Delta's Platform

Domestic

Education
Considering that education, constituently, is a state's right, Delta chooses to respect this state right. However, we will choose to offer government programs to help reform the educational system.
Pre-school
Delta will give $.8 billion in funding to pre-school in all states that have shown promising success rates for their young children. These include:
1. Children gain intelligence by testing before and after IQ
2. Children show improvement and continue excelling in grade school.
Grade-school
Delta feels that foreign language is an integral part in expanding children's minds considering that between ages 6 and 12, a child can easily learn a language, and starting language learning in late middle school/high school could be too late and it is not emphasized enough in grade schools. This is why Delta is implementing an original program called Talk to Me, a program that teaches children from grades 2-5 their choice of foreign language: Spanish, French, German and Italian. Because, constituently, the government cannot enforce these classes, Delta will provide governmental incentives up to $5 billion to teach these classes and offer to continue them in middle school.
High-School
Delta will use $10.2 billion to offer incentives to state school districts to fund public high-performing schools that require the passage of tests for admission. This program is modeled after University High School. We feel that offering this type of school will bring competition among schools. We will also give $6 billion to low-performing schools to help bring them up to competing levels and stop so called "brain drains".

Death Row
In the last 10 years, the use of the death penalty has decreased significantly. In Texas, a state thought to be rather fond of the death penalty, has seen a 65% drop in death sentences in the last 10 years. In 1996, The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act was signed into law. Its purpose was to “deter terrorism, provide justice for victims, provide and effective death penalty, and for other purposes.”
Because the death penalty is left up to the states, the amount of money used to fund capital punishment varies from state to state.
The death penalty has been used throughout history as a punishment for exceedingly heinous crimes, however Delta knows that it is time for a change. We plan to reform the system, however not remove it entirely. It will be left in the hands of the state, however there will be a federal criteria set to determine proper sentencing, making it more efficient, cost effective, and most importantly moral. As of October 2006, there were 3,334 criminals on death row in the United States. Also, since 1976, 1,064 death row inmates have been executed. Only 2% of death row inmates are actually executed, there is no sense in spending all of the extra money on housing a death row inmate in a capital punishment prison, when they would see the same fate in a regular federal prison.
In Delta’s policy fewer people will be put on death row due to stricter criteria to be tried for the death sentence. Also, once someone is sentenced to death row, they will be executed within 5 years of their sentence. This time frame allows the inmates to file for their appeals while also leaving time to validate the sentence. This eliminates unnecessary spending on inmates that are sentenced to death and the time that said inmates spend in their cells awaiting their inevitable death. Due to technological advances in DNA and stricter criteria, mistakes and execution of innocent prisoners will be avoided. Should an innocent person be sentenced to death row and found innocent later, the state must compensate the family not only for prison time, but for the emotional stress paced on the individual and their family. Also, an immediate moratorium will be placed on the state’s capital punishment option to investigate and possibly reform the criteria to be placed on death row. The investigation may result in the prohibition of capital punishment. Should an innocent or mentally handicapped person be executed the state must permanently forfeit their capital punishment option due to an infraction of the eight amendment against cruel and unusual punishment.


Alcohol
Delta is lowering the drinking age to 19. We are not lowering the drinking age to 18 because Delta feels high school students should not have easy access to alcohol. If a teen who is 19 has not yet graduated high school, he or she will not be able to buy it. You must fulfill two requirements to acquire alcohol: be over 19 and graduate high school. An exception to this rule is if you have not graduated high school and are 21 or older, then and you may acquire alcohol legally. Because we are lowering the drinking age to 19, Delta requires middle and high schools to educate students more in health classes on the effects and dangers of alcohol. The funding will be part of the $22 billion we are giving schools and the education system. The reason Delta is lowering the drinking age to 19 is because young adults tend to seek the forbidden fruit and desire what they can’t have. If college students, of or over the age of nineteen are given the right to purchase and/ or consume alcohol, they, as a group, will desire it less. Also this plan of action will reduce the amount of binge drinking that occurs mainly within social gatherings of college students. Binge drinking is defined as men consuming more than five drinks in one sitting and when women consume more than four drinks in one sitting. Binge drinking is very dangerous and can cause alcohol poisoning and has been known to be fatal in multiple cases. 42% of all college students have reported binge drinking. The main cause of binge drinking is an intense desire to have the “forbidden fruit,” which is alcohol, so when they get a taste of it, they over indulge. The most effective policy plan is to lower the drinking age to 19.



Marijuana/Tobacco
Delta will legalize marijuana in all 50 states and allow persons of 19 years or older to acquire it. Medical marijuana would be available to all those who seek it as treatment. So that people who are in need of medical marijuana can purchase it without having to pay the tax, medical marijuana will be purchased and acquired just as any prescription at a pharmacy is. The marijuana market, for those states that legalize it, will be out of the hands of criminals and into the hands of the government. We will save $7.7 billion a year enforcing marijuana laws, and instead give that money plus 3 billion more to police in solving more prominent crimes. Anyone over the age of 19 could grow the drug if they wish, but must get a license to distribute it. Marijuana will be taxed similarly with cigarettes and alcohol. Estimated revenues will reach $10 to $ 14 billion a year. This money will be used to offer free public transportation on Friday and Saturday nights and national holidays from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am. DUI/DWI penalties will be similar to alcohol limits.

Sale to Minors:
1st offense will be a $500 fine.
2nd offense will be an $800 fine and lose the right to sell marijuana for up to 6 months.
3rd offense (within 5 years) will be a $1,000 fine and lose right to sell for 1 year.
Further offense will require 2 years suspension and a possible and further fines based on judge’s discretion.

