Economic Distribution -- Our centerpiece proposal
The Modern Whig philosophy is to empower the states with the resources to handle their unique affairs. The logic is that people in Alabama should not always have to flip the bill for earmarks that occur in New York and vice versa. For example, a senator from Oklahoma is currently using his committee powers to stifle an important transportation project in Virginia. The reality is that the more local one gets, the more in tune with the unique and specific needs of that area. This is why we propose that federal tax dollars be provided to each state in a lump sum every fiscal year based on population. This eliminates the need for most earmarks and pork-barrel spending as the onus will then be on state legislators and governors to allocate funding for issues that they see fit. Of course the federal government will still vote on other special projects and traditionally federal items, but these projects will be more manageable to monitor. In addition, the allocations to the states also provides a better opportunity to balance the federal budget while also forcing local voters to pay more attention to state elected officials.
Music
Iraq & Afghanistan
Many of our members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have unique and practical qualifications to express the Modern Whig viewpoint. Iraq obviously was planned and managed very poorly and it is time for drastic but realistic change. We propose pulling our forces out of Iraq except for a relatively small base in the Kurdish area of the country. Our troops will tell you that unlike the rest of Iraq, the Kurds are prone to democracy and in fact do treat American forces as liberators. To this end, the Kurds deserve our continued protection and in turn, we maintain a base to act upon any contingencies emanating from within Iraq, Syria or Iran. Moreover, the oil industry from Kirkuk can take care of the bills. We then can put real effort and resources into fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Finally, we would continue dialogue and contact with the Pakistani government in hopes that they would finally end this de facto terrorist safe-haven in their country, but in the end, if they fail to act then we will.
Movies
Why Whig...why not? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwcP1rT9Wxg
Green Technology and National Security
Why did we lump the environment with national security? Because eliminating our dependency on foreign oil is a national security issue as it takes away a significant amount of cards from our enemies. For example, cartels are illegal in the US but at the same time, we rely on the OPEC cartel for our oil. Expedited funding and research into viable green technology is part of the answer. It also is a major developing industry where we can make lots of money and create tons of jobs. At the same time, we represent a new generation of "Trustbuster." At the turn of the 20th Century, Teddy Roosevelt broke up the monopolies that stifled small business and economic growth. Now is the time to bust up the oil companies. These companies are designed, as they should be, to make money for their shareholders. We support this. The Modern Whig Party understands that corporations would actually be violating the rules if they strayed from their fiduciary duties toward their shareholders. However, an oil company has no business owning another energy resource such as coal. Believe it or not, clean coal technology exists and if permitted to grow, West Virginia and Southeast Ohio will become the engine of the world.
Television
Modern Whig Party http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA-UW12gGAU
Immigration
If somebody is in this country illegally, then he or she should be deported if caught. However, it is not realistic in terms of manpower and resources to attempt to hunt illegal immigrants down. We propose the following: Offer illegal immigrants the opportunity for citizenship if they join the military and serve out their initial contractual term honorably. This system already works for green card holders and has been very successful. The illegal immigrants will not be entitled to jobs that require security clearances, but will be eligible for the GI Bill, Tricare and all other benefits afforded to US service members who serve honorably. This program also will include a background check and English-language classes if necessary. In this manner, any illegal immigrant ranging in age from 18 to 42 will receive job skills and educational benefits while they earn their citizenship in defense of our country. Of course this military path to citizenship would not apply to elderly or disabled illegal immigrants, but it does offer an opportunity to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants.
In respect to the orderly deportation of other illegal immigrants, we propose the following: A creation of ad-hoc immigration courts. Essentially, highly regarded immigration lawyers in varying parts of the country will be nominated and selected to serve as immigration judges. When a suspected illegal immigrant is caught, an ad-hoc court can quickly be convened in order to ensure fair proceedings. In this manner, we can significantly impact the current problem of immigration court backlog while at the same time empower local communities such as Prince William County in Virginia that wish to enforce immigration laws.
Israel
The Modern Whig Party supports the two-state solution to this conflict. However, we refuse to support the creation of a terrorist state of Palestine. Israel is a stable democracy and should be treated and respected accordingly. Israel is very important to not only Jewish members of the party, but also our evangelical members and those who see the situation for what it truly is. We support Israel's right to defend itself from its enemies just as we support the US and our right to defend ourselves. True compromise from both sides is key, although Israel should be permitted to keep its major settlement blocks such as Gush Etzion and Ariel.
China, Foreign Aid and the WTO
"Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime." We take this proverb to another level when it comes to certain international business practices. Did you know that dental crowns are often manufactured in China and contain dangerous amounts of lead? We already know about the dangerous pet food and toys that are made in China. Yet we put up with all these goods made in an authoritative, somewhat menacing nation that opposes us at virtually every opportunity just to keep costs down. The Modern Whig Party proposes offering tiered subsidies and tax breaks to U.S. corporations who remove their manufacturing operations from China. The WTO and international treaty justification is based on well-established health and welfare exemptions of rules that normally forbid this type of government intervention. We can then steer our corporations to creating jobs in other places such as the West Bank, Iraq and Latin America. We can then cut direct foreign aid to some of these nations as that system is notorious for corruption anyway. Instead, the people in these poverty-stricken nations will have stable jobs. In the case of Latin America, steering manufacturing jobs out of China and into our hemisphere also may help curb the tide of immigration. Since this is a tiered system, we also suggest that the highest tier of tax breaks and subsidies go to manufacturing jobs in the US.
