Besides being an oldies music fanatic and sports fan, I also have viewpoints on certain key political issues. Enclosed is my 2 cents[it might not even be worth that much.] I hope nobody is so offended by my opinions that they would stop listening to my radio shows or stop attending karaoke.

I love living right here in the United States. However it is not a perfect society. Of course, no place is perfect, but I have strong opinions on moving it closer to perfection.

We live in a capitalistic-socialistic society. Pure socialism would give everybody an equal amount of resources regardless of anyone's contribution to society. This does not work because many folks would take the easy way out if not motivated to work more or harder for additional rewards and comforts. Pure capitalism would result in some kind of survival of the fittest with no regards to even a minimal amount of comfort and security for those who fall on hard times. There would be no food stamps. The non working poor would simply freeze or starve to death.

Most reasonable people would feel that the line should fall somewhere in the middle of the pure capitalism and socialism extremes. I tend to be more socialistic than the current administration. To quote the song If I Were A Rich Man, There is no shame in being poor but it's no great honor either.

The nation has a budget. It does not have an infinite amount of money. In order to erase a deficit ,it can either raise taxes or cut services. Let's start with social security. It started sometime around 1935[I'm not going to bother to look up the exact date]. The goal was to provide a minimal comfort for the infirm and for senior citizens. At the time the age of 65 was picked as the retirement age. Some folks were lucky enough to make it that far but many passed away due to disease and accidents before even collecting a dime. Nowadays, with superior preventive medicine and treatment life spans have greatly increased. Therefore there are more people with more years to collect social security. Of course the system if not altered will run out of money.

To put it bluntly, I see four options. The current social security tax rate is 6.25% for employer and employee. That could be raised. As I am self employed, I feel already screwed by having to pay 12.50% to the system. Also that would mean more taxes for lower income people who pay that 6.25% of their income no matter how little they earn. I don't care for that idea.

Number 2 would be increasing the age of benefits. I get a form right now that shows ages of 62,66 or 70 as retirement ages. Perhaps the age should be slowly adjusted to 70.Many of us are living longer and healthier.

number 3--Social security was originally formed for older people who need the money. I doubt Bill Gates will be dependent on social security to keep his lifestyle. If the very rich forego some of their benefits that would leave more for the struggling seniors.

#4--This is an integral part of my tax plan. As there is a maximum of benefits one may receive from social security, there is also a maximum one must pay per year. The richer folks only pay the 6.25% on the first $87,900 of earned income per year. I would extend this 6.25% throughout the their total income. This would not only help the social security future mess but also pump more money into the general U.S. budget. I know the upper income people have worked hard for their money but surely if the lower income can afford to pay the 6.25% throughout their total income, the rich can do the same.

The upper income people should pay more taxes because they have more benefits from living in a safe secure society. I would be willing to wager that the children of upper income families are under represented in today's military. Many people besides willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice join the military for economic and educational opportunities. The rich already have both.

Continuing on taxation, besides the 6.25 % extended on incomes above $87,900,I would also tax the super rich more. I would say those making $500,000 or more per year should pay another 5 percent of their incomes over that amount. They already make enough for all necessary items. Some people never make think they make enough. Nomar Garciaparra last year turned down a 16 million dollar a year contract to play baseball. As he had an off year, he now had to settle for 8 million a year. I know he won't starve.

A couple of more things on taxation before the next topic. Capital gains taxes are less than regular income taxes. In other words if you make money in the stock market [I consider it gambling] you pay less taxes than an equivalent amount of earned working income. While many in the middle class can afford to 'invest' in stocks, it would most likely be the upper income folks who gain most by paying less taxes. Lower income folks need all the help they can get in day to day expenses and on the most part cannot afford to invest-gamble in the stock market. Surely the capital gains tax should at least equal the income tax. I also feel that while the inheritance tax might result in double taxation, it should be taxed. We fought a war for independence to get away from this so called riches by birth philosophy. If one inherits millions of dollars, they already don't have to work and can afford to pump some money back into the treasury so others may benefit.

