Who I’m Going to Vote For

The previous election cycle and this current one have made me into a confirmed independent. To be blunt and brief, there is not a single declared candidate in any party for whom I would cast a vote. However, I do know the man or woman for whom I would vote, or at least the qualifications:

1. Willing to submit for public perusal white papers declaring, in detail, the measures he or she will take to deal with substantive issues of the time and the future.
2. Willing to respond verbally and in writing to questions that relate to serious issues, and not to dodge them.
3. Willing never to answer with self-serving non sequiturs.
4. Willing to defend the country and its citizens, his or her point of view, and what he or she deems to be the right choice, not the politically correct or expedient one.
5. Willing to avoid the extremes of the left and the right. Able to stand up to any and all of the extremists.
6. Has a record of working for all the people, including all races, socioeconomic classes, genders, and people who differ in their opinions with him or her.
7. Has a record of choosing the hard right answer rather than the easy politically safe one.
8. Is a patriot, not a jingoist nor a professional critic of the U.S.
9. Is educated on a variety of subjects pertinent to governing at whatever level the elective office.
10. Is willing to pursue term limitations, a rational immigration policy (not just “build a bigger wall” or “let them all in; so, they and their friends will give the politician their votes.”), desires real ethics legislation, agrees with line-item vetoes, is opposed to sneaking in a change to a bill for his or any other legislator’s personal political advantage, vigorous about enforcing and obeying laws—even unpopular ones such as equality of opportunity for same-sex couples, and all other subsets of American people.
11. Has a viable plan to improve the economy, eradicate inner city and rural poverty, crime, and lack of education to make rational and bipartisan changes to afford Americans a safe, effective, and affordable health care system (that will require a real fight to break down the overweaning power of bigPharma, avaricious insurance companies, and the American Trial Lawyers Association), to establish rational and appropriate foreign relations, and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, etc.
12. Is willing to support a strong military, not a bloated one. Is willing to work towards the closure of unnecessary military bases despite the political consequences.
13. Is willing to face up to confrontations all the way to military action if possible, but is always mindful that his or her first and most important duty is to protect Americans and to avoid putting the men and women of the military into harm’s way unnecessarily.
14. Is willing to compromise with the other party to get things done.

Yes, I know this is all naïve and impossible to achieve given the corruption of political institutions at all levels. However, the requirements I list are rational and failure to implement them will eventuate in the failure of America. We are well on our way on that downhill slope already. We need a dark horse with integrity. Any volunteers?