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Lynn's Spin On 2024 GOP Platform

Editor: This is a work-in-progress. Last updated 28 May 2025.
 

  1.  DEMOCRACY ISSUES

    Free Speech     is guaranteed through the enforcement of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, which is also supported by state Sunshine Acts. However, we need either new federal legislation or federal enforcement of current laws to protect citizens from being banned from various venues because of their stated opinions or beliefs.  These venues include anything open to the public, such as: social media, public events, malls, stores, banks, schools, etc..  In addition, some government bodies, including Philadelphia, are restricting “public comments” to “agenda items only”, thereby censoring public comments at regularly scheduled meetings, among other 1st Amendment violations which include not publishing a complete agenda. Locally, read https://www.lynnlandes.com/SunshineAct.pdf

    Free & Fair Press - The public needs to be fully informed in order to make good decisions. Our news media is too often not fair. Instead, the news media has become the public relations arm of both political parties. The public needs to be exposed to a wide range of ideas in order to make informed decisions and therefore, news organizations should be forced to provide such a service or loose their license. Perhaps news organizations should be "subscription only" business, rather than advertiser-based.  Lastly, American news media should be owned by Americans only.

    Election Integrity – Voting is the most important expression of free speech in a democracy through the selection of our political leaders.  Current voting methods and computer systems continue to be nontransparent and vulnerable to widespread fraud from inside riggers and outside hackers alike.  President Trump endorses a completely transparent voting standard of hand cast and hand counted paper ballots at the local polls on Election Day only, plus a photo voter identification card that includes proof of residency and citizenship (Real ID). There should be no loopholes for the homeless or those who live overseas. We should also end dual citizenship which allows states to permit "dual citizens" to vote who have never lived in this country. In addition, the ballots must be much shorter in order to make hand-counting practical and easy, as in French elections. State and local offices should not be elected, but instead appointed by the elected chief executive (i.e., governor, mayor, or county commissioners), as in federal elections. Judges should be elected by the lawyers who practice and/or in their political districts. And ballot questions should be eliminated in favor of official secure online polls. Lastly, an Annual Elections “Public Notice” letter should be mailed in January to all citizens announcing the offices up for election that year, the calendar for election days and deadlines, plus how they can register to vote, become a candidate, or join the political party of their choice. Public participation is vital to build and strengthen our democracy. See: https://www.protocolsfordemocracy.org

    Government Transparency – All government agencies (nationally, statewide, and locally) should provide ‘online’ an ongoing, comprehensive, and detailed accounting of their activities, expenditures, and outcomes, which constitutes a large DOGE of common sense!  This is also important in the fields of education where parents should be able to view all books and materials their children are being exposed to, as well as the enforcement of public safety laws, where people should be able to easily access information on those who have committed crimes, such as photos and criminal background records, including civil violation notices. Locally, the Philadelphia police practice a failed "move along" policy of not arresting, identifying, or even taking photos of the countless mentally ill homeless, drug addicts, panhandlers, etc., who continue to haunt our streets. See SafeStreetsPhilly.org

    Education – The GOP supports, 1) returning federal funds to the states, 2) school choice which allows funds to follow the students, and 3) that no federal funds should be used for school districts that support CRT or DEI programs. However, the federal government should also consider offering a FREE online and downloadable educational and testing materials for every grade level, including college, for any member of the public to access, and this information should also include technology training and the trades. School Districts should be transparent and required to put online for public review and comment all of their courses, work papers, library books, etc..  We need to know why our students aren’t doing better on test scores. There should also be a strong emphasis on “skills” training from low technology to high in coordination with the business community and skilled trades.     There also should be physical fitness activity every day, as well as band and music for all students. Lastly, disruptive students should be put into special schools for their special needs.

