Your donation will help us spread the ARTS message. Thanks.

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Dave Redick for US President-2012

A message from Dave: “On July 4, 2009, I announced my campaign for US President-2012 as a Reform Republican. The ‘reform’ aspect means to end the illegal, unconstitutional, dishonest, and abusive conduct and policies started by the Pres. G. W. Bush and his administration, then repair the damage they have caused to our nation, their victims abroad, and my GOP. Sadly, the same applies to most prior Presidents, and to our current statist, lying, Pres. Obama. Strong words?; Yes, but required to confront, repudiate, and reform the corruption in our government. It has become 'normal' for our leaders and Congresspersons to lie, and support wars and programs that harm our nation, in order to get more votes, campaign donations, wealth, and power. Many of their votes in Congress are to serve their personal preferences, not those of 'We The People'. Corruption is routine and rampant. As your President, I will work to restore liberty, peace, prosperity, justice, rule of law, and ethics in the USA by engaging in traditional Republican support of the Constitution and limited government, as discussed in detail below. A key purpose of my campaign is to promote the principles and recommendations shown on this web site and in my book, thus setting a standard of ethics and principles, and challenging other candidates to adopt them. The result will be a prouder, stronger nation and GOP!

The campaign will also be a rallying point to keep the grass roots growing from the various 2008 campaigns; hence the early announcement. My candidacy is a unique combination of ‘limited government’ issue positions, which is the theme of our Constitution. This is a proven approach to produce Liberty, Peace, Prosperity, Justice, and Ethics. I call it ‘America’s Roadmap to Success’ (ARTS), and define it on the rest of this web site.

No other announced or potential candidate agrees with all of my positions on the key issues list shown below, which means they all digress from the Constitution to impose their personal preferences on us. This list will give you a quick introduction to my views. Each is numbered the same as the main ‘Issues’ section at Part 3 in the left margin of this site, which offers detailed info on the 28 key issues shown below.

This entire web site applies to the campaign so read on! Be sure to click on all the Parts 1 to 8 in the left margin. More information is in my book, 'Rebuild America Now: Restore Liberty, Honesty, Rule of Law, and the Constitution’. For ordering information, refer to Part # 7 in the left margin.

If you agree with my views, which are all based on the principles and ethics discussed on this web site and in my book, then please 'Join David' and support my campaign as a volunteer, or with a donation (click the button above to use a credit card, or go to Part 7 in the left margin to mail a check or volunteer).

Thanks for your interest and support, Dave”

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A Quick Look at Dave’s Issue Positions; pro- and anti-

Issue # (See details in Part 3 in left margin)

1, 11,12, 18, 19, 27. pro Constitution, Liberty, states rights, property, guns

2. pro Core principle (Government’s primary job is to protect our rights, etc.)

3, 28. pro Sound money (gold-backed), low debt, taxes and spending

4. pro Terrorism is a crime, not a war. See #5

5, 6. anti 'Interventionist Foreign Policy', anti 'War for Empire', pro Defense

7, pro Protect US Sovereignty

8, pro Private Health Care

9, 10, 18, 24, 25, 26. pro Free Enterprise Capitalism

13, 14. pro Women’s Choice, pro Separation of Church and State

15. pro Private Education (no taxes for any schools)

16. 23. pro Environment, and Sustainable Energy

17. pro Legal Immigration, anti benefits for illegal aliens

20, 21, 13. pro Socially moderate

22. anti Drug Abuse and counterproductive War on Drugs

Be sure to see the 'Candidate Rating' chart at # 2 in the left margin, which compares Dave’s issue positions with other potential candidates.

Please tell your friends about Dave’s campaign and issue positions.

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Paid for by ‘Redick for President-2012’ committee, a project of ‘Forward-USA’, Bruce Rideout, Treasurer. Authorized by David Redick.

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FLASH ! Dave's book 'Rebuild America Now' is available at Amazon.com. See details at Part 7 in the left margin.

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As you read this site, please keep in mind this fundamental issue: Our Founders wrote in the preamble, ‘We the People … do ordain and establish this Constitution...’. Dave says the time has come for We the People to again ordain and establish our Constitution, and make our government officials, and judges, comply with it by engaging in a non-violent rebellion. Most (over 50%) of our laws and spending since 1932 have been unconstitutional! As discussed in Part 8B in the left margin, ALL of our wars since 1776 have been unconstitutional, and based on lies. It is time to fight back to restore the rule of law, and stop the abuse and crimes done by self-serving politicians and their corporate and 'more-government, progressive' friends!

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Home Page Contents

1. Introduction to the ARTS project

2. Problems with Major Political Parties

a. Introduction

b. Plan to Restore American Principles

c. Core Principle

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1. Introduction to the ARTS project:

'America's Roadmap to Success' (ARTS) is a project, and movement, to restore traditional American values, principles, and the Constitution, to the policies and activity of all U.S.A. political parties and independents, as expressed by the votes and conduct of their leaders and elected officials nationwide. Conduct of their appointed staff, and the lobbyists who pursue them, will receive equal scrutiny.