Besides soaking the rich, I would use 'sin' taxes in order to increase money in the treasury. Legalized gambling and lotteries are already used. I'd expand these but am aware of the law of diminishing returns. I'd also legalize marijuana. It should definitely be used for medicinal purposes. From my observations, I find it no more harmful than alcohol. Of course one should not operate a motor vehicle when under its influence. It also should not be smoked indoors in public places. Put an excise tax on it and many folks can still get it cheaper and safer than from an illegal dealer. I'd also legalize prostitution. Of course only so called safe sex could be practiced and workers would be constantly health tested so they would not spread disease. Once again there would be more money going into the treasury.

By the way I would not legalize poisonous drugs such as cocaine and heroin. They are a danger to society. I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would ever try them.

Keeping with the money issue, there are some folks that have children but can't afford to care for them. In order to qualify for welfare benefits, I would have both the father and mother sterilized so they could not produce any more kids at the nations expense. I would even consider offering a lump sum of money like $2000 to both folks. The money saved in the future would be much greater. I've had some experience working with 'problem' children. They are much more likely to come from problem families in which failure to provide is one symptom. These problem children cost the society more in extra school social services. Later in life these kids are more likely to commit crimes and enter the justice system at a huge cost to society.

By the offer of money, I'd be doing the parents a favor. They can more easily provide for one child than multiple kids.

I'm not a religious person but am not entirely comfortable with late term abortions. I would like to see the morning after pill used as frequently as possible.

I am for gay marriage. With a 50% divorce rate, I don't think gay people can do any worse. At the very least they should have equal rights in regards to jobs, health care and all other societal benefits.

Now that I've increased the treasury, I'd like to see money spent on some kind of universal health care system. I would like to see more money paid to our armed forces especially in war time.

I think all work has a value to society The minimum wage should probably be $10 an hour. A hard working janitor has every right to a comfortable no-frills life as anybody else. It is a tragedy that someone can work a 40 hour week and still not meet expenses

Affirmative Action-It is a shameful that certain races of people suffered in the past in this country. However, I cannot condone affirmative action and quotas. A student who is intelligent enough to go to a state school but not an Ivy League school should go to the state school where they could be successful. Sending them to a school above their level might just be setting up an otherwise successful student up for failure. It is an insult to minority members that they might need special help getting into medical or law schools. I would offer some incentive to police, firefighters and teachers who live in the neighborhood of their precinct, station or school. In that way they would more accurately represent the neighborhood they serve.

To move to another topic-election reform. The electoral college is stupid. The whole idea of the Senate is stupid. California has a larger population than the least populous 21 states. Yet California gets 2 senators and the 21 states get 42 senators. California and other populous states are underrepresented. This under representation continues in the electoral college. While the House of Representatives fairly represents each state, tacking on the 2 senators over represents the less populous states in the electoral college. Besides that, this year Bush and Kerry spent little time in New York and Texas because they knew who would win those states. It didn't matter whether a candidate received 51 percent or 100% of the state vote.

I would abolish the electoral system and set up a popular vote system. I would encourage third and fourth party candidates. I'd run a playoff type of election. If 5 candidates ran and it took the top 3 to garner 50 percent of the vote, I'd runoff between those three. If no candidate received a majority, I'd run off the top 2.Finally someone would have a majority. This would eliminate the primary system with their overemphasis on small but key primary states like New Hampshire and Iowa.

One may notice that I have not yet commented on foreign policy.We are currently in wars with Afghanistan and Iraq.Many people did not agree with the decision to go to war in Iraq.So far,at best it may have kept terrorists and fanatics busy in Iraq and away from more attacks on the USA.We have gotten rid of Saddam Hussein who terrorized his own country.However we now have what I call a mass uncontrolled riot going on in Iraq.I will point the analogy to a prison riot.If the guards cannot control a prison,additional help is brought in until the situation is brought  under control.Obviously this is not a jail but an entire nation.There are many people ready to fight until death.Some view death as some sort of reward and are willing to die and take others with them.It is difficult to fully control a large number of people with these attitudes toward life and death.President Bush no longer wants to use the term stay the course.We really need to drastically change the course.

