What if Republicans had more to say than “No”?

Photo by Isaiah Rustad on Unsplash

The Republican party has no coherent response to Democrats’ ideas except to vote against them. A simple vision is needed to unify the party going forward:

Republicans will promote government policies that lead to long-term opportunity and success across our population.

Opportunity has to be available across the whole population, rich and poor, black and white, rural and urban. Planning to deliver opportunity with a pragmatic focus and fiscal discipline will deliver our best future.

Republican policy actions:

1. Limit US Federal debt to 100% of GDP
2. Focus on opportunity and success
3. Reduce wealth inequality
4. Reform politics
5. Reform immigration
6. Provide basic healthcare
7. Let the States govern where possible
8. Pursue diplomacy and dialogue in foreign relations to avoid war
9. Reform the military-industrial complex
10. Boost economic competitiveness by modernizing infrastructure and education

Limit US Federal Debt

A major policy objective is to limit Federal debt to 100% of GDP to ensure the Federal government that has the fiscal capacity to handle inevitable future crises such as war or pandemic.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Federal debt will explode from 80% of GDP at the end of 2019 to 102% by the end of 2021.

This ballooning debt is not a major concern to the current administration. As one of many ballooning debt scenarios, the FY2022 discretionary request includes $24.7B for NASA, a 6.3% increase from 2021 that “Supports Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond”. That’s not pragmatic and doesn’t show fiscal discipline.

According to the Congressional Budget Office 2021 Long Term Budget Outlook:

“By the end of 2021, federal debt held by the public is projected to equal 102 percent of GDP. Debt would reach 107 percent of GDP (surpassing its historical high) in 2031 and would almost double to 202 percent of GDP by 2051. Debt that is high and rising as a percentage of GDP boosts federal and private borrowing costs, slows economic output growth, and increases interest payments abroad. A growing debt burden could increase the risk of a fiscal crisis and higher inflation as well as undermine confidence in the U.S. dollar, making it more costly to finance public and private activity in international markets.”

The report shows accelerating, growing interest payments kicking in about 2026.

The US should use modern financial spending review techniques to better manage expenditures and outcomes on an ongoing basis for all Federal programs. Other countries performing these spending reviews are Denmark, the UK, and Sweden.

Opportunity and Success

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” Justice Louis Brandeis

The bottom 50% of American families own just 1% of the wealth while the top 10% own 76% of the wealth. One in ten American families has a negative net worth. Strategies to improve and equalize opportunity and wealth:

1. Increase individual income tax and capital gain rates for the top 10%
2. Review estate taxation policies for the top 10%
3. Use tax revenues for affirmative action programs:

• Financial education programs: investing, wealth management, business development, and real estate
• Skilled trades scholarships
• Expand the scope of Registered Apprenticeships
• Pell grants

We need to lift each other with compassion and build a spirit of individual accountability and responsibility. To bolster opportunity Americans need to participate in their society. Public knowledge of government and awareness of the benefits of civic participation is lacking. Only 1 in 4 Americans can name the three branches of government. Participation in community organizations is dropping, and voter participation is sometimes less than 50%. A renewed focus on American civic education and its benefits for families and communities is required. Policies shall promote compassion and healthy winning families. This mindset and attitude should act as the basis of the new Republican platform.

Reform Politics

We need nationwide, transparent political reform. The first element is Campaign Finance Reform. In a 2010 case called Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that independent political expenditures by unions and corporations (including non-profit corporations such as Planned Parenthood, the National Rifle Association, and the ACLU) are protected under the First Amendment and are not subject to restriction by the government. This was a misguided decision that gave organizations undue influence. Along with Political Action Committees (PACs) and their unlimited political spending, politicians aren’t chosen on ideas and merit, but influence and money. As an example of excessive influence, look no further than The Senate Leadership Fund PAC which raised and spent $475 million in the 2020 election cycle.

We support a constitutional amendment as proposed by Move to Amend: “We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.”

Individual campaign contributions should be limited to $3,000 from any person to one candidate for office.

A second element in reforming politics is to modernize voting. We support automatic voter registration and convenient voting with integrity. No one should stand in line for hours on election days.

The third element is term and age limits. A US constitutional amendment shall provide a maximum of two six-year terms for Senators and six two-year terms for members of the House.

An airline pilot must retire at age 60. Since the Chief Executive has great responsibilities that require physical and mental vitality 24x7, a constitutional amendment should be introduced to ensure a US President must be between age 35 and 60 at the first inauguration.

A fourth element is for Republican politicians to re-engage the public with transparency and honesty. It seems politicians are always scheming and hiding the truth from the public when what we need are honest assessments and recommendations.

Let the States govern where possible

A dysfunctional US Congress is unable to lead meaningful policy initiatives at the Federal level. Meanwhile, States have implemented successful programs while balancing their budgets.

The government closest to the people is the best equipped to govern and manage programs. As stated by Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” Also, States have varying needs. What’s best for New Hampshire isn’t always the best for New Mexico.