We focus on the federal government in DC because it does the most harm with unconstitutional wars, fake money, excess spending and debt. This is only possible with fake money that is also the world's 'reserve currency', since people and banks, at home and worldwide, will accept it for payment and keep it as a safe 'store of value'. Thus, only the USA can pay it's bills with an unending supply of new money. This feeds the spending, welfare, pork, wars, and corruption in the USA! It allows DC to impose unconstitutional 'national' laws (on abortion, drugs, etc.) that pre-empt state laws and prerogatives, because the States are beggars and must comply or lose some funding. This free ride will end when the world tires of accepting our fake money due to fears our economy is failing. This tragic end of our fake prosperity is becoming more possible as DC plans massive 'stimulus' programs in 2009, funded by newly created fake money, which could result in major price inflation (a major loss of US Dollar value; 50% or more?)!! The USA is now likely to decline to a middle-class 'post-empire' nation, operating on a smaller budget. The examples are former 'empire nations' such as England, Spain, Italy, and France. Refer to # 5 'Empires' in the left margin.

One benefit of the USA being cash-poor will be the termination of wars, foreign bases, and foreign 'aid' (bribery) we can no longer afford. A classic case of doing the right thing , for the wrong reason.

A better solution to the crisis that started in Oct-08 would be to;

1. Abolish the Federal Reserve System which provides the fake money that feeds the corruption and bad deals, and convert to gold-backed money, and

2. Let bankruptcies occur and flush the economy of inept, corrupt, managers, and bad deals. See details below and in the left margin. This would cause a short (2 or 3 year), and theraputic, recession.

With the now planned 'stimulus' and 'bailouts' we face 5 or 10 years of 'recovery', followed by the same thing 20 years later!

Our members are politically active because they consider it to be their duty as responsible citizens of a republic. We are Centrists who believe our nation is best served by a government that does not intervene in our personal lives ('social' issues), or our business affairs ('economic' issues), as long as we are not violating, or threatening, the rights of others (see 'Core Principle' in Part 3 'Issues', item 2, in the left margin). We like the traditional principles of: 1) Complying with the Constitution, 2) The governments' proper role is to protect our personal and property rights, as individuals (no 'group' rights), not to manage or control our lives, 3) Strong homeland defense, but a non-interventionist foreign policy (with no preemptive wars or occupations), 4) Enforce separation of church and state (no laws, trespassing, or rudeness to impose your religion on property or events owned or shared by others), 5) A minimal federal government and sound money (convertible to gold; see essay at #8K in left margin of Home page), with emphasis on Federalism ('States Rights'), and 6) Low spending and taxation, with a balanced budget. See the list of 'seven bad habits we must shed' shown below.

In the absence of citizen activism, the 'bad guys' (those seeking personal benefit, or use of government power to force their personal agenda upon others) take over. As Jefferson said: 'The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.' For example, we observe that the administration of George W. Bush , including his staff, and others known as Neo-Cons, violated their campaign promises to the people ('honesty and a humble foreign policy'), and set a terrible record of incompetent, illegal, and immoral conduct, both at home and abroad. To make matters worse, most of their misconduct has been both tolerated and supported by the Democrats. Even worse, as of Feb-08, Pres. Obama seems to be on a similar track of 'Bush-Lite' in his abuse of the Consitution for wars and welfare. This gives us a damaging combination we call 'Republicrats'. ARTS says it is time for reform and rebuilding, so we are fighting the off-course leaders to undo their damage and stop them from causing more!

ARTS' goals are more liberty, peace, justice, prosperity, and better ethics in the USA.

We observe that most people, not surprisingly, are not interested in 'politics', and just want to get on with life. But we also observe that most people assume that it is the government's job to do whatever is required to 'make everything is good', and they expect it to provide all the things (money, subsidies, free services, etc.) that they 'need', and hopefully paid for by 'someone else'. Sounds good, so what's wrong with that? Well, the problem is it doesn't work. Social- and Economic-Engineering by government (laws and funding to push people and investment toward a goal) are considered good and proper, yet most are counterproductive, if you count all the side-effects and unintended consequences. For examples, go to #8-I "Social and Economic ‘Engineering’ by Government" in the left margin. They justify all this as fair and proper, and ignore any side-effects such as inflation, dependency, reduced economic productivity, unsustainable economic, declining ethics, and social distortions, etc. Both Progressives and Conservatives abuse and ignore the Constitution in their lobbying and voting to get what they want. In forcing their preferences on others, they argue; 'The end justifies the means', 'Every war has its casualties', or 'You must break a few eggs to make an omelette' to justify their immoral gang-theft funding, social restrictions or privileges, and other violations of rights. This condition of 'gimmee more' describes the spoiled, decadent, attitude of citizens in a failing empire, accustomed to handouts and corrupt leaders. Rome called it 'bread and circuses'. We call it 'entitlements and pork'. See more at #5 'Empire' in the left margin.

Most groups ignore the bad side-effects that their plans create, but ARTS presents its 'Roadmap to Success' in a consistent, complete, specific, and sustainable manner, including all factors, and all within the limits of the Constitution. Here is what we mean:

1. Consistent: We don't change our tune to fit different issues. We don't engage in 'flexible principles' or 'situational ethics'. Principles can be refined over time, but not just to accomodate a special preference. See #3 'Issues' in left margin, then Item 2, 'Core Principle'.

