Political Philosophy for Nat Adam

http://www.natural-law.org/98_platform/50_point_summary.html#government

The Natural Law Party's New 1998 50-POINT ACTION PLAN TO REVITALIZE AMERICA

Table of Contents

Economy

Education

Agriculture

Strengthening Democracy

Family Values

Defense

Drug Abuse

Upholding the Rights of Women and Minorities

GOVERNMENT

Conflict-free politics. The Natural Law Party supports "all-party government"--bringing together the best ideas, programs, and leaders from all political parties and the private sector to solve and prevent problems. The Natural Law Party advocates an end to negative campaigning and partisan politics, and supports essential campaign finance reform to eliminate special interest control of government.

Proven solutions. Government should be based on what works--not what is politically expedient or bought and paid for by special interest groups. There are simple, humane, cost-effective, scientifically proven solutions to all of America's problems. The Natural Law Party was founded to implement these solutions immediately in government.

Government in accord with natural law. Solve problems at their basis by bringing individual life, and our national policies, into greater harmony with natural law through proven educational programs; natural, preventive health care; renewable energy; sustainable agriculture; and other forward-looking, prevention-oriented programs.

Reverse the current epidemic of individual and social stress by establishing groups professionally engaged in creating coherence throughout society. Scientific research verifies that such groups promote social harmony, reduce collective stress, and improve efficiency in governmental administration.

Streamline the Federal Government by reducing government waste and mismanagement, cutting pork-barrel spending, simplifying redundant bureaucracies, and encouraging decentralization and privatization wherever possible.

ECONOMY

Fully harness America's most precious resource--the unlimited intelligence and creativity of America's 260 million citizens. In today's information-based economy, intelligence and creativity, innovation and ideas, drive economic growth. The Natural Law Party strongly supports proven educational, job training, and apprenticeship programs that develop intelligence and creativity and prevent school dropouts. Only the full utilization of our human resource through the Natural Law Party's fundamental commitment to education will ensure America's competitiveness and future leadership in the family of nations.

HEALTH

Support the introduction of financial incentives that will help prevent abuse of the health care system and ensure high-quality care, including (1) medical savings accounts for Medicare and Medicaid subscribers, which will provide financial rewards for good health; and (2) vouchers enabling Medicare and Medicaid enrollees to choose any insurance plan or health care provider they desire, thereby promoting competitive costs and quality of care among medical providers.

The implementation of verifiable, cost-effective prevention together with the above financial incentives will rescue Medicare and Medicaid from bankruptcy, save the nation up to $500 billion a year in health care costs, and prevent untold pain and suffering.

Promote life in accord with natural law through the reduction of individual and social stress, thereby achieving a lasting social transformation toward more life-supporting, health-promoting behavior among our citizens.

EDUCATION

The Head Start program, to help children excel from an early age

School vouchers to increase school choice, foster competition, and improve educational outcomes

Federally guaranteed student loans and Pell Grants for higher education

National apprenticeship programs for students who are not college bound

Sound approaches to school nutrition and preventive health education

Policies and programs to upgrade the status and skills of teachers CRIME AND REHABILITATION

Support systematic, scientifically proven programs to reduce stress in the individual and throughout society--thus eliminating the root cause of crime.

Target individuals who are at highest risk for crime--the current prison inmate population--through proven rehabilitation programs and advanced scientific methods to assess rehabilitation and eligibility for parole.

Implement community policing. Such programs have been credited with reducing crime by 40% during the last two years in New York City. In this approach, police are assigned to high-crime neighborhoods identified by computer tracking, work closely with these neighborhoods, and are rewarded for preventing crime.

Revitalize our overcrowded urban centers--breeding grounds for violence and crime.

Introduce programs proven to reduce drug dependency and promote mental and physical health.

Support effective educational programs to keep children in school, off the streets, and out of the reach of crime. to keep children in school, off the streets, and out of the reach of crime. The Natural Law Party's strong educational focus is the true, long-term solution to the pervasive problem of crime.

AGRICULTURE

Mandate the labeling of genetically engineered foods and declare a moratorium on the release of genetically engineered organisms until the ecological impact of such organisms is established.

