Here’s how I’d run the country:  Now, it’s your turn

By Darrell Laurant

Published: April 4, 2008

First of all, I haven’t discarded the idea of picking a “President of Central Virginia.” For those of you who’ve already submitted your issue statements (around 10, the last time I checked), hang in there. I’d like to get a few more entries, and I’ve decided there’s no big hurry – the conventions aren’t until late summer.

Also, we still have to come up with some prizes and a panel of judges (any volunteers?).

In the meantime, though, I thought I’d throw out a few things to think about. This won’t be in the format of our contest, because I’m not going to be a candidate, but maybe it will trigger some ideas for you.

If you think I’m wrong, you don’t need to take the time and trouble to tell me so (although it’s fine if you do). These are strictly my gut-level opinions, and I make no pretense of being an expert.

At any rate, it seems to me that the current administration has convinced many of us that the most pressing issues facing the U.S. in 2008 are 1. The war in Iraq; 2. Terrorism in general, and 3. Immigration. I don’t see it that way.

The reason the war in Iraq doesn’t make sense to me is the pretense of fighting it over “weapons of mass destruction.” Even if those weapons were in Iraq (and who’s to say they aren’t still hidden somewhere?), Saddam Hussein had no missile system or viable air force. The only way they could use those “WMD’s” against us would be to smuggle them across our borders. Or send them UPS.

Given that, wouldn’t it have made more sense to have used some of the enormous amount of money we’re spending on that peacemaking effort (it’s really not a war any more: we’ve already won that) to make our borders all but impregnable?

As far as creating a democracy in Iraq, that was an afterthought when the original purpose fell through.

Here’s what I see as our most pressing problems, in order:

1. HEALTH CARE. This is a classic middle class issue. If you’re Bill Gates, you can afford excellent health coverage. If you’re poor, the government takes care of it for you (or will, until Medicare and Medicaid go broke). But under today’s chaotic system, not only are a lot of Americans uninsured, but having to provide insurance for their employees is killing a lot of small businesses. Why should your employer be responsible for your health?

The trick is to find a government plan that doesn’t tax the citizens to death or wipe out the insurance industry.

2. THE ELECTION PROCESS. The way it works now is, the people who provide the most money get the most attention from the government. This is more like the M.O. of a corrupt Third World country than a great democracy. We can’t stop lobbyists from slipping money to lawmakers under the table, but we should nail those lawmakers (as in disqualifying them from public office forever) if it can be shown that they were influenced by that money. Now, they don’t even try to hide it. And while we’re at it, let’s ditch the Electoral College (a relic of the 18th century) and hold all the primaries on the same day.

3. THE UNDERCLASS. This incorporates several issues in one – race, education and public safety.  It seems to me that we’re gradually working out the “black/white” problem (although pockets of racism still fester), but remain at a loss as to what to do with all those people left behind by progress in the inner cities and rural areas. Not just black Americans, but Native Americans, Hispanics and poor whites. These are the people who are filling our jails and helping to drain our treasury in any number of ways. Moreover, allowing these wastelands to remain stunts the lives of countless people who might otherwise be productive.

The key, I believe, is education. We should offer the best pay to teachers who teach in the least attractive settings – and if we have to hire a security guard for every classroom so they can do their job, so be it.

We might also take a long look at our drug laws to decide if really makes sense to lock people up for making poor lifestyle choices.

4. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY.  What we have these days, in many cases, is “CEO’s Gone Wild.” We live in a democracy, and under a capitalistic economic system, so the government really can’t step in and tell corporations how to do business. What it can do, though, is use the power of taxation to influence them in the right direction. Companies that keep jobs in the U.S. and treat their workers fairly get tax benefits; those who outsource merely to inflate their profits and close factories without good reason get tax penalties.

5. THE ENVIRONMENT. If we can’t agree on the weather, what can we agree on? Shouldn’t it be possible to stop using global warming and climate change as a political “talking point” and come up with a reasonable assessment of what’s happening and how it might affect us? And that’s just the tip of the ice berg (no pun intended) – how about de-forestation and air quality and dwindling water resources? Hysteria and self-righteousness are counterproductive.

6. IMMIGRATION. Why should this be so complicated? If you want to come to the U.S. and you have a job waiting for you, you’re issued a worker’s card. If you try to sneak in, you are convicted of trespassing and spend some time in jail (time in which you can’t be making American dollars to send home). Just throwing illegal aliens back when they’re caught makes a game out of it – jail time ups the ante.

7. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Here’s a letter I think we should draft for the rest of the world:
“Dear World: After more than 50 years of trying to solve everyone else’s problems, we have decided that it isn’t worth it. We’re tired, and nobody appreciates it, anyway. Therefore, as painful as it might be to watch, we are going to allow you to work out your own dilemmas. We will maintain a strong defense to keep ourselves protected, but don’t ask us to interfere in your coups or civil wars. Humanitarian aid is another matter.”

8. TERRORISM. It’s true that violent movements tend to attract the crazed and semi-crazed. Still, there are always reasons why these movements develop, and we need to address them (would economic aid for the Palestinians help, for instance, or not?). At the same time, just as with inner city gangs, the more we obsess over this small—if lethal—minority, the more important we make them. To me, terrorism should be a law enforcement problem, not a military problem. Otherwise, it’s like trying to kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer.

9. TAXATION. I agree with those who say our tax system is a mess, although not to the point of living in a bunker in Montana. I don’t think rich people should be penalized just for being rich, but I do think they should pay the same percentage as everyone else. There’s something wrong if you can take a business client to lunch in the nicest restaurant in town and then write it off.

10. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. I think a common sense rule should be that everyone should be able to express their own religious beliefs, as long as it doesn’t trample on the rights of anyone else. I have no problem with posting the Ten Commandments in courthouses – it’s the basis of our Judeo-Christian ethic and legal system. I do have a problem with foisting one prayer on a classroom full of kids with different beliefs.

You may be nodding your head at all this, or gritting your teeth, or both. But if it were in your power to run the country, how would you do it? We’d love to know.