2. Complete: We consider all the facts and implications, including side effects and unintended consequences. We adjust as new facts become known, all within our Core Principle and the U.S. Constitution.

3. Specific: We don't use broad, vague terms such as 'common sense' or 'fairness' to justify our issue positions. These terms are subjective, and mean different things to different people. Principles are objective. Words like 'Liberty, peace, prosperity, justice, and ethics' are stated as goals, but we define specific actions to implement and build toward them. See the 7 action items below (starting with; '1) End Creation of Fake Money..').

4. Sustainable: The beneficial results of our plans are designed to work in the long run (5 years to forever), and indeed, to get better over time. We are not in the business of short-term 'fixes' or 'stimulants'.

Our plan doesn't pretend to fulfill the needs and desires of everyone, but it does provide the best path for more people, at all levels of our society, to achieve the goals shown above. We remind voters that; a. Most things are none of the government's business, b. Private funding, incentive, and work are the engines of progess and prosperity (no-fair using government force to make others donate to, or comply with, your preferences), and c. Incentive Rules !, which means that people will think and work harder if they are responsible for their own success, and won't be 'taken care of' if they don't try, or fail due to taking excessive risk. Of course, private charity is there to help the ill and disabled who cannot support themselves. Note that this voluntary, incentive-based, approach fosters ethics and personal responsibility at the local level. It means that one's reputation matters as to receiving aid when you need it. Conversely, when the government offers entitlements (for illness, job loss, etc.) people care less about their conduct with others because it doesn't matter, and the quality of society goes down (less courtesy, honesty, charity, ethics, etc.). Sadly, we see this around us today.

We don't use the gimmick of ignoring inconvenient truths and side-effects that may hurt later, or indeed, cause a project to do more harm than good. We tell the whole story, and present a national ROAD MAP that works to achieve the above goals in a sustainable way. Further, we reject fundraising by counterproductive and immoral means such as fake money (from the Federal Reserve Bank), and gang-theft-by-vote (from 'the rich'), to make 'someone else' pay for benefits. This is charity by force; should the Red Cross and Salvation Army be allowed to use force to collect funds? Attacking 'the rich' to pay their 'fair share' is a phony argument, since the top 20% of earners already pay over 80% of government tax income. Yes, there is fraud and white-collar theft (backdated stock options, excess salaries and bonuses approved by a 'buddy' Board of Directors, 'retention bonuses' upon failure (scooping-up the last dollars), etc.) by some, which should be prosecuted, but the vast majority of high earners make it by hard, smart, and productive work.

It is an old ploy to demonize your opponents so it is OK to attack them. Liberals and Progressives have created straw men, and distorted definitions, of 'capitalism' and 'corporations' and attack them as the evil source of most harm. This helps them ignore the real culprit which is 'big government' and 'big spending with fake Fed money' that feeds wars, corporate corruption and false-capitalism. They don't attack big government or fake money because they love how it funds and enforces their own counterproductive projects.

We are not 'anti-government'. We are anti government abuse, bad ethics, and corruption! Sadly, our citizens consider much of this misconduct as 'normal' and part of the give-and-take of getting what you want from the government (the Great 'Mother and Funder'). The government needs money to operate, but collections should focus on 'user fees' wherever possible, such as tolls, meters, school tuition, private insurance and pensions (not employer-paid), etc. This approach to taxation, plus reduced spending, will result in major reduction or elimination of today's abusive and immoral 'progressive' taxes on income, and property, and lead to more personal responsibility and charity. As you read below, and the items in the left margin, notice that all of our proposed interaction between people, and between people and business, is VOLUNTARY. This is not an idealistic dream (socialism is !). It works to the extent employed, and benefits all parts of a society, and puts 'time' on our side, since things keep getting better, not worse. For proof, look at history, and the nations of the world today. For data, go to; ‘Index of Economic Freedom’, annual since 1994, The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org/research/features/index/. Note that ARTS does not agree with all Heritage issue positions.

Our Federal and State governments were created by 'we the people' to protect our rights; we mean a short list of 'natural rights' you are born with, which does not include subsidized, or free, health, education, a job, etc. Note that nothing can be a 'right' if you expect someone else to pay for even part of it. The government can only protect or violate such rights. 'Government-created rights' (entitlements) are the source of most of our economic and social problems (dependency, lack of ethics and lack of personal responsibility, etc.). Thus please remember, the government is like a CONTRACTOR that we hire to protect our rights, and we staff with our representatives. It is NOT our owner, manager, funder, boss, or nanny. To implement this protection, we grant the government 'police powers' (the right to use force), and thus we need to be ever on guard to avoid abuse, including use of laws beyond their intended purpose (RICO, FISA, Patriot Act, etc.). As with the Constitution, the mission of the police is to 'protect our rights from violation, or threat, by others', and we give them laws that authorize them. Unfortunatley, too many of our laws are aimed at 'controlling' people (prohibition of drugs, gambling, alcohol, etc.) where there is no violation of, or threat to, the rights of others. These 'control' laws are the foundation of a police state, and spawn black market suppliers, which in turn spawn militaristic, 'bossy', conduct by the police (SWAT teams, etc.)! It is a vicious, counterproductive, cycle. Asset forfeiture laws temp the police to file civil charges, and take and keep the targets' property (cash, car, airplane, etc.) without proof of guilt (see more at #3 'Issues', item 22-Drug War, in the left margin). The answer is to repeal the 'control' laws.

