Focusing On Solutions

Frankly, I really don't care what you think; I don't focus on the problem, I focus on the solutions. In my possible run for US Senate, it won't be my job to make you happy; it is my job to be honest. I know I don't have the answers to all the questions, but I know I will ask you for your help. I can't say I will accept your advice, but I do promise to listen. I won't be politically correct, I'll call it as I see it. In my search for answers, I will find the truth and seek to implement it, regardless of where that takes me. I expect the same of you.

Is America Falling Into Slavery?

“Every nation that has ended in tyranny has come to that end by way of good order. It certainly does not follow from this that peoples should scorn public peace, but neither should they be satisfied with that and nothing more. A nation that asks nothing of government but the maintenance of order is already a slave in the depths of its heart; it is a slave of its well-being, ready for the man who will put it in chains.” ― Alexis de Tocqueville

Free Expert Advice & Consulting

by Perry Jones

I'm offering free expert advice and consulting on political issues, economics, gun control, military affairs, the Federal Reserve, State of the Union, foreign policy, Christianity/Separation of Church and State issues and conservative/Tea Party issues. I'm also a OWS supporter.

I'm available for media appearances, college or university talks or workshops, newspaper and magazine interviews and social media appearances or interviews.

Please contact me by email at

starfleet1@yahoo.com

or leave a message at

774-757-0524

I ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Capitalist Perfection

My belief is that capitalism is a near-perfect system, if all parties involved adhere to the moral principles and values of a sovereign God. Failing that, capitalism slowly devolves into a system of greed, power and wealth. That is what we see today in the US and it is observable in all nations that do not closely follow Christian principles.

Now that the US is no longer a Christian nation - regardless of what Sunday preachers or televangelists may claim - just look around for proof - a postcapitalist system must be implemented which is fundamentally different than the capitalism that built this nation. It must be fair, equalitarian (equal opportunity for all but not equal results for all) and adhere to principles which both theists and atheists can agree to. This postcapitalist system must also be open, transparent and comprehensive. Tax rates must be reduced, regulations loosened or eliminated, the Fed, IRS, DHS and Dept of Energy disbanded. Education must also be restructured. A charter school in Yuma, AZ seems to have a grasp of what is required. Rather than classrooms, students sit in cubicles. Lessons and course are available on the computers within each cubicle and teachers monitor and assist. Students learn by doing rather than by rote. And they learn at their own pace. This is just one method which seems to be working. The only thing I would change is for the students who have mastered the material to help those who have not.

Saving the GOP

The GOP candidate lost the presidential election because the party ignored a dominant shift in demographics. In order to win national office, the Republican Party must reorient itself toward these key demographics.

1. it must reorient itself toward hispanic voters
2. it must reorient itself toward immigrants
3. it must reorient itself toward single women especially mothers
4. it must reorient itself toward the impoverished and those receiving state and federal assistance, seeking ways to lift this demographic out of poverty
5. it must reorient itself toward small business
6. it must reorient itself toward all those earning less than 1 million dollars a year

In reorienting toward these demographics, the GOP must execute policy which the recipients perceive as beneficial to them, regardless of how legislators, pundits and decision makers create and implement policy initiatives.

In addition, the GOP must disassociate itself from special interests which are perceived by the American-body-politick as being detrimental, if not malevolent, to its own ideals. These include:

1. disassociation with Big Business and its influence
2. disassociation with Wall Street
3. disassociation with back door and back room deals
4. disassociation with any group or interest that puts its own needs ahead of the national interest

Although number 4 may be a challenge because every group - and every person - seeks to improve their position and status in life, we all can find ways to achieve these ends without jeopardizing the same for other groups.

Certain legislation should also be enacted to help the United States move forward without the dragging influence of special interests and the divisiveness Big Business and special interests create between Congress and themselves on one side and the American people on the other. Also certain initiatives should be executed to establish a baseline from which clear decisions can be made.

1. balanced budget amendment
2. 12 year term limits amendment for both the Senate and the House
3. public and transparent audit of the Federal Reserve
4. public and transparent audit of the Energy Department, FDA, Dept. of Education and the DOD.
5. public and transparent audit of all recipients of TARP
6. dissolve the IRS, Federal Reserve and the TSA
7. revoke all policy, acts, initiatives and legislation which supersede the Constitution (e.g. TSA, wiretaps, seizure of private property)

And the GOP should support several initiatives and issues.