Along with a tax on marijuana, tobacco will be additionally taxed as well. The extra money coming from cigarettes will be also used to provide free transportation for individuals unfit to drive

DUI
Delta will be adopting a harsher policy on DUI/DWIs. We will keep the tolerance for drinking and driving to 0.08% and set a federal minimum punishment for those found driving over the legal limit.
1st offense: $1,000 fine + penalty assessment, community service at judge’s discretion, and minimum of 2 days in jail, driving privilege suspended for 90 days.
2nd offense (within 5 years of the first): $5,000 fine + penalty assessment, minimum of 30 days in jail and driving privileges suspended for 7 months
3rd offense(within 5 years of the second): Felony status, $10,000 fine, 5 months in jail, driving privileges suspended for 1 year.
Delta will require the installation of breathalyzers in all bars. The cost of a breathalyzer is relatively low and averages around $50 dollars so it will be up to the bar to install them and keep them calibrated. It will be up to the bartender and customer’s discretion to test themselves, however it will act as another option to deciding who is and is not legally allowed to drive. We will offer free and accessible public transportation on Fridays, Saturdays, and national holidays from 10 pm to 3 am. This policy will be a state decision and if the state decides to adopt this system, the federal government will provide funding for it. This funding will come from the marijuana tax revenue and increased taxes on tobacco products. The driver of such a program will not be permitted to ask the age of person they are sent to pick up, in order to attempt to encourage even those that are underage to avoid driving under the influence. We feel this policy will reduce the number of people willing to drive under the influence, thus reducing the number of lives put at risk or lost due to unwise decisions.




Stem Cell Research/Scientific Research
Now that non-embryonic stem cells have been discovered that are just as effective as embryonic stem cells, the government under Delta will give $5 billion a year to individual labs and universities to peruse new research and gain new insight in the medical field, as in Delta we feel furthering scientific research is a priority. Embryonic stem cells will not be used to avoid religious and moral controversy. This money will not only be classified for stem cell research, but for other medical research as well.

Social Security
Social Security is in dire need of reform. With the first wave of baby boomers starting to collect their Social Security benefits, the current system would be under stress and potentially fail due to the large volume of people. Originally, Social Security was to be spent at the end of each month in an effort to stimulate the economy. Also, those receiving benefits had to give up their jobs so that younger, unemployed generations could more easily find jobs. Delta feels that it is important to reinstate and modify some of these previous restrictions so that Social Security can fulfill its purpose. Firstly, Delta will raise the age at which people start receiving benefits from 65 to 68. Secondly, we will cut benefits for retirees still holding a part time job that pays $30,000 or more a year. Thirdly, we will tax all of the unused social security money each month at a flat rate of 2.5%. Lastly, we will infuse 6.3 billion dollars in the Social Security system in anticipation of the increase in collection due to the now retiring baby boomers. Delta has taken the steps to insure that the Social Security system does not fail, and that it serves the original purpose.

Constitutional Issues

Patriot Act
In the memory of the Greeks, who created democracy and western thought as we know it, Delta seeks to preserve the freedom of the individual by amending several provisions of the PATRIOT Act through the re-introduction and enactment of the SAFE Act. This act will amend section 206 of the PATRIOT Act to only allow roving wire taps to be placed on defined targets. Also we will restore guidelines in obtaining sensitive information about suspected individuals, by requiring investigators to provide some facts that articulate that the target is an agent of foreign power that is dangerous. The SAFE Act will also create guidelines that will limit the use of National Security Letters to better protect the private records of our citizens.

Gun Control
For Delta it is imperative for us to stay aligned with the current national gun policy by letting the states decide what laws regarding guns they would like to fund and enforce. We still will be in support of having a federal background check on the purchase of all guns. The majority of weapons used for violence and murder are purchased on the black market, so that their wielders cannot be traced. It is unrealistic to enact any type of ban or buyback program on the federal level during this time of extreme economic recession. However, using money garnered from reduction of marijuana law enforcement—as we are legalizing it—will be used to further enforce current gun control policies.

Gay Rights
Delta will recognize the civil unions of same-sex couples and will make their civil unions legal in the eye of the federal law. This is because Delta believes all couples should have the right to a union, be it heterosexual or homosexual, and will not infringe on any religions that may see this as controversial.

Abortion
We as Delta want to preserve the freedom of states. In terms of the abortion discussion, we plan to uphold the Roe v. Wade decision. We believe that it is not the federal government’s place to make laws and regulations on this controversial topic. Therefore, we defer to states the ability to make the regulations concerning abortion.


