Political parties in the US and the CNMI

Last of three parts

The Republican candidate for president in 2004 is the incumbent George W. Bush. He is the son George H.W. Bush who was president from 1988 until 1992 and was governor for the state of Texas. He attended Yale for his undergraduate degree and Harvard for a Master of Business Administration.

During the presidency for George W. Bush, the surplus revenues generated by Bill Clinton over a span of two terms have been spent and the national debt has an additional “three trillion dollars” added onto it since Clinton left office. In addition, there have been more jobs lost under Bush than with any U.S. president since Herbert Hoover some 70 years ago. Furthermore, more than four million Americans are now unable to afford health insurance and the No Child Left Behind Act was never fully funded and lacked $27 billion to allow it to be fully implemented.

The gas prices in America have never exceeded $2.50 a gallon in some parts of the country and the average cost for a barrel of crude oil is over $50 dollars. Some political critics believe if our foreign policy with Saudi Arabia and other oil producing nations is so good, then why is the price of a barrel of oil so high?

According to the Independent American Party, the roots of the party were derived from the Utah Independent American Party which was formed in 1993 by several individuals who wanted to form a truly conservative party. Approximately five years later, the national Independent American Party was created on May 27, 1998.

The IAP holds semi-annual National Conferences in lieu of “a national convention” like the Democrats and Republicans. At these conferences, the party members review the platform and principles and elect their candidates for president and vice-president.

The principles which reflect the IAP focus heavily on faith and it is expected that every party member adhere to them religiously. Several of the principles of the IAP are the following: 1) Political institutions must be founded upon faith in God and moral laws as declared in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights; 2) The function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property; anything more than this is usurpation and oppression; 3) Punish crime and provide for the administration of justice; 4) Protect the right and control of private property; Wage defensive war and provide for the nation’s defense; Oppose the government from owning or controlling the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition and private enterprise; 5) Abolition of the Federal Reserve System and a restoration of a debt-free money system in accordance with the Constitution of the United States; 6) Each state in the Union is sovereign in performing those functions reserved to it by the U.S. Constitution; 7) Consider it a violation for the Federal Government to levy taxes for the support of state or local government; and, 8) Consider it treason for the Federal Government to dismantle or weaken our military establishment below that point required for the protection of the states against invasion; and finally, 9) Declare that all treaties or agreements with other countries must not deprive our citizens of rights guaranteed them by the Constitution. We further declare that it is treason to use such instruments to aid or comfort an enemy.

There are a vast number of political parties in the United States, e.g., Libertarian, Green, Reform, and Socialist. These parties have a very small number of dedicated following that would never be able to keep pace with the larger political organizations. However, even though their numbers are not as impressive as what you would see with the larger and more established political parties, they always seem to dissuade many of the voters who were once affiliated with other larger political parties to join them in their quest.

Like the abovementioned smaller parties, the CNMI unveiled the Covenant Party in October 2001. At that time Benigno Fitial, currently the Speaker of the House for the 14th Legislature, described to the media the Covenant Party’s principles. Those principles incorporate striving for a stable economy, new investments, and business-friendly policies. Moreover, the Covenant Party focuses on common sense solutions and they are all for results-oriented actions and the strengthening of alliances among public, private, nongovernmental organizations and other governments in bringing in more investments.

The Covenant Party in the CNMI supports strengthening the student and workforce population. And one of their main thrusts would be to focus our resources and efforts to work until we get our desire results for the welfare and advancement of the CNMI and its citizens.

Within all of the abovementioned parties, there are various positions and perspectives on issues. The primary party positions would be left, middle, and right. Despite these differences, most of the individuals in a specific party have a strong camaraderie and they will maintain and continue supporting the party as a whole.

The rules regarding the political parties in the U.S. stipulate that they must fulfill the criteria in order to be placed on the ballot for the electorate to choose from. If the parties fail to meet the standards established by each of the states, then the individual may not be placed on the ballot. A case in point would be what is happening to Ralph Nader in several states.

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, CA 93215