1. unions which serve their membership and which do no disservice to the public or nation
2. strict new legislation and regulations on the size and operations of Big Banks with a reemphasis promoting community banks
3. a labor initiative which supports a realistic minimum wage, a minimum of 3 week annual vacations, protection of working mothers

How and in what way these initiatives should be supported must be left to discussion and debate within the halls of corporate America, around the watercooler, across kitchen tables and over coffee tables, in coffee shops and sports bars and in the halls and meeting rooms of Congress.

Finally there are at least 2 initiatives the GOP may consider.

1. establishing that all natural resources of a state are the rightful property of the citizens of that state and that any extraction of said natural resources shall be licensed at a marketable, fair rate and at least 80% of such proceeds directly distributed to the recipients in the form of a check in their name mailed to their last known address or direct deposit to their bank account (think Alaska)
2. requiring each corporation with gross revenues of 50 (100?) million or over to establish an employee trust fund to which 10% to 25% of profits shall be distributed and paid out to eligible employees monthly and an employees stock trust that shall hold no less than 10% of a corporations stock enabling employees to vote in corporate actions

With this plan in hand, the GOP may be able to recapture key demographics it has lost and help impel the US economy toward growth and greater productivity.

(Originally published "StopThisInsanity.org/forum" Dec 3, 2013

10-15-1 - A New Tax Plan

In my book I briefly reviewed a new tax plan. Here I will present this plan in greater detail.

10-15-1

10%
Individuals and corporations earning up to 1 million dollars would be taxed at a flat rate of 10% of income.

Most deductions and credits would remain in place, e.g. real estate, tuition credits, energy credits, interest payments and standard deductions for small business (up to 1 million annual revenues).

15%
Individuals and corporations earning over 1 million dollars annually would be taxed at 15% with fewer deductions and credits allowed.

Exactly what credits and deductions would be changed or modified would need to be left to Congress, but No increase or additional deductions or credits would occur.

1%
A nationwide 1% sales tax would be implemented. Food, rent and mortgage and basic necessities would be exempted.

I believe that, in conjunction with the elimination of most tax subsidies - if not all - and the implementation of a balanced budget this plan would go far to easing the debt and ensuring economic growth and stability.

Immigration Policy

I will suggest an immigrant policy, but as I have had such flak in the past, I expect the same again. Instead, this time I hope that you will post some helpful comments, keeping in mind that immigrants will soon be, (if not already are) a dominant force in American politics, the impact any such actions will have in individual communities and the good of the nation as a whole. My goal is to rebuild America, to make it strong again and have it based on the principles not only of our Founding Fathers (the Constitution) but also our Judaeo-Christian heritage. The following is a restatement of my position, gathered from previous posts - plus additional information, but my position remains unchanged from previously - I have just gathered everything into 1 post.

Immigrants coming to the US must meet several requirements:

1. have at least a conversational command of English
2. have adequate and confirmed ID (birth cert, passport, TBD)
3. have completed a background check and health background review (felons and seriously ill not accepted)
4. know the traffic laws of the US and pass a road driving test!
5. prove a degree of knowledge about US history, geography, economics and politics
6. agree to start or seriously (how to determine "seriously"?) attempt to start a small business within 1 yr or deportation will ensue
7. have adequate financial means to sustain themselves for 3 months (6 months?) with no other income (should they run out of money they will be deported)
8. agree to protect and defend the laws and the Constitution of the United States (a bit amorphous, but why not?)

Failure to adhere to any of the above will result in denial of entry .

