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Agenda 03/25/2008 Item # 6C Agenda Item No. 6e March 25, 2008 Page 1 of 14 COllIER COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE 3301 East Tamiami Trail. Naples, Florida 34111 . (239) 774-8383 . FAX (239) 774-4010 March 12, 2008 Mr. Jim Kramer 180 Cape Sable Drive Naples, FL 34104 Re: Public Petition Request to Discuss Support For The Platform of The American People Dear Mr. Kramer: Please be advised that you are scheduled to appear before the Collier County Board of Commissioners at the meeting of March 25, 2008, regarding the above referenced subject. Your petition to the Board of County Commissioners will be limited to ten minutes. Please be advised that the Board will take no action on your petition at this meeting. However, your petition may be placed on a future agenda for consideration at the Board's discretion. If the subject matter is currently under litigation or is an on-going Code Enforcement case, the Board will hear the item but will not discuss the item after it has been presented. Therefore, your petition to the Board should be to advise them of your concern and the need for action by the Board at a future meeting. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Board's Chambers on the Third Floor of the W. Harmon Turner Building (Building "F") of the govemment complex. Please arrange to be present at this meeting and to respond to inquiries by Board members. If you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact this office. aelY, .' yn JamesV.Mudd ~ County Manager JVMljb cc: David Weigel, County Attorney MAR-12-2008 11:46A FROM:ABY LAUREL ESTATES 395964517 TO: 2524010 Agenda Iteffr ilro1 6e March 25, 2008 Page 2 of 14 PleBse print Name: :5 Address: (e () C.., ',C ?/I. G~ 114 tlt t!. t; rL Phone: ~3 - ()- '17. CCwkTr M!1V/!6Ef) !/rrtl: :Tub! Date of the Boa :z..s /f(,4,fC/1 ~O~ B Must clrcl. y.. or no: 18 thia 8Ubj.ct matl8r und.r tlgatlon at thia tim.? Y.a @ .8 this aubj.ct matl8r an on ing Coda Enforc.ment ca..? Y.a ~ Nolle: If aithar ana_r i. u)' n, the Board will hear the item but will have no dlacuaalon ",gardlng the Ita after it la p.....nted. lea Daae if necessary): ou f as toask itionsl the Commission to take ttach o KM/t( .1EJ2. EIIC/-. fllt1IIMLM. HI) /).El!'.lv~RLb '>;'l~8 C:\Documenla and SetIIng....m KlwneIlMy nIlI\PIlblhI'etIIIQ"R...uoItF~D8n_nn.doc . Agenda Item No. 6C March 25, 2008 Page 3 of 14 THE PLATFORM: OF THE A\1ERICAN PEOPLE * * * * * * * * * * * * ii, Red, if/hite and Blue Revolution j ~-. i : ~( "> i-r !r- i> -.-.-- r'for 'v1/[nning the (Future Agenda Item No. 6C March 25, 2008 Page 4 of 14 . ~ ---\ -:r iil! Uti: 1"'u ruri:: :"....,; l_\,;- ~" '-. p " '." ,-, i,' Dear Friend. \Vc are at a critical point in American history. The }\..rneric.1.n people are calling for both parries [0 move beyond red-vcrslls- blue partisanship. They are calling for rheir elecred officials to acrually represenr rhcir values and principles. They are calling for real change. At American Solutions, we spent six months conducting nationwide workshops, telephone {Own halls. and six national surveys to under.stand the key com:crns of rhe American People. From this extensive rcsearch\ we dcvdopcd the PlatkJfIl1 of rhe American People - a unique political document that serVC$ as <I. hlueprinl. for rea] changc: the American people are demanding. -rhe PL:nf0rrr:; ~J ~h(' .'\n"!nii.-.Jn f\::Cllk is ;,=.;,-\brior....~-,::;rt(:"nrcd :L.l; .' o\'crwheJmin~ ~urrnrt nf ,1 majoriry of ArnerJcam:, ind:.!dinr.. rr:.i!:\nr!c.s ul Dcmocr2.t:;, }t:-publicms, and indcpn!.dcilL's. j;:';<; ,';:J!" hope (t-L\l b('ginni'Jg \virh !()',1i U;il'.'(,lH!!'.n:.; IIp thrOl:!!-b ~U>,~r;('~. q:HC- <ir:.d n2.;l~jn::d :.:.~,n'!CiHi(H\:: both p;)jjticaJ F7<lni'.'s \,.,'ili C('!1~jd,'_l r,iCh i.LUll'- ; ;. 1.11-. ,,-,,-', ,., ,d' _"' .." ",.L,.. ,'.';. ,_I i '! .:-,', ~ "<.'. ; ::' 'i.-.r, ~ i':' c. ,-',': -, ~ ,;' . "," ';, '-1:-Uln.;l i.D(' R';:Pll:-,i;c;n :jno. I_L:'n:l'L~~tL(' l ':~ :; [,11"".l J. \\~<.i.i li.!C .i~i!h':;i:".ill PC:Upit:' lL'1 rea! d.\J.ng.:.:. Your frie-rHJ. ,/ /I/W ~ . Agenda lIe March Pag PETITION TO THE REpUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES we, therifort, tht untkrsigntd citizms of tht Unittd StIltts, paition tht Republican and Dnnocrrztic pam.. to fimnally consider - by allowingftr a ftll and opm debatt, and a ckar and fair vou at thrir mptctivt district, ,tau, and national convmtions - tach of tht plank of tht PlatfOrm of tlx American Propk. Take action today by signing the petition at: www.AmericanSolutions.com/Platfonn The question now is: will the Republican and Democratic parties stand with the American people for real change? THE PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A Red, White, and Blue Platform to Replace the Red ~rsus Blue Partisan Split Thi, document provide< pol/ing data to demonItrate why we believe thi, i5 The P&.tfOrm of the American People. AMERICAN VALUES AND AMERICAN SOLUTIONS * There are values which unite a large majoriry of Americans. (86 to 10) * We want to strengthen and revitalize America's core values. (80 to 9) * Our goal should be to provide long-term solutions instead of short-term fixes. (92 to 5) * Government clearly has to change the way it operares and bring in ideas and systems currently employed to increase productivity and effectiveness in the private sector. (74 to 16) * The changes we need in government have to occur in all 513.000 electcd offices throughout the COUntry and cannot be achieved by focusing only on Washington. (84 to 12) THE P1.ATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PEOP1.E Agenda Item No. 6e March 25, 2008 Page 6 of 14 . ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CMLIZATION ENGLISH * English should be the official language of government. (87 to II) * All election ballots and othet government documents should be printed 10 English. (74 to 23) * New immigrants should be required to learn English. (83 to 17) * Government should offer intensive English language instruction to all who need it, including stipends to help immigrants attend the programs. (83 to 15) * Businesses should be able to require employees to spcak the English language whilc on the job. (80 to 17) AMERICAN CIVILIZATION * The United States should only grant citizenship to those who want to embrace American values and culture. (68 to 29) * It is important to have references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence - that we are endowed by our Creator with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - because they make clear that certain rights can't be taken away by govetnment. (84 to 13) * Statements regarding religion and moraliry made by thc Founding Fathers are just as important today as they wcre 200 yeats ago. (86 to 12) * We reject the idea that the times change and the language in the Pledgc of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence must change with the times. The language in the Pledge and the Declaration are very important and must be protected. (86 to 12) * Public schools should teach more American history. (56 to 35) . Agenda Ite March Pag IMMIGRATION, THE BORDER, AND ASSIMILATION The American people favor legal immigration, control of the border, ending ilIcgal immigration with an emphasis on employer responsibility, immediate deportarion of felons who are here illegally, a requircment to return home to become legal temporary workers, assimilation of those who sincerely want to become American, and a sophisticated, technologically advanced remporary worker system. SPECIFICALLY: * The American people want to Increase the number of visas for highly-educared immigrants or those with special skills, thc so-called HIB and H2B visas. (63 to 29) * The American peoplc believe border control is a security issue. Terrorists are trying to enter the United States illegally. (86 to 12) * Illegal immigrants who commit felonies should be deported. (88 to 10) * There should be a worker visa program making ir easier for people to work legally in rhe United States. (83 to 16) * Allowing illegal immigrants [0 remain in this country undermines respect for the law. Therefore to join a worker visa program workers must apply from their own country. They could not apply from the United Stares and must rerurn home first. (69 to 27) * When applying for a temporary worker visa each worker should take an oath to obey American law and be deported if they commit a crime while in the United States. (93 to 8) * In a workcr visa program each worker will receive a tamper-proof identification card that will allow the government to track him or her. (89 to II) * Each worker will go to immigration centers in their home country that will help them find jobs in the United States so they apply for a visa with a job in hand. (84 to 14) * A real time verification system should be established to verity immigration status and it should be outsourced to companies like American Express, Visa, or MasterCard so businesses can immediately identity whether or not someone has forged papers. (73 to 20) * No company should market services such as credit cards or bank accounts specifically to people who are in the United States illegally. (78 to 18) * There should be heavy monetary fines against employers and businesses who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. (78 to 20) * The Internal Revenue Service should conduct audits of companies who hire illegal immigrants to determine if those companics have paid rhe taxes they owe. (83 to 15) THE PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE Agenda Item No. 6C . March 25, 2008 Page 8 of 14 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY * There will he incredible possibilities ro meet our country's challenges in a variety of fields because in the next 25 years there will be 4 to 7 rimes the amount of ncw science and technology in the world as in the last 25 years. (88 t07) * Therefore we should dramatically increase our investment in math and science education. (91 to 8) * We must rely on innovarion and ncw technology