Mission Statement
As Winston Churchill once said, “The worst form of government is democracy, except
for all the others.” The National Unity Party is devoted to working for the people of this country, to continue offering equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream, and to think forward into how we can improve the educational and economic future of this country.
We believe in fair and free global trade. Not only does our party feel an obligation to
serve the financial interests of our own constituents, but we also believe in representing the ideals of democracy through offering those interests to individuals abroad. Through any adversity, success, or period of growth, preserving the ideals of democracy are our guiding values in diplomacy.
Domestic Policy
Environment
Unfortunately, the effects of climate change are touching the lives of many Americans to
displace families, take away jobs, and even lead to the loss of those we hold dear. This problem is more than what politicians think will score them points in the polls or a scientific controversy left to settle. The impact of climate change and various natural disasters which are a byproduct of that change are undeniable aspects of our environmental policies.
Our mission, starting the day this administration takes office, is to establish a comprehensive policy to address this issue. Incentivizing a transition for businesses primarily
producing or using nonrenewable resources, such as non biodegradable plastics, petrol, crude oil, and various fossil fuels, into developing an industry taking a lead on green technology.
Climate change, pollution, and fossil fuel overuse are a few of the greatest environmental
issues in not only the United States but in the world overall. Because extreme carbon dioxide emissions and other byproducts of non-reusable resources are causing extreme environmental responses that cost the US economy hundreds of billions of dollars (forest fire devastation, ocean pollution’s negative impact on the tourism and fishing industries), the National Unity Party believes in devoting resources towards finding efficient solutions to improve the overall state of the environment, fight climate change, implement reusable energy, and reduce ocean, atmospheric, and land pollution. As the most recent government-led report into the economic impact of these changes, climate change will continue to pose bigger challenges for American businesses, and if not addressed, this problem is expected to cause consumers a major lack of profit through the stock market.
As an administration that values global cooperation on the topic of global warming and
environmental protection, we are committed to leading the UN in its pursuit of renewable
resources and energy via the Paris Climate Accord that will take place in 2020. By partnering with other countries in a global fight against the causes of natural disasters, we can improve the globe as a whole.
Furthermore, rather than focusing our efforts on punishments on big or small business,
the National Unity Party believes in forming a balance between enforcement and incentivization. This can be accomplished by partnering up with US corporations and creating market-based policy incentives such as subsidies as a reward for their compliance with environmental regulations.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the three main goals of energy policy
in the United States since the 1970s have been "to assure a secure supply of energy, to keep energy costs low enough to meet the needs of a growing economy, and to protect the environment while producing and consuming that energy." We believe that the United States current values under the Trump administration has neglected that third requirement in an effort to display political strength and energize rhetoric. We seek to balance the three and reinstate our agenda by focusing on our efforts to encourage, but not force change.
This is why oil production in major producing areas such as Texas, North Dakota, and
California will not be rashly or abruptly intervened to eliminate. Rather, the administration believes in curbing production by incentivizing the transition into a green industry. This incentivization plan will consist of resources such as access to research and financial subsidies to pursue a lead in green technology. Not only will this add an edge to American businesses, but allow for the U.S. to become the leader in an industry marking the future of trade.
Our policy also encompases what the NUP feels is a necessary reevaluation of energy
production in the U.S. Specifically, the administration will finance further research into renewable energy sources and options into improving existing sources to be efficient and beneficial for aspiring businesses.
Gun control
We ask our voters to consider this paradox: a student is not allowed to yell “Fire!” in a
classroom if there is no real fire threat present to those around them. A student may not seek protection under the First Amendment if he or she wants to yell derogatory phrases at another. As obvious as free speech is a given right to the citizens of this country, this foundational element places restrictions and limitations on the exercise of this right in order to ensure individual and national security to the populace as a whole.
The Second Amendment of the United States holds the same weight of importance as
does the first, fourth, or 27th Amendment of our Constitution. However, in order to ensure individual and national security to our citizens, the National Unity Party believes that we must finally take sensible action to address gun violence. While responsible gun ownership is part of the fabric of many communities, too many families in this nation have suffered from gun violence.
