MESSAGE SENT TO SEVERAL PEACE YAHOOGROUPS (moments ago)
(See more detailed version following the simple version here.)
I think the peace movement would be greatly empowered if diverse peace supporters would seek unity by understanding each others' concerns. So below I state what seem to be some of the main concerns of various groups. And after that I propose what laws we should perhaps ask peace candidates to agree to promote, once elected by our support, which laws may be agreeable to all peace supporters. I welcome comments to LKINDR@yahoo.com yahoo.com.
Differences between Progressives, Libertarians et al
* A major difference between Progressives and Libertarians is that Progressives regard the governments within the U.S. as organizations properly intended to be of the people, by the people and for the people, whereas Libertarians regard these governments as usurpers of the people's power and abusers of the people's freedoms.
* A concern of Progressives is that reducing government power, as Libertarians favor, would leave the powerless defenseless against organized abusers.
* A concern of Libertarians is that governments tend to be the worst abusers.
* What potential solutions would satisfy both parties' concerns?
* Most Libertarians might be satisfied if there were ways to prevent governments' abuses and infringements on freedoms.
* Most Progressives might be satisfied if there were some way to protect the most powerless from organized abusers.
* So how can we organize so as to defend the most powerless and prevent defenders from becoming abusers of power?
1. We can unite to recruit & elect peace candidates who share Progressives', Libertarians', Minorities' et al concerns.
2. We can recruit, if we prefer, only candidates who agree with and agree to follow our plan.
3. A plan for our candidate lawmakers could be as follows.
(See more detailed plan at pmec.lefora.com/...)
3:1. Re UNJUST WAR: __favored by all Peace Supporters__
Forbid pre-emptive and unjust war by requiring a fair and speedy trial to governments accused of threatening our national security.
3:2. Re UNJUST LAWS: __favored by all__
Forbid unconstitutional lawmaking and repeal all unconstitutional laws, including esp. FISA, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act and the Federal Reserve Act.
3:3. Re SECRECY: __favored by Progressives & Libertarians__
Require that all government covert operations and the funds used for them be disclosed to each state government and each state grand jury.
3:4. Re TAXES: __favored by Libertarians__
Outlaw all taxation, but allow voluntary fees for gov't services etc.
3:5. Re POSSESSION: __favored by Libertarians, Minorities & Progressives__
Forbid the outlawing of possessions, but require restrictions on use of dangerous possessions solely to insure public safety. Release from prison all who were charged solely with violating laws found to be unjust, such as possession laws.
3:6. Re POLLUTION: __favored by Environmentalists & Progressives__
Require finding and fining anyone who produces anything that significantly endangers public safety and the biosphere.
3:7. Re TRADE: __favored by Progressives__
Require finding and fining or deporting anyone who trades significantly with anyone in an imperialist nation, which endangers our national security.
3:8. Re TRAVEL: __favored by Libertarians__
Forbid mandating of driver's licenses and insurance, except on those who use public roads to transport people or freight for fees. Forbid outlawing foreigners from traveling in the U.S., except those known to be threats to national security.
3:9. Re RIGHTS: __favored by Progressives & Libertarians__
Require acknowledgement of all human rights for everyone in the U.S., regardless of citizenship.
3:10. Re POVERTY: __favored by Progressives & Minorities__
Require acknowledgement of everyone's right to equal access to land to grow enough food etc for survival, or to just compensation from those using excess land.
3:11. Re NATIONAL SECURITY: __favored by Conservatives__
Require finding security threats everywhere in the world, especially among governments & organized groups, and require licensed media to make them known to the public and require requesting each of the accused to attend a fair, convenient & speedy public trial to clear them of the accusation of being threats.
The Plan for our Lawmakers in greater detail: Let's ask them to Make these laws:
3:1. Re UNJUST WAR: Outlaw pre-emptive and unjust war by requiring that, in order to declare war for more than one month, the government must provide a fair and speedy trial to the opposing government, accused of being a threat to our national security. Require making treaties that forbid all governments and their residents from making and using dangerous weapons.
3:2a. Re UNJUST LAWS: Forbid lawmakers to pass laws that violate the Constitution. Require all bills be approved by grand juries in all 50 states before making them laws. At the same time, require that grand juries be fully informed of their rights as juries, similar to Miranda requirements on police re arrestees. Require that methods of selecting grand jury members be constitutional.
3:2b. Require that all previous statutes also be reviewed by grand juries to determine constitutionality and those found unconstitutional to be repealed. (This would guarantee that FISA, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, the Federal Reserve Act etc will be repealed.)
3:3a. Re SECRECY: Require that all government covert operations be fully disclosed to all branches of each state government and a grand jury in each state and every expenditure by the government be audited.
3:3b. Also forbid awarding government contracts to anyone without fair bidding.
3:4. Re TAXES: Forbid the government from imposing taxes on anyone, but require fees to be charged for services rendered to recipients who voluntarily request such services. Forbid mandating of driver's licenses and insurance, except on those who use public roads to transport people or freight for fees. Forbid outlawing foreigners from traveling in the U.S., except those known to be threats to national security. Acknowledge every adult's right to own a vehicle and to drive it on public roadways, with no restrictions, but those scientifically proven to be effective, solely for public safety. Acknowledge that, because everyone has the right to live and life requires land on which to grow food, everyone in the U.S. will be allowed access to 7 acres of land for survival. Anyone using more than 7 acres for oneself will be charged a fair rental fee, to be dispersed equally among the public.
3:5. Re POSSESSION: Forbid the government from outlawing possession of any object or substance, but require government to put restrictions on such possession, solely to insure public safety. Require that all people imprisoned for violating unjust laws be released asap. Require that Grand Juries be assembled to review all prison procedures to guarantee that prisoners are not abused by staff or other prisoners and that scientifically proven methods of reform are strongly promoted to prisoners.
3:6-11. Use Grand Juries to determine proper fines and restrictions to be imposed.
Conservatives' vs. Liberals' Concerns
* A concern of Conservatives is that Liberals' desire for peace, by opposing pre-emptive war and reducing defense spending, jeopardizes our national defense, so that terrorists and illegal immigrants will increasingly threaten our security and freedom.
* A concern of Liberals is that Neocons over-emphasize security and exaggerate or lie about threats from terrorism as a smokescreen to hide their true motives of greed and lust for power and that the laws and policies they promote, including pre-emptive war, are the greatest threats to our freedom and security. Some even suspect that our own or our allies' covert operations are the real organizers or facilitators of some terrorism.