         Meritocracy, Civil Rights, & DEI – America supports equal opportunity, not equal outcomes, which is why our constitution, federal law, and a recent Supreme Court decision protects citizens against discrimination based on race, sexual identity, or beliefs. In keeping with that protection, Republicans believe in rewarding achievements, not distributing entitlements based on the aforementioned characteristics. Nonetheless, Democrats continue to confuse EO Equal Opportunity with GO Guarunteed Outcomes, and promote quotas based on population statistics, as goals to achieve, not the best person for the job, i.e., meritocracy. This policy is called DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), but in reality it is selective discrimination. And it doesn't apply to all job descriptions - not the NBA, NFL, or other sports teams, nor many government jobs where certain ethnic groups may be over represented. It's a failed and unlawful policy that needs to finally end.  Regarding the failed 76ers new stadium deal, one reason for the failure might have been the strong-arming by the Mayor's office for team owners to meet hiring quotas for select groups.

    LGBTQ+ - The GOP supports the legal rights of the LGBTQ+ as for every American citizen. However, those rights do not extend to violating other peoples' rights, such as the following: 1) allowing people to change their birth certificate to match their sexual preference, 2) biological males competing in female sports and/or for scholarships, or 3) biological males using female spaces, such as restrooms, locker rooms, prisons, and dorms.     Locally, "The city said it will uphold Board Policy 252, which passed in 2016 and permits trans and gender nonconforming students to participate in intramural sports "in a manner consistent with their gender identity" and says their participation in interscholastic competitive sports teams will be "resolved on a case-by-case basis.""

     

  2.  PUBLIC SAFETY & HEALTH

    A Strong Military,Secure Borders, Fully Enforced Laws, & Government Accountability – Protecting our country's sovereignty and safeguarding the public welfare is the most fundamental duty of government. The military must be staffed with our best and brightest soldiers to protect our nation, which is why our schools and colleges should prepare students physically, intellectually, and emotionally for the potential of military duty.  There is a concern that a voluntary-only military breeds a civilian population that is disconnected from our foreign policy. So, the specter of being "called up" should always be considered a possibility. 

    Secure Borders & Fully Enforced Laws - Without secure borders citizens cannot enjoy living in an independent country. And it only makes common sense that this must be a federal decision, and not for 50 states and countless municipalities to make.  We also need to ensure that no president in the future ever again opens the doors to illegal immigration, as the Biden Administration did. Meanwhile, too many state and city officials have weakened our local laws in violation of state and federal laws, which has led to more violent crime and illegal immigrants, more drug addicts and their dealers, panhandlers and the mentally ill homeless, and more criminals of all types. Concerned citizens should demand that the responsible government officials should be fired, sued, or arrested for "failure to enforce the law", to include federal immigration laws. For instance, if a district attorney refuses to enforce the law, and they are in an elected position, they can be sued in court by other government officials, to include: The Mayor, City Council, the state's attorney general, or the local US Attorney (DOJ).  Locally,     Philadelphia city officials, including City Council and District Attorney Larry Krasner, have weakened our local laws in violation of state and federal laws, particularly through their Sanctuary City policies.

    Mentally Disabled -  Regarding the mentally disabled and drug addicts, the Philly police need to stop moving them along and instead get them off the streets and into the legal system - for their own good and the public's protection.  Statewide, we need secure long-term and life-time mental health facilities as well as long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities. For serious and repeat criminals, they need to receive meaningful and progressive prison time, to include effective rehabilitation and job training. More details at https://www.SafeStreetsPhilly.org

    Child Services     -     There is a problem nationwide with foster care being used for child trafficking, which is why every effort should be make to keep children with their parents, grandparents, or other family members, and not make unreasonable demands on them. Locally, see https://billypenn.com/2022/05/12/child-welfare-reform-philadelphia-separations

    Public Health, The Environment, & Liability – As a nation, we need to eat healthy foods, exercise, and remove toxins from our environment and the marketplace.  Plus, the federal government must use real science to make dietary recommendations and approve medications. The public must be offered simple and safe alternatives to dangerous drugs and medical procedures. Food is medicine. And no business or government entity should be protected from liability by denying victims access to the courts, as is the case with childhood vaccines and COVID vaccines. See https://www.healthalertphilly.org  Our water should be filtered for medications and drugs, but aren't, and as a result the general public is being “medicated” inadvertently. Lastly, as insurance has become unaffordable for many people and businesses, it is time to consider government-paid health care with a private option.      Locally, in Philadelphia, the city needs to stop spraying toxic pesticides in public spaces by enforcing their own HOPS Act, ban the use of toxic turf, and inform parents that vaccinations are not required by the School District of Philadelphia or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; parents can opt-out using a state form.