Health Care/Health Insurance
Since the creation of the 1965 Social Security Act, the Federal Government has provided Medicare and Medicaid to those above the age of 65, a person with a permanent disability, and those of low-income. Since then, other programs such as State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Veteran’s Administration (VA) have been added to the list of programs. Many of these programs have been ineffective in providing care to those who need it. Most people receive their health insurance through private organizations either through individual purchase or as a benefit of employment. Though there are many ways to obtain health insurance, approximately 45 million people, out of 305 million in the United States, are currently uninsured. This is predominately due to the rise in premiums.
Presently the Federal Government spends roughly 16.6% of the GDP on providing health insurance through these programs; this percentage comes out to equal approximately $2.4 trillion dollars. This amount is only rivaled to funding for education and military expenditures.
Due to the rising number of people that are uninsured in the United States, Delta’s focus will be to reform the health care system so that it better serves the people. This will be done through a fairly simple process. The first step will be to enact a program we call Health Security. This program will provide basic coverage to those who fill out a form to enact their coverage. Those that are currently being covered by one of the federally funded programs will be switched over to the new program with no harm to them other than a few forms. With all coverage being switched to Health Security, the old programs, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, etc, will no longer be funded and cut from the federal budget. Those funds will be redirected to Health Security. More funds will also be directed toward this program from the money currently being used to fund the War on Terrorism with discretion.
Applying for the Health Security program is not mandatory; an individual may still purchase health insurance from a private insurer of their choice. If an individual is receiving coverage from Health Security, they may also purchase insurance from a private insurer. To maintain a competitive nature to our health care system, we recommend that those that are capable of purchasing and maintaining an outside health care provider do so.
Not only will Delta create Health Security, we will invest in preventative care for all citizens of the United States. If we can prevent people from having to make trips to hospitals or emergency rooms for preventable diseases, we will be able to help reduce the cost of health insurance.
Since rising premiums has been addressed as a possible cause of millions of people becoming uninsured, or even under insured, Delta is going to address this issue by placing caps, limits, restrictions, and other regulations on private providers. These regulations will include a restriction on companies from charging different people different premiums for the same coverage. A company cannot charge a woman a higher premium than a man for the same coverage due to the fact that she is a woman. Similarly, homosexuals may not be discriminated against.
Another cause of rising premiums has been Tort Laws. Delta plans to reform these laws, which will be discussed in the Tort Laws Policy section.

Tort Laws/Tort Reforms
Tort Laws refer to cases where an individual is harmed or there is an attempt to harm an individual. Tort Laws in reference to health care is negligence torts where there is an intentional cause of injury or harm. The most common form of negligence torts are due to medical malpractice. Medical malpractice lawsuits have been blamed for rising premiums for the following reasons: the number of lawsuits being filed, rewards for damages, and other such reasons. There has been opposition to this stating that tort laws have no effect on rising premium; regardless of the truth of the position, reforming the tort laws may be beneficiary to the general public.
The regulations Delta will expand upon that the state governments have already enacted will include the following:
• One defendant cannot be responsible for paying all damages if other defendants lack resources to pay the lawsuit(s)
• Limits to awards
o Noneconomic: $400,000 or life expectancy calculations
o Sever injury: $1 million or life expectancy calculation
o Punitive damages: $500,000 or 3 times compensatory damages
• Limit to contingency fees
• Limit to length of time after occurrence of injury claim may be made
• Permitting award for future payment to be paid in increments rather than one large sum
• Capping damages in awarded in malpractice lawsuits
• Limiting the number of lawsuits an individual can claim
If these regulations can be successfully enforced, we at Delta believe that there will be an effect on premiums and thus either stopping their steady rise, or starting to reduce the price.


Energy
Energy is in need of change. Delta seeks to facilitate that change with efforts to not only decrease dependency of foreign oil, and decrease pollution, but also increase research and integrate alternative fuels into the American society. Delta is the party that will change the energy crisis for the better.

Alternative Energy
Currently, 52% of our nation is being powered by coal, while only 2% is powered by renewable resources, and 6% being powered through hydro-electric plants. With a rising population and greater power demands, non-renewable fuel sources such as coal and oil are going to be very rapidly depleted. In order to meet these demands, Delta feels it is necessary to invest in the development of alternative and renewable energy sources.
We propose furthering the research and development of solar technology both in and beyond our atmosphere. Solar energy is eight times more powerful in outer space than after it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. There is research that would harness the greater power of the Sun beyond our atmosphere, and transmit it back to Earth.
New designs of wind turbines are surfacing, making wind energy a more viable option to replace coal and oil. We have found a new wind turbine design that is 36 feet tall, and utilizes a greater surface area than the conventional turbines today. These new turbines can gather energy from even the slightest breezes, making them more efficient than the older models.
Geothermal energy will undoubtedly be the most effective new source of energy. Geothermal energy is close to a third of the nation’s renewable energy. For the western parts of the nation, this energy source would be essential in the fight against foreign oil. Delta is proposing that more factories designed to maximize the efficiency and usage of this energy, be built. We plan to start out with one factory for each of the western states willing and capable of utilizing geothermal energy. Once these pioneering plants have been established and work in the most efficient conditions, we will increase funding so that America can wean itself off of harmful energy sources.
Delta strongly believes that renewable energies such as geothermal, wind and solar energy are in the near future for America. We are dedicated and willing to fund and develop these up and coming technologies for the betterment of our environment and the American people.

Environmental Protection Agency
Current Government spending on the EPA: $7.1 billion

Delta’s proposal: Divide the EPA between half state governments, and half federal government. We suggest and encourage that states privatize so that the total cost of the EPA is reduced to $6 billion. Delta also proposes giving the EPA 5 billion extra dollars in order to augment their work in reversing the damage of past and present industry. We feel that our work in reducing the U.S.’s environmental impact will meet the EPA half way: the EPA reverses damage and the industries work to prevent further damage.

Automobile
Currently, not enough is being done in the auto industry to address the issue of efficiency and affordability. It is a long standing reality that an alternative fuel automobile is more expensive than its gasoline counter part. Delta desires to change this notion by furthering research in alternative and fuel efficient automobiles to make them more accessible to the general public and to provide a more attractive tax break incentives to encourage the purchase of these automobiles. Manufacturers are also part of the problem. President Bush signed into law an energy bill that requires a company’s automobile fleet reach an average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. Delta believes the companies have been given too long for this change. We propose that the increase in fuel efficiency should take place by the year 2015, and require that every company have a fuel efficient and affordable automobile model out by the year 2015 as well. We feel as if increasing support for greener car companies is crucial at this point in time. To support these green car companies, we will take the initiative and start purchasing vehicles, for government purposes outside of the military, from these green car companies. This insures that the steps towards alternatives are taken and are accessible to the general public.


