Gun control
I am in favor of smart gun control. There is no need for AK-47 and other high power rifles. The problem is not with gun control but not enough punishments for illegal gun possession. It is not the citizen that gets a gun legally that causes trouble.

Defense
Defense and education are the two areas where I believe that no expense should be spared. I think that we need to better boost the morale of our troops and raise the standards for military training. But we should not be using our troops to imply our morals on other people.

Education
America's schools are failing our kids. Trust I know I went to a public school. The only ones that work are the ones with a lot of people that can allow for a larger number to be represented. Kids don't fall through the cracks in larger schools their talents are better represented. I think we need to stray from the liberal renassaince education of old and make sure that kids have core knowledge in Math and Science especially. We should have more upper level classes and starting with 2nd grade I propose to make the system even tougher. Some of the books I read as a senior could have been read when I was a freshman and on down the line. Instead of making it easy for kids so they can get good grades and "feel" better why don't we give them a challenge so that they can learn more. Kids will step it up their potential is not being used at all. Don't cheat our kids anymore. But how does this happen. Teachers need more competetive saleries. Sure it would be great if the smartest people felt the need to pass on their knowledge just because they love to do so but it isn't the case. They are shaping the lives of our kids, especially even more so now that parents rely on our schools and television to raise their kids for them. So let's give teachers a raise they deserve it.

Social programs
I am not much in favor of social programs as a whole. I believe that it has made some people lazy as they know they will have something to fall back on. There is a quote "If everybody took care of family then everyone would be taken care of." This is how I feel for the most part. I do believe that there are someinstances when the government can allot money to people but only in extreme cases. Families managed to do alright back before the times of FDR and Wilson so why can't the same happen now. The government's job is not to play the father figure to the nation because all that will lead to is more control by the government.

|||| Welfare
Welfare cannot completely be abolished because of it's long existence but it does need to be reformed. I believe that instead of giving a check every month it would work more like an upstart program. They will help you get on your feet and try to help you get a job. br>
||||Social Security
Social Security needs to be reformed as well. I believe that it should be more of a 401k plan not everyone gets the same amount out of it. No cuts would be made in those that plan on collecting but overtime it will be what you put into your system is what you get out not one generation paying for the current.

Foreign Policy
Hasn't your mother always told you if it isn't business then stay out of it. Well it should hold true for foreign policy. The other nations regard us as the bully to the world always intruding in others businesses. If does not relate to us then I don not believe that we should get involved. The Balkans will always be a mess and Africa will always have civil wars we are not gonna help there at all. Let's face it, how many countries help us out when we need the help.

Political Correctness
Screw political correctness. Let's end looking at people by the color of their skin and seeing them as individuals by singling each group out according to their ethnic make-up. Doesn't make sense to you either does it. That's because it doesn't work, now instead of Colin Powell being one of the most prominent people of the Republican party, he is the best "black" man for the job. By making everyone fit into a certain ethnic group all we are doing is saying ok your black, your white, your this and that and not saying hey your a perosn just like I am. If political correctness is to truly work then we need to lump everybody under one heading - American.