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 Welcome.
My name is Paul Chehade, candidate for President of the United States of America in 2012. I was born in Wilmington, Delaware and have had a diverse cultural background. I am an Independent, I believe that a leader of the most powerful country in the planet needs to have the best of the Republican and Democratic parties working in ONE TEAM for which we all should share a solid moral and truthful principles, willingness to work and give ourselves fully to and for our UNITED STATES OF AMERICA without distinction of religion, customs, nationality, race or political agenda that is UNITED!. I want to be your next President; I want you to work with me to reinstate the principles for and from which our country was founded. IN GOD WE TRUST and I believe in you; I believe in We, the people of America. Let us together transform the way politics has taken. Let us remove the wrong doing and reform our Constitution to enable us to lead our country, our Planet to be the best home for us and our kids to have a PEACEFUL ambiance with a benign environment that only you with your vote can sparkle. I invite you to read my ideas to help recover our country from the most terrible depression of the last century. For the last 11 years I've been the President of a non-profit organization helping thousands of people in need all over the world. I COUNT ON YOU! Dear fellow Americans, It is time for all proud Americans to return to our values, to the foundation of our nation. We have had enough of politics and partisan privileges. The hard reality is that both major parties, that have controlled our country for so many presidencies, continuously fail to bring prosperity and undermine our most sacred rights, the freedom to live with dignity and peace in our hearts. It is time to do what it is best for our nation and its people and not what a handful of influential economic powers dictate for their sole benefit. It is for this reason that, after consulting with my family, colleagues and friends around the country, I have decided to intent to qualify for the presidential candidacy of this great nation, praying to GOD for guidance and protection in this most difficult endeavor. I am not a politician. I am just a simple person like most of us that loves and cares for our country and just cannot stand our nations unsustainable situation anymore. I will not repeat the same political phrases candidates say in their speeches when they are campaigning and then not fulfill their promises. My main issue will be, to once and for all, unite our nation under the umbrella of our founding fathers and protect our freedom, peace and prosperity. As an example of our political platform, we will push for a law that protects our low income senior citizens from paying taxes on their homestead and secure their basic needs are met. We will protect the rights of our men and women in uniform, especially the ones that fought for our country to protect our rights and freedom. We will guarantee that, at their return, they will have secure jobs and their families will be guaranteed that their basic needs will be covered.

Since the basis of our nation is made of honest and hard working immigrants, we cannot tolerate discrimination in any form. if one of the problems of our nation is illegal immigrants, we should contemplate the possibility of legalizing all these immigrants so they can start contributing to this country by paying taxes like all of us and by spending and investing their money in our country. We need and we must implement a new solid and secure system to protect our borders and one option could be using the expertise of our armed forces to avoid the immigration problem in the future. I am against the new health law for two main reasons. First, the cost of implementing this law will contribute to bankrupt our nation. Secondly, our government cannot impose a paid insurance to every citizen; it goes against our freedom of choice. We need to find a solution to the healthcare problem in America and find avenues to provide free insurance to the low income people and reasonable and affordable insurance premium for the rest of the population. Internationally, I will start to give priority to our American Continent. I believe it is very important to have a long lasting relationship with our neighboring countries and work in unity for a better future of our continent. Our continent is so rich that we have all the major resources for future generations. We need to give priority to all the products Made In America and rebuild the manufacturing industry that will give jobs to our people. At last and more important , we need to address the rampant spending that is pushing our nation to the brink of collapse. Our deficit is destroying our country from within. I have a question for you, How confident are you in our nations future with the current trend of economic policies? I only ask all Americans with solid values that love this country like I do to help me restore the faith and principles of our founder fathers and return this nation to be admired again as a great nation. God bless America Paul Chehade

Paul Chehade's biography

Paul Chehade was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 26, 1965. He is a political truth and righteous seeker, successful business entrepreneur, humanitarian rights activist and ideologist, polyglot, musician, writer; was and has sophisticated his character by a plan of virtues, which he believes in and continues to practice in order to develop his uprightness which it is the foundation for his solid moral. Such moral is based on respect for the human customs and believes, knowledge, religious tendencies (as long as those do not hurt society but do provide love, brotherhood and progress in peace and harmony) regardless of color, race and culture.

His character is based on Temperance, Discipline, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and Humbleness. Paul Chehade is a believer of the practical and democratic values of prudence, hard work, education, honesty, spiritual development, self-governing institutions and opposes to authoritarianism both political and religious based on scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. Paul Chehade supported the idea of basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to participate in culture, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to education and health. Paul Chehade is the Chairman of the Board of a diversity group of corporations since 1999, which are dedicated totally to serve the ill-timed humans, regardless of a persons religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, as a demonstration of Gods unconditional love for all people, helping communities worldwide.

Ethical junction making choices easy.

Values & Principles: Paul Chehade was born in a Catholic family. Based on the principles expressed in the Bible, which Paul Chehade has been raised with; profound values and the riches of his Christian traditions lead him to base his desire to serve the community in neighborly love as preached by Jesus Christ.. What is required is to return to the old fashion principles on morality, ethics based on respect to all living creature. Being ethical is not the same as doing "whatever society accepts." Being ethical is to follow the rules that respect the human right and integrity. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. Discrimination is a good example of a morally corrupt society. A reform to our values back to basics will provide the standards to a moral and righteous behavior. Education is an avenue. Religious principles of love are also valid. God must prevail in our schools our daily life and our families. The family is the basis of our society and the future of our children therefore of our nation. God Bless America.

