Everyone knows where my heart and head are at with respect to the current Democratic primary and the 2008 presidential campaign. Barack's my man! Period. In my opinion, there is no other rational alternative for African America.

Beyond that though, there are a whole host of issues that I care about that could not reasonably, at this time, make it into a presidential agenda. Therefore, here is my personal platform for America - if I were running for president of the United States in 2008.

To be clear, I approach these issues from an African America - centric perspective. Our interests are undeniably and unapologetically front and center. The platform will actually improve the lot of far more white folks than black because of the demographic realities in this nation, but - I just want to be clear about what is driving the policy analysis and prescriptions of what is listed below.

As with all posts, the idea is to spark conversation about these items; I won't attempt to fully flesh out each point - on purpose - but am happy to elaborate further going forward. I'd love your thoughts about which of these make sense to you and which don't. Moreover, you'll see a reliance upon tax incentives as a trend throughout. Money makes the world go round, no?

The MBM administration's platform is comprised of four categories: Health Care, Education, Jobs, and the Law. The over-all objective is to get the government working for people again; operating in the public interest, as opposed to in the private interest helping the elite few.

HEALTH CARE

An MBM administration would immediately and completely remove the profit motive from the delivery of health care in this country. America deems things like the police and fire functions, and public education to be such critical human services such that the people should be protected from the well established vices of the profit motive. Health care is a no less fundamental factor in delivering against our national promise of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

Universal health care for all. Single payer, universal, cradle-to-grave coverage for all. Period.

EDUCATION

Quality education is one of the most important human and civil rights to be protected in this country. Education represents the single most effective means to raise people up from poverty. As such, it holds a central position in an MBM administration.

We must decouple the traditional linking of property taxes and public school funding. For many poor people, this practice effectively and perpetually prevents them from getting ahead in life. By forcing children to go to underfunded and substandard schools - of no fault of their own - we are effectively sentencing them to a substandard life and an unequal crack at the "American Dream".

Either we believe that public education is a right in this country or we don't. There are a variety of ways that public schools can be funded. Creating a statewide pool of property taxes (with provisions for more wealthy communities to supplement their budgets if they choose) to more evenly distribute public school funding could be a logical approach.

There are whole communities where high school graduation rates are abysmally low. If we believe that education is valuable and, moreover, if a better trained workforce is a value to the economy, then this sad trend needs to be effectively addressed.

As a result, in high drop-out communities, I propose offering a combination of student stipends and/or family tax credits to support students who are successfully moving toward high school graduation. Perhaps even pegged to the minimum wage, the notion would be to acknowledge the societal, economic, and personal benefits of greater high school graduation rates and encouraging and supporting students and their families in that effort.

Basically, school becomes the students' job and they are rewarded for their positive performance.

In an effort to stimulate additional opportunities for American people and companies, particularly in urban environments, I propose making tuition for post secondary trade school tax deductible.

College has the ability to be transformative in propelling some young people forward in their careers. I would initiate a long-term vision of creating National Universities that would be cost free and that would deliver superb education and training. Moreover, in advance of that goal, I would make college costs 100% tax deductible if both student's parents did not graduate from college. For those students with college graduated parents the deduction would be 50% I would institute either an income or net worth cap however so that rich kids who are already going to college are not the primary beneficiaries of this program.

To offset the greater potential costs of proposed incremental education programs designed to better equip Americans, and provide a stronger pool of labor talent to American companies, I propose a national corporate lottery where companies would pay into a fund with the objective of winning future tax credits. Like consumer lotteries where people pay for the chance to win a future cash windfall, companies would pay to win the chance to shield a greater amount of future profits from taxation. The proceeds of this lottery would fund appropriate education projects on a statewide and national basis.

JOBS

If our government continues to allow/encourage American companies to exploit American communities and people in a singular quest for profit - then eventually the fundamental character of this nation will be destroyed. The middle class will - effectively - cease to be relevant and, as has occurred in this country recently - the "Haves" will continue to reap and the "Have Nots" will suffer - with an ever widening chasm between them. An MBM administration will have a key focus on protecting and supporting the American worker and bringing back American jobs to Americans.

An MBM administration would push through legislation to immediately increase the minimum wage. That there are Americans who are employed full-time at the minimum wage who are still living in poverty is a crime that affronts reasonable sensibilities.

I would aggressively initiate policies and laws to greatly retard the practice of off-shoring and outsourcing of American jobs. While the approach would be to establish meaningful incentives for American companies to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the United States there would also be significant penalties for breach.

