The following points of view are Mr. Emmons’ opinions only.  These do not represent the Party or other members.  These opinions mainly are for you to become more familiar with Mr. Emmons and what he stands for.

 

1. Basic Freedoms

2. Fiscal Responsibility Reforms

3. Elections/Electoral Reforms

4. Immigration Policy Reforms

5. Foreign Affairs Reforms

6. Defense Reforms

7. Domestic Aid Reforms

8. Environment Reforms

9. Free Market Reforms

10. Gun Control and the Right to Bear Arms Reforms

11. Health Care Reforms

12. Right to Life/Right to Choice Issue

13. Social Security Reforms

14. Veterans Reforms

15. Candidate for Office

Basic Freedoms

 

   

     Mr. Emmons holds that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

     The Federal Government’s role is to maintain that one’s individual rights do not interfere with other individual’s rights or the general welfare of the entire community. An Individual’s rights should not have the power to change or force other individuals or the entire community to change their rights.

     Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. We must accept the right of others to choose for themselves if we are to have the same right. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. Mr. Emmons believes people must accept personal responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

     The Individual’s right to privacy is paramount to our society. Mr. Emmons supports the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment and oppose any government use of search warrants to examine or seize materials belonging to innocent third parties. However the rights of the individual cannot override the rights of others and the group rights of the community or town. The group rights of an entire community, town, city or state supersede any individual rights, which affects other individual’s rights.

Fiscal Responsibility Reforms

 

Require the Federal Government to:

 

     Pay down the $5.7 trillion national debt.

 

     Require a balanced budget discipline, or pass a balanced budget amendment.

 

     Bring congressional and federal pensions in line with those in the private sector.

 

     All spending bills must clearly benefit the entire country, not just one or two states. All bills, which only favor or help a few states, must be transferred to those states for their handling. This should also help eliminate earmarks, pork barrel spending and other forms of political cronyisms.

 

     Eliminate the loopholes and special tax privileges that riddle the tax codes and loopholes.

 

     Congress should pass an amendment that establishes a national lottery the sole purpose of which is to help pay down the national debt. The U.S. Post Office could implement this national lottery.

Simplify the tax code, shift to a national sales tax or a graduated flat tax, and reduce the size and negative impact of the IRS.

 

     One of the greatest contributors to deficit spending is war. If the country is to get rid of debt, the United States cannot become gratuitously involved in constant wars. Constitutional government, as the founders envisioned it, was not imperial. It was certainly not contemplated that America would police the world at the taxpayers' expense.

 

     Mr. Emmons calls for an end to the raiding by the federal government of the Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Medicare funds. He believes that over a protracted period the Social Security system may be privatized without disadvantage to the beneficiaries of the system. However, the program has been in place since the 1930s, and workers and their employers were taxed for the program and paid in good faith. The government promised to deliver the benefits, and must meet this commitment.

Elections/Electoral Reforms

 

     To encourage free and fair elections, all candidates must be treated equally. Mr. Emmons calls for an end to designated "Major Party" status that gives an unfair advantage to some candidates by providing ballot access and taxpayer dollars, while requiring others for the same office to gather petition signatures or meet other, more stringent criteria. States must grant fair ballot access for third party candidates and independents. Make all political parties have the same requirements for getting on the ballot.

 

     TV and Radio debates and forums must include ballot-qualified third-party and independent candidates.

 

     Publish uniform statewide voters guides.

 

     Eliminate campaign funding by PACs, unions, trade associations and corporations.

 

     Every contribution to an individual or to a political party must come from the contributing individuals directly to the candidate or party.

 

     Prevent the targeting of candidates in congressional elections by limiting campaign contributions from outside the district to 25%.

 

     Require unions to obtain permission form each member before using any portion of his or her dues for a political campaign activity.

 

     A NOTA (None of the Above) choice should be provided on all sections of each ballot thus allowing our voters the opportunity to reject all of the candidates if necessary. A runoff election must be held within six months after the political parties have an opportunity to select new candidates. The incumbents will continue to serve in their positions until a replacement candidate is elected.

 

     To provide an opportunity for voters to participate in a recall election which purpose is to remove any undesirable legislators. This election will be held the next major national election.