Economic Policy
No economy is immune to a recession. The truth is that state of our economy is deteriorating. Delta looks to provide legislation that brings more growth to the economy, for that is the surest way out of a recession.

Credit Crisis
The credit crisis is deeply rooted in the financial and housing industry. The overextension of credit has led to the economic turmoil that is currently occurring. Delta proposes to reinstate the previous regulatory acts, such as the Glass-Steagal Act, in order to regulate loans and prevent a future crash. This will insure that people are buying homes that they can afford. We will continue with the TARP program and administer it with strict guidelines as to how the money from the bailout is distributed, and who it is distributed to. We realize that at a time like this, it is crucial that actions be taken and the government step in to aide in the recovery of our economy.

Auto Manufacturers
The American Auto industry has failed to have a comparative advantage in car making for decades. Companies such as Toyota and Honda are more profitable, and have a greater appeal to the consumer. We have targeted three factors that have led to their current situation. They have failed to reach the demand of the American public. They constantly produce SUV’s that have a very low appeal. These automakers exist in union states. This means that the workers have all the power in negotiating contracts, giving them extremely high wages, as compared to their level of production. Delta, despite the industry’s record, will bail out the auto companies. The bailout will be what we call the Conditional Bailout Plan. Our plan seeks to provide the industry with the cash infusion it needs in order to prevent the significant job loss that would occur. However, the money will only go to those who have drafted and are committed to a plan for a more efficient restructuring of their respective companies. Based on the plans these companies present, the government will decide to bail them out. They need to demonstrate a drastic change in efficiency ensuring for profitable futures. This bailout could also allow these automakers to relocate their factories to non-union states, so fair wages can be established without the interference of unions.

Job Loss
Currently, we have lost 2.59 million jobs since the start of the recession. In healthy economic times, it is necessary to create 1 million jobs a year for growth. Delta realizes that the gap between our job growth and job loss is increasing. We are taking the initiative by investing 6 billion dollars in the economic sector of our government to create jobs, green collar jobs. Delta believes that the best way to a prosperous future is to create jobs that have less of an effect on the environment and utilize alternative measures to execute services and manufacture and transport goods. We plan to have the government set the example by mandating that all transportation vehicles used for government agencies be as fuel efficient as possible. The states and agencies will have the choice of which alternative they want to operate with, such as E-85 ethanol or hybrid cars. If they choose to stick with gasoline powered cars, we will require that they pass a strict emissions and fuel efficiency test. Creating jobs is the first step we need to take in order to rise up out of this economic recession. Delta has recognized the need for jobs and we have taken a step further to include efficiency and environmental concerns.

Tax Policy
Delta feels as if it is unnecessary to change the current tax system. Currently, we employ the progressive tax system with marginal brackets. This system does what it needs to do, and that is getting the government money. We have researched other tax structures, but switching the tax structure in an economic downturn such as this one is not in the best interest of the American people. Switching tax structures would also force us to raise taxes, which is something we are not willing to do. The American people are already burdened by the recession we are in, we feel that the government should maintain the status quo when it comes to taxes.

Budget/Deficit
Delta believes that cutting spending is the only way to decrease the deficit that has accumulated over these past four years. In an attempt to stabilize the future of America, Delta strives to balance the federal budget as much as possible by limiting the funding for inefficient programs, and increase spending on programs that invest in the future of our human capital and are vital to our national infrastructure.

Cuts
We have found various inefficiencies in our government. We have been able to cut from our budget these inefficiencies, and in some cases, funnel the money saved to programs that are efficient and integral to our national infrastructure. Our various policies have illustrated these cuts:
Military -61.3 billion
Georgia/Russia -65 million
Iraq -6.5 billion

The programs and areas in our government that we feel need the most funding are: Education, Social Security, our Health Security Program, Stem Cell research, Immigration, Energy, paying off our UN debt, and creating new jobs. Our budget illustrates these investments.
Program/Department Amount Proposed
Legislative Branch 4,962
The Judiciary 6,981
Agriculture 94,753
Commerce 9,246
Defense—Military 590,162
Education 85,500
Energy 27,825
Health and Human Services 760,633.00
Homeland Security 44,362
Housing and Urban Development 11,407.5
Interior 10,239
Justice 26,520
Labor 54,192
State 22,103
Transportation 71,104
Treasury 438,240.8
Veterans Affairs 91,815
Corps of Engineers 8,772
Other Defense—Civil Programs 51,220
Environmental Protection Agency 6,899
Executive Office of the President 528
General Services Administration 722
International Assistance Programs 9.726
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 9,068.5
National Science Foundation 6,414
Office of Personnel Management 67,213
Small Business Administration 825
Social Security Administration (On-budget) 72,641
Social Security Administration (Off-budget) 620,142
Other Independent Agencies (On-budget) 19,017
Other Independent Agencies (Off-budget) 1,071
Allowances -495
Undistributed offsetting receipts -289,365
(On-budget) -153,731
(Off-budget) -135,634
Total outlays 2,635,397



Foreign

Iraq
Being that only 34% of Americans believe that the War in Iraq has been worth its costs to the US. Delta believes the best policy option and really the only option is to withdraw American troops from Iraq. The only question is in what kind of a time frame we will withdraw the troops. Our plan is to withdraw one combat brigade per month for 16 months after which all troops except for a residual force will be out of Iraq. This force will be left to help the Iraqi police and army protect their own nation. We will take the initiative in March of 2009. There are 14 brigades there now, an equivalent of about 56,000 troops. This would leave one brigade by May 2010. We will leave this brigade in Iraq for 3 months. This means by September 2010, we will have no troops in Iraq. By working with this plan we will start saving $500 million every month, until by September 2010 we will be saving $4 billion a month.