I would immediately institute severe corporate penalties - to include personal culpability for senior management - at companies who attract and hire undocumented workers with the objective of undercutting American wage laws and pushing Americans out of work.

To stimulate new job growth and entrepreneurialism, I would offer companies with less than 50 employees a 25% (+/-) tax deduction on the labor expense of each employee if corporate revenue is less than $10 million per year. I would create a graduated program to wean companies off this subsidy as they pass the revenue cap and continue further corporate growth with a clear goal of "graduating" these small companies off of the progam.

Acknowledging the role that healthy unions can play in offsetting corporate malfeasance, as well as the power of financial opportunity for companies, I would offer a tax credit to companies for every unionized worker they employ on an annual basis.

LAW

There are a variety of legal (r)evolutions needed in this country to move things forward.

The American justice system, generally, is broken and requires extraordinary over-haul. An MBM administration would immediately impanel a broad commission to study overarching reforms so as to be able to ensure "equal protection under the law" for every American.

I would eliminate the federal death penalty and advocate for states to eliminate theirs.

I would decriminalize personal drug possession and use, refocus attention to stamping out drug manufacturers and dealers, and address personal drug addiction etc. as a public health issue. Putting people behind bars for personal drug use has become more about controlling people (mostly black men) and big business for states and local communities as opposed to about law enforcement. An MBM administration would address this issue with the highest priority.

There is a Constitutional right against self-incrimination in the American legal system. Despite that, current racial attitudes in this nation - effectively - convict many young black males before the trial even starts. An MBM administration would look to enact a feature where defendants would not be required to present themselves - physically - before a jury so as to potentially remove the racial component from a jury's decision process. Defendants can observe and participate in their defense in ways that do not contribute to their incrimination.

Undocumented workers were lured here by American companies to be exploited for their corporate and personal greed. They have contributed meaningfully to building, clothing, and feeding Americans over the last 20+ years. They have paid taxes, and tried to assimilate into the American society as their language and cultural skills permit.

With the aggressive measures to create new jobs and return old jobs back to this country, as well as legitimate measures to hold companies strictly accountable for their behavior in this area, I would establish a clear path to citizenship for undocumented workers that acknowledges the reality of their plight here, but that also seeks to protects Americans and American jobs. This effort acknowledges that corporate America,and not poor immigrants, is the real culprit behind "illegal immigration". These efforts would seek to protect American workers while also treating those who have created untold riches for American business with respect and fairness.

Reparations! Nuff said!


OK - let's discuss!

**ADDENDUM** 12/21/07

TAXES

Another key aspect of the platform is instilling greater tax fairness into the current tax code to more fairly assess taxes across various incomes. It would seek to ask the richest among us to pay more of their fair share to a country that is almost wholly constructed to allow them unfettered opportunity to to earn more and more wealth. America works hardest and does the most for its rich and elite. It is only fair that they pay for that privilege. Loopholes like those that permit hedge fund managers to have their millions assessed at the capital gains tax rate - which is lower than than standard income rate - must be immediately eliminated for example.

Social Security policy should receive thoughtful consideration to ensure its future health and longevity. Measures like increasing the amount of income subject to Social Security taxes and creating tax incentives for the wealthy to opt out of Social Security altogether, among other things, should be considered in an effort to ensure that this hallowed commitment is kept, perpetually, for every American.

FOREIGN POLICY

In general, the United States should transform its view of foreign policy from an exploitive and acquisitive one driven by corporate objectives to one where we acknowledge our current leadership, and then lead in the interest of the American people and the the world. The world is a community of nations; one that gets smaller every day. America needs to operate with a longer term and broader set of interests than merely how to force its unilateral objectives all over the world for the benefit of corporate America.


Please Stumble This!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MBM,

HEALTH CARE
No problem with this except………..The question first and foremost in my mind when I hear people wanting a “universal anything” is how do they plan to ensure equal dissemination of the resources? ( If we did, would that make us socialist?) As with some things, the system will allow for the best doctors, nurses and equipment to be placed in locations that benefit the few rather than the whole. A person in Tchula, MS should receive the same 1st class care as a person in Manhattan?

EDUCATION

• College has the ability to be transformative in propelling some young people forward in their careers. I would initiate a long-term vision of creating National Universities that would be cost free and that would deliver superb education and training. Moreover, in advance of that goal, I would make college costs 100% tax deductible if both student's parents did not graduate from college. For those students with college graduated parents the deduction would be 50% I would institute either an income or net worth cap however so that rich kids who are already going to college are not the primary beneficiaries of this program.