For individuals, the flip side of this is ; "A person should never initiate force, and should use it only in self defense", or "Persons can do whatever they want to, short of violating, or threatening, the equal rights of others". This does not mean it is OK to ignore 'non-legal' social values such as courtesy, honesty, cleanliness, etc., the marks of a civil person and society.

ARTS judges the value of a program or method based on RESULTS and ETHICS (including all of the side-effects and unintended consequences, moral and financial), not just INTENTIONS or HOPES !! This is the beauty of free enterprise capitalism! It is not only productive, but moral. By our laws and constitution, only the government is allowed to use force (physical and legal coercion by police, courts, fines, jail, etc.), but then only to protect our rights from violation by others, within the powers granted by the Constitution (see 'Core Principle' at Part 3 'Issues', item 2, in left margin, and in 3c below).

ARTS members are small-government moderates, including party members and Independents, who are dedicated to minimal government intrusion into both personal and business matters. It follows that they are conservative on economic issues, but liberal on personal freedom; Strong on homeland defense, but opposed to imperialistic pre-emptive wars for political and economic goals (oil, land, etc.) to enlarge and secure 'Empire-USA' (the Afghan, Iraq, and Vietnam wars are recent examples).

The ARTS approach: 1. Rewards, thus gives incentive to, personal responsibility, honesty, and work (i.e., merit), and 2. Does not provide, thus gives no incentive to depend on, government grants, subsidies, legislative favors, and welfare, for both personal and business matters. This type of government is not pro-business, pro-labor, or 'pro' anything except adhering to the Constitution, with Liberty and Justice for All ! It is neutral, unbiased, and just protects the rights of individuals and other legal entities, from violation by others. Voluntary interaction takes care of the rest, and results, today and in history, show this works best for all !

The 'big-government' systems touted by Progressives, Liberals, Greens, etc. depend on gang-theft-by-vote (called 'tax the rich') for taxes to fund their benefits and projects, and are thus inherently immoral, plus most are loaded with damaging side-effects. Of course debt is a big part of the funding. A coward's way of shifting payment to others in the future. The ARTS approach is what made the USA a strong and respected leader, and is a message of HOPE for all. BUT, to become great again, we must first shed the seven bad habits and conditions shown below.

1) End Creation of Fake Money, and Its Damage: The 'Fake Money' story is described at length in Part 1 in the left margin, and summarized here. After years of free-market money, the Federal Reserve System (a privately-owned bank) was created in 1913 to give the federal government a monopoly creation and 'management' of both metallic and paper money, with the announced purpose of protecting its value. Since then, the US Dollar (US$) has lost 95% of its value (purchasing power)!! In 1933 FDR was worried that people would avoid use of his low-value paper money, so he illegally forced all citizens to convert their gold coins and bullion to paper dollars, then he decreased the amount of gold backing each paper dollar. A ripoff! Then in 1944 the winners of WW2 met at the Bretton Woods resort in Vermont and agreed that only nations could exchange paper money for gold. In the '60s LBJ ended use of silver in coins and used cheaper copper and nickel alloys. The silver dollars quickly disappeared from Las Vegas slots! Then Nixon abrogated the Bretton Woods Agreement in August, 1971 due to our serious financial problems such as; a) We were running out of gold because France and other countries were converting their 'EuroDollars' to gold (US$ accumulated in Europe due to our spending there); b) The US was poor after spending on Vietnam and LBJ's 'Great Society', etc. Under this pressure, Nixon illegally 'floated' the US$ (no fixed-price for gold; no fixed exchange rates with foreign currency), and ended convertibility to gold by any person or government. This meant the US could make dollars out of thin air at will, and did they ever! Whoopee! The main purpose of convertibility of paper (or electronic dollars) to gold is to prevent excess expansion of the money supply ('inflation') by the government, and thus reduction in purchasing power. Without convertibility, this 'easy money' is an unlimited 'piggy-bank' and credit card for the government. This unlimted supply of money has allowed massive increases in government spending for wars, welfare, and pork since 1971. It has also created the growth in the number of lobbyists seeking favors. Governors and Congresspersons seek Federal money for all manner of State projects, but it comes with strings attached, which lets the DC folks control many aspects of State functions (Bye-Bye to States Rights). Prices started their 'hockey stick' shaped rise a few years later as the effect of excess money and spending trickled to the world economy. Within in a few years, all nations worldwide ceased convertibility, even the prudent Swiss floated the Swiss Franc (SF), but have been less abusive than others; hence while 1 USD$=about 4 sf in 1961, it is now about 1 US=1 sf, so they only inflated by 2.5 while by 2008 the US inflated by 10; 4 times more! The USA has been the worst abuser among developed nations (older countries remembered their lessons from past monetary failures). The US has created so much new 'free, fake money' since 1971 that the US$ has lost about 80% of its purchasing power (this excess expansion of the money supply is called 'inflation', like a balloon) with its consequent price increases. Check prices of common 'commodity' items, that are not imported, subsidized, cheaper due to new technology, or under price control, such as a pizza, or a restaurant meal. A good example is that a room at 'Motel 6' cost $6 in the '50s and is now in the $60 range in 2008 (same type of room and service). There is your 10X loss of US$ value! This goes along with a 95% loss since the Federal Reserve monopoly was created in 1913! The only reason we can get away with this is because the US$ is the world's 'reserve currency' (any person or bank will take and keep it as if 'good as gold'), because it is viewed as a share in 'USA, Inc.', the world's strongest economy, which sadly is fading (starting 2007) as we continue the long abuse of our economy (by spending, taxing, and harmful intervention 'management' by the Fed and gov't) and money (by excess expansion of the supply). The era of USA world dominance is ending, as it does with all empires (see #5 Empires in left margin).