Issues:
Abortion: I am sturdily a PRO -LIFE believer; a rational evaluation of abortion is usually founded upon one single question: When exactly does human life begin?

The answer leads to another set of questions: At conception? - At birth? - Somewhere in between? The heated debate about abortion is filled up with emotional pseudo-arguments that are usually centered on derived considerations such as sexual morality, religious beliefs, womens rights, mens rights or purely on pragmatic reasons. If abortion were made illegal it would unfortunately still take place generally under unsanitary conditions that would endanger the life of the pregnant mother. The avenue - solution is to CREATE NEW LAWS, NEW REGULATIONS, in which we provide the pregnant woman the facilities to have the right to a proper medical assistance by which we give her and/or the biological father of the unborn the right to keep the unborn baby and therefore the right and the opportunity for the baby to live! Which is a RIGHT to every creature in this planet. If the mother was raped, it is not her fault. And we will provide her with proper psychological assistance from our professionals in the field. She will have as a mother the choice to keep or not her baby. If she wants to keep the matter completely confidential, then a Government program in a most private manner will enter into motion and will keep the baby for her, releasing her from any obligation with the baby. Our doctors will treat her medically in any circumstance until the unborn is born. If she does not want confidentiality and does not wish to keep her baby, then the right to her parents to keep the baby is an option followed by those who would like to adopt the baby. If for medical reasons the life of the mother is in danger, then our doctors will do their best to keep the unborn alive keeping her as a main source of life if that is what the mother decides!!!. However, if her love for the unborn is not compassionate enough, then she will have the right to terminate with her son/daughters life, by signing a written statement which she fully understands, and executes on her own free will and volition. If the mother is not in a condition to mentally decide, then the biological father of the unborn will decide for her. If the baby is dead before being born by all means, she can safely be helped by our licensed professionals in the field. The concepts of liberty and freedoms most important foundation is the right to life and that right should be applied to the unborn. Many people feel very strongly about the issue of abortion, and once they make up their minds they rarely change their opinion. If you are undecided and/or open-minded, check out this page and this site Partial Birth Abortion for more information about abortion, including images and a description of medical procedures. Afghanistan: Following the Al-Qaeda organized 9/11 attacks on American soil in 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan with the primary objective of capturing the Al-Qaeda leader. Almost ten years later, after defeating the theocratic Taliban and appointing an interim government, with the assistance of NATO-ISAF and a hodge-podge collection of nations, the United States appears no closer to leaving the country. More disconcertingly however, was the recent report issued by the Congressional Research Service. Since the commencement of the war, the actual military cost of the war on terror has reached a whopping $1.1 trillion dollars, with $455 million spent in Afghanistan alone. Although down from a high of 149 thousand during the

peak of invasion, the current troop count of 98 thousand is still taxing the nations resources severely. However, withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan will open up the floodgates for the extremist and remnants of the Al-Qaeda to rebuild and consolidate their power there, a potentially deadlier alternative in the long run. Deploying troops in Afghanistan threatens our national security. Our military presence around the world is bankrupting us. When Afghanis die because of our troops actions it angers the Muslims, who understandably want to retaliate. We should mind our own business and let others mind theirs. This will make the country more secure and help save our economy. We should withdraw from Afghanistan as soon as possible. Giving a withdrawal date was a stupid mistake. Now that the Taliban knows when the U.S. will withdraw, they will merely wait for us to go and re-take the country. Animal Rights: We share the planet with other living entities such as our brothers the ANIMALS from which we learn more and more on a daily basis. They have shared with us their lives, their Modus Vivendi and finally adapted their world to our forced limits. The animals worked with us and for us even worse than slaves since our creation. They provided us with love, loyalty and friendship they will even give their lives for us humans. No tractors? Bulls where there, No milk?... Cows are still there, Feeling lonely and spiritual?.. Cats are there for you definitely by your side... Your friends... Feeling depressed or energetic and need love... DOGS are the best friends for humans right?... not a secret. You doubt that? Just watch a kid playing with his dog no toy will ever replace such joy; NONE. You sink in the ocean? Dolphins when in the area often will come to your rescue where no human being is available and push you to the shore. They will save your life even repelling sharks risking their own lives. Need to relief yourself from sore throats? HONEY is there for you produced by the Bees And... more and more and more examples