I heard a preacher a few weeks back make a comment I thought was pretty interesting, “If you child is making C’s and D’s, don’t try to make them into college material.” A lot of emphasis is placed on a good education for reasons we can debate for days. For those that have no desire to go to college or prefer a trade school, what tax incentive would your plan offer?

JOBS

• An MBM administration would push through legislation to immediately increase the minimum wage. That there are Americans who are employed full-time at the minimum wage who are still living in poverty is a crime that affronts reasonable sensibilities.

Would you also implement a reasonable and periodic
cost of living increase to keep up with inflation?

• I would immediately institute severe corporate penalties - to include personal culpability for senior management - at companies who attract and hire undocumented workers with the objective of undercutting American wage laws and pushing Americans out of work.

Waterboarding comes to mind…… .

• Acknowledging the role that healthy unions can play in offsetting corporate malfeasance, as well as the power of financial opportunity for companies, I would offer a tax credit to companies for every unionized worker they employ on an annual basis.

I have to think about this one for a minute. If the government does their job I really don’t believe there is a need for unions, but since we are talking about government, hmmmmmmm

LAW


• The American justice system, generally, is broken and requires extraordinary over-haul. An MBM administration would immediately impanel a broad commission to study overarching reforms so as to be able to ensure "equal protection under the law" for every American.

How about purging the books of those ridiculous laws that people refer to when they have no choice?

• I would eliminate the federal death penalty and advocate for states to eliminate theirs.

Say again, over……………….you came in broken and distorted.

• There is a Constitutional right against self-incrimination in the American legal system. Despite that, current racial attitudes in this nation - effectively - convict many young black males before the trial even starts. An MBM administration would look to enact a feature where defendants would not be required to present themselves - physically - before a jury so as to potentially remove the racial component from a jury's decision process. Defendants can observe and participate in their defense in ways that do not contribute to their incrimination.

Interesting . How would you do this with all the media outlets available? If you could figure out a way to censure the media to prevent anyone from getting an unfair shake, you may have a winner in this one.

Is he black enough???

To liberal for me. Plus he ain't black enough!

I was getting soooooo excited!!

Agreeing with you on every issue has NEVER happened before ... and I thought, after 5 long years, we had actually crossed that bridge!

But, alas ... you just HAD to go there with the immigration issue, didn'tcha!??! Just couldn't leave well-enough alone!

But, yes, I would probably vote for you anyway! Mostly because I don't really know how I feel or what I want to happen as far as the illegal immigrants in this country go. It's a complex situation, to be sure, and the only thing I really know for sure is that I believe that any and all social services should be secured and taken advantage of by citizens first ... and then whatever is left is more than welcomed to be shared.

As long as OUR seniors/elders have to decide between food and medicine every month, there's just not enough to go around.

How are you just going to vote for him without hearing my platform? Shame, shame!

Well, I didn't know you had one, sugar!

But, lawd .. the liklihood of me agreeing with even a fraction of it is probably somewhere between, like, ... hmmm ... slim and none!??!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EbonyRose,

********************
BLACK by NATURE, PROUD by CHOICE.
Before there was ANY history, there was BLACK history.

BUY BLACK!!!

I will go through each one as we have time.

My rebuttle to MBM on Jobs:

First of all you subscribe to the elimination of outsourcing as well as the increase of the minimum wage. From an economic standpoint you have increased employee wage cost and reduced business profitability and the power to compete in a global market. This policy would have the unintended impact of increasing unemployment, and the cost of common goods, making it even more difficult on the poor.

The effect of such a policy would hit the small business owner the hardest (80% of all new jobs every year are created by small business owners). This would have a dramatic impact on black innercity business owners who currently have a much lower gross revenue and asset base. Because black businesses tend to hire black owners, the increase in the wage rate and to a lessor extent the outsourcing restriction would have a disproportional negative impact on black owned businesses who have less assets to protect them against rising wage expenses. The 'graduated tax break' that my opponent suggests would not be significant enough to offset any material growth of a small business, plus HOW CAN YOU FUND A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IF YOU ARE CUTTING THE TAX BASE? More on the when we address healthcare.

