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Earlier tonight I was speaking to Charles Jay about his interest in our party. He's the candidate for president of the Personal Choice party. During our conversation, he asked about the party platform, which I read to him over the phone. I also reviewed the party program.
Well, the program hasn't been updated since 2006. I think we ought to be open to some additional discussion, and improvements, to the program.
Please use this thread to propose amendments and changes.
I would like to suggest that the final item be replaced with a proposal to eliminate the personal income tax and replace it with nothing. I think Ron Paul has gotten great results with this position. Obviously, revenue neutrality is not a good thing since we are committed to a smaller government at every level.
As well, I would like to take a line from Charles Jay's nomination acceptance speech and indicate somewhere in the program that bringing the national government's policies and actions in line with the exact limits of the constitution would be a good place to start. While I agree with Lysander Spooner that the constitution has either authorized all the tyranny under which we suffer, or has been powerless to prevent it, I do think we should make an issue of the variances between the constitutional limits to power and the excesses of the current government.
These are just ideas. As chairman, I'm reluctant to make any motions. But, I would be delighted to entertain a motion on either topic.
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G.E.:
The Boston Tea Party acknowledges that the 14th amendment was never properly ratified, is illegitimate, and all ensuing legislation based upon the 14th amendment, including the Supreme Court's "incorporation doctrine," is null and void.
The Boston Tea Party calls for the repeal of the 16th amendment, and a new amendment to the Constitution limiting the scope of Congress's powers of taxation to proportioned taxes assessed to the states.
The Boston Tea Party calls for the repeal of the 17th amendment, which gave us the direct election of senators. U.S. Senators should be elected by their state legislatures in order to best represent the interests of the individual states versus the federal government, as the framers intended.
The Boston Tea Party calls for a Free Trade Amendment to the Constitution, revoking Congress's powers to assess tariffs, duties, or other taxes on imports, and barring embargoes, sanctions, quotas, and other restrictions on free trade absent a formal declaration of war against the named country. This amendment would render all current trade agreements null and void and prohibit the negotiation of new ones, henceforth.
The Boston Tea Party calls for the abolition of the Federal Reserve, and the liquidation of the Federal Reserve System and all federal-government assets, excluding those few necessary for legitimate constitutional functions, for the purpose of paying off the national debt and redeeming all outstanding Federal Reserve Notes, pro-rata.
The Boston Tea Party calls for the full legalization of competing currencies and the abolition of unconstitutional legal-tender laws. Under the Constitution, only the states may declare legal tender, and they are limited to choices of gold and silver.
planetaryjim:
Here are some further thoughts of my own on the topic.
1. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to foreign military occupation of Germany, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq with all USA military operations to cease and all troops to be withdrawn to the territories of the 50 states with no exceptions, even for embassy security. The Boston Tea Party supports repeal of the USAPATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, along with the restoration of the Great Writ of habeas corpus for all persons coming under the authority of the United States, or any of them, as citizens, residents, or captives. Citizens of these united States or any of them should be accorded full liberty under the Fourth Amendment to be free from unwarranted searches of any kind, for any purpose, by anyone. We support the repeal of the National Security Act and the abolition of the National Security Agency as well as the Central Intelligence Agency. To the extent that intelligence gathering is a defensive function, it should be handled under the department of defense. The freedom of individuals in the USA is the endearing quality of the nation that ought to be protected by those working in the name of national security. Security which denies individual liberty is not any sort of security at all.
2. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to all federal taxes on firearms and all federal infringements, whether regulatory or legislative, on the right to keep and bear arms. The security of a free people is best provided by the people themselves, with access to all the tools of self-defense. We call for the abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, an agency which has made war on the American people. We call for an end to all federal taxes on alcohol and all federal limitations on the freedom to produce, own, and consume alcohol whether regulatory or legislative - taxes and laws which have been the cause of wars and military actions against the American people including the 1795 Whiskey Rebellion and the 1920s Prohibition. We call for an end to all federal taxes on tobacco products and an end to all federal limits on growing, producing, owning, or selling tobacco in any form, whether regulatory or legislative. We call for an end to all federal taxes on explosives and an end to all federal limits on growing, producing, owning, or selling explosives, whether legislative or regulatory - remaining cognizant that the criminal use of firearms or the criminal use of explosives is already covered under federal criminal law. We call for the abolition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency known for making war on the American people. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to the federal prohibition on the use, sale, and possession of all narcotic substances, including marijuana, hemp, cocaine, hashish, mescaline, heroin, ecstasy, over the counter and prescription medications of any description, and all other substances used for generating altered mental or physical states. We call for the withdrawal of the USA from all international treaties regarding the individual use, ownership, or sale of narcotics substances. We call for the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration, an agency clearly injurious to the lives and health of tens of millions of Americans. We call for the abolition of the Drug Enforcement Agency, an unconstitutional agency which has repeatedly made war on American individuals.
3. The Boston Tea Party calls for the immediate repeal of the REAL ID Act and any and all National ID plans.
4. The Boston Tea Party calls for the repeal of the Federal Reserve Act, the repeal of all laws limiting individual liberty to accept any thing in tender of payment, the repeal of all laws seeking to establish price or wage controls, the repeal of all laws imposing regulations on the operation and ownership of banks and financial institutions of any kind. Let the markets issue money, let the markets regulate themselves, let the buyers and sellers be cautious on their own account.
5. The Boston Tea Party calls for the abolition of the personal income tax and all payroll taxes of any description, including all laws and regulations obligating employers to provide for health maintenance organizations or other health plans. A free market in health care services should prevail. The Internal Revenue Service, an agency which has made war on the American people, should be abolished.
planetaryjim:
Here's a simpler approach, with 5 planks.
1. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to unconstitutional wars, especially the undeclared wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, by proxy in Somalia, and the unauthorized war on drugs, war on financial privacy, and war on Internet gambling. We seek the cessation of hostilities, the return of USA troops to the territory of the 50 states, and the elimination of agencies which are making war on the American people, such as the DEA, FBI, and BATFE. We seek an end to all federal prohibition of victimless activities such as possession, sale, or use of contraband - drugs, tobacco, alcohol, guns, or other items, including all federal taxes on such items.
2. The Boston Tea Party calls for the full restoration of habeas corpus and the enforcement of all aspects of the Bill of Rights, which would require the repeal of the USAPATRIOT act, the Military Commissions Act, the REAL ID act, and many other acts which attempt to authorize unwarranted searches and spying on the American people.
3. The Boston Tea Party seeks a free market in the issue power of money, in raising money, and in operating for profit businesses. Accordingly, we call for the repeal of the Federal Reserve Act, the Internal Revenue Act, the Securities Act of 1930, and other acts tending to prohibit, regulate, or tax private financial matters.
4. The Boston Tea Party recognizes no government role in religion, in marriage, in family organization, in lifestyle choices. Accordingly, we oppose all taxes and regulations which attempt to define marriage, ban gay persons from government positions, discriminate on the basis of age, sexual preference, gender, religious preference, color, or national origin, or prohibit free expression of religion, sexuality, or lifestyle.
5. The Boston Tea Party is aware of a long history of injustice by government abuse of power. Accordingly, we seek the immediate pardon of all non-violent offenders convicted of victimless activities now in federal custody.
John David Chri...:
John David Christensen
The current platform and program are a statement of vision and principle that will yet enable us to build and develop this group. The crisp and direct clarity and simplicity of the extant BTP platform and five-point program attracted me to the Party. For the nonce at least these are highly effective expressions of the anarcho-capitalist, Rothbardian, radical libertarian position and I'd like to preserve the platform and program as these are. If change is required those changes will evolve from the organization's growth and development. The present platform and program is a sufficient foundation for our future.
planetaryjim:
Really? You like the very modest income tax proposal in the existing program?
planetaryjim:
It occurs to me that I didn't mention gambling, prostitution, and adult entertainment - areas where the feds should not be involved.
