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| NEW AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY On The Issues II: |
This page will be undergoing changes in the coming weeks as we amend and add several issues. 7/15/08 Church & State Religion is a very personal and sacred matter. Religion has played a vital role in the lives of Americans throughout our nation's history. In fact our nation's history, and religion have been interconnected in many ways and at many times. Americans should take pride in their religious beliefs and they should be free to practice whatever religion they deem fit. They also have the right to be non-believers or to be unsure. We believe that Religion is too sacred, too personal to Americans for the federal government to have it's hand in it. While knowing and understanding the historic relationship religion has played in America and it's unique relationship to government, we fully support the separation between church and state. Many of our founding fathers (including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin) showed a concern that religion could and would be used by the government to advance political purposes. Remember when Pres. Bush said that "God told me to do it", when he was asked about invading Iraq. When a politician does such a thing, it changes the discussion. Opponents of the act (in this case, the war in Iraq) are not just opposing the war or the President now, but now they are going against God in some peoples eyes. Such arguments severely hinder the ability for reasoned, honest discussion of the issues. It clouds the picture and creates an unfair and unreasonable advantage for the side invoking God. Individuals should strongly consider the consequences of putting God in the forefront of American politics. For those of you who find no problem with this; how would you feel if let's say, an American politician someday takes a trip to Mecca and pulls a Cassius Clay (Mohammad Ali) or Kareem Abdul Jabbar and converts. Later, when making policy decisions, they declare "Allah told me too do it" or "Allah wills me to do this". Would you still like Religion and Policy to be so closely linked? When religion and public policy are allowed to be so closely linked, we end up with policies that are not in the best interest of the American people. Also, the second the government starts putting money into Religious programs, the second those programs would begin to be changed. The government would begin to gain influence over these programs because they are giving the money. Programs would begin to adjust themselves, which would eventually have an influence on the church. Sound good to you? Also, how would the government choose which religious programs to fund? Would they have to fund klansman the same as other religious groups? You can see the danger. Again, we think Religion is too important to have a connection with the government. The government should not endorse or promote any religion. However, we do feel that it would be helpful if basic world religions classes were taught in public schools and that the theory of evolution also be taught, just as that, a highly accepted theory of science. Again, we strongly support the separation between church and government. We don't need the government in our churches and we don't need our churches in our government. We don't need to government to validate our beliefs. Abortion Many people are very sensitive about the issue of abortion. Such social issues are very personal in nature. Individuals have to search their own thoughts, feelings and beliefs in order to come to their own conclusion. While the NAIP generally prefers to focus our attention on the bread & butter issues that are of chief concern to most middle class families it is an important issue that must be addressed. The NAIP has members and candidates on both sides of this issue. However, we find it difficult to try to dictate to a woman what she can or can't do with her own body. Abortion should be very rare and ideally in a perfect world we would have no need for abortion. The decision to have or not to have an abortion should generally be left to the woman, the father, her doctor, family and close friends. The NAIP opposes any federal anti-choice legislation. And while we generally support the right to choose, we feel that as a medical field, the abortion field is largely unregulated and injuries and deaths go uncounted. We need to keep the abortion industry (and sadly it is too often that) better regulated to keep women safe who make the tough decision to have an abortion. Current membership: 57% "pro-choice" 43% "pro-life" (rough estimates) Death Penalty The New American Independent Party has no formal position on the death penalty. This issue is a personal issue that depends on the moral and ethical standards of the individual candidate and voter. Gun Rights & Gun Crimes We believe that the U.S. Constitution allows an individual the right to bear arms. We oppose any further restrictions on gun rights. However, we do support harsher penalties for those who use a weapon (including non-firearm weapons such as knives, swords, clubs,) in the commission of a crime. Non-Violent Crimes We support having non-violent criminals participate in many different public service programs to serve the public and help reduce the taxpayers' costs of incarcerating these individuals. These out of prison public service programs should not be a picnic, they should be quite rigorous with much of it being labor intense. They should be