The Urbansun Solution:

The majority of American poverty is concentrated in the urban core of American metropolises. To address the issue of poverty and income I advocate a revolutionary approach to urban entreprenuerialism the creates incentivized class zones. These class zones would be divided based upon demographic data within incentives graduated within each area. An example, blight 1 would be the worst of the worst. Within this zone there would be a moratorium on federal taxation for a set period for businesses who A) locate a facility in this area and B) hire individuals from within this area. Individuals who were indigenous to the area would receive the same incentives as relocating businesses with the added incentive of special capital loan pools with marginal interest rates that fund higher risk businesses and access to technical assistance. In addition corporations would be incentivized through tax breaks to award contracts to business owners located within these areas with additional incentives accruing if the business was indigenously owned. There would obviously have to be a monitoring body put in place but that is with everything.

The final unique feature of this plan would special funding for cooperative based corporations that provide shares to community members in the blight 1 area. The government in this scenario would match the capital investment of community members at a 1 to 1 ratio for the purpose of starting community owned cooperative entrepreneurial ventures.

The kinks would obviously need to be worked out but the distinct difference between this plan and my opponents plan is that my opponents plan is punitive, penalizing corporations and business owners for pursuing profit by slamming them with additional cost that restrict growth and burden innercity businesses pretty damn hard.

My plan incentivizes community based ownership and employment from high unemployment poor areas and encourages corporations to do business with businesses in these areas. In addition it provides mechanics for self-determined inner-city change and wealth through incentivizing cooperatinve economic programs. It creates black businesses, black jobs, and black wealth (as well as poor) in a way that doesn't smack business owners in the face.

As these areas grow and progress they would graduate from blight 1, to 2 (less incentives) to 3 (less incentives) to a standard area.

I will get to the rest of my platform later.

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:

Is he black enough???

Dayum! Et tu Brute . .

quote:

Originally posted by MBM:

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:

Is he black enough???

Dayum! Et tu Brute . .

Sorry, Oh Esteemed Founder, but I had to crack on that one...

Moving right along...

How does your administration plan to pay for the astronomical cost of universal healthcare? and how will you respond to those who say you are simply trying to usher in "socialism", soviet style AKA the Kremlin?

Also, How will you raise minimum wage without alienating small business?

Also, there is widespread agreement that addressing the immigration issue is important, but i don't see any actual PLAN there? does this mean another 80's style amnesty? What happens to those who are already waiting in line trying to get in the legal way? Should they abandon legalities and just walk on in? Also, I see absolutely no mention of Haitians, Cubans, and possible statehood for Puerto Ricans. What policy?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: negrospiritual,

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak

Audre Lord

quote:

Originally posted by urbansun:

The effect of such a policy would hit the small business owner the hardest (80% of all new jobs every year are created by small business owners). This would have a dramatic impact on black innercity business owners who currently have a much lower gross revenue and asset base.

Actually, I'm proposing a small business subsidy where companies with under $10 million and 50 employees have their total labor expense subsidized by around 25%. The government would actually be paying small business to employ people and to make money.

Beyond that, for me, the fundamental point is that government should work to serve the people and not corporations. As it is now, the weight of corporate interests is SO far bent away from the people as to severely warp popular perception. For example, while we want to encourage profit for obvious reasons, it is wholly unconstitutional and immoral to do so at the expense of human beings - who - supposedly - are fundamentally guaranteed equal access to the same 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' as a Rockefeller. I just want to recalibrate the relationship to protect people, while recognizing - intimately - the needs of corporate America to do their thing.

Another example here, what oil companies have been allowed to do under Bush is patently inimical to the interests and welfare of the people. It would not occur under an MBM administration!

quote:

Because black businesses tend to hire black owners, the increase in the wage rate and to a lessor extent the outsourcing restriction would have a disproportional negative impact on black owned businesses who have less assets to protect them against rising wage expenses.

So how does permitting outsourcing help black workers? The entire objective is to bring back the millions of jobs that have left America. It is not corporate America's birthright to be able to exploit and workers globally - including those in their own communities - merely to fill their pockets.

quote:

plus HOW CAN YOU FUND A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IF YOU ARE CUTTING THE TAX BASE? More on the when we address healthcare.

Get us the hell out of Iraq!

quote:

Originally posted by urbansun:
The kinks would obviously need to be worked out but the distinct difference between this plan and my opponents plan is that my opponents plan is punitive, penalizing corporations and business owners for pursuing profit by slamming them with additional cost that restrict growth and burden innercity businesses pretty damn hard.

