Dr. Ray Heer, a long-time Witherspoon member, has dealt with his "great discontent with what’s happening in our country" by setting forth his own perceptions of what principles and policies would create a better life for the United States in these difficult days.

His "cover letter" to his daughters explains more about his motivation for this undertaking, and his introduction acknowledges that his platform is formulated without the need for compromise, but is offered as "the idealistic dream of one citizen of what a platform might look like with a concern for the common good, overlooked in so much current rhetoric."

We invite you to look at the platform that he has composed, and perhaps offer your own comments, or even an alternative platform of your own. What do you think we need as policies for our nation today?   Just send a note, to be shared here!

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April 15, 2006

Dear Daughters:

Some years ago when I was cleaning out the farm house I found some correspondence between your grandfather newspaper editor, John Heer, and Sen. Henry Dworshak of Idaho. He had been a a newspaper editor and he and my dad were friends. I learned a great deal about his political views and understandings from that correspondence that I hadn’t known while he was still alive.

I’ve been experiencing some great discontent with what’s happening in our country and decided to put it down on paper. Instead of expressing outrage and distress at either party or both, I have tried to picture a positive vision of policies for a better future. In retrospect I see some of my views have changed over the years. They have been strongly influenced more and more by the teachings of Jesus and their implications as I have come closer and closer to Him in my old age

All my love, Dad

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A PLATFORM IN SEARCH OF A PARTY - INTRODUCTION

This platform is written to stimulate the dialogue about the future direction of this country. I’m sending it to my email list and other interested persons. I don’t know what your politics may be, but I hope you will not be offended by the letter and paper to my daughters. I am often overwhelmed with all the political stuff that comes over the email. Some of it I consider so vitriolic and so lacking in fact, that it does not even allow for dialogue. I hope this response is reasonable enough to stimulate thought and not inflame irrational anger and hostility.

A genuine party platform must of necessity be the result of compromise and contain a consensus acceptable to the majority. Not being constrained by such a process, this is simply the idealistic dream of one citizen of what a platform might look like with a concern for the common good, overlooked in so much current rhetoric. It may not fit neatly into the dogma of any existing party, that‘s why it is in search of a party. Nevertheless, I believe it represents a mainstream view between extremes that could be used to advantage by any party. It could even win an election!

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Draft 5- 6/1/06

A PLATFORM IN SEARCH OF A PARTY

(An Outline)

By Dr. Ray W. Heer

Faced with the contemporary conditions of the country and the world, for a vision of the future and current solutions we look to the wording of the preamble of the Constitution.

The party believes in Election Reform to improve fair and equitable representation of all the people. This should include elimination of the Electoral College, establishing procedures for non-partisan drawing of district lines of representation and election processes that insure every vote shall be counted and verified to the voter.

The party supports Campaign Finance Reform and publicly financed elections to free elected officials from the inequitable influence of money in campaigns.. More stringent ethics standards and their enforcement are needed to eliminate the influence of money and privileged access to elected and appointed officials, and the temptations to corruption. A Bipartisan (equal representation) or an independent Ethics Committee needs to be strengthened to police all contributions to members of Congress with power to discipline or suspend members. Checks and balances between the three parts of government is essential.

As a Patriotic party, it reemphasizes the freedoms of the First Amendment including the freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, and petition, allowing dissent as a basic patriotic right.

"TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE"

Civil laws shall ensure every citizen shall get the same fair trial and punishment. from the government and the courts.. In the administration of justice, courts shall have the freedom to suit the judgment to the crime, including alternatives to prison.. In the failure of a fair administration of the Death Penalty and its demonstrated inability to reduce the crime rate, it should be replaced with a policy of rehabilitation instead of punishment of criminals. Laws and their enforcement shall protect all persons from being held without charges, from extra legal executive orders, courts, and shadow judicial systems and from torture. .

The United States shall become a member of the International Court of Justice and benefit from its provisions.

The people shall live without the fear of Violence. Facing the realities of CRIME, there shall be strict enforcement of criminal laws.

With the prevalence of gun-related deaths and homicides, and the climate of violence especially in our cities, the right to bear arms shall be restricted to state militias or citizen armies such as the National Guard, and the police. .

Faced with the fears of Terrorism, and the War on Drugs, the government shall initiate studies into the causes, both domestic and international, and into non-military solutions. There shall be a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of current legislation and federal practice. The United States shall seek to meet the challenge of terrorism and the drug traffic in cooperation with other nations, preferably through the United Nations.

"TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE"

It is necessary to support military forces with the strength to defend the United States. Veterans programs need full funding.

It is in the self-interest economically and morally for the United States to be leaders of Peace.The best defense is not a military offense. U. S. Foreign Policy shall be based upon diplomacy, using military force only as a last resort and in concert with the community of nations. Democracy is best and most effectively shared through reaching the hearts of people by persuasion and practicing fair economics and justice. The party is opposed to unilateral military attacks upon other nations.