 

     Replace the Electoral College with either using just the total popular vote or issuing a percentage of the electoral votes that a state has with the same percentage as each candidate has of the popular vote within that state. 

 

     Proportional representation; require courts, not political parties, to construct equal legislative voting districts.

 

     Give all voters a two percent discount off of their next Income Tax Return for voting in the election.

 

     Mr. Emmons calls for a repeal of all federal campaign finance laws (i.e. McCain-Feingold) due to their violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

 

 

Immigration Policy Reforms

 

     Mr. Emmons affirms the integrity of the international borders of the United States and the Constitutional authority and duty of the federal government to guard and to protect those borders, including the regulation of the numbers and of the qualifications of immigrants into the country.

     Each year approximately one million legal immigrants and almost as many illegal aliens enter the United States. These immigrants - including illegal aliens - have been made eligible for various kinds of public assistance, including housing, education, Social Security, and legal services. This unconstitutional drain on the federal Treasury is having a severe and adverse impact on our economy, increasing the cost of government at federal, state, and local levels, adding to the tax burden, and stressing the fabric of society. The mass importation of people with low standards of living threatens the wage structure of the American worker and the labor balance in our country.

     Mr. Emmons favors a moratorium on immigration to the United States, except in extreme hardship cases or in other individual special circumstances, until the availability of all federal subsidies and assistance be discontinued, and proper security procedures have been instituted to protect against terrorist infiltration.

     He also insists that every individual person, group and/or private agency which requests the admission of an immigrant to the U.S., on whatever basis, be required to commit legally to provide housing and sustenance for such immigrants, bear full responsibility for the economic independence of the immigrants, and post appropriate bonds to seal such covenants.

     Mr. Emmons demands that the Federal Government restore immigration policies based on the practice that potential immigrants will be disqualified from admission to the U.S. if, on the grounds of health, criminality, morals, or financial dependence, they would impose an improper burden on the United States, any state, or any citizen of the United States.

     Mr. Emmons opposes the provision of welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and reject the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in this country.

     Mr. Emmons opposes any extension of amnesty to illegal aliens and review all political asylum claims.

 

     If necessary, he calls for the use of U.S. troops to protect the states against invasion.

 

     Once an illegal immigrant or foreign national is arrested, prosecuted and found guilty, they should be sent to prison and not deported. Deportation does very little from stopping previously deported individuals from returning to our country.

     He opposes bilingual ballots. We insist that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of this nation be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. We support English as the official language for all governmental business by the United States.

Foreign Affairs Reforms

 

     The United States is properly a free and sovereign republic, which should strive to live in peace with all nations, without interfering in their internal affairs, and without permitting their interference in ours.

 

     To call upon the President and Congress to reduce our financial contributions to the United Nations to the same percentage as the rest of the Security Council contributes.

 

     To terminate all U.S. participation in all so-called U.N. peacekeeping operations which take place in other countries.

 

     American troops must serve only under American commanders, not those of the United Nations or foreign countries.

     All U.S. troops located in other countries that do not support our international plans should be withdrawn from that country. Alliances like NATO, for instance, serves no defensive purpose for the United States, and this country should withdraw from it.

 

     Since World War II, the United States has engaged in the greatest international giveaway program ever conceived by man, and is now spending billions of dollars each year to aid foreign nations. There is no constitutional basis for foreign aid. These expenditures have won us no friends, and constitute a major drain on the resources of our taxpayers.

     Therefore, we demand that: all government subsidies, tax preferences, and investment guarantees to encourage U.S. businesses to invest in foreign lands be immediately terminated; and all debts owed to the United States by foreign countries, or foreign entities, be collected.

 

 

Defense Reforms

 

     It is a primary obligation of the Federal Government to provide for the common defense, and to be vigilant regarding potential threats, prospective capabilities, and perceived intentions of potential enemies. America is engaged in an undeclared war with an ill-defined enemy (terrorism), a war that threatens to be never ending. 

 

     Mr. Emmons is unalterably opposed to the criminal acts of terrorists, and their organizations, as well as the governments, which condone them. Individuals responsible for acts of terrorism must be punished for their crimes, including the infliction of capital punishment where appropriate. In responding to terrorism, however, the United States must avoid acts of retaliation abroad, which destroy innocent human lives, creating enmity toward the United States and its people.