One lesson we should have learned from the Vietnam War is that if we are willing to enter into a war, we need to win it.It is quite possible that in order to gain control of Iraq and push it toward a peaceful democracy,we need to double the number of troops.I do not support a draft as you get a huge crop of unmotivated people who are there against their wishes.It is not fair.By the luck of a number millions of young Americans were able to fully enjoy being part of the Woodstock peace-love generation while many of their peers were suffering and risking their lives in the jungles of Vietnam.

Pat Tillman was a football player who gave up a high paying job to fight and unfortunately die for his country.There are few people like him.Besides risking death,there is also the possibility of permanent physical or psychological injury.On top of that, family dynamics are more than subject to change when someone is gone for a long period of time.The only way we get anybody to enlist is via the almighty dollar.There are lower income people who are motivated by the $30,000 a year of mostly saved money and educational opportunities provided by the armed forces.In order to arouse more interest in the armed forces, it is quite possible that we need to raise the starting military salary to maybe $50,000 a year.One would still have congressmen who made the decision to go to war earning three times the amount of those fighting to protect our country.

Unlike the present irresponsible administration and congress,I would not increase the deficit in order to achieve this.If one reads back,one can see I've already mentioned ways to help the nation raise money. For me one obvious way is through a nationwide gas tax.I know that 99 percent of the public are too stupid to agree with me.Over the summer we were paying as much as $3.49 for a gallon of gas.There was a decline in gas consumption but most people dealt with it.I use my car to go everywhere and still only use a tank[12 gallons of gas]a week.Sure I'd rather pay $30 a week instead of $40 a week but it doesn't make or break me.When one buys a house or rents an apartment a consideration should be made to proximity to work.When one buys a car,gas mileage should be a consideration.Besides I'm only considering a 25 cents a gallon gas tax.Gas that cost $2.50 at this writing would now cost $2.75.One is still saving 75 cents off the summer high prices.Remember we are paying for the defense of our nation.Besides any decrease in consumption of gas means a cleaner environment as well as less dependence on oil from foreign sources.Maybe it would motivate us to more greatly develop alternative energy.

I'm all for lotteries and gambling.In Las Vegas sports gambling is legaL.There is also gambling on the internet in these regards.The money is usually sent to some South or Central American country.Wouldn't we rather have our own country benefit from this illegal but relatively unharmful activity?

Very few sons and daughters of rich families go to fight in Iraq.The families may have money to send their children in expensive cars to expensive private colleges.Surely they could pay more of their earned money into taxes paying for lower income kids military training and salaries.

Another way to raise money is a one percent national sales tax.I do have a concern that some lower income folks might be affected by this.Perhaps there could be no tax on bare necessities.By the way, a $20 sneaker is a bare necessity.A $100 sneaker is a luxury.

One more tax I can think of is a luxury tax.If someone can afford to buy a $40,000 car or boat,they can surely afford to pay some kind of luxury tax.I might also consider a luxury tax on second homes and income property.

These are all sacrifices we need to make in order to win this war.If this is too much for our government to ask,we should have thought of that before entering Iraq.

After the WMD fiasco, our goal in Iraq became setting up a free democratic government which would be the envy of  people economically and physically suffering in countries like Iran and North Korea.This is a laudable goal.However if this goal is deemed not important enough for the government and citizens of our country to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure total victory,we need to remove our troops from the situation as soon as possible.

Our brave soldiers can't be out their risking their lives while our most well to do citizens take Caribbean cruises,count stock market gains, and in general reap every every possible comfort from living in our free democratic country. In the future,when we go to war,the government and each non-fighting citizen must be prepared to to make the necessary economical sacrifices to ensure victory.