On a daily basis more and more species are vanishing... disappearing forever! due to our lack of knowledge, lack of vision to preserve our planet and our friends; THE ANIMALS. They give their lives for us so how do you pay to someone that give his life for and to you? So you may survive... do you murder him/she?... Very often animals are considered a thing no rules, no rights, no mercy. There is nowhere in the constitution of our Nation that states that we should provide animals the right to life, the right to a descent environment to live in, the right to survive! Owners should have the right to defend their friends (pets) if someone abuses them it is a HUMAN RIGHT! Because it affects HUMAN feelings, HUMAN emotions, HUMAN hearts. Animals should have the right to have rights and so do you. They suffer, they feel and they need our help GOD BLESS AMERICA Budget: The equation is simple. Our annual GDP for 2010 stands at $14.5 trillion dollars, about a quarter of the worlds total, while our total public debt stands at a little over $14 trillion dollars. Just like a credit card, the debt will be charged interest, unless we make a full settlement on the sum which we cant afford to. Now, lets throw a little fuel on the fire. We are incurring a projected $1 trillion dollar deficit for the next fiscal year, which will continue to grow with each passing year. By the look of things, we will owe more money than we earn for the first time in our history next year. Lets throw in some firewood. No one will lend us any more money, or rather, no one is capable of lending us that much money. Essentially, were looking at bankruptcy in the very near future. The Republicans insists on an immediate halt on any further spending until the deficit is brought under control. The Democrats fear that such an action will throttle economic growth and spook our lenders, and consequently, destabilize the financial sector and create a domino like effect that will result in the collapse of our economy; hence the proposal to yet again raise the debt ceiling and pay for it by increase tax rate even higher.. You worried yet? Join the club, and start paying attention to the numbers quoted by the candidates here. The United States must quit spending beyond its means. The budget must be balanced. The U.S. should live within its means and pay down the deficit. I would give up the American empire to reduce debt without sacrifice. I think spending should be based on the Constitution. If all spending had to be justified by the Constitution our spending would be drastically reduced. We cannot afford the wars in the Middle East.

 I do not believe that government should bail out private enterprise nor seek to control it. Such acts have ruined our budget. I support a Balanced Budget Amendment and on-budget accounting. Business and Labor: The creation of a well planned financial environment which favors businesses must be a top priority to this country. Healthy businesses will improve this countrys employment workforce statistics. This country needs to stop rebuilding China with our trade and outsourcing policies. This country needs to work towards becoming better efficient by increasing its manufactured products at home, which in turn, will keep more persons employed, reducing our unemployment rate. Our trade policies need to be reviewed and modified in order to pay off our debt, and start creating more jobs here in this country. Outsourcing of American jobs to other countries must stop. It only gives businesses in other countries more money, while taking away jobs from this country. Some CEOs of some big businesses have as many as 10 homes around the world. More money is needed to be returned to this market first, and then to other markets outside of this country. Plus, it is better business and better communications for this country to communicate with employees in this country, than with those located in other countries. Unemployment benefits should be reviewed and updated in order to establish a permanent set of weeks which would allow sufficient time for the unemployed to seek employment. Extending the weeks of established benefits only encourages people to remain unemployed. Capital Punishment: Essentially, the proponents of capital punishment argue that capital punishment reduces the risks of future deaths by taking the perpetrator out from society, as well as creating a deterrent effect among would be future murderers. They also hold to the position that without the threat of an eye for an eye, the fabric of society itself will fall apart. While there is an element of risk of punishing an innocent, the benefits outweighs the very rare incidents of wrong prosecution. The opponents, meanwhile, contend that there is no empiric data that supporting the argument that capital punishment reduces or prevents future deaths. In addition, they argue that rehabilitation is a more humane method of punishment, a reflection on our higher sense of morals. But most of all, there is a tendency to prosecute and convict under-privileged minorities in a ratio that is extremely disproportionate compared to their demographics. Opponents also like to point out the fact that 98% of the district attorneys in death penalty states are white, according to a paper written by Professor Jeffrey Pokorak, published in the Cornell Law Review in 1998. I believe it should be abolished. The death penalty is unjust - if youre rich you get away and if youre poor youre more likely to be convicted and killed. A lot of mistakes have been made in prosecutions and innocent people have been killed.

China: China is the United States second biggest trading partner, with trade for the year 2010 amounting to $459 billion. However, Chinas exports to US exceed their import by a massive $273 billion, effectively making this relationship exceptionally unhealthy. Chinas arrival as major economic player has been privately attributed to its policy of distorting its financial policies, their refusal to float their currency in the open market, their selective adherence to World Trade Organization policies, their policy of subsidizing national enterprises to fight off foreign competition and their sometimes-open disregard to Intellectual Property Rights. Set against the unhealthy US economy, unemployment and public debts, many are of the opinion that China must be pressured to conform to international trade policies. However, China is the biggest foreign lender in US, as well as the biggest subscriber of US Government bonds. Couple that with the dependence of the local American economy on cheap Chinese imports, there is a fear that playing hard ball with China might bounce back on us tenfold, severely crippling the national economy in the process. However, on the other side, keeping mum on the matter might prolong the sickness of our economy and may even be a contributing factor in its permanent death, as hard as it is to believe. I think that we should tax all imports from China 25%. That would encourage buying American and balance out the trade deficit. We have to be nice to each other and deal with each other on several issues. Its not up to them or us to try to change each other. Civil Liberties: The world has suddenly become a less gracious place, a little less brighter and a whole lot more intimidating. Perhaps it is understandable that some of us try to seek shelter under the inalienable civil liberties that is assured by the Bill of Rights, which despite varying interpretations under a multitude of political climate over the years have always remained a bastion of security for the common people. However, in this climate of post 9/11, there has been a long series of incidents that have placed our faith in our civil liberties under some serious questions. Recent documented events involving racial profiling, agenda driven education syllabus, the breach of private privacy under the guise of national security and notable lack of presumption of innocence are just the tip of the iceberg. The fear of the 'average Joe' is that this is not merely a blip, but in fact, a gradual descent into a caricature of the Big Brother. I defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the rights, liberties and freedoms of all American citizens equally and without preferential treatment given to any individual, business or group. Crimes against people for their race, sexual orientation, religion, etc should be prosecuted as hate crimes with more punitive penalties than random crimes. Cuba: From the time of the Fidel Castro led coup d'tat in 1959, Cuba has been at loggerheads with the United States. Over the years, every American administration has attempted various diplomatic and economic measures to destabilize Castros grip on power, but none have been particularly effective. However, there