The power to declare war is constitutionally the exclusive right of Congress and can not be delegated.

The United States should be a responsible and persuasive leader in the United Nations and use its influence with other nations together to be involved in cooperative military and relief operations such as massive disaster, genocide, human rights, and intra-national and international conflicts necessary to preserve WORLD PEACE.

In an era of the danger of Nuclear War the United States shall sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and taking the lead, together with the other signators seek to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The United States shall also honor and implement the other international treaties it has signed.

"TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE"

A primary focus of all levels of government is to strengthen support of Public Education to the end that all persons shall be literate in English, and provide a unifying force in a diverse population. Opportunities for Higher Education should be expanded. Governments shall also strengthen Social Services to provide for the survival and support of disadvantaged persons so they might live worthwhile lives. . Though faith based organizations provide many of these resources their contributions can only be considered supplementary. The government shall recognize its primary role in these services to all.. No national tax payer dollars shall be allocated to any sectarian organizations that teach religious doctrine or practice any form of discrimination.

Using the successful model of Medicare a Universal Health Care plan shall be designed and implemented, incorporating and improving Medicare, Plan D.

The national government’s role shall include insuring Clean air and drinking water, safe food, and a safe and protected environment. Energy Independence shall involve conservation, and development of new sources The U. S. should sign the treaty on Global Warming, one of the most alarming environmental trends. Such policies shall reflect scientific evidence and not partisan or other philosophic views. . It shall not limit a state’s rights to go beyond national standards in order to fulfill those objectives

This party believes in Marriage and the Family as a basic foundation of the country’s welfare. Faced with the current disintegration of the family, the government has a positive role in attacking its root causes whose amelioration would also benefit the general population. .

EMPLOYMENT - The government shall encourage a healthy business climate and economy, and increase its support of education, job training and wage laws that will provide economic opportunities to help eliminate POVERTY.

Support for more low income and affordable housing will reduce some of the causes of HOMELESSNESS. More support for DRUG AND ALCOHOL rehabilitation as well as MENTAL HEALTH care would reduce homelessness, improve marriages and reduce the divorce rate.

Marriage is a stabilizing human relationship. In the eyes of the state marriage is a civil contract and ceremony and shall be available to all who are willing to accept its responsibilities, rights, and privileges.

The General Welfare is threatened by a financial crisis. This party is a party of Fiscal Responsibility, and believes in a balanced budget and reduction of the national debt. It is impossible to provide for urgent domestic needs and continue tax cuts especially for the wealthy and continue a war in Iraq. To bring the nation into fiscal balance and avoid financial collapse, it is necessary to refine a graduated tax structure on the basis of "to whom much is given, much is required." Concurrently, the United States must withdraw its military from Iraq immediately. It should admit its mistakes and request cooperation of the United Nations in Iraq’s "nation building". The United States should give up its unilateral claims to further involvement in that country.

There shall be an intensive bi-partisan review of the economic and other aspects ofGlobalization and fair trade, and its effect on the American economy and the citizenry. It shall include research and proposals concerning the growing disparity between rich and poor nations, its effect on immigration and human rights.

Immigration policy needs to be stabilized. A fair policy shall include future equitable quotas for all countries, firm enforcement of current laws including those involving employers, smart border security, collaboration with our neighbors, a guest worker program, and stern provisions for current residents to become citizens. It is unrealistic to seek to deport millions of people without terrible human cost and disruption of the economy.

The United States shall continue and in some cases increase Foreign Aid. It should be directed to programs that go directly to relief such as FAMINE, AIDS and economic needs of the people and not be siphoned off by corrupt leadership. Properly used it can be a powerful instrument in reducing the flow of illegal immigration and Terrorism

Freedom begins at home. The U. S. tradition and laws guarantee that individuals have the Right of Privacy. No part of the government has the right of surveillance, and to tap telephones, review phone records or e-mail without court approval,

The government shall make no laws that intrude into the relationship of a doctor, a patient and their faith.

The first Amendment protects citizens from a state " establishment of religion," and guarantees"the free exercise thereof." Come to be known as Separation of Church and State this means that there shall be no state church and that churches shall be protected from the intrusion of the state, though churches have the freedom to exercise their religion freely and express their opinions to the state.

A bi-partisan commission shall review the Patriot Act, the War on Terrorism, and the War on Drugs and eliminate all provisions that impinge upon the people’s civil liberties. More focus should be placed upon understanding the causes of terrorism and the drug traffic in order to address their elimination.

The United States shall implement the protection of Human Rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Do you have comments or suggestions to offer?
Or maybe your own platform?
Just send a note, to be shared here!