Immigration is conditional not only upon the above points but also includes the following:

1. will not be eligible for social benefits until they have been contributing to the economy for at least 1 year (Example: if they start a business or get a job after 1 yr in the country, they will be ineligible for benefits until another year has passed)

   (1a. if they should become disabled within the first year, they will be deported)

2. obtain adequate health and vehicle insurance within 90 days (180 days?)
3. will not be eligible for college grants or loans until 1 yr has passed
4. will not be eligible to vote until receiving citizenship

Because the United states is a benevolent, but enterprising nation:

1. all school age children of immigrants will be eligible for public school from day of entry
2. all applicants for immigration will not be denied entry if they meet all criteria as described above
3. all immigrants will be eligible for emergency medical care from day of entry

(Note: trauma centers should be required to accept ALL patients who have experienced potentially fatal or life-threatening traumatic events - many do not now do so - (I was denied treatment))

All immigrants violating any of these conditions will receive 1 warning to correct the condition. The condition must be corrected within 30 days. Failure to correct the criteria, intentional violation of any point will result in deportation or, if prior to entry, denied entry.

Prior to entry, all applicants must meet all entry requirements at their own expense.

All immigrants currently in country will be eligible to remain in country upon proving they have met the above requirements or that they are working toward them - and they must successfully pass all requirements within 1 year. Failure to meet any 1 requirement will result in deportation.

School age and younger children, infants and all children of immigrants born in country will not be denied attendance at public school, emergency medical care or receipt of certain minimal social benefits as determined by their municipality.

All students must work toward meeting all above requirements within 1 year of matriculation of public secondary (or private or home) school and will not be eligible to apply for any higher education until they have done so or they must leave the country within 90 days OR agree to leave the country immediately upon matriculation from an institute of higher education.

Federal prerogative may accept certain professions - engineers, software and IT engineers, doctors, et al - and any profession as determined by federal authorities and waive any requirements as determined.

(originally published "StopThisInsanity.org/forum" Dec 13, 2012)

We Cannot Deport Illegal Immigrants

The reasons I am concerned about simply rounding up illegal immigrants are several and varied. To me, the rounding up of illegal immigrants would be similar to the rounding up of Japanese citizens in World War 2, with one exception which I'll state at the end. I feel the destructiveness to an already weakened US economy would be unsustainable, that entire communities and neighborhoods would be literally destroyed, that families and churches would be ripped apart, that foreign relations with other countries would be damaged, agriculture in some states would take a massive hit – driving up food (primarily fruit & vegetable) prices throughout the United States , that the prestige of America would be debased and the perception by other nations and peoples – plus many Americans (me included) is that the US talks a good line about human rights but doesn’t really support them, and, most importantly to me, I don’t think a good Christian would do it. The Bible says to accept the alien into your home and welcome him. Jesus says to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, he didn’t say “check their papers.”

I will address these points individually.

1. Communities, neighborhoods, families and churches would be ripped apart producing a traumatic event within the church, neighborhood, community – and especially the family.

"Imagine that one day you received notice that you and your whole family must be ready to move within 48 hours. You could take only the possessions you could carry and no one would tell you when you would be permitted to return home. Sound like a bad dream? This happened to over 100,000 United States citizens and legal residents during World War II.” –Mary Daly

Most ethnic groups tend to gather in clusters. In some cases during World War 2, communities and churches lost over half of their membership due to the internment of the Japanese and many “white” owned businesses were forced to close due to loss of customers.

"Long-term health consequences included psychological anguish as well as increased cardiovascular disease. Survey information found former internees had a 2.1 greater risk of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality, and premature death than did a non-interned counterpart."
"The Experience of Injustice: Health Consequences of the Japanese American Internment", Gwendolyn M. Jensen

"Recognizing the great injustice that took place, they carry with them the legacy of their parents' internment. Time has not severed the psychological ties to events that preceded them, nor has the fact that their parents will not openly discuss the internment. On the contrary, the vast majority of Sansei (third generation) feel that the incarceration has affected their lives in significant ways..."

- "Legacy of Injustice: Exploring the Cross-Generational Impact of the Japanese American Internment", Donna K. Nagata, 1993.

"Trauma may directly or indirectly affect the children of trauma victims. The multiple pathways of its effects create a variety of consequences. Despite the silence, or perhaps because of it, the Sansei who had a parent interned felt the effects of that experience in numerous ways. They are sad and angry about the injustice and attribute a number of negative consequences in their own lives to their parents' internment. These include feelings of low self-esteem, the pressure to assimilate, an accelerated loss of the Japanese culture and language, and experiencing the unexpressed pain of their parents."

