Mike Walsh For President

Mr. David Kolb, Editorial Editor

The Muskegon Chronicle

980 Third Street

Muskegon, MI 49440

VIA Email: dkolb@muskegonchronicle.com

Dear David:

Mike Walsh For President.

Hillary, Barak, John, and other Democrats – move over. I’m thinking of becoming President. If I do, I’ll need a vice president and a campaign platform, so here are selected elements of the platform. Drop off a resume if you want to be considered for VP:

1. Foreign Aid – We will immediately stop all foreign aid for a four-year period. We’ll spend all those trillions of dollars here at home on aging infrastructure: bridges, roads, water-sewer systems, electrical grids, railroads, national parks, military equipment, and so on. For my second four-year term I’ll reconsider aid, but only if it helps US and our friends. US taxpayers will no longer underwrite the rest of the world unless there’s a benefit to America.
2. Foreign Affairs – Let’s get real: Iraq is a tragic and expensive diversion from the real threat, Iran. We’ll give the Iraqis notice that we’re turning over control of their country to them. We’ll keep a few modest bases in the region, just in case. We’ll reward friends (see #1) and swarm against enemies. To all others we’ll promise this: Respect as long as they respect US. And as for Cuba, Hola Amigo: Immediate recognition and international trade. Capitalism will conquer.
3. Terrorism. Any attack on any US territory, property, or citizen will be met with swift and deadly retribution against the hosting country. Terrorists often do not act alone, but depend – at least in part – on a funding nation. Individual terrorists have families. We’ll find them. Hurt US and face our wrath.
4. Domestic Policy – There’s a lot to be done here at home.
1. National Service for every able-bodied man and woman for a one-to-five-year year period beginning after high school and before his or her 21^st birthday. Participants may opt for military service or other areas of need: City repair crews, hospital attendants, medical research aides, farmer-helpers, surveyor-assistants, teacher aides, conservation crews, inner-city social workers – where help is needed, we’ll be there. Participants may earn college credit and retirement benefits. Slackers may go hungry.
2. Homeland Security. Bushites: We are not Nazis. We will no longer refer to the “homeland.” Instead, we’ll call our nation “America” and ourselves as “Americans.” We will secure our borders and redefine our immigration policy to stop the nonsense. We will fund one-way tickets home to thousands of illegals and prison terms to second-timers. We’ll also reduce government and jettison the Homeland Security Department, returning its duties to Defense and other agencies.
3. Health Insurance. Every developed country boasts health insurance for its citizens. Ours will be the best in the world. Physicians and hospitals will be paid their true worth, but they may opt out. By doing so, though, they’ll also opt out of any government funding and invite social ostracism. We’re all in this together, folks.
4. Abortion Debate. Debate’s over: Government gets out of the bedroom and the doctor’s office and leaves the discussion to the parents, the doctor, the pastor, and God. The End.
5. Welfare Reform. We will take care of those who cannot help themselves. Able-bodied people must support themselves and their families. Those who won’t will find some very unpleasant consequences.
6. Economic Policy. Recognizing a world economy, we end NAFTA, CAFTA, and shore up AMERICAN companies for American families. Great benefits for US companies that keep jobs in the US. Penalties for outsourcing jobs. Order of benefit: Middle Class, Underclass, and The Rich. Those who won’t work won’t benefit.
7. Income Tax. It’s 10 percent on all earned income with benefits to US corporations creating and retaining jobs within the US.
8. Energy Policy. A carburetor in the 1930s boasted 200 miles per gallon. Batteries now can efficiently power most local car trips. A century ago, Nicola Tesla showed the way for “broadcasting” power through the ionosphere. We can make great progress almost immediately if special interests were nudged aside.
9. Good Morning, America. It’s a New Century and time for some tough new thinking. To make this the best century yet, we need a president like Harry Truman – informed, tough, uncompromising. I’m available.

I won’t be announcing my candidacy just yet. I want to avoid the high cost of pre-campaign campaigning. But after the primaries, I’ll be here unless something better comes up.

Michael G. Walsh

8 West Walton Avenue

Muskegon, MI 49440