The only real problem I have with this is that Peter's parents live in America. Reno, Nevada, to be specific. The Holiday isn't to visit family, it is to go as a family (plus Jeanie) to the homeland, Euskadi
Well, catchy phrases and thematic coherence are a necessity. Pataki is still all about Empowering the People and Leaner, more Efficient Government. His plans should stress Pragmatism and an ability to Bring People Together while remaining small-c conservative and endorsing the Dynamism of American Society.
Some measures simply must be addressed. Comprehensive Tax Reform and Security/Foreign Policy are a must, though Domestic Security and Foreign Policy can probably be folded under one plank as "Securing America at Home and Abroad." Innovation and Education is a pretty sound plank to go all wonkish and technocratic on while also throwing the Base all kinds of bones about working together with private enterprise and creating a new labor market that can make America competitive again. I'd suggest borrowing from Jack Kemp for a fourth plank, and stressing the idea of "Empowerment Zones" or some other suitably pleasant-sounding plank within which to address social policy both in inner cities and in decaying suburbs by providing authority and resources to local and state government and to NGOs- shades also of Dubya's "compassionate conservatism" and working together with faith-based organizations. That plank could also include stuff like sentencing reform under a general rubric of providing support for individuals to exercise their own autonomy and get second chances rather than become dependent on government.
You do know the Russians STILL have a space program right? As does the European Union and China. We may have won the cold wars Rocket race but we still have to remain competitive right?
My ideas for general platforms would be:
1. A strong themed tax reform for all. Everyone hates taxes and tax plans are always asked about AND need to be well made.
2. Anti-Terrorism. Working with our partners oversees to make sure that ISIS and similar terror groups are on the backpedal?
2a. Failing that something about defense?
3. Education: America needs more engineers and scientists to help not just bring businesses into the future but help create new jobs. Encourage startups and more efforts in green tech. An bring back NASA's big budget to help scientists find out more about the universe. Theme should be something along the lines of 'Brains and Brawns'.
4. More 'U.S Friendly' trade deals with other countries.
Helps with the liberal crowd and it helps pump up the conservatives about competing against Chinese industry as well as remaining a pioneer in space faring.
All you need to do is hammer out your five (or so) big themes.
You can have up to six major planks, but be warned. Having many major planks dilutes the message, Having too few makes you seem like a single-issue Candidate.
Based on this, I suggest that we constrain ourselves to three major planks, four at the absolute most. That doesn't need to include any of the minor policy pieces that we'll add to the platform over the next months -- these major planks are the things that define our candidacy, and people have trouble remembering lists of more than three. Given the short attention span of the average voter, and given how many candidates there are in the race, these planks are that things that make us stand out from the crowd.
To be fair, part of our work here in developing that platform is identifying problem areas that might cause trouble for us down the road (such as Pataki's "pro-choice" reputation, or his stance on the environment) or key issues we need to take a stand on because 'everyone else is doing it' (like immigration), but that's not the crux of the matter here and now.
Well, catchy phrases and thematic coherence are a necessity. Pataki is still all about Empowering the People and Leaner, more Efficient Government. His plans should stress Pragmatism and an ability to Bring People Together while remaining small-c conservative and endorsing the Dynamism of American Society.
Agreed. We really lucked out with our choice of candidate thanks to that slogan "People Over Politics," and we've done pretty well in entrenching "Make America Sane Again" as a quasi-campaign motto. I'd suggest we call it something more like Principled Pragmatism (since 'pragmatism' simpliciter has the unfortunate connotation of "yes, my vote can be bought"). That might be a good title or header for the whole thing -- "I stand for Principled Pragmatism. Here's what that looks like..."
Some measures simply must be addressed. Comprehensive Tax Reform and Security/Foreign Policy are a must, though Domestic Security and Foreign Policy can probably be folded under one plank as "Securing America at Home and Abroad." Innovation and Education is a pretty sound plank to go all wonkish and technocratic on while also throwing the Base all kinds of bones about working together with private enterprise and creating a new labor market that can make America competitive again. I'd suggest borrowing from Jack Kemp for a fourth plank, and stressing the idea of "Empowerment Zones" or some other suitably pleasant-sounding plank within which to address social policy both in inner cities and in decaying suburbs by providing authority and resources to local and state government and to NGOs- shades also of Dubya's "compassionate conservatism" and working together with faith-based organizations. That plank could also include stuff like sentencing reform under a general rubric of providing support for individuals to exercise their own autonomy and get second chances rather than become dependent on government.
Yeah, no. Per the post, this is about identify the major planks in our platform, the things that will define us. This is not meant to be a wish list for every policy position we want to bring up or plan to mention at any point in the next (many) months. This is about defining our persona, identifying the impression we want to make on the average voter.