Afghanistan
Currently, 55% of Americans believe that the war in Afghanistan is worth fighting. Delta’s policy reflects the wants and needs of the American people, so we will keep the war going. Currently, the war is not going as well as it should be, we are spread too thin and do not have enough troops to undergo the operations necessary to work on fining Osama Bin Laden and to create a terror-free, non-hostile nation. This is why Delta is going to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan, so that we can finish what the Bush Administration started back in 2001. We will send the 32,000 troops to the already 31,000 there. These will come from the troops we will evacuate from Iraq. We will start this in July, after four brigades have left Iraq, and we will send those into Afghanistan, sending in 16,000 troops by this time. This means by November 2009, we will have the 32,000 needed. We will also ask NATO for 10,000 more troops, thus putting the total amount of troops in Afghanistan 70,000 troops which we feel is a large enough number to accomplish US and NATO goals and to deal with any complications that may arise along the way.

Iran
Delta believes that diplomacy is the solution to Iran. We understand we have to treat Iran as an equal, sovereign nation, but we must also act tough and strong to support our side. It is a perfect mix to the two extremes of a stubborn negotiation and a push-over, lenient talk. We feel it is the time to pressure Iran to change their disturbing behavior and change their actions. We give Iran two options: If Iran chooses to continue its questionable conduct, we will increase our existing economic pressures put upon it; if Iran chooses to abandon its nuclear missile program and seek peaceful resolutions, we will offer both economic and political incentives, like lifting the sanctions currently placed upon them and help them join peaceful international organizations.

Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp
Delta party will leave the Guantanamo Bay facilities open, but are creating reforms and new regulations to shed bad image and reputation that the camp has received. We feel the criminals there should be treated under the same constitutional provisions as any US citizen, as they are in US territory. We will no longer torture or use any questionable measures to interrogate inmates, as we find that it is creating more controversy and causing more harm then good.

North Korea
Delta will continue with the six party talks as they have been going very well and have had an impressive record. North Korea already agreed to report and comply to the regulations of the six party talks, and so to continue negotiations through that outlet seems very realistic. However, Delta also chooses to impose economic sanctions and freeze the assets of North Korean banks should North Korea once again back out of established provisions and initiate a nuclear program without the agreement of the members of the six party talks.

Nuclear Proliferation
Delta will maintain the provisions established by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which states that only the five permanent members of the Security Council may have nuclear weapons, those fie being the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China. Even should the US change in terms of the structure of the Security Council, the NPT is a status-quo that should be enforced in order to maintaining the stability of the world and Delta respects that status-quo.

Cuba
Delta plans on lifting the almost 50-year-old trading embargo with Cuba. Cuban Americans should be allowed to travel to Cuba as much as they want. Also, more Americans visiting Cuba could create a positive influence not only with Cuba but also with all of Latin America, a much needed change considering for the past 50 years relations . Also, the purpose of the embargo has failed. IT has been almost 50 years, and the Castros are still in power, Cuba has not been isolated from the rest of the world, nor has it prevented Washington’s closest friends and allies from trading with them.

Free Trade Agreements
Delta Party would also promote free trade agreements with Latin American countries. However we will continue to stall agreements if for example, lack of cooperation on drug eradication efforts from Bolivia or a bad human rights record in Columbia continue. “Trade agreements help level the international playing field and encourage foreign governments to adopt open and transparent rulemaking procedures as well as non-discriminatory laws and regulations.

Human Rights in Latin America
Delta party will continue to promote human rights and development in Latin America by continuing to fund programs like the Peace Corps and United States Agency for International Development and other private organizations. Delta Party would also like to utilize the Human Right Implementation project developed by the research and studies program of the United States Institute of Peace. We feel, along with ending Plan Columbia and the trade embargo with Cuba, that continuing to promote and fund human rights projects in Latina America, hoping to improve future relations.

Cocaine In Columbia
Plan Columbia, which is currently costing us $66 million a month, is neither helping the Columbian government secure the country from the FARC, nor is it lowering the amount of Cocaine being produced in the country. It is only destroying the farmland and eradicating the coca plant, used to make cocaine, but is also used by farmers to make medicine, teas, and spices. Columbia feels we are imposing on their territory by still enforcing the plan. This is why Delta is cutting Plan Columbia, and instead going for a more effective approach: going directly into Columbia and discussing the issue with the government. We feel raising the price of other crops such as tea and coffee will give the farmers there an alternative to Cocaine, and helping train the Columbian government to deal with the FARC will help Columbia deal with this issue more effectively.

Military Spending
Currently our country currently spends 87% of our security resources on military forces, 8% on home-land security and 5% on non-military international engagement. In a government under Delta, we will change this. We plan to cut $53 billion from the military budget, money that would have been used for useless programs initially created to fight cold war threats and are now useless in the modern era, and focus that money to homeland security, research, and education.

Below we outline $61.3 billion in budget savings. They would be achieved primarily by eliminating weapons systems designed to deal with threats from a bygone era and weapons and programs that are not useful in defending our country from the threats we now face in a modern age

F-22 Raptor- Suspend acquisition and divert a percentage of current funding (4.1 billion) into refitting pre-existing aircraft with electronic warfare technology, generating $4.8 billion in savings.