Shift the U.S. policy focus from "cheap food for the consumer" to "quality food for the consumer on a sustainable basis." Agrichemical use could be reduced 50% by the year 2000 and farm profits could increase through field-tested techniques supported by scientific research, such as integrated pest management, integrated crop management, and organic methods.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Improve energy efficiency and self-sufficiency by (1) supporting basic research on energy efficiency, energy storage, and fuel cells, in addition to electric, hydrogen, and highly energy-efficient vehicles, (2) providing financial incentives for home-owners and industry to use available energy-efficiency measures, and (3) setting performance standards for energy-consuming and pollutant-emitting products.

Lead the global effort to prevent the destruction of the earth's forests, the decimation of the diversity of species, and the potential damage from ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect.

Clean up America's polluted air, rivers, wetlands, and oceans by eliminating industrial pollution at its source and using waste products productively.

Create new jobs and new industries in energy conservation and renewable energy sources that will simultaneously benefit the environment and save the nation hundreds of billions of dollars.

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY

Encourage voter participation in the election process by shortening the campaign season to two months, making election day a national holiday, and abolishing the Electoral College. Restrict lobbying and limit congressional privileges.

ABORTION

Encourage a shift from public to private funding of abortion--specifically, private charity by those who wish to make abortion accessible for women who cannot afford it. Over time, the government should eliminate the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion as a method of birth control. (The Natural Law Party would support public funding of abortions in cases of rape, incest, or medical necessity.)

Satisfy both those who are pro-life and pro-choice by (a) decreasing the number of unwanted pregnancies more effectively than legislation and (b) leaving moral responsibility in the hands of those whose lives are affected most.

FAMILY VALUES

Create jobs, stimulate growth, and ease the financial strain experienced by so many American families through our low-tax, pro-growth economic policy.

FOREIGN POLICY

Ensure that our foreign aid resources are applied effectively--not wasted through inefficiency, mishandling, or inappropriate allocation--by making foreign aid decisions in consultation with the government and citizens of recipient countries. Through this cooperative focus, promote unity and respect within the global diversity of cultures, religions, races, and economic and political systems.

DEFENSE

Responsibly reduce defense expenditures over time by creating a smaller, more flexible force that, when coupled with greater economic and security cooperation, can most effectively serve the nation's security interests and provide the basis for a more stable world. Encourage incentives to help defense industries diversify into nondefense markets and reinvest private-sector funds and expertise.

REVITALIZING OUR INNER CITIES

Use federally guaranteed loans to stimulate capital investment for start-up industries in urban "enterprise zones." By targeting economically deprived urban areas, we can stimulate economic growth where it is most needed, thereby creating more jobs, a stronger sense of community, and the revitalization of our inner cities.

Help plan urban infrastructure and housing that improve quality of life and restore a sense of community to the inner city. Promote the development of nonpolluting automobiles and public transportation, human-scale housing that discourages crime and supports neighborhoods in which families can grow and prosper, and the development of more parks and green spaces.

DRUG ABUSE

Promote programs that have been shown to dramatically reduce drug dependency and to eliminate stress and restore balance in an individual's physiology and psychology (see our Health and Crime platforms).

Support procedures that will promote cooperation and coordination among the various law enforcement agencies responsible for interdicting, apprehending, and prosecuting individuals and organizations engaged in illegal drug and narcotics activities.

GUN CONTROL

Uphold existing gun-control legislation as an appropriate balance between public safety and the constitutional right to bear arms.

UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES

Dissolve prejudice and bigotry in society through educational programs that develop broad comprehension, increased intelligence, and improved moral reasoning and by reducing social stress that leads to fear and divisiveness.

Increase participation in government by women and by minorities to bring greater strength and balance to the administration.

IMMIGRATION

Disincentivize illegal immigration by (1) increasing border defense through reassignment of selected military personnel and resources (see our Defense platform), and (2) improving economic conditions in neighboring countries through a foreign policy emphasizing technical assistance and U.S. know-how (see our Foreign Policy platform).