has been a noticeable thawing in relations between the two countries in recent years, especially after Castro resigned from his position in February 2008 and handed the presidency to his brother, Raul. The biggest obstacle in influencing a change in existing U.S. strategy concerning Cuba is the discordant political atmosphere and the contrasting opinion on the next step in the process. All parties involved appear to be in agreement over a crucial issue concerning the Cuban situation: the trade embargo and travel ban have not accomplished the objective that they were intended for. There is a window of opportunity here, and with a proper strategy in place, there could conceivably be a solution in sight. The trade embargo on Cuba should be lifted. That travel restrictions should be lifted on anyone going to or from Cuba. Must be turn in a democratic country. I have lived very closely the suffering of the Cuban people, for this and other important reasons I am going to invite the government of Cuba to start the process of restoring the democracy in their country. Deficit: The deficit must be paid off. Taxes may have to be raised but not before every single government program is cut and discretionary spending is frozen. The government should look at how the private sector manages its finances and imitate it. Reducing the size of government will help reduce our deficit. Order a complete audit of the Federal government. Stop paying off debt with debt (quantitative easing). Economy: It has become evident now that the age of cheap oil that fueled the American economic explosion of the 20th century has left with the last bus out of town. In its absence, the pragmatist amongst us recognize that we will never again replicate those growth figures, and in the face of our bloated public debts and perpetually increasing budget deficit, coupled with our now mainly service led economy, the effects of globalization and the relocation of our manufacturing centers outside of the country, we are facing a very credible threat of economic failure, or at the very least, a lengthy period of negative growth. Our current economic model requires an extensive makeover, our failed policies need a rewrite and our need for an economic giant to lead us out of this quagmire is dire. To quote the words of the Clinton War Room personnel, Its the economy stupid!. This will most probably be the single most defining issue of the coming presidential race. Giving tax cuts to businesses to encourage growth and hiring of more workers. Abolish marriage penalty and death tax and advocate further tax cuts.

 The economy will improve when the government stops interfering in business matters. Businesses should not be curtailed by excessive government regulations. In order to get more jobs we need to change our thinking and adaptation. We cannot just bring back jobs that are no longer there so we must create new ones. This means changing our thinking and careers. Education: As the chronically underfunded Californian public school system faces the imminent threat of having one whole month sliced out of their calendar, owing to massive budget cuts expected in the state education budget, other public schools across the country continue to grapple with their own set of problems, including violence, absenteeism, drug abuse and a myriad of other issues. As politicians from both sets of the divide continue with their rhetoric and drum beatings in their search of a magic pill could resolve the ever burgeoning crisis affecting the national education sector, our youths have quietly, but surely, fallen down the ladder among the developed nations. A recent test discovered that American children are ranked 25th in Mathematics and 21st in Science among their foreign peers, while literacy levels remain unchanged since the first survey was taken way back in 1971. Our failing education policy will be one of the most watched issues in the presidential race. I am passionate about education, believing it is the solution to many of our social and economic problems. I believes that teachers should be paid extra for their experience. Raise teacher salaries and cut bureaucracy. Create partnerships with businesses to link students to careers and higher education and give them a real goal that they can see. Give teacher and students access to newest technology and individual attention. Energy: As the oil industry continues to pay the government almost $100 million daily in royalties and taxes, one could almost be forgiven for thinking that the good times will never end, even as Americans collectively hold their breath watching the rising gasoline prices, amidst fears that it could yet again match the $3.75 a gallon record. The continued instability in the Middles East, the rapidly falling oil reserves worldwide and the lack of credible alternative sources of energy at present, has cast a gloom on the future of the country, as national oil consumption has rose to a record breaking 20 million barrels a day. Our way of life now is dependent on the grace of others, and is hostage to our future, despite incremental increase in production and consumption of the biofuel and gas sectors. I believe that using our own resources instead of buying from other countries will bring high paying jobs and energy independence. We should be using more clean coal, solar power, tertiary oil recovery and our own natural gas.

