I have not decided my position on this issue.

I have not decided my position on this issue.

I have not decided my position on this issue.

The quality of the education system in this country will determine our future.  The quality and results of our public education system needs to become more consistent at all levels.  There are currently several methods in several states to review the results of the public education but these methods are inconsistent from one state to another.

National standardized tests are one method of comparing educational results from one school to another.  However studies have shown that standardized testing alone can not be trusted.  The famous independent study of the Chicago Public System was an eye opener for most people.  The study proved that standardized test results can not only be unreliable but the data clearly showed that the test results had been corrupted and were therefore very misleading when considered on their own.

States like Colorado have thorough school accountability reports which consider may factors other than just standardized test results.  These reports are made easily available to the public on a state website. Parents can review several comparable factors for each school in the state.  

I would require all schools nationwide to post accountability reports in the same format so parents will be empowered to review and compare the education their children are receiving. 

With standardized accountability reports, parents, administrators, educators, and even students will have easy access to several measures of the performance of their current education system.  This will give a much clearer and more public assessment than the current standardized testing methods.  Results of programs like No Child Left Behind will be clear.  Federal dollars will be reallocated to more effective programs.

Our country is ready to embrace a new energy paradigm.  We already have the technology to become the world leaders in the transition from depending upon diminishing resources to becoming powered by renewable resources.

The first step is to move people from gas guzzling cars and trucks to electric and hybrid vehicles.  The technology is already available.  I will start by implementing tax credits for each purchase of an energy efficient vehicle.  The widespread transition of the public to efficient vehicles alone will eliminate our dependency on foreign oil.  This will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It is widely accepted by scientists and researchers that the worldwide temperature is increasing.  We must stop this now or we will cease to exist.  Each day the polar ice caps melt a little more and a little faster.  As we lose the polar ice caps and their reflective properties, we get closer and closer to the planet's irreversible demise.

We must move to energy efficient vehicles.  We must use more water power, wind power, and solar power.  We have the technology.  We need to use it now before it is too late.  I will move the country into the age of alternative fuels and renewable power sources.  My first task will be to address the energy policy and our environmental policies before it is too late.

Our larger cities are overcome with smog.  Our entire country is dependent upon diminishing, non-renewable resources.  This is unacceptable.  We can not continue to allow our environment to decline.

We need to move to cleaner, renewable resources.  We need to reduce carbon levels before it becomes irreversable.  My first task will be to implement polices which will help save our environment. 

I will direct federal money and tax credits toward accomplishing these goals.  My new policies will help us to save our environment.  The entire world will follow our lead.  In other words, my environmental policies will save the planet.

Our country has oftentimes been too quick to send troops and foreign aid to other countries.  Helping and protecting other nations is our moral duty and it can help and protect ourselves in the long run.  However we need to be more selective about the missions that we are funding and fighting.  

We need to work more with NATO and the 18 other countries that are partners with us in NATO.  We need to ask ourselves why we are going in to aid or fight a cause if our allies are not with us.  We do not have the resources to single-handedly help all countries on all levels as we would like.

I have not decided my position on this issue.

I have not decided my position on this issue.

People are flocking to the U.S. because they see great opportunities.  The United States is a great country.  It is a melting pot of people coming from almost every country in the world.  That diversity and freedom has made our country as great as it is today.

Freedom also comes with responsibility.  Everybody who lives in the United States should be entitled to the same opportunities and responsibilities.  We are all entitled to the same infrastructure for which we all need to pay our share. 

The United States has some of the best infrastructure in the world.  We have great roads, hospitals, emergency services, education, military and even public recreation.  There are countless other benefits to living in the U.S.  Most of these opportunites are funded by tax paying citizens. 

What happens to everybody else who lives in this country but decides not to pay taxes on their income?   Tax violators pay their outstanding debt or they go to jail.  That's one of the reasons that unregistered residents are called "Illegal".  

Since we have let this go unchecked for so long, we are so overwhelmed that we can no longer deport each resident who is here illegally or incarcerate everybody who doesn't pay their taxes.  There is no realistic, direct recourse anymore for the people who are here illegally.  That's why we need a new and more effective approach. 

We need to punish the employers who are supporting and encouraging the situation.  The employers are just as much at fault for enabling this enormous problem.  Let's start with the largest employers first and work our way down.  This will leverage our overloaded enforcement resources so each fine or arrest will address several violations at one time.

My goal is to treat everybody equally.  If people choose to live in the U.S., then they must accept the same responsibilities as everybody else.  If they choose not to accept the responsibilities, then they can not become citizens or long-term residents.

Are we in Iraq to fight terrorism or are we there to control the oil?  How any lives, gallons of gas, and dollars have we already spent on this war? 

I will immediately reallocate the share of our budget that we're spending on discretionarly overseas conflicts.  Instead, I will spend the money protecting our ports, borders, and airports.  I will redirect our terrorism fighting efforts so we protect ourselves in our homeland.  

I will also work to reduce our dependency on oil.  Rather than fighting to ensure a steady distribution of a diminishing resource, we will put more effort into reducing our dependency on that resource. 

Let's bring our brave men and women home now.

National security needs to become a higher priority.  Everybody is talking about it as if it has a become a high priority but is it really?  Do you know if the security threat is orange or yellow today?  What did you do differently after you learned what color the threat level today? 

Are airplanes any safer because  passengers are not allowed to carry any liquid containers that have more than three ounces of liquid?  Since they are allowed to carry several containers and so are their travelling companions, what was accomplished by limiting each separate bottle of fluid to three ounces?

Security policies like these are completely ineffective.  Yet, these are some of the major changes that have been made to increase our security since the World Trade Center was attacked.  It's time to get serious.  I would increase the security at our ports, borders, and airports.  Let's stop terrorists and their weapons from entering our country.

Today's complicated deductions are out of the reach of lower income taxpayers who don't meet most of the requirements.  People with higher incomes have disproportionately higher net incomes because they understand the loopholes and use them to their advantage. 

Unfortunately these loopholes give the wealthiest taxpayers incentives to increase their deductions rather than increasing their income.  This removes
critical working capital from the economy.  The unavoidable result of this tax strategy with complex deductions is a weaker economy with slower job growth.

Deductions should be slowly and carefully phased out until we reach the ultimate goal. An equitable flat tax on all income resulting in strong local, national, and international economies with very low unemployment rates.

I have not decided my position on this issue.

I have not decided my position on this issue.