     Because of this constant threat, the candidate opposes unilateral disarmament and dismemberment of America's defense infrastructure. That which is hastily torn down will not be easily rebuilt.

     The goal of U.S. security policy is to defend the national security interests of the United States.

We should be the friend of liberty everywhere, but the guarantor and provisioner of ours alone.

 

     The candidate calls for the maintenance of a strong, state-of-the-art military on land, sea, in the air, and in space. We urge the executive and legislative branches to continue to provide for the modernization of our armed forces, in keeping with advancing technologies and a constantly changing world situation.

 

     As far as Conscription is concerned, the candidate feels that both men and women should at least be required to register for the Selective Service System. This way if a national emergency arises of such magnitude that additional military personnel are required then we have a registered pool of applicants.

 

Domestic Aid Reforms  

 

     God, who endows us with life, liberty, property, and the right to pursue happiness, also exhorts individuals to care for the needy, the sick, the homeless, the aged, and those who are otherwise unable to care for themselves.

     The welfare state, supposedly designed to aid the poor, is in reality a growing and parasitic burden on all productive people, and injures, rather than benefits, the poor themselves. America's welfare crisis is a government-induced crisis. Government social and cultural policies have undermined the work ethic, even as the government's economic and regulatory policies have undermined the ability of our citizens to obtain work.

     The Constitution assigns all powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people. Domestic federal "aid" not authorized by the Constitution is not only illegal it is immoral.

     Charity, and provision of welfare to those in need, is not a Constitutional responsibility of the federal government. Under no circumstances should the taxpayers of the United States be obligated, under penalty of law through forced taxation, to assume the cost of providing welfare for other citizens. Neither should taxpayers be indentured to subsidize welfare for persons who enter the United States illegally.

     The message of any charity is fundamentally at odds with the concept of welfare maintenance as a right. In many cases, welfare provisions by the Federal government are not only misdirected, but

morally destructive. It is the intended purpose of civil government to safeguard life, liberty and property - not to redistribute wealth.

     Mr. Emmons encourages individuals, families, churches, civic groups and other private organizations, to fulfill their personal responsibility to help those in need.

 

Environment Reforms

 

     Mr. Emmons supports policies for clean air, clean water, endangered species, land and water conservation and stabilization of U.S. and world population growth.

 

     Conserve open spaces for human enjoyment and natural habitats for wildlife. Safeguard state and national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, rivers, lakes, seashores, wetlands, wilderness areas, and fisheries.

 

     Eliminate subsidies to companies that pollute natural resources and threaten public health (mining, energy, grazing, timber). Prevent dumping of toxic wastes and harmful chemicals into oceans and inland waterways.

 

     He calls attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy for national security.

     Private property rights should be respected, and the federal government should not interfere with the development of potential energy sources, including natural gas, hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind generators, nuclear energy and the development of ethanol from our natural vegetation.

 

 

Free Market Reforms

 

     Mr. Emmons believes that each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of the government is to provide equal terms of opportunity for all business.  

 

     A free market society is based on competition. However, some over aggressive companies strive to achieve a monopoly within their industry. Eventually this company will be able to stop all free market activities which in turn will hurt the public or community; therefore the government must be able to stop these types of monopolies.  

 

     The Federal Government should eliminate all federal grants or subsidy to any private companies, such as utilities, airlines, energy companies, agriculture, science, medicine, broadcasting, the arts and sports teams. If a company cannot survive in the market place, then it is not the responsibility of the government to artificially support a privately owned company.

 

 

Gun Control and the Right to Bear Arms Reforms

 

     The right to bear arms is inherent in the right of self defense, defense of the family, and defense against tyranny, conferred on the individual and the community by our Creator to safeguard life, liberty, and property, as well as to help preserve the independence of the nation.

 

     The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution; it may not properly be infringed upon or denied.

     The candidate upholds the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms. He opposes attempts to prohibit ownership of guns by law-abiding citizens. However we feel it is prudent for gun owners to at least register their guns, this way if a gun is stolen from its owner and later recovered it can be returned to the rightful owner.