The Raptor is the most expensive fighter plane ever built ($339 million per plane, and 183 of them). It’s original purpose was to content with a soviet aircraft that was never built. Costs per aircraft have more then doubled since is original conception. The end result is an aircraft too heavy to serve the next generation fighter plane, too large to be considered stealthy, and too small to carry more then half the payload of a small bomber. A government under Delta will close the production line, suspend acquisition plans for this operationally inconsistent aircraft, and divert a small percentage of current funding (4.1 billion) to refitting current aircraft with enhanced electronic warfare technology, thereby creating $4.8 billion in savings.

National Missile Defense- Cease further missile Defense development but retain a basic technology program, generating $8.1 billion in savings.

According to it’s own figures, the pentagon $150 billion on the program since Reagan’s 1983 “Star Wars” speech. The ground-based missile defense (GMD) has failed in six out of thirteen tests since 1999, and none of these tests have been conducted under anything approaching realistic conditions. Despite this poor record, the Bush administration has already placed 25 missile interceptors in Alaska and California. Plus, more were to be installed by 2009. Instead of deploying these missiles, Party Delta will retain a basic research program to determine if National Missile defense is practically feasible, generating $8.1 billion in savings.

DDG-1000- Cancel the DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer program, creating $4.8 billion in savings
This destroyer, conceived as the USSR crumbled in 1991, is another mismanaged weapon ill-suited for today’s threats. Cost growth and technical problems have slashed the original projected procurement goal of 32 shits to just two. There is no open-ocean mission that this destroyer could perform under reasonable conditions. Canceling the program will save $4.8 billion.

SSN-744 Virginia class submarine-Cancel eleventh vessel and advance procurement for a twelfth boat, saving $3.6 billion and end the program altogether.

This vessel is out of date. Replacing it with SSBN Ohio-class submarines, which are more efficient and cost less. Should operational requirements for these missions exceed the ability of the currecnt SSGN fleet, as many as four additional SSBNs could be converted to SSGNs, leaving 10 Ohio-class boats as part of the strategic dterrent force, more then enough to provide the recommended 600 operational nuclear weapons.

V-22 Osprey-Cancel the program and buy an equivalent number of H-92 and CH-53 aircraft, generating $2.4 billion in savings.

From its creation, the V-22 Osprey has been beset by safety, technical, and cost problems. The Osprey takes off and lands like a helicopter and once airborne, flies like a plane. Under current plans, the Pentagon intends to buy 458 of these aircraft ad the cost of over $110 million for each. That’s nealy three times more thant the original estimate. The Osprey would only be marginally more capable than existing helicopters in terms of speed rand and payload, yet cost at least five times as much. Halting production of the V-22 and buying an equivalent number of existing helicopters like will save $3 billion in 2009 and $10 billion over the next five years.

Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle-Cancel the EFC program saving $.4 billion

The Bush administration requested $316.1 million for the EFV in FY 2009, a $68.9 million increase over its FY 2008 request. Originally conceived in 1995, the EFV was supposed to be a high-speed amphibious as- sault vehicle. It was intended to speed Marines from
ship to shore at 25 knots and then travel overland at 45 miles an hour. What has been produced so far is a vehicle that breaks down every eight hours on average, is unpredictable to steer in the water, and has more than doubled in price from $12.3 million to $26.9 million per vehicle. The flat hull that enables it to skin over water also makes it vulnerable to Improvised explosive devices, one of the deadliest threats facing US soldiers in Iraq. Too meet this threat, the US has the built an impressive fleet of Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles that are specifically designed to protect against the mines. These have proven themselves safer then the EFCs. With 14,000 vehicles worth $22 billion, much cheaper then the EFCs, the EFC program will be cancelled.

Offensive Space-Based Weapons- Cancel this unproven, controversial, and ineffective program to yield $3.5 billion in savings

According to a national security directive promul- gated on August 21, 2006 the development and deployment of space-based weaponry continues to be a high priority for the Bush administration. Development of such weaponry significantly expands U.S. military superiority. Our conventional and nuclear weapons are already capable of destroying any of the ground targets that space-based weapons would and can do at a fraction of the cost. Moreover, the development invites escalation of the global arms race to a new level. Offensive military space-based technology should remain in the research and development phase. The estimated $1.5 billion in funding suggested in FY 2009 should be pared to $100 million.

Future Combat System- Slow the program down and save $5.1 billion

The Future Combat System (FCS) is an Army program to build a family of 18 major systems including eight new types of armored vehicles, four classes of unmanned aerial vehicles, three types of unmanned ground vehicles, and sensors that will be linked together into an integrated and very complex system. The Army intends
to begin equipping its brigade combat teams with the future combat system in 2011 and eventually will equip 15 of its 48 planned brigades at a cost of at least $164 billion. The Future Combat System is necessary for the Army because it will make many of its units more deployable, lethal and survivable. However, its current schedule is far too ambitious given the complexity of the program. Of the network of 53 crucial technologies, 52 are unproven. Therefore we should reduce the program and save $5.1 billion

Nuclear Forces- Reduce arsenal to 600 deployed weapons and 400 in reserve and eliminate the Trident II nuclear missile, generating $15.6 billion savings

Reducing the weapons to a deployed arsenal of 600 operational warheads with another 400 in reserve—an arsenal fully capable of deterring known threats and hedging against unforeseen contingencies—would generate $14.5 billion in savings. Eliminating funding in this year’s budget for the Trident II nuclear missile—an unnecessary weapon, given the availability of other strategic delivery vehicles—would save an additional $1.1 billion.