Lindsey Graham would probably be able to include foreign policy as one of his key planks, because that's what he's known for. George Pataki... isn't. He was a law & order governor, so we might get away with including bits of foreign policy under that umbrella, but I don't know how much that would cover.
As far as 'defining themes', I'd suggest the following:
1) Innovation & Education -- I'm not sold on the name (time to brainstorm!) but the technocratic element here sells us as competent.
Can we make sure to include promoting trade schools and technical colleges as part of this? Currently, four-year liberal arts universities are in the middle of a massive bubble (hence the tuition skyrocketing), and I'd really prefer we not make this problem worse while we're encouraging STEM education)
2) Political Reform -- again, needs a new name, but this would cover our efforts to cut DC down to size, simplify tax code, streamline legal immigration, anti-corruption efforts, you fill in the blanks. This sells us as anti-establishment.
I'm unsure about the third plank, but I'd suggest it be something like:
3) Law & Order -- focus on enforcing laws and soothing tensions. Pataki has a police-friendly reputation from his time in NY, so we should be able to get away with promoting 'community policing', body cameras, sentencing reform, and other reforms, as long as we pair it with more hard-edged reforms like "strict enforcement of immigration laws" etc. If we're really lucky, we might even get away with reframing the aggressive prosecution of police brutality as part of this as well -- it's not 'anti-police' to be harsh on bad apples, when it's their fault for 'spoiling the bunch' (wrecking havoc on public respect for law and LEOs, blurring the line between 'good guys' and 'bad guys'). We might be able to smuggle in 'anti-ISIS' as part of this, but I'm not convinced foreign policy needs to be one of our core issues. Anyway, all of this sells us as conservative and principled, which is (to be honest) missing from the other two planks.
I'm not entirely sold on the third 'leg' here -- I think the first two are pretty solid, but anyone have any suggestions for a third major plank to define our persona in this campaign? We can tie other issues in to the three, or develop them separately, but what else might be considered 'core' to our candidacy?
You do know the Russians STILL have a space program right? As does the European Union and China. We may have won the cold wars Rocket race but we still have to remain competitive right?
My ideas for general platforms would be:
1. A strong themed tax reform for all. Everyone hates taxes and tax plans are always asked about AND need to be well made.
2. Anti-Terrorism. Working with our partners oversees to make sure that ISIS and similar terror groups are on the backpedal?
2a. Failing that something about defense?
3. Education: America needs more engineers and scientists to help not just bring businesses into the future but help create new jobs. Encourage startups and more efforts in green tech. An bring back NASA's big budget to help scientists find out more about the universe. Theme should be something along the lines of 'Brains and Brawns'.
4. More 'U.S Friendly' trade deals with other countries.
Helps with the liberal crowd and it helps pump up the conservatives about competing against Chinese industry as well as remaining a pioneer in space faring.
1.I agree but that if we lower the tax,we maybe face "correct the record" or attack of "How you will do with your shiny space program when you have less money?".
2.Anti terrorim is actually relate to foreign politic,USA need to have some piece of the pie but we can not told that to public.
3.This should work with collegue student,lower rate interest loan should work,I don't know about USA system but cheap rate and stop gap for two years after they have job should help collegue student a lot.
4.I think a lot of favorable trade term with many country in east asia is tool to counter China already,Copy Japan model or South Kkorean model should work to support home grown bussiness and look out for china espionage.
Hell yeah trade schools.
Vocational education is an important step in curing the glut of useless degrees and skyrocketing college costs.
Finland's education system is a well administered dream that puts a portion of it's students in the high 40% range consensually on track to a vocational highschool system, rather than an academic one, and some of the academic students then go into vocational training which builds off of that academic knowledge.
And it works, because that demonstrates an understanding of supply and demand in the labor market. Every day, jobs in plumbing, welding, electrical work, and other skilled labor are being vacated and essentially never filled, while the colleges churn out a depressing proportion of kids with fundamentally unemployable or oversaturated degrees, or just leave them buried under loan debt and without even a degree to show for it.
I mean, hell, if you get into an apprenticeship program you'll get PAID for going to school for these skills.
And they'll guarantee you a job placement in a field which is forced to keep competitive wages, if you can make it through to graduation.
I mean, I'm going to college myself, but I recognize that decades of pro-academic propaganda has made the idea of vocational training seem unacceptable to parents and youths...even though for many it's a much smarter, more accessible idea than academic study. A well certified highschool custodian can get better pay than a teacher at their school, if they're certified in boiler operation and other maintenance tasks.
Getting the American populace to understand that would be great.
Lindsey Graham would probably be able to include foreign policy as one of his key planks, because that's what he's known for. George Pataki... isn't. He was a law & order governor, so we might get away with including bits of foreign policy under that umbrella, but I don't know how much that would cover.