What is the answer? ARTS says; a. Abolish the Federal Reserve System, and Legal tender laws, and go to 'free market banking' (no government monopoly on money; see 'Redick's Four Money Rules' in Part #1 'Fake Money' in the left margin of the Home page, and 'Recommended Reading' ,'What has the government done to our Money?' and other books by M. Rothbard, plus 'Empire of debt' by Wiggins and Bonner, at the end of Part 3 'Issues' in the left margin) with a law that all paper money must be convertible to gold, on demand, by anyone. Any fraud by banks in creating excess money (not fully backed by gold), or abusing deposits (low reserves), could be prosecuted by users and depositiors (to protect property rights, a proper role of government). This is a sensitive and massive project, but if we don't start soon, the US$ will crash in value (by 40 to 60% or more) as people, merchants, and governments worldwide refuse to accept or keep it (for payment or savings), and it will be too late, and many people and firms will suffer pain and losses due to government abuse and treachery (for details, see Part #1 and #8K 'Fake Money', in the left margin). The financial explosion starting in September, 2008, was the predictable result. Sad.

2) End dependence on government for personal and business favors and hand-outs (grants, welfare, legislative favors, subsidies, price controls, etc.). Cut spending and taxes by 50% or more. This can be accomplished, without resulting deficits, by first ending our 'foreign aid' (bribery), and military spending overseas, and unconstitutional and poorly-managed waste and pork at home. For info on spending and debt, go to: http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08353cg.pdf and http://www.DownsizeDC.org , or www.pgpf.org.

3) End voting to take 'other peoples' money and rights ('the rich', or anyone else) to pay for your benefits, and projects (education, health, down-zoning without compensation, housing, mass-transit, etc.). This includes ending indirect taxation through creation of new money and debt. It is 'gang-theft-by-vote', and no different ethically than burglary or robbing a bank.

4) End Empire-USA and its worldwide domination: a. End being the world's policeman and boss, which in fact reduces our security and liberty at home; close all overseas bases; end NATO membership, fake 'Free Trade' agreements, SALT, etc., and other alliances where we seek 'influence' abroad at great expense, and b. End starting or entering wars for economic and political gain, not for defense, and

5) Repeal Unconstitutional laws and Executive Orders: While presidents since Adams, Jefferson (Alien and Sedition laws), and Lincoln (suspending Habeas Corpus, jailing journalists, starting the 'Civil War' which is fact was not a civil war, just a legal secession, etc.), and others, used Executive Orders and a compliant Congress to violate the Constitution, G.W. Bush has been the worst by far. It is a long list, so we refer you to; a. The 35 articles of impeachment submitted by Rep. Kucinich on June 9, 2008, and b. Rep. Ron Paul's HR 3837 'American Freedom Agenda Act' of Oct. 15, 2007, which showed eight issues of unconstitutional conduct by the Bush gang. 'Sarbanes-Oxley' and the 'Patriot Act' should be on any list.

6) End 'glorification' of government and wars: Stop building grand structures to house government functions (capitols, banks, offices). End special 'self-awarded' benefits for legislators and employees, such as fat pension and health plans, etc., and put them on the same plans as citizens, or similar to businesses. These reforms, plus reduction in giving favors per item 2 above, will reduce reduce the incentive to be a career legislator, most of whom will do anything to keep and enhance their cushy jobs. The lies, and appeals to patriotism, that our 'leaders' use to start wars, are discussed in Part 8, essays B and G, in the left margin.

7) Repeal federal laws that violate States Rights (Federalism) about drugs, abortion, education, health, militia, unfunded mandates (or any mandate), etc. Enforce the tenth amendment. Having fewer 'national' laws from DC makes states different and allows citizens to 'vote with their feet', thus states avoid excess spending, controls, and taxation or they will lose people and businesses! Today states, schools, etc. are similar, so you only have a choice of which 'MacDonalds' you go to.