According to BBC, 64% of homicides in the United States were a result from guns, in
2016. In comparison to Canada at 30.6% and England at 4.5% in 2015, the percent in the US is alarmingly high. The National Unity Party recognizes this, and believes that the percentage of gun related violence needs to be diminished. We believe that guns should not be eliminated from public access as it is a constitutional right to keep and bear arms. However, the same way our country recognizes limitations on the First Amendment, NUP insists consistent regulations throughout the country be put in place. As reported by Giffords Law Center, thirty-one states allow the open carrying of a handgun without any license or permit, although in some cases the gun must be unloaded. Fifteen states require some form of license or permit in order to openly carry a handgun. The flexibility and lack of consistency in these regulations are a threat to the security and freedom of individuals in these nation. As the National Unity Party, our administration will work with a bipartisan effort to push legislation on uniform regulations, such as federal mandates to obtain concealed carry and open carry licenses and regular background checks every two years. According to the US Centers of Disease Control, states that required background checks on all gun permits had 35% fewer gun deaths per capita than states with no background checks. Thus, background checks have proven to reduce gun related deaths.
Civil Liberties/Patriot Act/Privacy
The National Unity Party believes that there is a fine line between protecting the nation
from threats and invasively monitoring individuals that do not present a threat to national security. Therefore, we must carefully tread the line between privacy and security.
NUP will also ensure a coherent strategy across federal agencies by building on the
Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity National Action Plan. The jurisdiction of a federal Chief Information Security Officer, the modernization of federal information technology, and upgrades to government-wide cybersecurity will be at the forefront in our cybersecurity strategy.
Our belief is that every citizen has the right to maintain and defend their civil liberties;
however, in this modern-day age, we cannot afford to lose the ongoing battle against domestic and foreign terrorism and we must prioritize safety. Because of this, the NUP supports the Patriot Act signed under President George W. Bush had enacted in 2001. Because the danger, online or elsewhere, continues to increase, the United States must be on their guard and ready to defend its people from foreign threats. However, it is important to recognize if on the chance that any information is collected, it will be kept under the utmost safety and security so that it will not be used to the detriment of the owners, unless necessary for the common good of the people and the United States.
American Job Loss
As of June 2018, the American unemployment rate was reported by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to be at 4%. However, Quartz News and several economists report that the overall civilian labor force participation rate—the share of adults who are either employed or actively
looking for work—stayed steady, at 62.7%. In addition, the US seems to be hitting the climax of this economic cycle. Normally, that ought to mean a swift pickup in wages. Back in 2007 and 2000, earnings were growing at a brisk clip of more than 4%. Wage growth is still considerably below that rate. On another facet, the employment-to-population ratio for the prime working years (between the ages of 25 and 54) is conspicuously feeble. In September, only 79.3% of working-age Americans had jobs. That’s a smaller share than the final months of the last cycle, which ended in 2007—and way down from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Part of the problem is that many of them seem to have exited the workforce—meaning,
that they’ve given up looking for work. While the share of prime-age Americans in the labor force ticked up ever so slightly in September, to 82%, that’s still well shy of the share before the Great Recession, when it was above 83%. And it’s starkly lower than in 2000, when more than 84% of prime-age Americans were working. With that, the unemployment rates for African American, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and American Indian teenagers and youth with disabilities are far too high. That is why our administration will provide direct federal funding for a range of local programs that will put young people to work and create new career opportunities.The NUP believes in keeping unemployment rates low by supporting American companies that source labor within the US.
Economy
The National Unity Party believes in equal opportunity to all Americans who seek to be a
part of this country’s workforce. We believe that the national government is not be an interfering force, rather it should be an institution of partnership to support the grown and development of industries. The administration should lead by example in the fight against climate change, the primary effort in which we will show through changes in our economy. This administration is committed to getting at least 50 percent of our electricity from clean energy sources within a decade. Not only is clean and green energy important in our economic stance, but so is reducing the wage gap between financial classes. As the NUP takes office, the tax policies of the administration will be reverted to its rates during the Obama Administration. As the administration’s tax rates represented a more fair income of tax money from higher income brackets, we believe this will reduce the tax pressure on low-income constituents. The National Unity Party believes that we need to bring reform into the social securities and Medicare and Medicaid of the people. (Please see our issue write-ups on American Job Loss and Social Security.) We also believe that we need to prioritize incentivizing development of new green tech industry, an industry that will return this country to the lead in global trade. The United States is a country of freedom, a country of wealth, and a country with the unique responsibility to protect fair and free trade. For more information, please refer to our environment and trade write ups.
Abortion
We believe that it is the woman’s duty to decide what to do with her unborn child. In
order to maintain this sense of bodily autonomy for women, abortion must and will stay legal. The NUP believes in increasing funding towards women’s health centers so that they provide safe, free, and confidential care and so that they are able to provide items including but not limited to: free educational pamphlets, contraceptives, birth control, tampons, etc.
