The only presidential candidate worthy of Catholic votes

I found out about this Catholic presidential candidate through a Facebook group and he seems the only one who is consistent on the issues at hand and consistent with Catholic Social Teaching on every sphere… probably because he is not a politician…

From the Facebook group:

Immigration

~ amnesty for illegal immigrants and family reunification.
~ “living wage, optimal working conditions, benefits, adequate housing… for all new arrivals.
~ “temporary worker program,” with border check points, etc., for those who want to work here, but keep their citizenship south of the border.

~ Help Latin America Drive! Mobilization of much more help (humanitarian aid, Peace Corps, Sister City projects…) for countries south of the border to help them with sustainability. (Many people don’t want to leave country, family, culture… but their kids are hungry, or the political oppression has gotten to be too much.)

~ “North American Union” (NAU) …Establishment of a “NAU” between Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Central America — similar to the evolving European Union (EU). This would be for the purpose of inspiring more joint environmental conservation projects, more joint business ventures, more tourism (especially eco-tourism) to help boost poorer economies, more cultural exchange… and, most importantly, it would promote much more general camaraderie between nations.

International Policy

~ Create U.S. Department of Peace.
~ adhere only to “just war” criteria.
~ Make military more field proficient and cost effective.
~ U.S. takes the lead in nuclear disarmament.
~ More help for those who have served.

Environment
~dramatically reverse trends leading to global warming (and immediately sign the Kyoto Protocol for significant reduction of greenhouse gases).
~make clean, renewable alternative energy (solar, wind, water…) America’s primary source of energy.
~no to nuclear technology
~create incentives for Americans to substantially cut back on their energy use.
~heightened focus on alternative transportation: solar and electric vehicles, bicycling, walking… in a more decentralized society.
~switch to more biomass fuel sources.
~implement “Walkable Communities Model” nationwide
~”Reforest America Campaign”
~better, and more regionally oriented, forest management practices
~end eco-system damaging grazing on federal lands.
~ban environmentally toxic lawn fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
~emission control standards for gasoline powered lawn equipment.
~ban toxic (to the environment and humans) farm chemicals — including a shift to much more organic growing.
~curb urban sprawl and reestablish wildlife habitat – including incentives for more “Backyard Habitats.”
~inspire “Endangered Species Associations” for each species that’s currently endangered.
~stop water pollution.
~help generate more clean water in the U.S. and in the Third World with desalinization plants, low-tech solar ovens for water pasteurization in the Third World, gutter systems to “harvest” rainwater…
~tremendously stepped-up Recycling Program nationwide.
~become a “Society of Conservers.”

Consistent Life Ethic

~ No abortion.
~ Many more local safety nets for moms & dads in crisis pregnancy.
~ No death penalty, no euthenasia.
~ No embryonic stem cell research and no cloning.
~ Respect for God’s sovereignty and natural order.

Iraq War

~ As president, I would extend a formal, and heartfelt, apology to the Iraqi people (and the world) for starting the war, for killing civilians and military, and for destabilizing the country. (I told the Athens (OH) Post that these types of civilian deaths aren’t “inevitable collateral damage,” they are Moms, Dads, children…)
~ Set up an Iraq War Victim’s Fund intended for families of war victims, including for families of those who died from the U.S. urged, and U.N. backed, 12 year sanctions against Iraq before the war. (An estimated one million Iraqis died as a result of these sanctions, some 500,000 of them children.)
~ As president, I would also formally apologize for starting a pre-emptive war predicated on finding weapons of mass destruction. I would also admit there is a tremendous duality in telling other nations they can’t have WMD’s — when we have the biggest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world.
~ Nix recently, proposed uranium upgrades of our nuclear weapons and propose we unilaterally disarm these nuclear weapons. This would free up money to help Iraq rebuild – with Iraqi contractors – and free up money for other domestic and worldwide humanitarian projects.
~ Call for an immediate end to the use of depleted uranium munitions.
~ If we were still wanted, I would lean toward the Iraq Study Group’s recent proposal to move more U.S. troops out of combat and get them more involved with training and supporting the Iraqi military. In addition (and also in line with the Study Group’s report), I would ready some U.S. brigades to leave Iraq by the first quarter of 2008.
~ Carry out the Study Group’s report recommendation that calls for more diplomacy in the Middle East. (The report states that the Israeli/Arab conflict and regional instability must be addressed in total to help deescalate the situation in Iraq.) This would include setting up talks between Israel, Lebanon and Palestine leaders.
~ Approach the United Nations about more UN Peacekeepers in Iraq.
~ Propose each Iraqi get yearly oil dividends to help them recover and recommend the U.S. match these for a five year period.
~ In line with Study Group recommendations, I would also declare publicly that the U.S. seeks no control of Iraq oil.
~ Our administration would work stridently to move America away from dependence on foreign, and domestic, oil (and all that brings with pollution, global warming, urban sprawl…).
~ Set up a division within the State Department to offer as much help as possible to Iraqi refugees to help them either resettle, or with their transition to another country.
~ In the aftermath of the Iraq War, I would urge “Truth and Reconciliation” hearings throughout Iraq (like what was used in the aftermath of Apartheid in South Africa) to help quell residual sectarian strife.
~ Help institute an Iraq version the “Ulster Project,” which has been successful in reversing some of the prejudice and hate for future generations of Northern Ireland youth. (I believe this would work with Sunni and Shiite youth.)
~ Through a proposed U.S. Department of Peace, I would recommend U.S./Iraq Sister Cities to mobilize even more financial help, cultural exchange and camaraderie.

*Through all this, as Iraq (and the Middle East in general) saw our earnest efforts at apology, amends and peace building, some of the tension and anti-U.S. sentiment would diminish in kind – as might worldwide terrorism. And even more importantly, the combined effort may well domino into much more world peace.