All seven of the above topics have damaged our prosperity, liberty, and ethics. Bad ethics have permeated all segments and levels of our society. Politicians have been famous for bad ethics for centuries, but there has been a noticeable decline among regular people and business managers in the last 50 years. The 1960's Hippy culture of 'do whatcha gotta do', and 'do your own thing' has become broadly adopted. Now many people think it is 'normal' to be about 80% honest. When someone is caught lying or stealing, supporters say; 'He was under pressure', or 'Everyone does it, so why pick on him?', etc. Executives conspire with the 'friendly' Directors of Boards they appointed in 'white collar theft' for excessive pay, back-dated stock options, etc. (see Part 3-'Issues' in the left margin, and go to # 24 'Corporations'; Enron, Wordcom, Adelphia, and Wall Street are examples). This all ties-in with the decadence of a failing Empire (see Part 5 in left margin) where everyone wants handouts and favors. Even religious leaders, the supposed bastions of ethics, have succumbed to immoral conduct as shown in history and by the recent scandals of Catholic Bishops. The lesson learned in all this is: 'Corruption tends to occur whenever you have an excess concentration of money and authority', whether government, church, or business. Hence our emphasis on; 1. Small, distributed government to minimize the abuse, and 2. Real money (convertible to gold; not the unlimited supply of fake paper money that now finances our wars, pork, and welfare; see #1 in left margin).

The ARTS approach is 'sustainable', but our nation's conduct in the last fifty years (since 1960) of fake money, excess spending and welfare, declining ethics, and war to build and maintain Empire-USA IS NOT !

We are at risk of major loss of the US Dollar's value (already down 40% against the Euro since JAN-02), and the depression that will surely follow! (FLASH: It hit in Sep-08) For more info, go to #1 'Fake Money' in the left margin.

Join ARTS for Reform and Progress !

Funding determines our ability to make progress.

Please read this site, and if you like our plan to end war, restore proper Constitutional government in the U.S., and add jobs and reduce inflation, please help with a donation. Click the 'Donate Now' button above to make a credit card donation, or click on the 'Donation' section in the left margin for more information. Thanks for your interest and support.

We favor the 'less-government' approach in the tradition of our USA Founders. During a successful career in engineering, sales, and management, ARTS Founder and President David Redick became concerned in the '80s about problems caused by government interference in our personal and business affairs, and failure of the Political Party leaders, Congress, and the President to support 'The People', rather than their own careers. Dave founded ARTS as a concerned citizen to fight for solutions to these problems.

Our USA Founders in 1776 were men of wisdom, who did their homework as to what types of government had worked best in the past. Unlike the leaders of most revolutions (or those that took them over soon after victory), our Founders were not seeking personal power. Their greatest strength and virtue was their goal of using 'limited, decentralized government' to avoid the damage and losses caused by the oppressive, mercantilist, English monarchy they had been subject to. A quest for liberty was their guide. Hence the Constitution was written as a short list of powers granted to the Federal government by the people (for more, go to #3 'Issues' in the left margin, then item #2). The States viewed themselves as sovereign, and warily created the federal government only for mutual defense and a few administrative duties. Indeed, in the early days, our country was called 'These United States'; a name for a group, not a nation. This 'state' orientation is why the Constitution had US Senators elected by the State legislatures, not the people. 'States Rights' (Federalism) was very important to our Founders. Over time, the Feds have become bullies, and write laws that override State laws, etc., etc. This reduces differences in State conditions, and prevents people from 'voting with their feet' to move to a better State when one State gets oppressive; a very important incentive for State governments to avoid writing oppressive laws and taxes! For more, go to #3 'Issues' in the left margin, then #11 'States Rights'. A key problem is that the Federal Reserve can create money out of thin air, so DC never runs out, and thus becomes the funder for many State projects (thanks to vote-seeking Congresspersons), with controlling strings attached, and States Rights whither. The Feds impose unfunded mandates on States and private firms (example; hospitals must accept free emergency services, or lose Medicare status, etc.) based on the threat of withdrawing Fed money on other programs. For more info on money, go to #1 'Fake Money'' in the left margin.

In keeping with the Constitution, ARTS will fight for minimal government intervention and control in both the personal and economic parts of our lives and businesses. For details about our 'Core Principle', refer to Part 3d below, or for more detail, click in the left margin on Part 3 'Issues', and go to item 2.

History and logic show that this 'less government' approach not only yields more liberty, but more peace, justice, prosperity, and better ethics. This approach rewards personal responsibility and work, and private charity cares well for the needy (and there are about 80% fewer cases due to reduced abuse, reduced perverse incentives, and no 'entitlements').

'Less government' results in 'more Peace' because it is the power-hungry 'leaders' of big-governments that start the wars. For a list, refer to Part 8-B 'Dave's Writings' in the left margin for the article 'Wars and the Lies that Start Them'.

