Nick for President

Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Green Partiers, Freaks...Lend me your ears.

Most people, in my estimation, realize that the Federal Government could be operated on a far smaller budget than what is currently spent. Trillion dollar spending is unnecessary when the government's only purposes are to enforce the Constitution and protect people from each other. Unfortunately, the duopoly of the Republican and Democratic Congress with the President spend countless dollars and time arguing with each other on how to control the people. Republicans (I'm generalizing, of course) want to control the morals and values of everyone rather than leave us to our own devices, while Democrats (still generalizing) want to control the economy through taxation and over-regulation, rather than allow capitalism to operate freely. Since most voters are a member of one of these two parties it can be argued that the people are to blame for voting for the leadership.

Well, it's true. But, fear not! Help is on the way. You have a new option: Nick. That's right, I am officially announcing my candidacy for the Presidency of the United States of America. Nick4President. Campaign 2012. I know its not the next Presidential election but I don't turn 35 until January 13, 2013, just a week or so before the inauguration that year and four years too late to succeed Bush. Because of my limited resources (I work a real job at a real company and don't make very much money) I am starting now...on the Internet, thanks to blogger.com.

I will need your help. It is important to realize that no candidate, no matter how smart, savvy, or downright handsome, can expect support on Election Day if no one believes he or she can win. We need to get those poll numbers up. Poll numbers can make or break a candidacy. High poll numbers tell the public a candidate is for real and has a shot at winning. Low poll numbers are the kiss of death. Low poll numbers are worse than real scandals, like messing around with an intern, or a DUI. So, anytime anyone asks who you're voting for (even in 2008) say "Nick Manning." Get the name out there and by 2012 we'll have a shot. I say we, because I'm an American, you're an American, and it's time we take our country back. This candidacy may change the world.

Now that you've told all of your friends about me and starting searching the web for a Nick 4 Prez t-shirt and bumper sticker, you should hear my ideas and learn a little bit about me.

I'm a libertarian leaning, meat eating, sports fan with a Geography degree from Florida State University. As far as I know, I am the first presidential candidate from FSU. Go Noles!

I reside in Clifton Park, NY with my wife, Sheryl. I have worked in the insurance industry since graduation, but fear not. I am beholden to no corporation or industry. I will make policy decisions based on the Constitution, the cost, and the need.

If a proposed bill is unconstitutional, I will veto it. I will make it painfully clear to the House of Representatives and the Senate that every possible bill must be presented in a way that saves money, reduces any existing costs, and gives detailed accounts of where and how the money is to be spent. In many cases, funds are appropriated to bureaucratic agencies to be used as the agency sees fit. It is cases such as these that raise the costs of operations because the agencies spend efforts to justify their pieces of the pie. There is no incentive for them to save money. They fear for their jobs. Most of these agencies are under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch. I will make it clear to Congress and the agencies that those directors that cannot save money will be replaced. Having said that, critical needs must be met. They need for a bill must be clear. If a bill has an expectation for a specific goal and it is determined later, in enacting that goal that additional resources are required, I will be open to receiving addendum or new bills so the goals can be met. That is, if the agencies responsible are working diligently to meet the goal within the initial budget, and more importantly, is the goal still necessary and is it attainable with additional resources.

These may not sound like new plans. You may have heard similar discussions at your job. Our government is not operating in a manner that saves money, reduces their budget, or focuses on critical matters. Taxes go up, conditions worsen, hope is lost.

Our debt is reaching 10 trillion dollars. It may not seem important because it seems like just a number that keeps climbing. You still have a job or your house, so who cares, right? You should care. The income taxes you pay only go to pay the interest on the National Debt. The interest! Not to sound too much like an infomercial, but what if I told you we could eliminate federal income taxes altogether. Just look at your paycheck and calculate how much you pay out of each paycheck, minus how much you get back when you file your taxes. If that number is not "zero" vote for me. It won't be overnight, but it can easily be done in a few short years. It's not that hard, really, because all we have to do is cut the unnecessary spending in Washington.

I don't remember all the gory details but there was a story several years back about a $20 billion submarine that the Navy requested from Congress. The Navy asked for one sub. Congress gave them six subs. I'm no mathematician but I know six is five more than one. If you're drinking beer six may be better than one, but if five obsolete subs are sitting unused in drydock somewhere that's $100 billion dollars spent on junk. It all happened because some congressman wanted his district to have that juicy government contract. And it passed both houses and was signed by the President! Since that excess $100 billion dollars comes from taxes other than your income taxes that could go toward knocking 1% of the debt, just by vetoing a bill. Of course, there were other parts of the bill that were probably important, since most bills contain many different items. I would still veto it, if not granted the Line Item Veto option by Congress. They can rewrite the bills until they cut the fat, or nothing is going through. We can operate on the existing laws just fine until they figure out how to cut costs. Better yet, elect Congressmen and Senators from the Libertarian party. They won't write bills that contain excesses. In fact, most of the bills they would write would be to overturn the existing laws that cost us billions every year. Next thing you know, that Federal Withholding box on your paycheck would read $0.00. That's a beautiful thing.

You may be wondering how we can afford to pay for the things we do need if all this money is going to be used to pay off the debt, now that our income taxes are no more. It's a fair question. Here's how: Cut unnecessary spending. It's that simple. Think about your family budget at home. If you really needed to cut costs what would be cut? You wouldn't cut your mortgage payment or heating bill, but you might cut out cable or junk food. Congress just loves cable and junk food. They can't help themselves. They're addicted. They think the only way they can get re-elected is to provide pork-barrel projects to their districts. Well, wouldn't "no income tax" be the best pork-barrel project ever?! It would help everyone. "Instead of paying 6 grand every year I could keep it, or donate it to the charity of my choice, or pay off my credit cards?" I would vote for that rep every time.

Check back soon for more details on the Manning Plan.

Remember "Nick 4 President." And get those poll numbers up.