My name is Robert Thomas
and I'm running for President of the United States in 2024.
Why? By making myself heard now, I'm giving myself an extra fifteen years to prepare for a positive, impactful term in office.
Also see:www.YouTube.com/RT2024
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The 3 most recent
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January 9th, 2010
What if, in order to vote, you had to have a high school diploma and two years of national service - military or otherwise - under your belt? (credit to having read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers for the idea)
But that limits American freedoms!
True, if voting is something to which everyone is entitled. This certainly would take some serious revision of the Constitution.
But the Constitution was made by men and isn't quite perfect, with all due respect to the nation's forefathers.
Here are a few reasons for this limitation:
One: American election campaigns seem built mostly on propaganda rather than actual fact. It takes a lot of thought and knowledge to see through the smoke and mirrors, and to figure out what candidates are actually saying. Presumably, requiring a basic degree of education would mean voters are more informed and are thinking for themselves.
Two: Those who have national service experience would be more likely to have first-hand experience with diverse groups of people, and therefore are more familiar with the social challenges and problems in the country. They've gotten to learn about Americans from a perspective you can't get in a classroom.
Three: Servicepeople have lived in a culture of patriotism, or at least a culture of caring about the future of the nation's people.
Four: I think my world will be perfect when I know who I am, I know who you are, and everyone agrees that we equally know very little. My short experience with national service, and my education, have absolutely put me closer to each of those things.
But that might decrease voter turnout rates!
In 2008, 56.8% of eligible U.S. citizens voted, according to Dr. Michael McDonald of George Mason University. That's significantly fewer than many other nations in the world. We really don't have too much to lose.
On the contrary, I think having to earn the entitlement to vote would boost turnout rates. There would likely be an initial slump in turnout rates, and then as being able to vote became "chic," there would be a great increase.
But that would make America an aristocracy with an educated elite!
I don't think so. That "educated elite" is an overwhelming majority of the nation already. 84.1% of Americans had high school diplomas in 2002, according to the Census Bureau. I can't see any reason to not provide an additional incentive to graduate high school, and make it more meaningful than just something you go through to get a job. Besides, for the past 20 years, not graduating high school has been a quick ticket to a low quality of life.
What do you think?
Mini-update:This video by Tim Wise just changed my life. Watch it before it's too late.
December 23rd, 2009
On Immigration
Anytime someone argues against making immigration to our country or attaining citizenship easier, their underlying arguments seem to me very close to racism.
The arguments I've heard tend to be along the lines of, "They'll take our money," or, "They'll take our jobs." But who is "our"? America's always been a nation of immigrants.
It took me a long time to get over my fear of immigrants. It took a lot of reflection to realize that what used to make me so against increased immigration was the fear that my comfortably white and English-speaking culture might start to change.
Now I can appreciate diversity, and realize that just because your world is changing doesn't mean you're threatened.
The other big argument against facilitating more immigration is that immigrants tend to be poor, and seem to show a greater tendency toward crime and sucking up government resources.
Therefore, I encourage a push for citizenship, and, as usual, education. I believe they're poor and alienated because they haven't been educated in the same schools as wealthy America.
It's not a question of "us vs. them."
I'm not big on required education, but I would like to encourage American schools to teach Spanish to their students.
December 9th, 2009
"The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.
"As a precaution to ever committing major acts of evil it is our solemn duty never to do what we're told, this is the only way we can be sure."
Banksy. Wall and Piece, 2005.