In doing so, we can help increase overall knowledge about pregnancy, birth
complications, contraceptives, and safer sex. This helps ensure that the number of dangerous, illegal abortions practiced will decrease dramatically and our culture as a whole becomes more accepting towards the health of all women.
Gay rights
The National Unity Party believes that “Every man created equal” should be held true no
matter race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. Everyone in the United States will be given the same rights regardless of sexuality.
Global Warming/Kyoto treaty
The Kyoto Treaty is an international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas output, because of the fact that global warming is occurring due to human CO2 emission. Our party supports the Kyoto Treaty completely, and we are invested in preventing global warming even more. According to BBC statistics, there is a direct correlation to CO2 release and global warming, and both are increasing at rapid rates. Studies show that by 2030,
global warming damage will be so severe that it will not be able to be reversed. CO2 emission is caused by humankind burning fossil fuels and coal, so our party would like to reduce these rates. We also are fully supporting working with other countries and using their methods in order to make that happen. We encourage citizens to reduce their own personal CO2 output by reducing their water usage rates, decreasing screen time on their technological devices, and and using LED lightbulbs. Any and all work to clean up our environment, no matter how small, is appreciated greatly. The National Unity Party believes that a change can be made starting from the ground up, and personal changes in our everyday lives can save our planet
Education
The National Unity Party supports public funding for charter schools. Charter schools can
provide advanced educational opportunities to low-income students. When it comes to higher education, the National Unity Party does not believe in tuition-free public universities. This would be too expensive and require tax hikes. However, we do believe in free community colleges, as this would incentivize students from underprivileged households to pursue higher educational opportunities.
Health care reform/Affordable Care Act/Universal Health Care
The NUP strives to keep affordable, quality healthcare. We have finally made real the
principle that every American should have access to good health care. Nobody should become bankrupt for being sick or injured. The security of healthcare should extend to all people. We plan to preserve the Affordable Care Act (Obama care) because of the comfort it has brought citizens when having that healthcare. The NUP adamantly opposes any efforts to privatize or voucherize Medicare and Medicaid. This will be set hopefully for many generations to come.
Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid Our party understands that social security is extremely important to this country and
helps sustain our elderly population. However, we recognize the problems that can occur with the program. For one, the cost of funding each individual on social security has been growing faster than the United States GDP. During the 2018 fiscal year, the U.S. spent $988 billion on social security. On top of this, the number of people old enough to benefit from the program is growing faster than the population itself. Therefore, the social security program is slowly becoming more and more unsustainable. We do not want to raise taxes in order to keep up with the demands for social security, so we propose raising the qualifying age from 65 to 70, as the life expectancy in the U.S. is growing also. However, we understand it would be unfair for those who are nearing 65, so we also suggest that at the time of the change, those who are 55 and older will still collect at 65.
As with Medicare and Medicaid, we note that these programs, like social security, are
essential to the function of the U.S., as it provides citizens in need with affordable medical insurance. During the 2018 fiscal year, the U.S. spent $589 billion on Medicare (technically the government spent $712 billion but made up the difference on premiums and collections) and around $300 billion on Medicaid. Like social security, we propose to raise the age from 65 to 70 but those who 55 or older will still benefit at 65. We believe the main way to limit government spending on these programs comes in monitoring big pharmaceutical companies. These companies have taken advantage of pharmaceutical patents, which deter generics of the same medicine from coming into the market. This eliminates any competition and allows companies to price gouge medications. We saw this with the company Mylan raising the price of EpiPens from $57 in 2007 to $700 in 2016, all while they only cost $2 to make. Therefore, the government should work to reform this system, as the rising prices cost the government millions of dollars since the government must pay a percentage of these charges for those on Medicare and Medicaid. In turn, improving the pharmaceutical industry should cut down on government spending.
GOP Tax Cut Proposals (for the wealthiest 1% Corporations)
Although the NUP has similar goals to the GOP regarding its tax cuts, (lowering the tax
rate will hopefully push corporations to invest more in the United State, raise wages, increase jobs, and unleash unprecedented economic growth), we believe that some major revisions will need to be made. Although the current corporate tax rate is 21%, due to major loopholes in policy, The Congressional Budget Office puts the United States’ current effective corporate tax rate at 18.6 percent. These loopholes allow corporations to ‘exploit the system’ and gain undeserved tax cuts to increase profits at the expense of what should be funding for the government and the people.