It also occurs to me that I could condense plank 2 by proposing to eliminate all laws on victimless crimes, including crimes involving the possession of contraband, and all taxes on alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gambling, explosives, etc. Then simply list the agencies to be eliminated.
admin:
Those who want a different program are in for good news -- according to the bylaws, the program doesn't just get amended or updated every two years, it gets COMPLETELY RE-WRITTEN. The old program disappears completely, and the members ratify up to five new program planks.
planetaryjim:
The old program has not disappeared, and continues to appear in its old place.
I'm bemused by the idea that the program may only have five planks. What is the point of that idea? All that does is cause the grouping of the many dozens to hundreds of ideas needed to establish a smaller government (a much, much smaller one, in my view) under five category headings.
Why are six headings not permissible? Why this style obligation.
Perhaps there was original intent which could be written here.
I note that Rational Review News covers dozens of topics every day, and hundreds every month, many of which would be suitable program planks.
admin:
... it disappears when it is replaced by the NEXT program, which will presumably be in October when the BTP holds its biennial convention.
The "original intent" of the five-plank maximum (and the shortness and sweetness recommendation I've made for the planks themselves) was two-fold:
1) To produce a document that addresses the MOST IMPORTANT issues of the MOST IMMEDIATE interest (to the party, obviously, but hopefully also to the public). In any given election cycle, a very few specific policy issues seem to be on most voters' minds.
That the BTP's nominated or endorsed candidates would end the federal wool and mohair subsidy program can be inferred from the party's platform, and if the candidates want to talk about that, they're perfectly free to ... but when John Q. Citizen visits the BTP's web site, he should be able to figure out the party's proposals for "the big issues of the day" at a glance. That's what the program is for.
2. A maximum of five points, considered and accepted in the manner set down in the convention rules, fits into the self-limiting timeframe scenario I was trying to create for our unique convention process. Since we're meeting online instead of in meetspace, and since all business occurs simultaneously, the rules are fixed to limit the time given to program consideration without the chair having to sit online for X days looking at an agenda and preparing to bang a gavel after the friendly amender to the gentleman's motion to divide the question.
Regards,
Tom Knapp
Arcalian:
The problem with using "constitutional limits" is that the concept is open to interpretation; it can mean whatever someone in the future wants it to mean. That's part of how we got into this mess. Perhaps it would be better to set a specific size limit in terms of, say, government agencies? Government employees? Budget? All of the above?
planetaryjim:
Perhaps it would be better to state which agencies and departments appear to be without authority in the constitution, and set the program of the party in favor of their deletion.
These might include Department of Education, Department of Energy, Selective Service board, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Transportation, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Labor Statistics, Food and Drug Administration, Sugar Rationing Administration (or whatever agency controls the price of sugar).
In addition to various others not named.
One might indicate not only the lack of constitutional authority, but also the lack of any proper need served, the harm done by the agency, etc.
Obviously the constitution means exactly what it says. It says that Congress has the powers outlined in article one section eight, it says that Congress has no other powers in Amendment 10.
The reality is that we are in this mess not because the constitution may be properly interpreted any which way, but because it is being ignored. Ron Paul does an excellent job of reviewing these facts in his new book, Revolution a Manifesto.
Arcalian:
...what I mean wen I say "interpretation". When in the past I have argued with people that the government violated the Constitution, they answered along the lines of, "Times have changed. The Constitution must be a 'living document', it must 'breathe' and change with the times." This is how people reinterpret through ignoring. Or at least that is one of the ways. And thus is one of the things to be guarded against.
planetaryjim:
You may wish to distinguish between arguing with people who are bent on destroying all limits to power and arguing with those, like us, that favor strict limits to government power. Obviously, what we mean when we say that we favor adherence to the limits of the constitution is: we favor adherence to the actual limits, as written.