The 'more government' programs promoted by all of today's political parties, and the traditional big-spending Progressive, Liberal, and Socialist interest groups do more harm than good, especially when you count the side-effects (unintended consequences). For example, FDR's 'New Deal', and LBJ's 'Great Society', were both counterproductive pits of waste, dependency, and political favors. The failure of these, and all other government social and business projects, is largely due to; a) Justification (by both the government and the voters) of the bad ethics needed for immoral fundraising (accepting 'tax the rich', and 'gang-theft-by-vote' as OK!), b) Concentration of power in the central government, which always leads to less liberty, and prosperity, and more corruption, c) Violation of property rights as they force business owners to do 'nice' things (no smoking, required employee benefits), rather than allowing competition and consumer choice to rule, and uncompensated partial takings through down-zoning (forcing farmers to provide 'open space', no signs in fields, etc.), and d) Damage to society due to social programs that reward lack of personal responsibility and work (career welfare, etc.). Their version of 'social justice' is to rob from 'the rich' (or 'successful') and give to the 'poor', 'less fortunate', and 'disadvantaged' (note the 'victim' implication) by force. Everyone loses in the long run (over 2 to 5 years) due to the reduction in incentive for personal responsibility, honesty, and work, and yet the Progressives righteously whine; 'At least we tried!'. Again, voluntary charity will care well for the truly needy, partly because there are less than 10% as many applicants with the ARTS approach.

Minor parties such as Libertarian and Constitution offer some good principles, but have little impact on government activity. The Libertarians in particular are under constant challenge to trade principle for 'popularity' (more members and votes), by 'toning down' their objections to abuse and corruption. This conflicts with their Party Founder's intent to be 'the loyal opposition'. Hence the need for 'straight talk' from ARTS.

When people become dependent on government (looking 'up' to local government and DC for handouts), they care less about support from, and relationships with, friends and family (looking 'sideways' around you). As these local relationships whither because they 'don't matter very much', other social problems such as crime, broken homes, and laziness grow. For proof, look around you, and in your local newspaper (burglaries, fights in schools, etc.)!

Liberals think the government can do anything the people, or legislators, vote for that seems 'nice' or 'good' and view the Constitution and property rights as archaic limitations they can ignore. 'Implied powers', and the 'general welfare clause' are used to justify 'more government', or in most cases the Constitution is just plain ignored by both the Legislatures and Supreme Courts in both the States and DC! They like using the government to fund their projects with taxes or fake money, its easier than working to get donations!

ARTS members say that most things are none of the government's business, and supports a strict view on the Constitution and property rights, as protection against 'tyranny of the majority', and 'mob rule', whether from the Left or Right!

Remember, we are a 'Constitutional Republic' where the constitution limits what the government and people can, and cannot, do to each other, not a 'Democracy' where majority-vote rules and 'tyranny of the majority' always occurs.

Join ARTS for more liberty, peace, justice, prosperity, and ethics for all.

2. Problems with Major Political Parties

2a. Introduction: Most Congresspersons, party leaders, and 'loyalist' workers (at the DC, State and County levels) of the major political parties have failed the people, and should reform or be replaced!

The priority of most of them is to keep their Party jobs and social and business connections! They want to viewed as ‘normal’ and ‘loyal’, so they are obedient, follow-the-leader, party-first, and denounce critics of their Party and its leaders as wierdos, conspiracy theorists, and disloyal troublemakers. My criticism is a non-partisan observation, since it applies equally to both major parties. The Main-Stream-Media (MSM) follows the same cowardly path. Those nation-first, people-first, ‘comply with the Constitution’ rebels who dare to question the Party Line are shunned and ridiculed. Thus the misconduct of those in power gets worse, and the Party declines in membership and at the polls. The Republican Party and MSM treatment of 2008 Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is a good example. Despite his popular support and strong fundraising, he was excluded from most TV debates and the national and several state conventions because he dared to question the honesty and legality of the reasons that caused 9-11 and why we went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and thus the honesty of Bush-Cheney and their team!

The party leaders toe-the-line to avoid disturbing the party’s ‘image’, and upsetting major campaign donors, most of whom profit or grow from war, subsidies, and special laws and rulings.

Most elected officials, especially in Congress with its unlimited supply of fake money, will do almost anything to keep their plush and powerful jobs. The pork, earmark grants, sub-prime loans, and favors to campaign donors are part of their career planning. Rome called it ‘bread and circuses’.

Their failure to end the tragic and illegal Iraq and Afghan wars during the 2006 to 2008 Democratic 'mandate' years is a shameful example. The Dems would rather have thousands more people die (our troops and many times more local civilians) than be blamed for a messy withdrawal, or be accused of 'surrender' after our illegal, immoral invasion and occupation. Shame on them !!

Excess spending and debt loomed as threats to the U.S. economy, and Congress and Bush ignored the problems! These chickens came home to roost in 2008. We all hope that Pres. Obama and his team will do better, but his early appointment of big-government, pro-spend, and pro-Israel leaders is ominous. More and more State projects are funded in DC (pork, grants, mandates; with strings attached) because DC never runs out of fake money. The U.S. debt (Treasury Bills and Bonds) is over $9 trillion and growing! Worse, this does not count the 'off-budget' unfunded over $53 trillion dollar liabilities of Social Security and Medicare (go to www.pgpf.org). These debts can only be paid by massive creation of more dollars, which will reduce the value of all dollars, and cause a depression!! We are 'stuck between a rock and a hard place', and only a major reduction in spending will solve the problem. For more info, go to #1 'Fake Money' in the left margin.

