Terror/Cultural Wars and Porn-Prostitution

---

1. Iraq

Voters deserve to know how each congressional candidate stands on this issue. Iraq represents a gray area. Without a crystal ball or the gift of prophesy, anyone who is 100% for invading Iraq or 100% against it probably isn’t examining all the facts. If Iraq successfully develops a representative government, then President Bush will go down in history as a courageous hero. If Iraq devolves into civil war or if our invasion serves as powerful anti-west “crusader” propaganda that catapults the militants to the power reigns of the mostly peaceful Islamic world, then he will be judged as a reckless cowboy.

The second scenario is in noone’s best interest. We have passed the point of no return, so we should all unite behind our president and present to the world a unified front. Accusing the president of fraud without evidence will in no way encourage other nations to join us and will only place our troops at higher levels of risk. I see no possibility that Bush intentionally deceived us about WMDs. Would any rational person lie about that knowing that the world was watching? The Republicans have failed in this respect. They have allowed the democrats to define the debate to center on WMDs. The point about invading Iraq was that Saddam had violated 17 U.N. resolutions including 1441. We could have justified regime change based on that fact, based on his past genocide of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, or even his comforting and supporting of current terrorists like Abu Nidal (sp?).

Iraq was a judgment call, and Bush had powerful arguments for acting now. For instance, if Iraq were to acquire nuclear weapons like North Korea or Pakistan, invasion for regime change would no longer be possible. Iraq would continue its dictatorship, and after Saddam died, his sons would likely have taken over for another 40 years or so. Iraq would continue to pay $25,000 to the families of suicide bombers and peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis would never materialize.

2. Israeli-Palestinian Peace

I’m not convinced a two state solution will work. I am proposing a three state solution. First, Israel will withdraw from the Gaza strip. This will become the state of Palestine. Next, the U.N. will delegate to China (and possibly North Korea as a way of integrating them into world politics) the responsibility for security in the disputed areas of the west bank and the Golan Heights. I pick China because they are the super power who probably has least offended Muslims in the past. China is an economically emerging economy and easily has the manpower and resources to serve in this capacity.

Israel will withdraw back to the 1967 pre-war borders. The west bank and the Golan Heights will become a third, mixed-race state with a constitution that protects minority rights. East Jerusalem will serve as the capital and it will include the temple mount.

Both sides will renounce both violence and revenge. The current situation is unsolvable because no remedy at law exists for attacking the other. Money could serve as a remedy like it is in the U.S. courts. However, a better remedy might available that would provide a greater incentive to peace. Land. For every Israeli that a Palestinian suicide bombs, Israel’s land will increase by an acre. For every Palestinian that an Israeli Apache helicopter bombs, Palestinian territory will increase by an acre. The details are certainly open for debate.

3. North Korea and Iran

North Korea has called us moral lepers and Iran sees us as the great Satan. We call them the axis of evil. We should ask our selves if North Korea and Iran have a point when we consider the following statistics:

1. 100,000 Web sites linked to child porn. www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_255927.html 2. A 50% plus divorce rate 3. 2,200,000 U.S. citizens in prison 4. 3,000,000 teenagers acquire an STD each year 5. 50% of our youth pick up an STD by the age of 25 6. 7 trillion dollar debt 7. a constitution that has been interpreted to protect abortion on demand and even partial-birth abortion 8. Mass public gambling 9. A porn-prostitution industry that occupies about 50% of the Web and that is projected to increase from a $4 billion industry in 2001 to a $70 billion industry by 2006

Perhaps the better way to fight this war on terror is to clean up our own house a bit. We are throwing stones at the world, yet we live in the biggest glass house in it.

4. Porn-prostitution

What I’ve seen as a deputy prosecutor in the three largest Indiana jurisdictions along the Chicago-Detroit drug trade corridor has convinced me that our society is self-destructing. We have tripled our prison population since 1975. Why? Fifty percent or more of all crime in drug related in some way. Robberies, burglaries and thefts are usually committed to fund drug habits.

The initial question we should ask is why are so many people addicted to drugs. My theory is that drugs are often used as a poor substitute for the lack of a quality intimate sexual relationship. Marriage has broken down over the last generation, and it is no accident that the sex revolution of the 1960s was accompanied by the drug epidemics we are now experiencing.

