What should we look for and expect from a candidate who wants our vote?

As a minimum, all politicians supported by us must, yes must, have proven honesty and integrity. Without these characteristics the rest is meaningless. The challenge will be how to determine if they are truly honest and have integrity.

As I see it, one of the key problems within the Federal Government at all levels is that corruption has become so embedded that many don’t even recognize they are corrupt themselves. How else can you explain Senator Mary Landrieu of LA standing on the floor bragging about her $300 million deal?  She sold her vote for that deal. That’s corruption.  How else can you explain the ethics committees of both houses refusing to investigate any of the current charges against Democrat legislators? How else can you explain how the Speaker can call the CIA liars in-front of TV cameras and then not have an investigation on something this critical to determine who is lying? This is corruption.

Therefore, before everything else I recommend individual honesty, integrity and ethics be the true litmus test for acceptance. 

Beyond that, I suggest any candidate for national office should support the following by their willingness to sponsor or cosponsor legislation and vote to:

1)                 Introduce the position of Constitutional Authority within both houses with responsibility to assure each bill and all regulations and amendments are in keeping with the original 17 defined areas of responsibility and authority as written in the Constitution.  No Bill can be introduced until it is first approved by this position and the final bill must be approved being enacted as well.

2)       Implement the Fair Tax Plan, to include the elimination of the IRS and all personal and corporate, payroll and capital gains taxes, along with all other taxes, as a means of respecting the property rights of the workers, stimulate the economy and the return of a strong manufacturing base to once again allow for US Trade dominance. Such legislation should establish the tax rate at no more than 20% and require a super majority of no less than 2/3rds to pass any increase in the tax rate. Unless the ability to tinker with the tax code is removed from the hands of politicians we will continue to experience severe ethics challenges. It is absolutely imperative that no representative or senator be allowed to make changes to the code without this super majority and in keeping with the Constitution.

3)       Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment (excluding time of declared war and then only for expenditures DIRECTLY in support of the war) and the adherence of balanced budgets on an annualized bass.

4)       Require the Office of Management and Budget as well as the Legislative Branches to use standard accounting procedures, eliminate all off-budget expenditures and fully account for all obligated debt.

5)       Require every Federal Government Agency, Department and other organizations with budgetary expenditures to use zero base budgeting each year in developing their proposed budgets.

6)       Reduce size of the Federal Government by eliminating specific Departments (Energy, Education) and no longer needed agencies with the Federal Government involved and performing only those functions specifically identified in the Constitution. As a minimum, government of civilian employment must be reduced by no less than 40% over the next five years

7)       Overthrow/reverse Wickerd v. Filburn ('42 Supreme Court Ruling used to grossly expand right of Fed Govt via the Commerce Clause) and return of power and rights to the States and the People

8)       Eliminate the Courts ability to legislate from the bench. Return the courts authority and function to those defined in the Constitution.

9)       Restrict right of Imminent Domain to ONLY those times when City, County, State or Federal Governments must have use of the property for critical need.  Eliminate the ability of local, state or Federal Government to use the Right of Imminent Domain for 3rd party benefit (regardless of advantage).

10)     Requiring an in-depth review of all EPA rules, regulations and findings in light of valuing property rights balanced with strict needs for environmental protections.  This would include a vast reduction in the list of "endangered species" and a clear and unmitigated belief in the hierarchy of man over animal and all its subspecies. At no time will a slug, mite, spider, frog or any other creature, insect, amphibian, etc. have rights in excess of those of man and the potential of extinction must be balanced with the real needs of man for water, property and development rights.

11)     Insist American History and Political Functioning be taught throughout the 3 - 12 grade levels based on hard "facts", documented actions, cause and effect etc.  History and Political Function course books must be free of all bias (liberal and conservative) and must speak to the facts, the truth and the consequences of previous historical actions.  Teachers must be re certified to teach with certification based on fair, reasonable and strict understanding of the Constitution, History and Political Function.

12)    Introduction of real world economics as part of the K - 12 education curriculum (every student should know how to manage money, operate a checking account, balance a checkbook, make sound economic decisions, manage credit, understand compounded interest, the capitalistic economic system, etc. prior to graduation from High School)

13)     Make the English Language the official language of the country.  Eliminate the requirement of producing government documents, tests, etc. in multiple languages. (States would continue to have this right if they so choose.)

14)     Fully commit the Federal Government to the Value of Life. Recognize Human Life as beginning at conception thereby providing the unborn child with all civil and constitutional rights of a citizen.  Preclude any/all attempts to use euthanasia to involuntarily shorten an individual's life while granting the individual the right to determine how much or how little medical support to be provided at the end of life. Recommit the government to protecting all human life.

15)    Recommit and dedicate our country to Almighty God.  This would include a clear and decisive understanding that Government is not allowed nor enabled to establish religion nor is it allowed to preclude its practice.  Government would encourage the practice of religion, both as a group via Churches, Synagogues and Mosques as well as privately but remain unable to enforce compliance to or with any form of organized religion. As a God fearing and God loving nation, public displays of religious mementos such as the 10 Commandments, crèche, menorah and other appropriate religious symbols be allowed on public property both on an on-going basis and during religious holidays. Reintroduction of “voluntary” prayer in school and teaching from the bible is to also be included.

Certainly this is only the beginning and will have to be much better written but it should include these points as a minimum.  Only with such a document and a commitment to each point in the document can we be assured of electing representatives and senators who will do the will of the people and what is in the country's best interest.

There are certainly additional items to be included with those just mentioned, and a detailed listing should be developed and reduced to writing.  Much like the highly successful "Contract with American" under then Speaker Newt Gingrich   the new manifesto will spell out the mission of the party, the intent of those elected as well as the priorities of the party once in power.  Then, and only then, can we return to representative government of the people and by the people.

I suggest the formation of a group to draft this document and vet candidates at the state and federal level who seek the endorsement of the First Coast Tea Party (and hopefully the combined Tea Party Movement – even the Republican Party).