If I may suggest how to present the Education and Innovation plank:
SECURE OUR FUTURE
Short, meaningful words that play well with Republicans and easily tie in to our people-focused theme. The use of "Our" is good for buy-in, which a lot of people might not get if we're talking about college or hard sciences or even space. It still leaves aggressive and jingoistic angles too, and the MI complex might even like it. Think things like: Secure our children's future by making college and trades cheaper. Invest in American innovation to secure American jobs. Can always tack towards the national security / international competition angle as necessary.
If I may suggest how to present the Education and Innovation plank:
SECURE OUR FUTURE
Short, meaningful words that play well with Republicans and easily tie in to our people-focused theme. The use of "Our" is good for buy-in, which a lot of people might not get if we're talking about college or hard sciences or even space. It still leaves aggressive and jingoistic angles too, and the MI complex might even like it. Think things like: Secure our children's future by making college and trades cheaper. Invest in American innovation to secure American jobs. Can always tack towards the national security / international competition angle as necessary.
Making trades cheaper would be quite the feat, considering the sheer number of apprenticeship programs, working under an Earn and Learn system where you get paid progressively more every year (plus benefits) before becoming a journeyman and almost certainly getting a job.
The issue there is that the standard track of education doesn't teach you to consider it, due to a frantic scramble in the 80s to fix a desperately bad academic track that went too far and accidentally demonized vocational training to subsequent generations.
Misconceived perceptions are the stopping block there.
I don't think we should leave it unaddressed, only that it's an issue that shouldn't define our candidacy. We want to talk about "Making America Sane Again" -- the major planks are our 'elevator pitch', so we need to keep it short & sweet. Part of that may tie to foreign policy, but I'm not convinced it needs to be a focus, any more than our abortion strategy needs to be a focus.
The point of preparing on foreign policy is to make sure Pataki seems prepared and competent -- basically, our goal is "have something intelligent to say" while avoiding Aleppo-like gaffes. Our goal for the platform is "identify our essential persona." That's the difference.
> 100 IQ requirement
You realize that this instantly disenfranchises 50% of Americans, right? Because that's how the IQ test works.
The rest... I'll deal with more seriously after my liver metabolizes my alcohol intake.
Regardless, let's be smart about our plank issues. We can use Science/Innovation to include some good education. Lean Government is a must; we can include tax reform with it. Pataki has a fantastic record on reducing crime. Include the shit out of it (ties into the whole reform conservative sentencing reform thing). Something something strong anti-terror. Because we were the governor during 9/11 dammit and we're idiots if we don't take advantage of it. Tie it into a central "Security" plank maybe? Avoid social issues entirely, particularly for now. I don't think you'll find a voter who's in favor of lobbyists, so trashing them is a winner. Then if anybody has a good idea to take the wind out of Donald's sails, let's hear it. Because clearly nobody else had a good idea how to do it.
I think that aside from education and innovation, we should include two more:
1. Law and Order:
Sentencing and Incarceration reform - Get rid of "three strikes" and reign in private prisons. Probably more stuff as well. War on Drugs?
Deal with the growing tension between police and citizens. Outreach programs and bodycams could go a long way here but we need to talk to some actual cops about this to figure out some good solutions.
Secure our borders - This is important if we want to institute immigration reform. Could play up the "terrorists" angle as well.
2. Tax and Immigration reform
Simplify tax code and eliminate loopholes. No more tax havens for you Desperate Donald!
Lower corporate tax code to make up for the losses(mostly at least) from elimination of loopholes
Simplify application process and try to find some way to create a path for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship without it being a PR disaster.
Just some stuff I thought we could do but not exactly a comprehensive list.
If we're limiting things to lists of three wouldn't it make more sense to list three main planks and three minor planks. It lets us focus on getting selling a simple and easy to remember issues that we care about and also means that we have backup things to avoid being the one issue guy.
If we're limiting things to lists of three wouldn't it make more sense to list three main planks and three minor planks. It lets us focus on getting selling a simple and easy to remember issues that we care about and also means that we have backup things to avoid being the one issue guy.
So, pulling together what people have said so far, it looks like our planks are roughly:
1: Secure Our Future
- Extra funding for NASA
- Encourage high tech and space entrepreneurs
- STEM education push
- Maintain and expand America's technological superiority
- Push for modernized infrastructure
2: People Over Politics
- Take on Washington Special Interests and Lobbyists
- Reform Tax Code to reduce complexity and favor small businesses. Eliminate loopholes
- Reduce government corruption, porkbarreling, and waste
- Lean, efficient government that works for the American people
3: Safe at Home
- Sentencing and Incarceration Reform
- Community Policing and Bodycams
- Strong push on enforcing the law, but acknowledge and correct failed laws (like immigration)
- Secure our borders, so 9/11 doesn't happen again. Did we mention Pataki was governor of New York when that happened? Mention it again.
