- by Alan Adaschik

The contest for the Whitehouse is now in full swing and a refreshing aspect of this present race to the presidency is the so called television debates. I use the phrase "so called" because the time allowed and the formatting of these debates is such that no important issue will be examined in depth. It simply is not possible for a candidate to properly expound upon any issue when they have only one or two minutes to respond to a position or question. However, the debates do make great theatre and are a refreshing respite from the usual TV fare of inane situation comedies, crime lab programs, talk shows which say nothing, and surreal reality television programs.

We are at a critical point in our Nation's history. The world has changed and in response, our government has also changed in ways that would alarm our Founding Fathers. However, most Americans remain unaware of the dire implications of the changes that have taken place and our government is doing nothing to rectify this lamentable state of affairs. Equally unfortunate is the fact most Presidential candidates, like their predecessors before them, are part of the problem and not the cure. They accept the status quo in regard to our government and have no intention of rectifying the situation or bringing about the much needed reform. America is in deep trouble and at this point in our history we need an honest President who will rise above the crowd and one who will be a real President to this Nation instead of an "ass wipe" to the New World Order. We also need a statesman for a President who is able to garner the respect and cooperation of people of good will throughout the world.

How do we find such a man? Unfortunately, we won't do it by watching the television debates because no one is asking these presidential hopefuls the right questions. The "right questions" are anathema to our ruling establishment and yes, in case you do not realize it, our ruling establishment is the group of people who sponsor and hold these debates for our entertainment and viewing pleasure. The debates are not being held to educate us about the "real" issues or to help us make and informed decision about who to vote for. You can readily discern the truth of this by reviewing the issues being addressed in the debates and by the questions that are not being asked. Following is a list of questions that you will never hear asked in these debates even thought they are of grave concern to each and every one of us. Each question is followed by an explanation or justification for why it is important.

• What are your views concerning the relationship of the presidency to the two other branches of government?

President Bush, during his terms in office has worked to establish that the office of President is the superior to the other two branches of government and not accountable to them. We need a President who will reverse the harm that George Bush has done and who will return our government to its constitutional roots.

• Do you believe that Congress or the President has the authority to compromise the sovereignty of the United States?

Presently, due to the actions of Congress and our last several presidents, the United States is no longer a sovereign nation. Furthermore, President Bush, working on his own with no Congressional oversight, is moving to combine the United States, Mexico, and Canada into one economic union similar to Europe. We need a President who will reverse this situation and re-establish this nation in its rightful place among free and independent nations. No President has the authority or right to barter away our sovereignty. If a presidential candidate thinks he can or should, he is not qualified to hold office.

• Do you believe that the President of the United States should issue signing statements upon signing a bill into law?

A signing statement is nothing more than a formal declaration that the President and those working under him will not comply with the law that was just enacted. In other words, it is a formal declaration that the President will not obey the law and worse, a written order by the President to those under him to also break the law. For the Chief Law Enforcement officer of this Nation to behave in such a manner is an abomination and an affront to constitutional government. Each presidential candidate should be required to demonstrate that they are committed to obeying all the laws passed by Congress and will be subservient to its will and authority.

• If you are elected President, what privileges would you claim under the authority of "executive privilege"?

There is no such thing as executive privilege within our Constitution. Therefore, it is an illegally assumed power that should not exist. In a Republic, a President is nothing more than an administrator who is duty bound to function according to constitutional precept. If a candidate intends to claim special privileges for his office, he should tell us what those privileges are before being elected so we will know what kind of President he will be. The only privilege legitimately enjoyed by a President is the privilege of serving the people of this Nation, to the best of his ability, according to our Constitution.

• Do you believe that a legitimate presidential prerogative is lying to the people of this Nation?

Lying to the public, lying under oath, and committing perjury have become established and routine practices among our recent Presidents and members of their staff. The simple truth of the matter is that the government we have today can exist only if the truth about it is kept from us. We need a President who will remove the secrecy from how our government functions and one who will restore honor and integrity to the highest office of this land.

• Do you believe the Federal Reserve Act should be repealed?

Our Constitution gives Congress the authority to coin money and regulate its value. It did not give Congress the authority to assign this function to someone else as it did when it established the Federal Reserve; a private corporation. It is imperative that our Government take back control of our money supply and restore fiscal responsibility to this Nation.

• Do you believe that the United States should pull out of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

The United States has veto power over any action taken by the United Nations. Therefore, by being a member our sovereignty has not been compromised and our membership in that organization is constitutional. On the other hand, according to its bylaws, by joining the WTO we have pre-agreed to ensure that all of our laws, policies, and procedures conform to those of the WTO. Therefore, our membership in the WTO has compromised the sovereignty of this Nation and is unconstitutional.

• Do you believe that the United States should allow its armed forces to be used to police the rest of the world?

It is wrong for any nation to assume that it has the authority to police the other nations of the world. Furthermore, as a nation, we cannot afford to do so and the fact that we are is driving the United States into insolvency. As a people, shouldn't we know if a presidential candidate intends to continue to govern the rest of the world at our expense and as a result, continue to mortgage the future of this nation?

• Do you subscribe to the notion of preemptive war and believe that the United States should attack another nation because they are a threat to us?

