Radical Center Platform Ideas
- Automation of governmental services
Politicians have been talking about cutting government spending for years while doing little or nothing about budget deficits, waste and corruption. One solution is to automate popular governmental services. It’s happening anyway so the USA might as well be the leader. The concept is simple-people get their benefit, permit or license as usual, but they would have to deal with the automated system to get it. Handicapped people would still have a human operator available. The bureaucrats who are replaced by machines would be retrained for positions in the private sector or necessary governmental areas. This would save a lot of money over time through the elimination of salaries, benefits and pensions.
- Training/Educational Reimbursement
Americans would be able to get free tuition or loan forgiveness ONLY if they are in a program leading to an actual job in short supply that the nation needs currently. This would exclude generic liberal arts type degrees(this writer and many others) as well as the types of “gender studies” or biased history courses conservatives are always making fun of. The Labor Department regularly publishes fastest growing occupations so there is no mystery here. There are shortages all over the place for skilled workers currently due to retirement issues.
- Free Campaign Advertising Time
The USA political finance system is a corrupt mess that nobody is dealing with including the “progressives” who are supposed to be in the vanguard of change on this stuff. One idea is to force free advertising time on all the networks. It could start with PBS as it’s supposed to be public anyway and then extend it to the commercial networks. Paying for ads is the usual excuse the politicians give for their money grubbing. The looney extremist parties could be excluded by limiting the free time to recognized parties getting a certain percentage in the opinion polls.
- Foreign Policy/ National Defense
The United States is in a dangerous position currently as a “mature economic power” no longer as influential globally as we have been for many years. The sun could set on the British Empire but the there is no back up plan to help this country if it gets in trouble. China and Russia are incredibly, actually gaining traction with Third World developing countries promoting a kind of “Communism Lite” authoritarian program. Given this, the “peace through strength” approach is probably the best bet, making sure our allies are putting up their share of the cost. New technologies can help reduce casualties, including those of civilians, while maximizing the enemy losses in a conflict.
- Expanded Guest Worker Program
To help with the immigration mess, an expanded guest worker program with strict limitations could be initiated. The aliens/migrants would be required to carry a “smart card” at all times that would have to be presented to any law enforcement official on demand. No rights of citizenship including voting rights or government welfare benefits would be included. People can work and send money back home to their relatives, but that’s about it. Newer technologies should be encouraged in the meantime to eliminate the lower level jobs sought by many uneducated migrants.
- Inner City Urban Areas Initiative
This scheme would require an appropriation but would be like a Job Corps program that’s decentralized and NOT controlled by local bureaucrats and politicians who can’t be trusted with the money. Local community groups including religious church based outfits would be able to use the funds for local work doing clean up, security , or just helping kids and seniors get to the store or school. It would have to be made “ACLU proof” so that liberal lawyers can’t exclude the religious organizations.
- None of the Above Voting Initiative
The cheapest, easiest reform ever proposed. It would just require some additional ink on the ballot and some programming/coding to add an extra line on the ballot. Voters would be able to select “none of these candidates” as an option for every race or contest. While not binding, it would have to be reported by the media and entered into official governmental statistics. Many voters truly, cannot stand the available candidates but still would like to vote, even if it’s a “vote of no confidence.”
- Peripheral Issues
The media, most politicians and special interest groups make a big deal about contentious social issues in this country but it’s actually quite easy to find midpoints on all these issues most of the public would find acceptable. On abortion for example, you can have a “legal but rare ” compromise where restrictions such as on late term abortions and parental notification would be required but otherwise the women who need abortion services could get them. Instead of the “Green New Deal” you could have a “Turquoise New Deal” with less stringent environmental controls. LGBTQ initiatives could have carve outs protecting the rights of religious conservatives and people who believe in traditional accepted science. Gun background checks and red flag laws are favored by the majority of Americans, but here, the conservative lobbyists block action just as the liberal activists block compromise decisions on their favorite causes. Maybe there’s too much money to be made contending over all these side issues?
- BACK TO BASICS
This is fundamental to getting the country “moving in the right direction.” Regardless of party, economic growth should always be at least three percent with 200,000 jobs(full-time, not gig/part-time or temp) created monthly. This should be the norm, not the exception, with stable prices in the 0-2% inflation range.
Transportation infrastructure (airports, roads and rail ) obviously needs improvement, plus the crummy local public schools. More police officers and adequate military funding plus health insurance coverage for people outside the system would round this out.
Radical Center USA 