In an effort to work through some of my political views, I’ve been fiddling about with a stump speech I would give were I to run for the Prez. It’s not very eloquent and it’s quite brief, but it gets some of my stronger-held opinions across.

Ladies and gentleman, thank you for welcoming me here in [insert place here] where [something complimentary about this place]!

First of all, I believe that the foundation of effective and fair government lies in a single principle: Your right to swing your arm ends where your neighbor’s nose begins. We need to differentiate in our legislation between swinging and hitting.

The actions of those that damage our environment are hitting us in the nose. The lack of integrity in the governance of many corporations is hitting us in the nose.

I believe in capitalism. I like the free market. But I do not believe it will produce the best of all possible situations when left unmonitored and unregulated. Most problems arise from corporations and their officers who bend the laws to achieve an extra percentage point on their profits. Policing of corporations must be increased, and violators must be dealt with justly. Embezzlement and accounting misrepresentation in public companies steals money from millions of owners, and should be punished proportionally.

I will work to repeal laws banning the manufacture, purchase, possession and consumption of so-called recreational drugs. I have no love of their use, but there is no argument I have heard that justifies our denying the right of others to indulge. Free up the cash and other resources to take care of hitting of other people, not those who swing and hit themselves. Legalize them, tax them, and move on.

I am conflicted on the state of education. The current educational methods are outdated and do not incorporate what we know about how people learn. I am of a mind to raze the entire structure and start from scratch. No more classes, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks. Let’s rip apart the current system and replace it with a place that will make us envious of our children. This may end up as a system that we wouldn’t even recognize today as a school, but certainly educates. That the government be in charge of this system is problematic to my mind, but I don’t have a better way of insuring that every child be given access. To privatize the system would disable some from attending, to maintain the government management waters down the content. A solution is beyond me, let us improve the schools the best we can in hopes that a future graduate will see the way to solving the whole problem.

I will encourage all to lobby your state to implement an instant run-off system in their elections. This will break the grasp of the two-party system by allowing people to vote for their second and third choices in addition to first. Like Nader, but afraid of electing Bush? Vote Nader first and Kerry second, and should the two main parties come to a close heat, all other votes go to second choice candidates.

The idea that the only viable family consists of a man and a woman and their assorted offspring is outdated and rooted in religious beliefs. As we are a country founded on the separation of church and state, we need to revisit social contracts. There are currently a half dozen ways to form a business entity, but only one way to form a social entity. Let’s broaden our menu of domestic legal arrangements. Civil Unions (or other similar contracts) should be allowable between any number of people of any genders, with various levels of liability of the individual towards the whole, and vice versa.

The template is there. The constitution is a wonderful document, and pretty to look at to boot.

Let’s take it out for a spin.