The military forces of the United States should be used for defense alone. A preemptive strike or attack, no matter how justified, is an offensive act that falls nothing short of being a war crime. War is the epitome of evil. To wage war because you think someone else is about to start a war is the worst kind of evil. Shouldn't the American people know if they are electing a Fascist to the office of President who will embroil the nation in an endless series of wars?

• Do you believe that it is necessary for the United States to maintain standing military forces that are so overwhelming that no other nation in the world could conceivably stand against in a conventional war?

The United States presently spends more on its military than any time since WW II and it does so at a time when all the other nations of the world combined do not spend as much as us on warfare. For example, we presently have nine aircraft carriers in operation and a tenth is on the way. No other nation in the world presently owns or operates aircraft carriers. An aircraft carrier is and offensive weapon. Why do we have ten of them? The Present level of military spending of this nation is absurd and this is true despite the threat of world terrorism. Shouldn't we know if a candidate for President intends to continue funding a military establishment that we do not need and serves no useful purpose other than to police the rest of the world?

• Do you believe that corporate interests should take precedence over environmental issues?

Corporations have corrupted our government to such a degree that is dysfunctional for its most of its intended purposes. No where is this more true than in the environmental sphere. Not only is the United States the world's biggest polluter, it is also the world's greatest enemy of environmental progress.

• Do you believe that global warming is a threat to life as we know it on this planet and as President, what actions would you take to address this threat?

Global warming is real. To think otherwise is indicative of a severe mental dysfunction which automatically disqualifies a candidate from being presidential material. Shouldn't we know if a candidate for President will be committed to ensuring the future viability of the environment of the planet we live on?

• Do you believe that our government should be addressing the problem over population?

Over population is the root cause of all the environmental problems faced by mankind. The simple truth of the matter is that our world is over the line when it comes to population level and we do not have a sustainable world economic system. Environmental collapse is inevitable unless we do something to reduce our numbers. If a candidate for President believes otherwise and will not make a commitment to reducing the world's population, he is not qualified to be President.

• Irrespective of emergencies, do you think the federal government should be able to issue no-bid contracts?

No-bid government contracts are just one more example of how corrupt our government has become. Years ago, through the power of volume discounts, our government purchase supplies and materials cheaper than anyone else. Today, that reality has been reversed and now our government pays more for everything than everyone else.

• Do you believe that America should have a national health care and drug program similar to those in every other industrialized nation of the world?

We do not have a national health care system in this Nation because the medical establishment and drug companies have the money and power to have their way with us. Medical problems are the dominant cause of bankruptcy in this Nation and getting sick, for many Americans, means insolvency and a life of bondage to corporate America. We need a president that will stand up to medical establishment and free us from the clutches of these evil men.

• Do you believe that federal agencies should establish their own laws and use the courts to send people to jail who fail to obey the laws they establish?

There is no law in existence that requires individuals to file an income tax return and pay income taxes. Therefore, the IRS is guilty of fraud and every person sent to jail for evading income taxes is being denied their freedom because of government lies and duplicity.

• Do you believe that the prohibition in our constitution about Congress establishing a religion also applies to the President?

Incredibly, our court system has ruled that while Congress is prohibited by our Constitution from establishing a religion, the president is not and therefore, it is okay for him to so.

• Do you believe that personal religious beliefs should be that basis of United States law?

Because of their misguided and wrongful attempts to ban abortion, Fundamentalists Christians have embarked upon a campaign to take over our government. Unfortunately, the Republicans have succumbed to the lure of their block of votes and many politicians, inconceivable; now feel that voting their religious beliefs is acceptable. Any Presidential candidate who agrees with them is un-American and not qualified to hold office.

• When you take your oath of office to preserve our Constitution does this place any limitations on what you can do as President of this Nation?

Any presidential candidate who holds that the powers of the President are not limited by our Constitution is not qualified to be President.

• If you are elected President, what steps would you take to ensure that all new laws passed are in keeping with our Constitution and to repeal laws that are unconstitutional?

It is one thing to believe that all laws passed should be constitutional, but it is quite another thing to ensure that they are or even more important, to go back and repeal the ones that are not. Most politicians pay lip service to our constitution and once elected do nothing to get the Nation back on track according to our Constitution. We need a president who will change this.

• Do you believe that the United States should be a part of the New World Order?

The New World Order is an oligarchy of filthy-rich old men who are so mentally deranged that they think they should rule the entire world. Any presidential candidate who is unwilling to disavow allegiance to this group of totalitarians is un-American and a traitor.

• Do you think that the United States should enter into an economic union with Mexico and Canada similar to the European Economic Union and as President would you take steps to bring one about?

President Bush is presently unilaterally working toward such an economic union in violation of our Constitution and his oath of office. Americans should know if a candidate for President is going to be a traitor to this Nation and its people when he assumes office

The foregoing questions should be asked an answered by all those who seek the highest office of this Nation. However, you can be assured that they will never be asked on television or anywhere else for that matter. This fact alone speaks volumes about the kind of government we have and the kind of people who seek public office. The tragedy of this situation is most Americans think the status quo is "just ducky". Their allegiance to a political party is something akin to being a fan of a baseball team and being American to them, is nothing more than using the name and swearing allegiance to a red, white, and blue flag. They forget the guiding principles that established this nation and made it what it once was and no longer is. We need a President who will change this and the only way we have of getting one is by asking the right questions.