    Abortion – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion is a states’ rights issue. That said, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike have varying views on this subject. The general consensus appears to be to allow abortions in the first trimester for any reason, but not beyond that time, with the exception of health concerns for the mother. There should be more emphasis on safe ways to family plan through the use of herbal and natural remedies, rather than through the use of dangerous drugs and risky medical procedures.
     

  3.  MONEY MATTERS & INFRASTRUCTURE

    Jobs, Taxes, Social Security, & Wall Street     - The GOP is dedicated to protect Social Security, but also to eliminate any waste, fraud, and abuse. We must lower our massive national debt at all deliberate speed, otherwise we will bankrupt the country. In addition, the Federal Reserve should be eliminated as it has privatized a government function under the US Constitution. All income should be considered the same.  Monopolies should be broken up and Wall Street should be better regulated to minimize the casino aspect by banning options trading, derivatives, hedge funds, and other funny-money-non-transparent-high-risk schemes. Interest rates on credit cards should be capped at perhaps 10% and the total amount limited to income and assets to avoid putting an individual into insurmountable debt. Taxes should be minimized, overall, and the tax code should be simplified by eliminating most deductions, but retaining a progressive rate (not in the GOP platform). Real estate taxes should be minimal, based on the size of the land and buildings, not on market value, so that people don’t get priced out of their homes.

    Non-Profits & Taxes - Many states and cities are inundated by non-profits who do not pay real estate and other taxes.     Locally, Philadelphia is inundated by non-profits who own tax-exempt properties which account for 17% of the city’s total real estate value. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-nonprofit-exempt-property-tax-pilots-penn-aramark-20190930.html & https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/news/nonprofits-numbers 

    Protect Our Farms, Businesses, Jobs, & Resources - America needs to be as self-reliant as possible on both the local and national levels for reasons of national security and common sense. For without local self-reliance we lose the farms, businesses, jobs, skills, and knowledge necessary to survive and thrive.  Big and small businesses alike need smart regulations, not mountains of red tape, plus protection from foreign competition through tariffs and embargoes, if necessary. All sources of energy should be ‘on the table’ for use. And we should keep Public Utilities government-owned and out of foreign hands and private interests.  Locally,     Philadelphia needs to cut red tape and fees for start ups, cottage industries, at-home businesses, plus macro and micro-manufacturing, as well as offering rent-free opportunities, such as year-round flea markets, craft fairs, and art shows throughout the city. Institutions like our many art museums should be selling Philadelphia art and crafts, not products from foreign countries.

    Infrastructure     – We need to build an America that is beautiful, functional, and affordable, while preserving our natural environment and precious heritage.
    Locally, across the board there is     inadequate supervision in Philadelphia city departments. The Streets Department needs to fix their horrible potholes, plus repair, replace, and maintain their bridges and train tracks. Meanwhile, L&I need to do their job and require property owners to properly maintain their properties or face fines and jail time. Regarding litter, the city needs to send all property owners a letter informing them of their rights and responsibilities to maintain and sweep their own sidewalk, and fine them when they don't. Telephone lines and other cables should be buried throughout the city. Every neighborhood needs more parking. Perhaps the city should look into underground parking below some of the city's parks and public lands. Limiting parking to 2 hours only in some residential neighborhoods is unfair to contractors, babysitters, home health care workers, etc..some of whom need to use a car.

    Housing     - Housing developers should offer a variety of architectural styles to avoid the monotony of most developments, as well as offer "cost and size" options so that people are not priced out of the city, and so that our elderly, who need one-floor apartments or houses, can remain in their neighborhoods. Philadelphia has abundant historical houses that should be rehabilitated when possible, and not demolished only to make way for expensive replacements or cheaply built “affordable homes”. 

    Landlords & Tenants Rights - Both parties have a right to fair treatment. Landlords should have the right to set a 3-month deposit and monthly rate, while tenants should have the right to properly maintained rental property per their rental agreement. No renter should remain in a rental unit if they owe more than 3 months rent. And neither party should be able to legally harass the other with government-paid attorneys. Nonbinding arbitration by a 3-judge panel should be a required first step before any litigation.