Actually, you can stop right there! I have no problem with penalizing corporations for pursuing (outrageous) profits at the expense of (poor) citizens! I say stick it to 'em! And if you can't ... then MBM still has my vote!

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:

How does your administration plan to pay for the astronomical cost of universal healthcare?

Immediately relieve ourselves of the trillions in wanton spending occurring in Iraq for starters. We just earmarked another $72 billion to further line the pockets of Bush, Cheney & Co. Enough is enough - I'm tired of investing in Iraq, when are we going to rebuild America and put Americans back to work?

quote:

and how will you respond to those who say you are simply trying to usher in "socialism", soviet style AKA the Kremlin?

America is the only industrialized nation that does not offer its citizens universal heath care. References to socialism are simply out of touch with reality - particularly when juxtaposed with programs like Social Security and Medicare etc. that Americans overwhelmingly support.

Furthermore, I have always characterized myself as a capitalist; perhaps a Social Capitalist, but one that believes in the potential of our system nevertheless.

quote:

Also, How will you raise minimum wage without alienating small business?

I am subsidizing small business labor expense on the order of roughly 25% for companies with less than 50 employees and who produce less than $10 million.

quote:

Also, there is widespread agreement that addressing the immigration issue is important, but i don't see any actual PLAN there? does this mean another 80's style amnesty?

I propose we deal with undocumented workers who have violated the law in the same general way that America is currently proposing to deal with their employers who hired them.

quote:

Also, I see absolutely no mention of Haitians, Cubans, and possible statehood for Puerto Ricans. What policy?

My policy prescription was to address the undocumented worker issue as it related to justice and jobs. If you'd like to join the administration to take on the task of figuring these issues out I would be more than happy to accommodate someone of your credentials and influence.

Another key aspect of the platform is instilling tax fairness into the current tax code to more fairly assess taxes across various incomes. It would seek to ask the richest among us to pay more of their fair share to a country that is almost wholly constructed to allow them unfettered opportunity to to earn more and more wealth. Loopholes like those that permit hedge fund managers to have their millions assessed at the capital gains tax rate - which is lower than than standard income rate must be immediately eliminated for example.

As well, Social Security taxes should receive thoughtful consideration as to how to better fund the program. Measures like increasing the amount of income subject to Social Security taxes and offering tax incentives for the wealthy to opt out of Social Security, among other things, should be considered in an effort to ensure that this hallowed commitment is kept, perpetually, for every American.

quote:

Originally posted by ocatchings:

The question first and foremost in my mind when I hear people wanting a “universal anything” is how do they plan to ensure equal dissemination of the resources? ( If we did, would that make us socialist?) As with some things, the system will allow for the best doctors, nurses and equipment to be placed in locations that benefit the few rather than the whole. A person in Tchula, MS should receive the same 1st class care as a person in Manhattan?

The objective would be to guarantee every American at least a minimum level of medical care and coverage wherever they are. Wealthier Americans would be able to purchase additional care if they so chose, but every American would have access to competent medical care.

quote:

I heard a preacher a few weeks back make a comment I thought was pretty interesting, “If you child is making C’s and D’s, don’t try to make them into college material.” A lot of emphasis is placed on a good education for reasons we can debate for days. For those that have no desire to go to college or prefer a trade school, what tax incentive would your plan offer?

In my plan is tax deductible post secondary trade school with the objective of providing training and job skills to match the interests and capabilities of each person.

quote:

Would you also implement a reasonable and periodic
cost of living increase to keep up with inflation?

Yes sir!

quote:

I have to think about this one for a minute. If the government does their job I really don’t believe there is a need for unions, but since we are talking about government, hmmmmmmm

I think the point is just to acknowledge that government has not protected worker interests and that unions - who have that specific mandate - can play an important role in society. Let's let government do what it does best - creating incentives and legal guardrails for business, and empower private institutions to do their thing.

quote:

How about purging the books of those ridiculous laws that people refer to when they have no choice?

quote:

Interesting . How would you do this with all the media outlets available? If you could figure out a way to censure the media to prevent anyone from getting an unfair shake, you may have a winner in this one.

Well, the media is only interested in the most minuscule number of cases. Either way - our Constitution says we have the right against incrimination. It's our government's job to figure out how to protect that.

Thanks so much for the post and questions OC!

I've always liked your 'platform' items.

They are quality pieces.

I see them as foundation for the future African American-focused political party, or other entity as is then appropriate.

You should be saving them..., and I believe your are.

I do.

PEACE

Jim Chester