 I believe in extending tax incentives for energy efficiency. Environment: Despite only housing 5% of the world population, we contribute approximate 20% of the worlds atmospheric pollution, and it is set to increase. The U.S. Energy Information Administration, in its Annual Energy Outlook (2011) report, predicted that at its current trajectory, CO2 emissions primarily from fossil fuels would rise by another 16% in fifteen years time, irrevocably committing the nation towards the path of complete environmental failure. We are staring at the edge of the precipice now, as our lack of political will in combating the excesses of our industrial and manufacturing waste is going to, at the current rate, poison the very air that we breathe in a matter of decades. Second hand smoke will be looked upon with amusement then, as CO2 emissions exceeds 1,000 parts per million of our breathable air. This is an issue that will affect our children in the long run, and many parents in the United States will be looking at the issue with concern. The environment is one of the most important issues facing everyone today. I support conservative-based conservation efforts. I think we should reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. Foreign Affairs: As the rise of anti-Americanism across the globe shows no signs of abating, especially among the Islamic world. Americas foreign policy, diplomacy and general international relations continues to suffer from the numerous aggressive stance it has taken in recent years, most notably on its unilateral war on terror and its rejection of the Kyoto Protocol. There has been a growing consensus that the underlying problem with the United States foreign policy lies primarily with its short-term outlook, resulting in a lack of cohesive long-term strategy. Until this is addressed and resolved, the short-term outlook remains very much the same. A radical, yet consultative and bipartisan approach is required here, and it will be interesting to hear the thoughts of the candidates on the matter as the race starts to gather pace. America should help those who ask but otherwise maintain diplomatic relations and a policy of noninterference. Countries want our help they should have something to give in return other than vague promises of 'working toward democracy'. They need us more than we need them; we should use our leverage to benefit everyone but especially ourselves. Guantanamo: An isolated US navy base in Guantanamo Bay was converted to a detention camp on October 7, 2001, specifically for holding enemy combatants in our War On Terror. More crucially however, the Justice Department has declared that the camp falls outside the jurisdiction of the United States, and former President Bush announced that detainees there would not be accorded the privileges accorded to war prisoners as detailed in the Geneva Convention.

Guantanamo has been the scene of some of the worst human rights violations in the western world in recent years, and has continually proved to be a legal, political and public relations nightmare for the country. Nevertheless, defense and intelligence officials argues strongly that the facility provides them a great advantage in the ongoing war on terror, and the loss of it would impede ongoing and future counterintelligence activities. President Obamas pledge to shut down the facility was one of his major campaign promises, and soon after taking office, he followed it up with an announcement, assuring the public that it would be closed within the year. He has yet to fulfill the promise, with the latest setback being the passing of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 by the US Senate, effectively blocking any federal funding towards prisoner transfers to American holding facilities. I would bring all prisoners before tribunals and give them a fair trial. Sentence the guilty and set the innocent free. Gun Control: Supporters of gun control believe that the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968 are ineffective in curbing the rampant proliferation and misuse of firearms in society. More to the point, the easy access of weapons to high-risk individuals, youths and criminals puts the safety of the law-abiding segments of the population under unnecessary and unfair risks of personal harm. They advocate the tightening of regulation in firearms procurement, especially in the face of rising crime rates. The recent spate of mass killings in country have seen increased calls for more stringent regulations in the sales and distribution of firearms. Statistics from the Center For Disease Control have shown a disturbing increase in firearms related deaths to about 30,000 annually, and it shows no signs of abating. The Second Amendment. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Gun control opposition meanwhile points to their right to bear arms, as enshrined in the Second Amendment, and any attempts to deny them this infringes upon their constitutional right as citizens. Their position was further reinforced by a High Court ruling in 2008, which asserts the rights of private citizens to bear arms. Furthermore, the firearms industry lobbyist claims that there is no correlation between guns and increased rates in crimes and fatalities, citing the media, drugs and the socioeconomic factors as a more likely cause. The National Rifle Association (NRA) also argues that increased regulations would potentially leave more families defenseless against dangerous elements of the society, endangering them further. I support enforcing gun laws at the time of sale with background checks and educated vendors. I would confiscate illegally owned guns and guns that are illegal for civilians to own. I believe that assault weapons should be banned, who needs them except criminals and police?

Health Care: At its very essence, a republican believes that the rights of an individual is paramount to the well being of a nation, so long as it doesnt trampled on the rights of another individual, whereas a democrat believes that the collective welfare of the society is the most crucial aspect of a country, and is prepared to forfeit the individual for the sake of the country. Therein lies the crux of the controversy behind the Health Care Reform Bill which was signed by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. While the Democrats aims to expand the coverage of the plans to as many Americans as possible, the Republicans are aghast at the socialistic nature of the bill, where redistribution of costs is seen as ultimately punishing the privileged. I would provide more federal funding for health and nutrition education. The medical system requires amend and reformed. Health care is about getting help when you need it. There has to be a way to help everyone without ripping off half the population. We just have to find it and not have it shoved down our throats. It isnt something that can be decided in a month or a year, it will take time. Forcing someone to get insurance or fining them if they don't is just wrong. Its beyond wrong really. In a perfect world we wouldnt need insurance though because people would help you because they can. But then we are nowhere near a perfect world. You cant force people to go to the doctor or make them take medication, goes back to the whole personal choice and civil liberties. Its not right to want to charge the healthy more money. Immigration: Its a simple question really. Do we continue with the immigration friendly policy that has been the hallmark of our history and the secret behind our astonishing success as a nation, or, do we stop in favor of protecting our citizens from a multitude of threats, ranging from economic to theology? The question has became an even bigger issue in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, where the 2002 Homeland Security Act decreed that the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, who in turn, included immigration under its wide ranging security policy. In an immediate turn of events, the INS was broken up into two separate entities, the Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE), responsible for inbound and outbound travel respectively. USCIS and BICE, along with their political masters in Washington, walks a fine line between the reality of economic interdependence, sociological ethics and security considerations, as we all watch with bated breath from the sidelines while our new national identity is forged in plain view to the rest of the world. I believe that every nation must have a secure border but we must also recognize that we do need immigrants.