if we are going to compete successfully with India and China. (88 to 8) PRIZES * Prizes should be gIven to companies and individuals that invent creative ways to solve problcms. * We suppon glVlng large financial priz<:s to companies and individuals who invent an affordahle car that gcrs 100 miles to the gallon. (77 to 15) * We suppon giving a large financial priz<: to the first company or individual who invents ncw ways to successfully cut pollution. (79 to 18) * We suppon giving a large financial prize to the first company or individual who invents a ncw, safer way to dispose of nuclear waste products. (79 to 16) . Agenda Ite March Pag ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT * We have an obligation to be good stewards of God's creation for future generations. (95 to 3) * We can havc a healrhy economy and a healthy environment. (73 to 18) * We can solve our environmental problems faster and cheaper with innovation and new technology than with more litigation and more government regulation. (79 to 15) * Entrepreneurs are more likely to solve America's energy and environmental problems than bureaucrats. (72 to 18) * If we use technology and innovation and incentives we do not need to raise taxes to clean up our environment. (68 to 29) * We support giving tax credits [0 companies that cut carbon emissions as an incentive to cut pollution. (76 to 21) * We want to encourage businesses to voluntarily cut pollution and give them financial incentives to do this but, if necessary, we will require them to do so. (66 to 25) * We should give tax credits to homeowners and builders who incorporate alternative energy systems in their homes, like solar, wind, and geothermal energy. (90 to 8) * Wc support offcring tax credits for people who turn in older, high-polluting cars. (68 to 27) * Climate change and global warming arc probably happening. (82 to 13) * We support building more nuclear power plants to cut carbon emissions. (65 to 28) * We should hold city governments to the same standards for cleaning waste watcr as are applied to private industry. (91 to 5) * We are prepared to use public funds to preserve green space and parks to protect natural areas from development but especially with public and private partnerships. (81 to 15) * We favor properry tax ctedits to private landowners who agree not to develop their land and agree nOt to sell it to developers (65 to 30) OIL AND NATIONAL SECURITY * Out current dependence on foreign oil threatens our national security by making us vulncrable to dangerous dictatorships. (78 to 18) * Our current dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic prosperity by making us vulnerable to dangerous dictatorships. (78 to 19) * We should build more oil refineries in America to lower the cost of gas and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. (77 to 19) * With appropriate safeguards to protect the environment, we should drill for oil off America's coasts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. (73 to 23). THE PLATFORM OF THE AMERlCAN PEOPLE Agenda Item No. 6C . March 25, 2008 Page10of14 TAXES AND JOBS * The federal income tax system is unfair. (69 to 27) * The death tax should be abolished. (65 to 32) * We favor tax incentives for companies who keep their headquaners in the United States. (70 to 26) * Taxpayers should be given the option of a single income tax rate of 17%. Taxpayers would still have the option of filing their taxes in the current system if they choose to do so. (61 to 32) * The option of a single rate system should give taxpayers the convenience of filing their taxes with just a single sheet of paper. (82 to 15) * We favor the option of a single corporare rax rate of 17% that would lower taxes for some businesses that pay up to 38% while also closing loopholes that some corporations use to pay lcss in taxes. (74 to 22) * The United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the industrialized world making it difficult fOt U.S. corporations to compete internationally which gives incentives for companies to move overseas. This plan will make America a more anractive place for businesses that provide good paying jobs. (68 to 14) SOCIAL SECURIlY AND RETIREMENT * It is imponant for the President and Congress to address the issue of Social Security in the ncxt few ycars. (96 to 2) * The currenr Social Security sysrems is broken and, if ir isn'r reformed, future generations will no longer have it as a safety net for retirement. (80 to 19) * We favor a Social Security proposal in which Personal Social Security Savings Accounts would be optional, with workers given the choice of continuing to depend on the current system with current henefits. (64 to 31) * We favor a Social Security proposal in which, when a worker retires, he or she would usc the moncy in the account to buy an annuity, which is a type of financial benefit that will give monthly payments for the rest of the worker's life. The annuity will pay at least the same amount as traditional Social Security would. (67 to 27) * We