We advocate block grants and program management run by the states wherever practical in order to reduce the federal deficit, increase government efficiency, improve accountability, and allow for flexibility.

At the Federal level, guns, marijuana, and abortion should be legal by statute and managed by the States.

Reform Immigration

Federal legislation is needed to modernize the immigration system. We support the passage of a DREAM Act to provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants.

Birthright citizenship should remain in effect.

The refugee admissions ceiling should allow 60,000 yearly and the asylum admissions ceiling should allow 50,000 yearly.

The US should prioritize the importance of the English language in immigration policies as English proficiency leads to more successful immigrant career and social outcomes. Public schools will be taught in English and ESL classes will be offered. English fluency will remain a requirement for citizenship.

Provide Basic Healthcare

The goal is to optimize quality of life by providing free basic universal coverage for citizens and legal permanent residents.

Due to our healthcare system’s inability to manage cost, the Federal government spends 6% of GDP on healthcare and it is projected to rise to 9%.

Even with all of this spending, more than 500,000 Americans are forced to file for bankruptcy every year as they can’t repay their healthcare-related debt.

We must benchmark other countries and borrow successful techniques in managing care and cost. One immediate step to control cost is to permit Medicare to negotiate prescription prices.

One source of funding for universal basic coverage could come from a reallocation of 15% of the $740B national defense budget, which provides $111B annually, or $335 per capita. This is in addition to the existing healthcare outlays for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and subsidies.

Provide block grants to states to provide universal basic healthcare coverage:

• Basic healthcare includes preventative care (annual physicals, dental cleanings, well-child checkups, gynecological care, preventative screenings, immunizations, insulin, and contraception)
• Two no-charge office visits yearly
• Inpatient hospitalization and surgery
• Mental health services provided by Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
• Maternity and newborn care not included
• Other prescriptions not included

Those with private insurance should receive a premium subsidy. Continue to allow customized private healthcare plans for specialized care and needs.

To address the public health impact of gun violence, we support the creation of local community violence prevention groups.

Pursue diplomacy and dialogue

“Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.” — Isaac Newton

The US should pursue cultural exchange and dialogue with all nations who are willing to engage and project a new attitude of respect and humility.

At first glance in mid-2021, the US seems to be intent on re-launching the Cold War with Russia and China. Working with the UN, the US should build diplomatic channels with an aim to maintain a close, persistent, and transparent dialogue with China, Russia, India, and the EU to maintain world peace. Other strategic countries requiring a close relationship are Mexico, Canada, and Brazil. We should not engage in nation-building exercises. One dollar spent on cultural exchange projects might be more valuable to national security than $20 spent at the DoD.

The US is not a global police force or ideological sage. We are a nation among other nations working with each other to secure future success.

Reform the military-industrial complex

“By simply shoveling money at the Pentagon, Congress actually hinders good military thinking. Free-flowing money provides service leaders license to pursue excessively complex weapons programs with the mistaken belief that wars can be won simply by having more technology than our adversaries.” (Dan Grazier, Project on Government Oversight)

Starting in the mid-1980’s defense systems’ complexity and expense grew to the point of them being non-functional and not providing value for taxpayer dollars spent. For example, the B2 bomber and F35 fighter are not functional aircraft and have wasted billions. DoD staff and officers make unrealistic and lofty requirements for systems without cost consideration. DoD contractor firms have predictably had cost overruns and schedule delays in attempting to meet the unrealistic requirements. As a result of this and an incredible DoD bureaucracy, the US public is only receiving approximately 10% defense value from defense outlays. Our military is not capable and spending more makes it less capable.

An independent audit should be conducted on the DoD and recommendations made within a hard budget cut of 15% annually for five years. The first year cut will be re-allocated to fund healthcare as discussed above.

The audit should identify areas of obsolescence and opportunities for new capability.

Boost economic competitiveness

Secure and repair infrastructure per the 2021 Senate GOP $568B infrastructure proposal.

Eliminate the Federal Department of Education, while keeping Pell grants in place for higher education. In the area of student test scores (PISA), the US is stagnant, showing no improvement in reading, math, or science. The transfer of any Department of Education responsibilities to States and other Federal agencies should occur over 5 years using a 20% budget cut yearly until the Department is eliminated.

Encourage local school districts to leverage new K-12 educational techniques documented by experts at the Brookings Institution.

At the local level teach Civics and motivate students to build a spirit of American competitiveness and achievement.

The government should work with educational institutions to find ways to manage costs, to not exceed a $5,000 yearly tuition expense at a public 4 year University.

The US should launch a competitiveness initiative to compete with China’s “Made in China 2025” program. China spent $300B in 2018. Similar investment may be required here. It should build on President Biden’s 2/24/2021 “Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains”:

1. Identify domestic critical goods production, including semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, machine tools and robots, vehicles, energy-producing components, computers, ships, aircraft, and factory production equipment
2. Identify future technology needs and staff research organizations as required
3. Identify international competitive challenges
4. Secure supply chains for key materials required
5. Initiate needed production and provide ongoing reviews

Adopting these policy actions is a starting point for a brighter future!