designed to help foster responsibility in the offender. The programs will be designed to 1. Reduce Prison Costs 2. Contribute to the public good 3. Help reform the offender Simply letting non-violent criminals sit in prison, serves neither the public nor non-violent criminal who could potentially become a productive citizen. Animal Cruelty We support harsher punishment for those Individuals convicted of Animal cruelty or abuse. Such behavior should not be tolerated in our society. We desire our nations animal shelters to work toward being "no kill" shelters. Also, we call for the end of using animals in research for the testing and making of cosmetics and makeups. The use of animals in research is a difficult ethical question. However, using animals in research to cure diseases is one thing, but using them for researching cosmetics such as botox is quite another. Tax Policy America needs a sensible tax policy. The government cannot over burden it's citizens with taxes. An overburden of taxes casts our citizens in debt and restricts their freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness. However, some taxation is necessary for the government to operate if it is to protect it's citizens. A sensitive tax policy would include: During Times of War 1. No tax cuts during wartime, especially tax cuts that mainly benefit our wealthiest citizens. Our whole nation should be asked to sacrifice for the war effort and not just our soldiers and their families. During Peacetime, 1. The government should strive to lower taxes for individuals and businesses. Lowering taxes must be done in conjunction with lowering government spending. Age Discrimination Our older citizens are truly some of America's best assets. We should always cherish and respect our older generations and recognize their past and continued contributions to our great nation. America's seniors have experienced many things and we should draw from their past experiences while also utilizing their many continued talents. Age discrimination is all too prevalent in our society. It should not be tolerated, as our seniors certainly are not a burden to our nation. They are just the opposite, as they are productive citizens in our society that are a remarkable resource of talent, knowledge, wisdom and experience. Like all Americans, each of our seniors possesses their own unique perspectives and talents. Our older Americans should receive the love and respect that they deserve. Affirmative Action America needs to make a genuine effort to remedy the inequalities in our society. We must empower our citizens and instill confidence and pride in themselves. Affirmative action policies, which were created by mostly well-meaning individuals fail to empower individuals and instead instill a lack of confidence. We cannot allow our citizens to continually feel like they are victims, and unable to flourish on their own. We seek confident individuals who are ready to take responsibility of their lives in order to reach their full potential. Empowering our citizens will create more qualified individuals who can stand tall and proud of their accomplishments. Such policies will allow us to begin phasing out divisive and discriminatory affirmative action policies. Civil unions/gay marriage The issue of gay marriage has generated heated debates across our country. Individuals hold very strong beliefs on this issue based on their religious beliefs and their thoughts on how the world should be. Individuals have to reach their own conclusion on such hot button issues. While some of our members may have mixed feelings on this issue, we do agree that their should be No U.S. Constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage. We cannot go altering our sacred document any time hot button issues are the flavor of the month. Emotion and feelings should not dictate the wording of our constitution. Amending the constitution should be rare and well thought out. Individual churches are entitled to set their own policies in regard to same-sex marriages. Individual states are entitled to reach their own conclusion on this issue. We must resist efforts that would discriminate against our citizens. The NAIP supports equal rights for all legal U.S. Citizens. Thus we strongly oppose the many politicians who fight strongly for the rights of individuals who are illegally in the United States, yet try to deny rights to legal U.S. Citizen's whom happen to be a gay or lesbian. We must include sexual orientation in our anti-discrimination laws. Gay/lesbian individuals must be protected in our employment/ fair housing and other laws. We believe that individuals do have the right to enter into civil unions and be recognized as a couple if they so wish. In order for couples to receive benefits from their employer and the state, their union must be documented in some way. If states across the country can recognize Brittany Spears's one night marriage in Las Vegas, they can recognize same-sex civil unions and/or marriages by committed partners of 5, 10, 20 or 30 years. Medical Marijuana The New American Independent Party supports the legalization of medical marijuana. Individuals suffering from various diseases have the right to seek comfort in medical marijuana. End of life issues/Assisted Suicide Individuals have the right to end their prolonged suffering if their is no reasonable chance of relief or recovery. We will oppose government intrusion and anti-choice legislation. More issues to be added soon |
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