 I think that amnesty should be given to those illegal immigrants already in the country. There should be quick and comprehensive immigration reform to enable a faster, simpler path to citizenship. Iran: I believe that the negotiations held recently with Iran in regard to Iraq were narrowly focused and did not explore the complete range of possibilities. Iraq: Our successful, if not a little questionable and not to mention widely perceived to be illegal, toppling of Saddam Hussein and liberation of Iraq in 2003 were followed by a spectacularly unsuccessful, and much more questionable, attempt at finding Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. Following the euphoric celebrations of freeing a country from an oppressive dictatorship, more than seven years later, we are still deeply mired in Iraq. With over 650 billion spent since then, our 50,000 remaining troops there is still massively taxing our ailing economy, and despite several assurances, withdrawal of our forces from there is still not a feasible option, as the young democracy of Iraq is still dependent on us to maintain a semblance of order in the country. A sudden departure by our troops will create a vacuum that will quickly be filled with militias and more worryingly, the Al-Qaeda. An exit strategy is needed badly, and the candidate with a credible withdrawal plan can expect to score some massive plus points with the American public. Once the region is under control and the government is stable a withdrawal should begin. If we are to grow as a race then we need to put aside these petty differences and grow up. There is more to this world then you alone. You need to think as a race not as a person. Thats race as in Human Race. The race is better off working together, even if the people don't like each other. Its called maintaining the peace. We can only be peaceful world if we work together at it, not separately. My question is, why are we fighting their war? Israel: The decades of diplomatic initiatives by the United States, also the principal ally of the Jewish state, for a peaceful resolution for the conflict has continued to be unsuccessful, although analysts have pointed out the grudging, although gradual acceptance among the Arab nations of Israels right to exist, which stands in stark contrast to the earlier pledges of annihilating the Jewish nation. As the Israelis continue to trumpet its ancestral and biblical rights for this land, the Palestinians are equally vociferous in their claim, backed by legal and historical precedents. I believe that Israel has every right to exist and I support it without reservation. I think peace talks cant start until everyone puts down their arms and the international community needs to insist on this.

Latin America: The United States has always had a special conception of its relationship with the nations of Latin America. In the Cold War era the U.S. establishment feared socialism and in some cases overthrew or undermined democratically elected governments perceived at the time as becoming left-wing or unfriendly to U.S. interests. Examples include the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'tat, the 1973 Chilean coup d'tat and the support of the Nicaraguan Contras. The '70s and '80s saw a shift of power towards corporations, and a polarization of the political election systems of many of the Latin American nations. Recently, several left-wing parties have gained power through elections and have not been attacked. In particular Venezuela has been critical of U.S. foreign policy. Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Ecuador currently have governments sometimes seen as aligned with Venezuela. Left-wing governments in nations such as Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay are more centrist. The right-wing governments in Chile, Peru, and Colombia have closer relations with the U.S. I think we should have better relationship with Latin American Countries to work together for prosperity of our future. We must work together regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Marijuana: As the 74 year old prohibition against marijuana enter its last leg, a legal marijuana industry suddenly doesnt appear to be a pipe dream any longer. In fact, in a referendum held last November, California nearly became the first state to break the status quo and legalize marijuana. Advocates are already predicting the prospect of a domino effect among the other states in the near future. While medical marijuana has been legal in fourteen states in the United States for as back as two decades, it is a hugely restrictive process and highlights complicated jurisdictional processes it is currently beholden to. Opponents have expressed their concerns over the anticipated effects resulting from such a move socially, economically and legally and the potential for it to become a gateway drug. Advocates however points at the successful national drug policy of the Netherlands, where legalization of marijuana has seen crime rates plummet and the low levels of drug related crimes, coupled with the fact that marijuana has never killed anyone through direct consumption. I think that legalizing marijuana would increase drug problems and crime. I believe that strong anti-drug laws are needed. Minimum Wage: Maintaining a capitalistic, supply and demand system to shape the national wage structure has always been the mantra of business owners here since the first call for a national minimum wage appeared in the 1930's. There is a prevalent argument that a minimum wage system is a symbol of a welfare state or socialism, and it impedes on the operational efficiency of businesses. In addition, there is a fear that a high across the board increase of wages will result in downsizing, as businesses struggles to maintain their bottom line Of course, on the flip side, advocates of the national minimum wage points out that too often businesses hide behind the profitability argument, ignoring the fact that people must be fairly compensated for their contributions to a company, and not expected to sacrifice for large enterprises. Asking workers to accept lower wages is akin to asking the average worker to bear the burden of subsidizing the running costs of big