Neocon warmongers drive our foreign policy. The 'Project for a New American century' (PNAC, www.newamericancentury.org) was founded by 'use more power' pushers such as neocons Cheney, Rumsfeld, Perle, and the like, and their plan, a white paper produced in September of 2000 entitled "Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century." depends on war to defend and expand Empire-USA control world wide. It became the blueprint for the Bush team to invade Iraq and Afghanistan (for oil, Israel, and bases). The 9-11 tragedy was the trigger they needed! (click on #3 'Issues' in the left margin, and go to items 3 and 5 on '9-11'). Many neocons are Zionists (and all are Empire builders), which means they put the success of Israel before the USA, and expect the USA to pay for its defense with our blood and treasure. The Israeli lobby AIPAC (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee; www.aipac.org) is their enforcer in the USA. In Mar-09 they changed their name to 'The Foreign Policy Initiative; www.foreignpolicyi.org' with the same plans to grow Empire-USA. Watch then get funding from the military-industrial folks! If a Congressperson doesn't support Israel, they don't get re-elected!! AIPAC attacks them, or supports their opponent. Take note that most Congresspersons (plus Cheney, Rice, Powell, McCain, Obama, etc.) attend their annual banquet in DC and kiss-up by promising vast military and financial support for Israel!! Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, is a dual Israeli citizen and volunteered to fight in their army, as did his father. Only a retiring Congressperson will criticize AIPAC. A massive scandal!! For more, go to #8-A 'True Reasons Bush Invaded' in the left margin. No cries of anti-semitism please; this is a legal, political and financial issue, not religious.

G. W. Bush and his team 'used' 9-11 and their 'War on Terror' to justify a long list of excess powers for the Executive branch, plus a host of violations of domestic laws and liberties (spying, excess control of travel, torture and jailing of 'non-combatants, etc.).

Only a few courageous Congresspersons such as Maxine Waters, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee , Ron Paul, Chuck Hagel, Jim Webb, Russ Feingold, and a few others, have shown courage in opposing control by their Party Bosses. Sen. Hagel's Oct. 17, '07 letter to Pres. Bush is a good example. It starts with: 'I write to urge you to consider pursuing direct, unconditional and comprehensive talks with the Government of Iran.', and goes on to cite how our arrogant 'preconditions' make a joke out of our offer to talk. See the full letter, and more on Hagel, in Part 6 of the left margin. Bravo to all of them !

2b. The ARTS Plan to Restore America's Principles:

The major political parties have veered off-course in the last thirtyeight years (since Nixon abrogated the Bretton Woods Monetary Treaty, and imposed price controls, in 1971), and need new leadership and reform at all levels. They now condone or promote 'more-government' for war, spending, religion, illegal immigration, unconstitutional restriction of rights, illegal 'signing statements', illegal Executive Orders, torture, and corruption! Some say suspensions of rights are 'needed for a while'; Nonsense, the rights rarely come back! ARTS members are 'Small-Government Moderates', and very word on this site supports that description! The religious right now dominates the Republican Party, and pushes for imposing its views on all of us by use of the coercive powers of government. We oppose 'using' the government as a tool to impose your personal preferences (not legal principles) on others, and will work to restore key principles such as shown below to 'defend rights', not 'control personal choices':

1) Limited Constitution-based government emphasizing sound money, personal responsibility, Liberty, property rights, low taxing and spending, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, with strong defense against attack and valid threats, but

2) No wars (or 'Police actions') without the express approval of Congress,

3) No pre-emptive wars or invasions,

4) Use war only for defense of homeland from invasions or proven threats. No foreign wars or invasions for economic or political goals (such as for oil, land, defense of Israel, and Empire-USA), and

5) Repeal unconstitutional, and unnecessary restrictions on liberty and privacy, and Executive Branch power-grabs, such as the Patriot Act, and Military Commissions Act, and restore Habeas Corpus.

Ronald Reagan said; 'No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, or for ideology.' Another way to say it is; 'No wars for Empire-USA'.

We urge party activists to support the idea, 'When your leaders 'go bad' and hijack your Party, a loyal Party member fights to reform or replace them! ', and also join ARTS.

It is time to repudiate the misconduct, and violation of America's Principles, of our 'leaders', and start an honest rebuilding plan. Rather than continuing the present leadership's mode of avoidance and denial, this honest approach will achieve needed changes, and win more votes, right away! Honesty WORKS !

Dave predicts Ghandhi's aphorism will prevail:

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

2c. Core Principle - All of ARTS' 'Issue Positions' are based on the following objective principle:

'The government's proper role is to protect the personal and property rights of it's citizens, as individuals, from threat or violation by others'.

This is consistent with the federal constitution. The intent of the Constitution is to limit federal power to truly national functions such as defense, foreign affairs, etc., and retain all other power for the States and the people. History and logic show that this approach yields not only more liberty, but more peace, prosperity, ethics, and justice. (to see details and examples, click Part #3 'Issues' in the left margin, and go to Item 2).

Move FORWARD with ARTS!

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