Force Structure-Cute two active component air wings and one carrier battle group and its associated air wing for an annual savings of $5 billion.

The so-called “war on terrorism” has been waged primarily by the ground forces of the Army and Marines. In the more than five years our military has been in Iraq and the seven years in Afghanistan, the Air Force and Navy have played relatively minor roles. There are rela- tively few fixed targets in Afghanistan and the bombing campaign in Iraq lasted but three weeks.
At the present time the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps have more than 5,000 tactical combat planes and 1,800 armed helicopters. It is hard to imagine a scenario that would require such large numbers of aircraft. Therefore, two active Air Force wings and one carrier battle group and its associated air wing can be
eliminated without straining our forces. The annual costs of operating and maintaining the two wings and the carrier battle group amount to at least $5 billion.

Waste and Inefficiency- Eliminate waste and duplication, saving $8 billion.

Former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld estimated that more than $20 billion a year could be saved by fixing procurement and business operations. The Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office estimate that $1 billion a year could be saved by consolidating various activities. Senator and
Republican presidential nominee John McCain (R-AZ) estimates that there are several billion dollars worth of earmarks (a.k.a. pork) in the annual defense budget. In the FY 2007 budget alone, there were 2,822 earmarks totaling $15 billion, up from $11.2 billion the year before. Our realistic Unified Security Budget would ask the Pentagon to save $7 billion a year by eliminating waste and duplication.

= Savings of 61.3 billion


Immigration/Illegal immigration
In dealing with illegal immigration, we will allow a program to make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens, and making it harder for employers to hire illegal immigrants.
Social Security
Any immigrant who comes here and turns 68 before 2030 will not be able to collect full social security benefits because they have not paid enough into it. They must have to pay at for social security for at least 20 years, and then receive full benefits. But, they will receive the amount that has accumulated for the amount of time they have been paying into it. For example, if an immigrant has been paying into social security for 15 years then retires at age 68, they will receive the amount that has accumulated over the 15 years, not the full amount.
Deportation/Prison sentences
Also, we will cut the ICE airlines that deport illegal immigrants to the city of their choice by 60%, because more then 65% of the immigrants come back and deported multiple times. We will only deport them to one city in a country of their choice. Also, we will cut the time an illegal immigrant stays in prison from 32 days to 14 days, saving $2813 per person. We will use that saved money to create more jobs by transporting them more often with vans and buses.
Education
We will also increase the lottery for education and work visas by 5%, giving every immigrant who wishes to come here the opportunity to do so. This why we are also offering citizenship to any immigrant who acquires an education visa and graduates from a 4-year university. We believe this will not only stop the ramped brain drain that is occurring in our country as immigrants acquire education visas and then leave because they cannot either get citizenship, work visas, or green cards and return to their countries. Currently, we are basically educating other country’s experts and students. Also, by installing this program we will force competition among America’s schools and universities to prepare our students for places in universities. We will not provide unlimited enrollment for immigrants, though. We will have a cap system placed. The percent of students from a university that are from a given country will be increase by 3%. For example, if 10% of college students who attend the University of Arizona are from Mexican immigrants who are not citizens but who come on education visas, we will increase that amount to 13% and allow 3% more Mexican immigrants with education visas to attend. These immigrants who come and graduate will still have to take the citizenship test and pay the immigration fee.
Border/Amnesty
With regards to the illegal immigrants entering the country through the Mexican border, we will give $300 million from saved money from the Georgia/Russia conflict and add 600 solders to help secure the border. Delta will not enforce a policy of allowing existing illegal immigrants who have stayed in the United States for a certain period of time to become citizens in a way any that is easier then for regular citizens. We do not feel should reward people for committing crimes for an extended amount of time. Instead, we choose to reform the immigration process to make it smoother and faster, giving immigrants who wish to become citizens a speedier application process and execution time.

Georgia-Russia Conflict
Delta believes that the best way to start any conflicts with other nations is best sought out with the United Nations’ agreement and support. This policy was not completely followed by the United States with the Georgia-Russia conflict. In addition, Delta believes that the Bush Administration had no right to place troops in Georgia in 2008 and currently we $365 million invested in Georgia. Delta will remove $300 million dollars from this conflict and instead invest it in building the Mexican border and fund more soldiers along the border. We will keep $65 million in Georgia for the next year, then evacuate all soldiers and troops by February 2010. We will keep $2 million in Georgia for the next 3 years, funding peacekeepers and neutral US delegates in both the Georgian as well as Russian territory to keep current information on the conflict. We will negotiate, not be hostile or aggressive; but, we will keep the door open for conflict if all other plans (negotiations, sanctions, isolation) fail. The $63 million that will be saved by February 2010 will help continue funding Mexican border security.

Terrorism
Delta believes terrorism is a prudent problem. We believe the Bush Administration has approached this topic in the wrong direction. We are removing the “Axis of Evil” label because we are trying to start a policy of diplomacy, not automatic aggression. We are trying to initiate a positive mentality of peace and labeling countries is counterproductive. By starting negotiations with uncooperative countries such as Iran, we feel Delta is on the right track to stopping terrorism and creating a more positive environment with the international community.

The United Nations/ European Union/North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Delta chooses to keep its relationship with both organizations, but improve relations with the UN by paying off the US’s debts, which totals $1.5 billion. We will get this money from cutting the inefficient military programs outlined earlier in our foreign policy program. We believe if the UN and NATO wish to help us with our war in Afghanistan and any other possible confrontations; we need to improve relations with them first.