businesses. There is also the fear that businesses often engage in a cartel like behavior to set an 'appropriate'; wage structure, thus denying market forces from determining the correct wage level. It is also worth noting that the last national minimum wage increase was back in 1997, during the Clinton administration. The minimum wage is too low but thats not new to anyone. Unfortunately its called minimum for a reason. Its the least amount they are allowed to pay you. It really should be more. Does not favor a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the minimum wage for inflation annually. National Security: I realized that some changes had to be made in order to prevent terrorists from instigating any more tragedies on American soil. Homeland Security should be funded selectively according to which targets have the most danger quotient. The National security of the United States of America is being threatened from many different sources today, including but not limited to these 5 sources: 1) The National debt. 2) Illegal immigration. 3) Terrorism from within our borders. 4) Terrorism from outside our borders. 5) Unprotected borders and the drug cartels. North Korea: Despite the numerous incentives that the American administration have offered Pyongyang as an inducement over the years, they have remained obdurately unyielding in their desire to retain their nuclear arsenal. North Korea reiterated their belief that their nuclear arsenal is the only security guarantee they have against the evil partnership of the Americans and their South Korean brethrens. It bears reminding that North Korea is possibly one of the poorest nations on earth, and with their failed economy, widespread chronic food shortage and amidst reports of unrest among the populace, Kims stance is indicative of the siege and persecuted mentality he is said to possess. However, similar to Cuba, with the impending withdrawal of the Great Leader, Kim Jong Ill, from the frontlines owing to health concerns, the is a surge of optimism in the air among the participants of the SixParty talks and there is genuine hope that a resolution to this sixty year conflict can be resolved. I would stop all North Korean missile launches, by force if necessary. Palestinian Issue: The suffering of Palestinians and Israelis is a serious problem that must deal with sensitivity and justice and give an end to this, so that both peoples can live together in peace and security as a brother country. The Israelis must acknowledge that the right of Israel to exist can not be denied, neither can the Palestine.

 Israelis and Palestinians must make concessions to allow a Palestinian state. The only solution to resolve the decades-long conflict is the creation of two states, where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security. For both parties, that means they must abandon violence. Resistance through violence does not succeed. My position is that it must abide by each and every one of the United Nations resolutions. Poverty: Poverty conveys the impression of individuals and families struggling to afford basic sustenance, shelter and education. Nothing that we should be concerned about then, since our status as the richest country in the world precludes the possibility of poverty existing in our society. Right? No. Really. Based on the latest CPS ASEC survey, the United States Census Bureau has estimated that the official American poverty rate stands at an incredible 14.3%, the highest since the survey begun 51 years ago. There are 43.6 million Americans that live below the poverty line. In other words, one in seven Americans are unable to properly feed, cloth, shelter and educate themselves and their families. These disturbing numbers are not a one off, in case anyone is wondering. The numbers have been steadily declining for years, and the worst part is, the poverty rate among children under the age of 18 is 20.7%. Thats one in five of our kids, the very same ones who will inherit the country. I think that education is the key to the opportunity to escape poverty. I think poverty means malnutrition, poor grades, poor education and has long term consequences. Improving education is essential to defeating poverty. I believe that communities should work together instead of depending on public assistance. Prescription Drugs: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) contends that up to 20% Americans have illicitly consumed prescription drugs in their lifetime. Even more disturbing, NIDAs Monitoring The Future survey discovered that over 9% of 12th-graders have consumed Vicodin without a valid prescription in the past year alone!. The abuse of prescription drugs is a major source of concern among the medical community, as the issue has consistently been overlooked by the authorities in favor of the more high profile psychoactive drugs such as cocaine, heroin and their derivatives. This is despite the fact that abuse of prescription drugs stands just behind marijuana as the most reported cases of substance abuse in North America. The easy availability of prescription drugs means that the problem is not one that is going away anytime soon, and we look forward to how our candidates intends to tackle the issue. I believe that prescription drugs should be supplied if people cant afford them.

Puerto Rico: The approved law 600 (P.L. 81-600) by the United States Congress granted the people of Puerto Rico the authority to develop their own State Constitution, like other states, giving them control of their internal governmental activities. Nevertheless, this law has left intact several of the articles under the Jones Law and the Foraker Law, as well as the Paris Treaty (1898). After the Constituent Assembly writes the Constitution, the people ratifies it by means of a referendum. The United States Congress, following the procedure required by the Federal Relations law, approved the Constitution which went into effect on July 25, 1952. During this year, the political community named Commonwealth was established. It is important to clarify that, even though the Federal Congress has granted the people of Puerto Rico the power to create their local Constitution, it has not revoked the territorial status of the island of Puerto Rico, being until today subject to the plenary powers of Congress. The republican format of the government mimics the United States Constitution. A governor is in charge of the executive branch, while the two legislative chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives comprise the legislative branch. The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the last appellate court in the majority of the judicial cases. Puerto Rico maintains its territorial status within the U.S. Constitution. The U. S. Supreme Court has indicated that Puerto Rico belongs to, but it is not part of the United States. Therefore, Puerto Rico was constituted as a territory of the United States when the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was created. The debate regarding the political status of Puerto Rico has been continuous in many local spheres, federal (United States) and international (United Nations). In 2007, a working committee from the White House concluded that Puerto Rico continues to be subject to the authority of the U. S. Congress under the territorial clause. The new administration of President Obama has ratified in its more recent report, that Puerto Rico continues to be subject to the authority of the Federal Congress. Furthermore, it mentions that the present status does not provide any possibilities for the development of power due to the legal structure of the Federal Constitution, thus reaffirming that one of the options to decolonize is to become independent. The Popular Democratic Party, which founded the commonwealth, reiterates that in 1952 there was a pact between Puerto Rico and the United States that conferred Puerto Rico an autonomous government and excluded it from the list of colonies of the United Nations. The UN Decolonization Committee adopted in October 2008, as an humanitarian effort, a resolution presented by Cuba that ratifies the right of the people of Puerto Rico to free will and independence and requests the United States to accelerate the process in order for the Puerto Ricans to exercise that right. Based on the history of Puerto Rico and having observed the lack of Federal union to work out certain subjects of common interest, I firmly believe in dialog, far beyond the dialog already accomplished by other Presidents and/or candidates with the people of Puerto Rico. Their feelings, their thoughts and wishes should be heard by the American government. It is not enough to send thousands of young men born in the island as soldiers to every American war. A community is more and should be more than that. Their votes should be heard when Washington is making decisions regarding matters that equally affect a citizen of New York as well as a citizen of Puerto Rico such as health, education, governmental aid, military deployment to name a few of the issues that the people of Puerto Rico presently endures.