favor this Social Security proposal because in the current system, workers cannot pass onto their family members the money they paid into Social Security. This would not be the case in this new plan. (59 to 23) * We favor a Social Security proposal in which any money in the account left after the purchase of an annuity would be the property of the worker and the extra money can be left to family members at death. (80 to 17) . Agenda lIe March Page FREEDOM OF RELIGION * References to the Creator in the Declaration of Independence arc very important. (87 to 9) * Keeping the reference to "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is very important. (88 to 11) * We reject the Ninth Federal Circuit Court declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because the Court believes the Pledge's reference to "God" violate the separation of Church and State. (82 to 15) * The phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is perfcccly in line with the United States Constitution. We reject that this phrase violates the separation of Church and state. (82 to 15) * Separation between Church and State does not mean there can be no references to God in government sanctioned activities or public buildings. (81 to 16) * The best way to ensure religious freedom is to protect ALL religious references and symbols; including those on public buildings, lands, or documents. (83 to 16) * It is important to acknowledge today that the references to God in the Declaration of Independence - that we are endowed by our Creator with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuir of happiness. (93 to 6) * Children should be allowed a moment of silence to pray for themselves in public school if they desire. (94 to 5) * We reject banning all prayer in public schools. (82 to 16) * We support the right of high schools students saying thanks to God in a graduarion speech. (79 to 20) * We approve of a Christmas tree or a Menorah being placed on public property during the holiday season. (90 to 7) * We favor a law to protect ciry. county. and state lands that have crosses or other religious symbols from being removed. (68 to 28) * Many of the problems our COUntry faces are because America is no longer as religious and moral as it once was and are not a result of changes in the economy, war, public education and other issues. (65 to 30) * The Founding Fathers understood that religion and morality were important ro creating and building this COUntry and talked about it regularly. This was understood throughour American history and is central to America's success today. We reject those who say that just because America has a 200 year history of religion in government doesn't make it right. We reject thar this violates the U.S. Constitution and discriminates againST those who afC of other faiths or are not religious. (79 to 17) * Statements regarding religion and morality made by the Founding Fathers are just as important today as they were 200 years ago. (86 to 12) THE PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE Agenda Item No. 6C March 25. 2008 Page 12 of 14 DEFENDING AMERICA * We musr help defend America and her allies. (85 ro 10) * We musr defear America's enemies. (75 ro 16) * We have to he prepared to survive an arrack by a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon. (83 to 17) * AI Qaeda poses a very serious rhrear for rhe Unired Srares. (93 ro 5) * It will not be possible to negotiate wirh terrorist groups like AI Qaeda. (79 to 19) * America should rake the rhrear of rerror by fanatical religious groups more seriously. (83 to 13) * Iran poses a serious threar ro rhe Unired Srares. (85 to 14) * Hezbollah and Hamas pose a serious rhrear to rhe United Srares. (67 to 17) * There should be a dearh penalry for someone caughr and convicred of carrying out a terrorist arrack in rhe Unired Srares. (79 ro 18) * Congress should make it a crime to advocate acts of terrorism or violent conduct or the killing of innocenr people in rhe Unired Stares. (83 to 12) * The Dcparrmenr of Homeland Securiry and orher governmenr agencies should develop programs to teach Americans what they can do as individuals to help in the fight againsr tcrror. (82 to 13) * Terrorist websites at home and abroad should be closed down using computer warfare. (77 to 16) . Agenda Item No. 6e March 25, 2008 Page 13 of 14 " The American people are united. Now, both parties have a historic choice: continue politics as usual or stand for real change. I hope you'll join me in urging the Republican and Democratic parties to stand with the American people for real change. " - NEWT GINGRICH GENERAL CHAIRMAN, AMERICAN SOLUTIONS AUTHOR, REAL CHANGE Agenda Item No. 6C ... March 25, 2008 Page 14 of 14 AMERICAN SOLUTIONS '? -.for Winning tfie Puture 1425 K Street, NW, Suite 750 * Washington, DC 20005 202-355-9470 (Tel) * 202-355-9471 (Fax) www.AmericanSolutions.com Paid for by American Solutions for Winning the Furore. Not authorized by any candidate, .ot candidate committee. . Not printed...at government. expense.