make it a joyous one. This applies to those who worship at the rock of atheism. It's fine if you don't believe in God. If you're right I'll never know. If you're wrong, you WILL know. Let me know how it turns out. But until then stop interfering with the fundamental right to have a religion. Religion is practiced in communities. If you don't like their religion or find it offensive in some way (the same as I might find a black Sabbath offensive) then don't invade their community and try to change them. Mind your own business and move on.