I wish for the people of Puerto Rico to be able to take the reigns of their destiny. I wish for them to be able to make decisions in the matters that involve them directly. It is important to be aware of their needs first hand before making decisions that could be harming to their people. I will personally pay attention to the requests of the Puerto Rican people. The American dream has not being realized together and I am not going to be the one turning my back to such noble people. My heart is with you and your history and my government will follow suit. Same Sex Issues: Our Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 that prohibits giving recognition to same sex marriages. The decision received widespread approval among American citizens at the time, with many citing morality and religion as the primary consideration behind their decision. Fast forward almost 15 years later, and a completely different picture emerges. I believe there is no reason to discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation. However, I believe it best to allow the general population, to decide on the issue of same sex marriage, by casting their individual votes, as has already been done in several states, rather than to rely on the personal decision or a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. So far, only five (5) states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont) allows the registration of same sex marriage. Social Security: A brainchild of the late German Chancellor, Otto von Bismark in the late 19th century, calls to privatize Social Security have been gaining strength in recent years, mainly by conservatives and Republicans, painting a picture of the lack of sustainability of the program without continuous tax increase and benefits reduction, owing to the declining birth rates of the country, which is crucial in the pay-as-you-go model of the program. This is countered by the liberals and democrats, citing Paul Krugman, our economic Nobel Laureate, who maintains that an additional revenue injection of 0.54% of the national GDP, which is less than 3% of our annual Federal spending, is sufficient to cope with any potential systemic decline in the number of contributors and maintain a healthy long term status of the program that is currently aiding over 53 million Americans every month. I think that the Social Security program has been looted by unethical politicians. Stem Cell Research: Stem cell research has seen its potential for progress being curtailed drastically by a myriad of political, religious and ethical issues and there is even opposition from within the medical community itself which led to the banning of embryonic stem cell research by former President Bush, which was later revoked by President Obama in 2009. Proclaimed as possessing the potential to provide the cure for deadly diseases such as cancer and spinal cord injuries, the concept revolves around the idea that infusion of stem cells into the body of victims will compel the regeneration of damaged cells.

The controversy over this technology is centered on origin of the stem cells, as the cells are most easily harvested from human fetus. The fear is that people may begin to grow fetuses for the express reason of harvesting the stem cells, and in the process, murdering the technically human fetus. I think that research on stem cells, both fetal and adult, should be unrestricted. Taxes: As the debate over the national tax policy begins to take center stage yet again, observers have noted that there will be more cases of lawmakers breaking ranks within their own party over the issue in the coming months, following the lead of several notable republicans, in the shape of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in the recent President Obama Tax Deal proposal. The primary goal for everyone concerned remains the same, and that is to reduce the Federal budget deficit, but a number of other issues have repeatedly threatened to take control of the debate. One issue that could derailed any potential compromise was the extension of former President Bush tax credits, which, despite costing the government a total of $850 billion dollars in the next decade, is seen as imperative in preventing the possibility of a double-dip recession. The concession by the Democrats in this instance was reciprocated by the Republicans in the Obama's Tax Deal. We look forward to more bipartisan compromises in future, as we have seen over the years how ideological differences have seen consistently landed the country with the second or third best tax solutions, instead of the most worthy ones. I think taxes are a necessary evil if people want services such as roads, libraries, local and federal government protection and other amenities. I believe that the tax code should be simplified. Is seriously in need of overhaul for the sake of the economy. High property taxes discourage people from improving their property. Trade Issues: In evaluating the effectiveness of our national trade policy, a look at our trade surpluses, or rather, deficits, provides a most telling answer. Our deficits for the past 16 years have crossed the six billion dollar mark, and the deficit with China alone accounted for almost half of it, at 270 billion. As our economists struggle to explain these staggering numbers, China has quietly accumulated in excess of two trillion dollars worth of foreign exchange reserves during the same period. This imbalances of our trade deficit, along with the inherent disadvantages that our manufacturers and industries face owing to our labor and environmental policies, that is not being asked of their foreign competitors, are just some of the more pertinent issues that needs to be tackled by our presidential candidates before we even move to issues involving North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). I think that globalization is here and if we dont take advantage of trade opportunities well pay a price. I believe that business leaders, not diplomats, should negotiate trade agreements for the US. I would use tough negotiations instead of protectionism.

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