Furthermore, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated, “workers would only
receive a quarter or less of the benefits from tax cuts — and among those workers, it’s likely the higher earners that would benefit.” In order to bridge the economic disparities that isolate the extremely wealthy, measures would have to be taken so that companies will be incentivized to boost the US economy but at the same time remain regulated so that these benefits can be shared and used for the people of the US as a whole, benefitting millions more.
Crime/Death Penalty/Prison System
We believe in funding for prisoner rehabilitation due to the fact that without it, inmates in
the United States are more likely to commit crimes after being liberated. According to publicpolicy.wharton.com, former inmates account for up to 20 percent of all new arrests. The punitive prison system in the United States has not been successful, it is only a short term way to inflict a penalty on a crime. It does not take into consideration the long term effects of the prisoners, meaning life after incarceration. As stated on buisnessinsider.com, the United States has one of the highest recidivism rates (the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend) in the world with 76.6 percent of prisoners rearrested within five years. Furthermore, with society funding rehabilitation for inmates, it creates a better community. Research has shown violent offenders reduce their reoffending rate by 83% with four months of rehabilitation. In such little time of implementing rehabilitation it showed drastic improvement. With the prisoners being able to successfully not recommit a crime, it makes them a bigger asset to society, enabling them to get jobs, pay taxes, and give back to the community. While on the other hand, the inmates who recommit crimes once liberated will be negatively impacting the community. Additionally, as per nytimes.com “More than 90 percent of prisoners return to the community within a few years”. Without these releases the prisons would be even more overcrowded. Since the majority of prisoners are released from incarceration facilities in a relatively small amount of time, and without rehabilitation, they are more likely to come back; society needs to fund rehabilitation in order to see positive effects on the community.
We do not believe in the death penalty due to the fact that bestowing death upon a person
is a non effective punishment/rehabilitation. As we said, we are looking at bettering our prisoners and lessening the punitive approach in our prison system. Death penalty will only be used when requested by an inmate, their request will then be reviewed and decided. Regarding police
brutality we believe that no person should be physically abused by police unless seen as a life or death threat to the policemen.
We believe in the legalization of marijuana, due to the positive economical effect on our
government. According to the Denver Post, researchers found that a taxed and regulated cannabis industry contributed more than $58 million to the local economy. Moreover with this rise in taxes more money was able to be distributed for education. “Last year, the county dedicated $420,000 to scholarships for 210 students. This year, the county is set to triple the number of scholarships it offers as tax collections are expected to top $750,000.” This legalization has been a massive economical benefit to Colorado. Implementing this all over the United States will be a benefit to all. Additionally, having this implemented in states such as Illinois, can positively impact their current debt.
The level of American Political Discourse/Government’s Relationship with the Media
In today’s political climate, trust in the media has been on the decline. On the other hand,
“fake news” has been seen more and more recently, creating a concern that people shouldn’t always believe what they see online. The role of media is to inform their viewers of important and current events going on in the United States and the rest of the world. They should focus more on the facts rather than their personal opinions, although we realize every story has some sort of bias. The National Unity Party will try to have a positive relationship with the media. We understand their job is to be critical of us, but we will also make sure everything said is factual and accurate. Instead of getting angry with them, we will rather check their facts. We hope to bring back a better relationship with the media, which will, in turn, hopefully create a better sense of trust in the media.
Corporations and Workers Rights The National Unity Party believes in workers’ rights and the importance of unions.
Unions provide workers with the powerful tool of being able to bargain with their employers. Unionized workplaces provide better pay than non-unionized workplaces. Unionized workplaces also offer better employee benefits such as parental leave and paid vacation. They also offer better job security, and are safer than non-unionized workplaces. In recent decades, unions have lost much of their power, which is one of the reasons the middle class has shrunk so much. Strong unions are essential to the American way of life as they are the best hope working people have to negotiate proper terms and conditions with their employers, that allow them to lead dignified lives. Furthermore, the National Unity Party believes that right-to-work laws ought be repealed. These laws weaken unions by allowing for freeloading. When it comes to corporations, the National Unity Party rebukes the lie that “corporations are people”. This has been a phrase used consistently since the Gilded Age to diminish workers’ rights by giving corporations the same rights as citizens. For example, for-profit corporations have used this claim to deny employees birth control in their healthcare plans. On a larger note,
this claim was used to guarantee corporations the right to spend money on elections, under the guise of free speech. The National Unity believes that corporations do not have the same rights as an American citizen, and thus need to be regulated.