 

     Mr. Emmons feels that the government does not have to right to prevent ownership of firearms, however we do feel that the government does have the right to limit the types of firearms owned by individuals to rifles, pistols and shotguns. High power military weaponry is not the necessary type of firearms that private citizens need to protect themselves or their property. 

 

     The candidate emphasizes that when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have them. In such circumstances, the peaceful citizen's protection against the criminal would be seriously jeopardized.

 

 

Health Care Reforms

 

     Mr. Emmons opposes the governmentalization and bureaucratization of American medicine. Government regulation and subsidy constitutes a threat to both the quality and availability of patient-oriented health care and treatment.

     Hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers should be accountable to patients - not to politicians, insurance bureaucrats, or HMO Administrators. 

     If the supply of medical care is controlled by the federal government, then officers of that government will determine which demand is satisfied. The result will be the rationing of services, higher costs, poorer results - and the power of life and death transferred from caring physicians to unaccountable political overseers.

     Mr. Emmons denounces any civil government entity using age or any other personal characteristic to: preclude people and insurance firms from freely contracting for medical coverage; conscript such people into socialized medicine, e.g., Medicare; or prohibit these people from using insurance payments and/or their own money to obtain medical services in addition to, or to augment the quality of, those services prescribed by the program.

     He applauds proposals for employee-controlled "family coverage" health insurance plans based on cash value life insurance principles.

 

     Make individual medical insurance premiums and out of pocket medical costs deductible in computing income taxes.

 

     Mr. Emmons affirms freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens for their health care.

 

 

Right to Life/Right to Choice Issue

     An individual’s right to life starts with conception. However that individual as a fetus is depended on the mother for its survival and if that mother can not provide for the complete welfare of that child and the government can not provide independent care from the mother for the child then the mother has the right to have the fetus aborted. If the government can provide independent care for the child once it is born, then the mother does not have to right to abort the fetus. Mr. Emmons supports an end to all subsidies directly to mothers for childbearing or child prevention built into our present laws.

 

Social Security Reforms

 

     The Constitution grants no authority to the federal government to administrate a Social Security system. Mr. Emmons advocates phasing out the entire Social Security program, while continuing to meet the obligations already incurred under the system. Until the current Social Security system can be responsibly phased out, we propose that:

 

     The Social Security tax not be a "rainy day" fund which politicians can pirate, or from which they can borrow to cover their errors and pay for their excesses.

 

     Individuals who have contributed to Social Security be allowed to withdraw those funds and transfer them into an IRA or similar investments under the control of the individual contributor.

The rights of individuals to be able to select a retirement program from either a private retirement plan and/or a pension program.

 

     All members of Congress and their staffs will begin to participate in Social Security instead of their private congressional retirement program. If any member of Congress refuses to participate in Social Security, then their congressional pension will be eliminated. Also Mr. Emmons feels that congressional and federal pensions should be in line with those in the private sector.

 

 

     Earning limitations on persons aged 62 and over would be removed, so that they may earn any amount of additional income without placing their benefits at risk.

 

     Those provisions of the Social Security system that penalize those born during the “notch years” between 1917 and 1926 be repealed, and that such persons be placed on the same benefit schedules as all other beneficiaries.

 

 

Veterans Reforms

 

     Mr. Emmons appreciates the contributions of our servicemen and veterans to the preservation of American freedom. We shall continue to recognize their contributions to the national welfare by providing equitable pay and benefits to our military personnel, and generous health, education, and other benefits to veterans.

     Mr. Emmons vigorously resists the attempt by any government agency to nullify or reduce earned benefits to veterans and their survivors, including but not limited to, compensation, pensions, education, and health care.

Candidate for Office

 

     The TERM LIMIT FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS Party is supporting Richard Emmons for the Florida 9th Congressional District. To support Mr. Emmons’ candidacy please fill out the CANDIDATE PETITON form and either fax it to 1-800-375-1442 or mail it to:

 

TERM LIMITS FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS PARTY

P.O. Box 819

New Port Richey, FL 34656-0819

 

Thank you for your time and support.