Don't Mess with Christmas
While our members range from deeply religious to completely secular, we are realistic. We follow the rule that the government must not fund religious activities. However, this whole business of forcing Christmas trees and Reindeer off of city hall property is ridiculous. So long as other religions have equal access to display their holiday symbols, we see no problems.
MODERNWHIG.ORG
Other Social Issues
Gay rights: Each state can determine the extended rights of homosexuals based on their own local values. We do, however, support classifying as a federal hate crime attacks on people based on their perceived sexual orientation. In the end, the sexual orientation of the guy down the street has no bearing on anybody else's life.
Abortion: Our members are split on this subject just like the rest of the country. Each state can determine its course of action. The federal government should not get involved as the less involvement by the government in our private lives the better.
Affirmative Action: Race-based affirmative action should be eliminated and replaced with an economic criteria for education benefits.
Science and Technology
Exploration is in our blood. Whether it is the brain, the oceans, the wilderness or space, people have always been fascinated by the unknown. Perhaps more importantly, science has a way of bringing people together in a manner that no politician could ever dream. Science also has a way of transforming the economy. The Modern Whig Party supports the privatization of space and continued exploration of our oceans. Taking away the government monopoly and allowing capitalism into the exploration business will exponentially expand our technology base and further the growth of mankind.
Contact Information
The Modern Whig Party 2141 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite C-2 Washington, DC 20007
Web site: http://modernwhig.org
Email: membership@modernwhig.org
THE MODERN WHIG PARTY For the rest of us
http://modernwhig.org membership@modernwhig.org
6/08
Indiana Modern Whig Party
e-mail indiana@modernwhig.org
MODERNWHIG.ORG
The Past
The original Whig Party in America was formed during the winter of 1833. Its founders were such prominent political leaders such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Quincy Adams. These individuals formed a coalition of former Federalists, National Republicans, anti-Masons, and state’s rightists. This new party was united in its efforts to stand up against the perceived abuses of power of President Andrew Jackson. In fact, many Whigs called President Jackson “King Andrew” because of the way he handled the office of the president.
Whig political agendas were not just opposition to Jackson. The Party also supported Henry Clay’s “American System”. The Whigs believed that connecting the country with internal improvements such as roads and canals would create a better sense of a unified nation. They also sought to use Federal funds to promote public education and public works of art. Central to their philosophy was to re-charter the Bank of the United States, something which President Jackson had opposed.
As the Civil War loomed on the horizon, the old Whig coalition began to fall apart. Clay and Webster died in 1852. With their deaths, the Whig Party was not too far behind. The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. That very issue tore the Whig Party apart as well. In 1854 the Republican Party was founded. Most northern Whigs joined this new party, while the Whigs in the south joined with the Democrats. The last Whig candidate for president ran in 1856.
The Present
Now, 150 years later, the Whig Party has been reborn. In late 2007, the Modern Whig Party was formed as a veteran’s advocacy group. A National Committee was selected and the group began to seek out new members. In just a few short months the Modern Whig Party has grown to over 10,000 in size. This makes the Party one of the largest third parties in the country.
The philosophy of the Modern Whigs is what has driven so many people to join up. Instead of promoting a strictly left-wing or right-wing agenda, the Whigs realize that many people are somewhere in the middle. Most individuals cherry-pick issues from the Democrats and Republicans.
Common sense and moderation are the core values the Modern Whig Party promotes. We realize that third parties come and go. These parties generally cease to exist because their agenda’s become outdated or their philosophy becomes so extreme that they alienate most voters. With a middle-of-the-road political viewpoint, the Modern Whig Party has positioned itself to be a part of the political landscape for quite some time.
Who I'd like to meet: The Future
With chapters in 14 states and counting, the future of the Party looks bright. Our membership is active online promoting the cause. Despite the Party’s limited resources and press we have grown far beyond expectations simply by word of mouth.
The Modern Whig Party plans to run candidates for office in the years to come. We understand that the current two-party Duopoly makes winning a difficult task. In 2009 we will begin running candidates for local elections. We will most likely run on major party tickets to increase our chances of winning. Then, in 2010, we will run three candidates for Congress, one Republican, one Democrat, and one Whig. Once we show that the Whig philosophy can win an election, we can proceed to build our Party’s membership and run on our own tickets in future elections.
Thanks for the add! Both Whig Presidents W.H. Harrison and Zachory Taylor lived here in Vincennes. Plus A. Lincoln campaigned for Henry Clay here in Vincennes when Clay ran for President as a whig in 1844.
I Join the Modren Whig Party cause I agree on the Issues they stand for.I am tierd of business as usual with the Dems and Gop the modern whigs are an old party with a fresh new ideas.The Modern Whigs bring fresh faces to the table. my generation has a chance to give life to are Country and the faith in of the American People in goverment.God Bless the Modern Whig Party.