- "Legacy of Injustice: Exploring the Cross-Generational Impact of the Japanese American Internment", Donna K. Nagata, 1993.

2. The economic and agricultural impact to the country would be severe.

“The World War II evacuation of Japanese farmers from the Pacific Coast caused a staggering labor shortage created by the U.S. Government itself, which then wrestled with forced transfer of confiscated farmlands to new “non-Japanese” owners and lessees.”

“Removal of the Japanese would disrupt the California vegetable industry. Japanese truck farmers, he said, produced crops valued at 40 million dollars annually and interned Japanese “stand to lose approximately 100 million dollars in investments” because of confiscation or forced sale by the U.S. Government.” Nobumitsu Takahashi, agricultural coordinator for the Japanese-American Citizens League

It is estimated that at least 8% of all illegals own their own business. Some businesses owned by illegals employ hundreds of people. Nearly 100% of illegals pay taxes. Illegals represent 3.48% of the entire US population and 5% of the US work force. Japanese interned during World War represented just 0.09% of the US population but the economic effects were far-reaching.

The cost of redistributing assets of illegal immigrants in event of forced repatriation - homes, cars, stock, mutual funds, land, farms, boats, small business and big business - has not been estimated.

The repatriation of illegals would not create jobs. Those jobs would be eliminated. Several economists forecast a net 1.1% decline in US economic activity if all illegal immigrants are repatriated.

Between 1996 and 2003, the IRS has received $50 billion in taxes from illegal immigrants.

San Diego county administrators estimate that of all the farms in San Diego county, 98% would be forced to close if illegals were repatriated.
“The avocado trees that blanket the hills of Fallbrook and Valley Center, those all go away without farm workers. So do the oranges here in San Pasqual Valley, the nurseries of San Marcos and Vista, the Carlsbad flower fields,” said Larson.

If we use a conservative figure of $1,000 as the cost to repatriate one illegal immigrant, the total cost to repatriate all illegal immigrants would be $11.5 billion. The economic impact would be several times greater.

A cost benefit analysis of illegal immigrants within the US indicates an almost 4 to 1 benefit in terms of economic impact, i.e. the benefits outweigh expenses by nearly 4 to 1. In agricultural communities this can be as high as 12 to 1.

3. Impact on foreign relations.

The US – Mexico relationship is already complicated. In 2011, Mexico deployed troops along its border to protect immigrants entering the US illegally. That same year, US customs agents and Mexican Federales engaged in a firefight ending in the death of 3 US customs agents. Mexico has stated that the prohibition by the US of allowing Mexican immigrants to enter the US legally or illegally would be detrimental to the US-Mexican relationship. In 2008, a squad of Mexican troops crossed the US border with Arizona escorting a group of illegal immigrants.

“In the 1980s, the US accorded such a high priority to deterring illegal immigration from South and Central America, that it was willing to sacrifice human rights standards, humanitarian values and significant foreign policies and goals to achieve those ends.” Immigration as Foreign Policy, Jorge Dominguez – Harvard University

"The significant role that immigration policy continues to play in U.S. foreign affairs has been lost in current debates about immigration in the U.S. Immigration has always had critical consequences for immigrants’ countries of origin, from money sent to family back home to the brain drain for educated workers. Immigrants and their children have long continued to shape political and cultural developments in their homelands."

"How the U.S. treats those within its borders reverberates internationally, by influencing its global reputation, as well as its international economic relationships. That was true during the days of steamships, letters, and telegraph cables, and it remains true in our world of jets, Skype, and YouTube." -Diedre Moloney, Princeton University

The influence of the US on world affairs is determined by its actions at home as well as abroad. The deportation of millions of illegal immigrants would negatively impact our influence with dozens of nations and could cause many close allies to reconsider their relationship to the US. At best, these allies would impose some degree of cir$#%spection and may be less inclined to accept US pronouncements at face value. Forging new trade agreements, engaging in international groups and strengthening or creating military ties would all prove to be exacerbated by what we do to illegal immigrants within the US.

The one exception? The one major difference between the rounding up of Japanese residents in World War 2 and the rounding up of illegal immigrants now is that the effects of any such round-up would be some 564 times greater.