I read the 2012 Republican platform and I am stunned. Remember that the definition of most people in Canada I am right wing.
Here are some random bit and my comments - I can not comment on all of it because it would take too long because these is simply too much to marvel at for its ideological extremity and political naivety.
Protecting Human Rights
To those who stand in the darkness of tyranny, America has always been a beacon of hope, and so it must remain. That is why we strongly support the work of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, established by Congressional Republicans to advance the rights of persecuted peoples everywhere. It has been shunted aside by the current Administration at a time when its voice more than ever needs to be heard. Religious minorities across the Middle East are being driven from their ancient homelands, fanaticism leaves its bloody mark on both West and East Africa, and even among America’s Western friends and allies, pastors and families are penalized for their religious convictions. A Republican Administration will return the advocacy of religious liberty to a central place in our diplomacy.
Seriously??!?! With all the serious human rights issues in the world you only mention religion? I assume this means Mitt would work hard to protect the Muslims in China......
We call for a Constitutional amendment requiring a super-majority for any tax increase, with exceptions for only war and national emergencies, and imposing a cap limiting spending to the historical average percentage of GDP so that future Congresses cannot balance the budget by raising taxes.
Certainly no one that knows how government or economics worked on that passage. Though I assume it is a through away to the teaparty types when there is no chance in hell that this sort of constitutional amendment could ever pass.
Determined to crush the double-digit inflation that was part of the Carter Administration’s economic legacy, President Reagan, shortly after his inauguration, established a commission to consider the feasibility of a metallic basis for U.S. currency. The commission advised against such a move. Now, three decades later, as we face the task of cleaning up the wreckage of the current Administration’s policies, we propose a similar commission to investigate possible ways to set a fixed value for the dollar.
First off it is cool it is Obama's fault that George W Bush destroyed the US budget while sitting back and letting the housing bubble happen. The housing bubble did not need to happen and a few decent regulations like in Canada would have stopped the worst of it.
No serious person in economics thinks a gold standard or such is a good idea or makes any sense. A commission effectively investigating a return to the gold standard would be a huge waste of money and distraction. The US dollar is the fixing point globally and has no reason to be fixed to something else of lesser value or importance.
Defending Marriage Against An Activist Judiciary
A serious threat to our country’s constitutional order, perhaps even more dangerous than presidential malfeasance, is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States. This is more than a matter of warring legal concepts and ideals. It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.
A Sacred Contract: Defense of Marriage
That is why Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions. The current Administration’s open defiance of this constitutional principle – in its handling of immigration cases, in federal personnel benefits, in allowing a same-sex marriage at a military base, and in refusing to defend DOMA in the courts – makes a mockery of the President’s inaugural oath. We commend the United States House of Representatives and State Attorneys General who have defended these laws when they have been attacked in the courts. We reaffirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of States which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other States to do so.
Why do they care so much about this issue? I have yet to hear a single reason why same sex marriage is a bad idea. There is nothing with the US Constitution that says marriage has to between a man and a woman. It is a distraction for issues that matter.
The Continuing Importance of Protecting the Electoral College
We oppose the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the procedures of the Electoral College. We recognize that an unconstitutional effort to impose “national popular vote” would be a mortal threat to our federal system and a guarantee of corruption as every ballot box in every state would become a chance to steal the presidency.
Right now in the US presidential election the vote only matters in a handful of states. In order of importance: Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, Colorado, Nevada and Iowa. If you do not live in one of those seven states your vote in the presidential election is meaningless. One person one vote is the only way the US president should be elected.
States or political subdivisions that use all-mail elections cannot ensure the integrity of the ballot. When ballots are mailed to every registered voter, ballots can be stolen or fraudulently voted by unauthorized individuals because the system does not have a way to verify the identity of the voter. We call for States and political subdivisions to adopt voting systems that can verify the identity of the voter.
Military men and women must not be disenfranchised from the very freedom they defend. We affirm that our troops, wherever stationed, be allowed to vote and those votes be counted in the November election and in all elections. To that end, the entire chain of command, from President and the Secretary of Defense, to base and unit commanders – must ensure the timely receipt and return of all ballots and the utilization of electronic delivery of ballots where allowed by State law.
Voting by mail is suspect unless you are in the military.
We support State laws that require proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration to protect our electoral system against a significant and growing form of voter fraud. Every time that a fraudulent vote is cast, it effectively cancels out a vote of a legitimate voter.
OK, so how do you prove citizenship? There is no mandatory national ID only for citizens in the US so what would be good enough? The only thing I can think of is a passport. Birth certificates are no good because you could have emigrated.
The Second Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms
We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend the law-abiding citizen’s God-given right of self-defense.
God-given right of self-defense, too bad for the atheists.
We call for the protection of such fundamental individual rights recognized in the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago affirming that right, and we recognize the individual responsibility to safely use and store firearms. This also includes the right to obtain and store ammunition without registration.
So government can regulate how many pets you have but not how many bullets?
We support the fundamental right to self-defense wherever a law-abiding citizen has a legal right to be, and we support federal legislation that would expand the exercise of that right by allowing those with state-issued carry permits to carry firearms in any state that issues such permits to its own residents.
Firearms can be a great hobby and are the most effective tool for hunting, but they do not serve any useful purpose in self defense.
Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling Americans to defend their homes and communities.
That is utter bullshit, it is that very attitude of taking the law into your hands and using the threat of lethal force does not make for a healthy society. It is also a slap in the face to the police as it assumes they are incompetent.
We condemn frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners. We oppose legislation that is intended to restrict our Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the ill-considered Clinton gun ban.
Why does the US need the world's most restrictive gun control laws in the world? Because it seems Americans are incapable of responsible gun use.
The Fifth Amendment: Protecting Private Property
The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment- “nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation”-is a bulwark against tyranny; for without property rights, individual rights are diminished. That is why we deplore the Supreme Court’s Kelo v. New London decision, allowing local governments to seize a person’s home or land, not for vital public use, but for transfer to private developers. We call on State legislatures to moot the impact of the Kelo decision in their States by appropriate legislation or constitutional amendments. Equally important, we pledge to enforce the Takings Clause in the actions of federal agencies to ensure just compensation whenever private property is needed to achieve a compelling public use. This includes the taking of property in the form of water rights in the West and elsewhere and the taking of property by environmental regulations that destroy its value
I am vaguely stunned here, I agree with this until they get to the regulation part. Government has a right to regulate and that will have impacts on property values.
Respect for Our Flag: Symbol of the Constitution
The symbol of our constitutional unity, to which we all pledge allegiance, is the flag of the United States of America. By whatever legislative method is most feasible, Old Glory should be given legal protection against desecration. We condemn decisions by activist judges to deny children the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance in its entirety, including “Under God,” in public schools and encourage States to promote the pledge. We condemn the actions of those who deny our children the means by which to show respect for our great country and the constitutional principles represented by our flag.
A flag is a flag and has no value or relevance to governance. There is no place for wasting any breath on this at all.
We oppose statehood for the District of Columbia.
because that would be 2 more Democratic Senators and 3 electoral college votes. Washington DC can continue as a colonial possession of the US.