NAFTA
A small adjustment to the tariffs placed upon lumber from Canada will be made, in order to further free trade between NAFTA members. The subsidy on Canadian lumber is harmful to U.S. lumber industries; however, the tariff will merely be reduced by a quarter—from 10.8% to 8.1%— in order to partially meet requests from our Canadian neighbors.
Delta also pushes for NAFTA to allow only a unanimous decision by the three member countries to make amendments, in order to prevent the punishment or suppression of one country by the other two. Propositions will also be made to encourage partial specialization of exports from member countries in order to decrease redundant labor for all three.

The United Nations/ European Union
Delta chooses to keep its relationship with both organizations, but improve relations with the UN by paying off the US’s debts, which totals $1.5 billion. We will get this money from cutting the inefficient military programs outlined earlier in our foreign policy program. We believe if the UN and NATO wish to help us with our war in Afghanistan and any other possible confrontations, we need to improve relations with them first.

World Health
While the United States under Delta will continue to fund global health funds—mainly aids prevention—there will be a reduction in this aide in order to keep money within the United States and encourage prevention and research domestically. The changes are as follows:

Currently: 21 billion (including medicare/medicaid)
21 billion includes
• 2.7 bill. for global aids prevention
• Research 3 bill.
• Prevention .9 bill.
• Cash/housing assistance 1.9 bill.
• Care 12.6 bill.
Delta (changes are in bold): 21 billion (distribution changes, not total amount)
21 billion includes
• 2.1 bill. for global aids prevention
• Research 3.1 bill.
• Prevention 1.26 bill.
• Cash/housing assistance 1.9 bill.
• Care 12.6 bill.

Israel/Palestine

Israel has recently celebrated its 60th birthday; it is a young country with incredible adversary from many countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. However, in their efforts to protect their country, genocide is occurring in the Palestinian regions.
Recently—within the last month—a war of retaliation has occurred between the Hamas government in the Gaza strip and the Israeli government. While Israel acted in retaliation to Hamas’ actions, the extent of Israel’s attack and their lack of discrimination between civilians and insurgent have led to nearly 1,200 deaths, including many civilian women and children. This mass murder is intolerable, especially when the U.S. provides 3.1 billion yearly to Israel’s military.
The Palestinian people have virtually no control over their government’s actions—Hamas, while democratically elected—entered office under false pretenses and has since starved the area, using aide money for illicit purposes.
The immense and polarizing history between the two countries places peacemakers and negotiators in a difficult position. Neither side is interested in compromise or peace talks. Each side enters any peace talks without a mind for compromise, and so the situation is at a stalemate.
The United States is in a unique position to change this—our 3.1 billion in military aide each year is integral to Israeli operations. However, the United States is heavily invested in the country and relies upon it as a watchdog in the Middle East. To pressure Israel into ceasing the murder of innocent Palestinians but prevent an Israeli military collapse, Delta is reducing U.S. aide to Israel by .2 billion yearly, starting at 2.9 billion. Furthermore, 10% of this money will be stipulated specifically for training a special, non-military peace force of Israeli army draftees. This is because many Palestinians refuse to speak with anyone who has ever been a soldier in Israel; all Israelis are drafted into the military for two years. At the same time, at least twenty Palestinian civilians, both male and female, and with extensive background checks must apply for and be given special passes to take them expediently through checkpoints. These civilians will have monthly meeting with the non-military sector of Israeli draftees in order to facilitate understanding and create an image of compromise, progress, and hope. If Israel refuses to create this special unit and their Palestinian counterparts, the 10% will not be given.
While technically all money given to Israel is conditional upon presidential review, in actuality our previous investments ensure that we must continue our aide. However, another 10% of our military aide to Israel will be entirely conditional and based purely on U.S. approval of Israeli efforts to make peace and decrease civilian death. Part of this approval must be met by immediately giving equal representation to Israeli Arabs living in the state of Israel. While 20% of the Israeli population is Arabic, censuses in Israel are given only in Hebrew—a clear bias against the Arab Israeli population. These censuses must be made in both languages to fully reflect citizens within Israel that will likely be more inclined to compromise with Palestine, based upon cultural and religious roots.
Even with Delta’s pressure on Israel to create peace, the government can do little to affect Hamas directly. Any aide money sent through our government falls into the corrupt hands of Hamas terrorist leader. Palestinians should technically receive more outside aide than any other people in the world. The government uses much of this money for weapons.
So, Delta will provide the .2 billion taken from the Israeli military aide and give it to Non governmental organizations in the U.S. that deal with Palestinian aide and inter communication between Israel and Palestine.
The Palestinian people are poorly informed and highly biased due not only to their situation but also to their government’s isolationism. NGOs have the power to enter the West Bank (and sometimes Gaza) and speak to the grass roots; without this, the removal of Israeli walls and checkpoints is futile and pointless. They will only be unnecessary when the Palestinian people are more informed and less inclined to sympathize with their deceitful, terrorist government.
Delta supports the creation of a Palestinian state, but not under U.S. conditions, rather, we will support a compromise reached between the state of Israel and Palestine. This compromise may take several years, and the U.S. will not force the issue; under pressures from the U.S. and greater understanding due to NGO’s, a natural and more stable conclusion will be reached at the willingness of the two states.
Delta will also work diplomatically with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in order to come to a truce and understanding between the countries. Delta will concentrate primarily upon talks with Egypt and encouragement to close up borders between them and Gaza, pressuring Hamas into negotiations and forcing them to open up to NGO’s and increased UN aide.