Given this blog’s new tagline, “Postmodern Traditionalism, Policy, and Criticism”, I thought it be convenient to have a central hub for all the polices I propose. As I propose more, this page will be edited.
1.) The 45K Plan
For proper education teaching virtue and the love of God, let the state funds allotted to students for public education be given to families so they can then use those funds to either homeschool their children or enroll them in a private or charter school. On average this amounts to $15,000 a year per student, and on average this is higher than the tuition of private school. No new taxes are needed, as this money is already in the system, but will just be distributed differently.
Each generation moves further to the left because each generation the public schools moves further to the left. Political formation, rather than education, is the purpose of these schools. Should the public education system be gutted, and its resources being funneled to private, charter, and homeschools, then the leftward shift will be, at the very least, halted.
2.) Strong Borders Through Strong Economies
For the security of our border, let a) the border wall be finished, b) have more troops deployed, c) give border patrol officers autonomy in deciding how to accomplish their duties and not be hamstrung by Washington, and d) make the economy and security of Mexico and South America America’s number one foreign policy priority. People immigrate because they are in a bad situation, and they are looking for a better opportunity. If Mexico and South America were relatively safe and had decent jobs, then those seeking to immigrate here would decrease in number. American companies could be given subsidies if they opened plants and offices in Mexico and South America, on condition that workers are paid more than the workers of any other company in the region, are given health care and a 401K. Yes, the demand is high, and yes, we are paying companies to take jobs overseas. Yet, money will pour back into America as American companies are still making a profit and there will be less immigration as the need to immigrate will dry up. When it comes to crime, the next president should tell the president of Mexico that if he does not crack down on crime, American soldiers will be sent to stabilize the situation. Chances are crime will simply go behind the curtain, but as long as the average Mexican does not have to worry about being shot, then the goal is accomplished.
3.) The Mom-and-Pop Subsidy
To strengthen small businesses against both the shopping mall and the international megacorps like Walmart, Amazon and Home Depot, let a 1% sales tax be applied to all big box retailers, with the revenue of this tax being used to subsidize locally owned businesses (the exact distribution being decided by local and state governments). The left is able to enact its political and legal agenda because it has the funding and resources available, and it has the funding and resources available because the professional managerial class that makes up the left is the center of the economy. Should the naturally conservative middle class become the new economic center, then, and only then, will it have the ability to enact political and legal reform.
4.) A New Code of Decency
To prevent entertainment from being used to portray ugliness, let a new decency code be applied to Hollywood, streaming platforms and cable. Movies, film, and television must highlight some virtue (Stranger Things revolves around the premise that friendship and family can overcome the forces of darkness), cannot have protagonists that blaspheme, and must be tasteful in language and romance. As for the last two, I do not wish to eliminate all cursing or never to see a kiss on screen, but we eat fries with ketchup, not ketchup with fries. Not only does the latter make speech ugly and turns romance into porn, but it is indicative of poor writing. Take a look at this 14 second scene with Ewan McGregor, one that is filled with sexual tension, and compare it to something in Shameless or Game of Thrones. One is good writing, romantic and erotic, the other(s) is sloppy writing and pornographic.
5.) The Defense of Families Act
Criminalize appearing in drag in front of children, institute the death penalty for anyone convicted of sexually abusing a minor, and, on the other hand, levying a 1% sales tax on all chain stores with the revenue going into a fund to be accessed to young families trying to buy their first house and for providing maternity leave. Perverts must either be locked away, or shot, and young families, especially in today’s economy, must be helped. We will punish you if you try and hurt the family, but we will do all that we can to help you if you are a struggling family. We could even forgive all student debt for mothers upon them having their third child.
6.) Clearing Out Propaganda
Activate code 606 of US 47 of the Telecommunications Act. You can read the text here, which lays out the specifics for when and how the president can seize control over all media communications in the country. Maybe you have a moral issue with this, I do at least. Yet, think of how the media has sabotaged countless conservative counterstrikes. Activating code 606 is not silencing free speech…it is silencing propaganda. This should be done the very first hour of the presidency.
7.) Cleaning Out the Deep State
Finish what Trump started, and immediately implement section F. This executive order would allow the President to classify everyone in the Executive Branch as a civil servant, and thus the possibility of firing anyone who does not carry out the President’s agenda.
8.) Promoting Guilds
In the next annual budget, introduce an amendment that gives a clear definition of a guild and prioritizes guilds in all subsequent budgets. Guilds would receive allotted subsidies before non-guild counterparts, for example. A more radical measure would be to redirect all subsidies that go to multinational corporations to guilds. The point of an amendment like this, and it can be worded any number of ways to ensure that it passes, it to signal to workers and businesses that it will become significantly more profitable to request a charter and incorporate into a guild. Year one is a set up, it is an announcement to the public. Year two is when guilds start getting subsidies. If you really want to get it going, mobilizing a 501c3, or two, for an education campaign about the amendment.
9.) Establishing Departments of Beauty and Preservation
Our inner life is formed by our outer life; our moral imagination, to think with Edmund Burke, is influenced, if not constructed by, what we see and hear. When we see beauty, we think beautiful thoughts, but when we see ugliness, our mind has no point of reference besides the ugliness we see. To fortify what is left of our moral imagination, let each state establish a “Department of Beauty and Preservation.” These departments, staffed by historians, architects, and artists, will be tasked with reviewing major building projects and either approving, or vetoing, these projects according to whether or not the project in question beautifies the soul. There is a difference between “buildings” and works of architecture, and it is the later which forms the moral imagination.
In addition to approving or vetoing building projects, these departments will be tasked with preserving historic sites, directing state funds towards their maintenance. Without our memorials to the dead, our churches, the houses of famous authors, or primary manuscripts, we are nothing more than flies of the summer with no memories linking one generation to the previous.
10.) A Basic Housing Bill
To make homeownership more affordable, let the following four-point plan be proposed:
Expanding access to mortgage financing: One of the main barriers to home ownership for middle class families is the difficulty of obtaining a mortgage. Policymakers could expand access to mortgage financing by increasing the availability of government-backed mortgage programs, such as FHA loans, or by providing financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. These programs will be available only to those persons who have a strong record of employment, no criminal record, and are married with at least one child. This is to specifically target young families, who are the most disadvantaged when it comes to home ownership, but who, should they achieve home ownership, will give the most back to their communities.
Providing property tax relief: High property taxes can make it difficult for middle class families to afford the costs of homeownership. Policymakers could provide property tax relief by increasing the availability of property tax credits or by implementing caps on property tax rates. Let the same qualifications present in point 1. be applied here.
Promoting the development of affordable housing: Increasing the supply of affordable housing can help lower home prices and make homeownership more accessible to middle class families. Policymakers could incentivize the development of affordable housing through tax credits, grants, or other financial incentives. Let the same qualifications present in point 1. be applied here.
Reducing regulations on housing construction: Easing regulatory barriers to housing construction, such as zoning laws or building codes, can help lower the cost of building new homes and make them more affordable for middle class families.
Hi how are you, rose?