- Defend American interests, but avoid needless conflicts and nation-building.
1: Secure Our Future
- Extra funding for NASA
- Encourage high tech and space entrepreneurs
- STEM education push
- Maintain and expand America's technological superiority
- Push for modernized infrastructure
2: People Over Politics
- Take on Washington Special Interests and Lobbyists
- Reform Tax Code to reduce complexity and favor small businesses. Eliminate loopholes
- Reduce government corruption, porkbarreling, and waste
- Lean, efficient government that works for the American people
I'd also include legal immigration reform under this plank.
We do need more specifics here, though; it's not enough to say that there's a problem, we need some concrete measures to fix it. Tax reform could be our headliner, but that's true for several other candidates as well. Other possibilities...
For reducing porkbarrel spending, could we push a 'Line Item Veto' amendment? (Unlikely to pass, but good for headlines, and fits our people over politics message since the original line-item veto bill passed in the 90's involved a Republican Congress giving extra veto power to a Democratic President, who used it to cut ~2 billion in spending before it was ruled unconstitutional).
3: Safe at Home
- Sentencing and Incarceration Reform
- Community Policing and Bodycams
- Strong push on enforcing the law, but acknowledge and correct failed laws (like immigration)
- Secure our borders, so 9/11 doesn't happen again. Did we mention Pataki was governor of New York when that happened? Mention it again.
- Defend American interests, but avoid needless conflicts and nation-building.
I'd focus this plank on enforcement (the "correct failed laws" bit should belong under plank #2). Frame the push for bodycams as being vital for the safety of police officers as well as communities (since it discourages false reports against cops, just as it can be used to prove misbehavior...). Likewise, frame the 'incarceration reform' issue so we're arguing for law & order in reducing the prison population ("I want our prisons to refocus on keeping violent offenders off the streets. If someone gets caught smoking a joint, why should the rest of us be forced to pay for their care? They should be the ones paying the fine, not the American public." etc. Point out the inefficiency and expense of incarcerating so many non-violent criminals, point out how prison overpopulation means violent offenders 'slip through the cracks', that sort of thing).
Finally, I dislike the phrasing of the foreign policy bit (mostly due to my grudge against the phrase "national interests"), but it's serviceable. Personally, I'd prefer to leave foreign policy for a minor plank in the next round of voting.
1: Secure Our Future
- Extra funding for NASA
- Encourage high tech and space entrepreneurs
- STEM and vocational education push
- Maintain and expand America's technological superiority
- Push for modernized infrastructure, Including nuclear power
2: People Over Politics
- Take on Washington Special Interests and Lobbyists
- Reform Tax Code to reduce complexity and favor small businesses. Eliminate loopholes
- Reduce government corruption, porkbarreling, and waste. Restore the Line-Item Veto
- Lean, efficient government that works for the American people
- Stop wasting money of failed policies, update laws that simply don't work anymore (immigration, War on Drugs)
3: Safe at Home
- Sentencing and Incarceration Reform to keep violent offenders off the streets, but not waste millions on petty criminals.
- Community Policing and Bodycams to keep our officers and our citizens safe
- Strong push on enforcing the law, cite Pataki's record in New York
- Secure our borders, so 9/11 doesn't happen again. Did we mention Pataki was governor of New York when that happened? Mention it again.
1: Secure Our Future
- Extra funding for NASA
- Encourage high tech and space entrepreneurs
- STEM and vocational education push
- Maintain and expand America's technological superiority
- Push for modernized infrastructure, Including nuclear power
2: People Over Politics
- Take on Washington Special Interests and Lobbyists
- Reform Tax Code to reduce complexity and favor small businesses. Eliminate loopholes
- Reduce government corruption, porkbarreling, and waste. Restore the Line-Item Veto
- Lean, efficient government that works for the American people
- Stop wasting money on failed policies, update laws that simply don't work anymore (immigration, War on Drugs)
3: Safe at Home
- Sentencing and Incarceration Reform to keep violent offenders off the streets, but not waste millions on petty criminals.
- Community Policing and Bodycams to keep our officers and our citizens safe
- Strong push on enforcing the law, cite Pataki's record in New York
- Secure our borders, so 9/11 doesn't happen again. Did we mention Pataki was governor of New York when that happened? Mention it again.
Though every time I read "Line Item Veto" my brain jumps to "Liberum veto" ... which is an entirely different thing but would have hilarious (as viewed from over here in Not-America) consequences if implemented.
