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.
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.
We seek to limit and eventually end non-voluntary taxpayer funding of abortion programs for those that oppose abortion.
Current membership:
55% "pro-choice"
45% "pro-life"
(rough estimates via past surveys)
Death Penalty
The New American Independent Party currently has no formal platform position on the death penalty.
Gun Rights & Gun Crimes
We believe that the U.S. Constitution allows an individual the right to bear arms. Thus, we support gun rights and 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
Current Situation:
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 its citizens.
Taxes are a necessary evil of our system. Capitalism is based on the free market, fluctuations and all, to most effectively drive the
economy, not government spending. Governments should be driven towards efficiencies to leave as much money with individuals and
businesses. Unfortunately, the tax code and tax practices has become overly complicated and tipped towards those who can financial
support and influence government officials.
NAIP Position:
There should be a constant effort to drive government efficiencies to minimize taxes as much as possible. While the New American
Independent Party is against over burdening our citizens with taxes, and we strongly approve of giving tax cuts when the nation can
afford it, we feel tax cuts at a time of war and record budget deficits and trade deficits is extremely irresponsible and totally political.
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.
NAIP supports these actions:
• Tax code must be simplified to a point where experts are not required to understand the system. Personal and business taxes
should be simple and should be taught in high school.
• Drive our business tax to be the lowest amongst industrialized nations. Set goals to drive this down year to year.
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 for their own 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/ Gay rights/ GLBTQ
The issue of gay marriage has generated heated debates across our country. 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 very well thought out.
Individual churches are entitled to set their own policies in regard to same-sex marriages. Churches that will not perform gay marriages
should not lose their tax exemption and that policy should remain in place for 10 years. The NAIP has no problem with states that
legalize gay marriage and will not challenge those laws. Instead, the NAIP will fully embrace those laws. The NAIP does not see Gay
marriage as a threat to marriage or the family. State's legalizing gay marriage should extend full state benefits to the spouses of GLBT
state employees. We must resist efforts that would discriminate against our citizens. The NAIP supports equal rights for all legal U.S.
Citizens. Thus we strongly object to the many politicians who fight so strongly for the rights of individuals who are illegally in the United
States, and yet try to deny rights to legal taxpaying American Citizen's whom just happen to be a gay, lesbian or trans-gendered.
We must include sexual orientation in our anti-discrimination laws. The GLBT community must be protected in our employment/ hiring,
education, housing, accommodations 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. The only way to document the relationship is through civil unions or marriages. If states across the country
can recognize a Brittany Spears 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.
**The NAIP believes that U.S. Immigration law should be consistent in regards to granting citizenship to non-U.S. Citizen marriage
partners. Gay Americans should have the ability to go into a marriage or civil union relationship with a non-U.S. Citizen and have their
partner granted U.S. Citizenship as long as all other requirements are met and paperwork completed. NAIP supports equal U.S.
Immigration laws for the GLBT community.
The NAIP supports a sustainable U.S. Population, thus we oppose illegal immigration and support limited legal immigration in times of
rising populations and/or economic downturns in order to protect our environment and our economic stability. However, some legal
immigration should continue to be granted and priority should be granted to partners/spouses of U.S. Citizens seeking citizenship.**
"Don't ask, Don't Tell" - The NAIP opposes the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S. Military. Every year, the U.S. Military accepts
thousands of illegal aliens, convicted felons and folks with all sorts of problems and yet the U.S. Military will not accept patriotic
taxpaying Americans that happen to be gay or lesbian into the military. When first imposed, DADT may have been the best policy for
that time. However, it is now time to move beyond DADT. At a time when the U.S. Military is failing to reach recruiting goals, we cannot
turn away qualified recruits or discharge current members of the U.S. Military who happen to be gay or lesbian. We must work to put a
new policy in place that allows gays and lesbians to serve honorably and honestly when still having the greatest and most efficient
military force in the world.
More to be added soon on DOMA, etc.
** New addition 6/1/09
Transgendered Issues
The Transgendered community must be fully protected in our employment/ hiring, education, housing, accommodations and other
laws.
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.
Industrial Hemp
The New American Independent Party supports the legalization of the farming of Industrial Hemp for the production of thousands of
items. Industrial Hemp is not the same as 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.
Adoptee Rights / Open Records
The NAIP fully supports the rights of adoptees to see their birth certificates.
Space Program / NASA
The NAIP supports a focused, efficient and aggressive U.S. space program that leads the world. An American space program that sets
the pace will not only inspire mankind, but will lead to many initial benefits for our nation. Space exploration and the eventual building
of colonies on the moon, mars and planets beyond will provide us with the eventual "lifejacket" that we will need.
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NEW AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY Platform Issues II: |
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