The porn-prostitution corporate industrial complex is perfecting its techniques in attacking marriage by the use of the internet and media representatives like Howard “porn stooge” Stern, who may be as much of a long-term threat to this nation as Bin Laden, who with his kidney failure, will likely die on his own in the next decade anyway. For instance, the 3,000 who died in 9-11 is a terrible tragedy, but if we expand the definition of “death” to include mass STD-creating infertility, then we are losing far more citizens and potential life because of people mimicking what they see in porn-prostitution videos than we are to terrorism. Noone should be able to profit from exploiting the sex lives of what is often the mentally ill and drug-addicted. I am proposing a nationwide task force of police and prosecutors who wish to supplement their salaries at virtually no cost to tax payers. They will engage in civil asset forfeitures of 3-10 times the attempted profits plus the costs of collection for any porn-pimp that seeks to exploit the sex lives of others. Many porn “stars” have been diagnosed with manic-depression and part of their struggles revolve around hyper-sexual tendencies. Many of these porn “actors” like Savannah have eventually committed suicide.

Porn-prostitution is no longer run by a mom and pop shop that is protected by the Gambino crime family. It has gone corporate and is located on virtually every high hill video store in this nation. Porn-prostitution is prostitution. Is there any logic in arresting the South Bend $20 crack addicted prostitute but not the $1,000 a scene San Fernando Valley, California crack addicted prostitute? Is not selling porn-prostitution videos promoting prostitution since much of the money returns to California and is used to hire more prostitutes? Porn-prostitution represents what economists would call “negative externalities.” The industry does not pay for the harms that it causes such as higher STD rates, increased crime, the costs of marital breakdown and the loss of respect for the U.S. in international relations.

It was just last Friday that a kid 3 months over 18 years old tested positive for H.I.V. Sixty-five partners now realize they have been put at risk. One other female has already tested positive. We need to educate the public on the economic implications of STDs. Imagine the health care costs that raise premiums for treatment for 50% of all of our youth. One surgery alone to remove HPV cervical cancer cells would cost thousands. One relative of mine chose the gay lifestyle and eventually acquired H.I.V. He has informed me that after going on social security disability, all of his medical bills, which numbered in the several hundred thousand dollar range, have been paid for by tax dollars. For one individual still under 40, tax payers have paid $100,000s. If this trend continues, social security will go bankrupt far before it is projected to and benefits will not be available for seniors. He also told me that it’s unfair for him to only have to pay $2 for his medicines while his grandmother has to pay $200 a month.

Additionally, when other nations observe the fruits of our constitution with our current near-complete undisciplined liberty, why would they want to be like us?

Throughout this campaign, I have proposed reforms for ceasing the public promotion of gambling, for treating the root causes of drug crime and today for reducing the public porn-prostitution culture that we are becoming.

In my opinion, porn-prostitution should be understood as a national security threat both economically and politically because it saps us of vital economic power and because it causes other nations to view us with contempt.

I have many other ideas about the above 4 issues; however, space and time will not permit them to be included here.

Your presence is welcome.

It’s the Kids, Smartie Campaign Committee

Taxes and Social Security Reform

---

Press Release: Taxes and Social Security

1. Campaign Update

One of the main purposes of my campaign has been to increase the quality of political debate beyond mere image, sound bites and who has the most money so that we could focus on who has the best ideas. I’ve found that getting the attention of the press has been more difficult than I hoped. Many members of the media in the 12 counties in this district have been fair and balanced in printing some of my press release positions, and I am thankful for them. Others have limited resources, so I have not yet been able to secure coverage of several other media outlets even with repeated, monthly visits, and I am concerned that a high percentage of primary voters will learn my name for the first time when they enter the ballot box where they won’t be able to cite even one of my positions.

Therefore, I’m switching gears. I will be picking up 50,000 fliers tomorrow from the printer and will begin my mass flier distribution campaign. I’m going to hit as many newspaper boxes as I can between now and May 4. Since I am self-funding this low budget campaign (I’ve had one $200 that was unsolicited), I have to be frugal with my money. I will be looking into the costs for mailing these fliers to all the registered republicans. I am also looking into securing a couple slots for 30 or 60 second tv ads. I’m still considering keeping my total campaign expenditures below $5,000 because that is the thresh hold level for when FEC filing requirements kick in. I heard a horror story of what happened to a previous congressional candidate who ran against the party favorite in the primary. He missed a deadline by one day and was fined tens of thousands of dollars. That would send me financially off the deep end, so I have to be careful here. I believe so strongly that I am the best candidate that I’m very tempted to use the $100,000 or so in unused credit cards that I have to win this primary, so I probably should withdraw before I cave to that pressure. However, I would miss the remaining speaking opportunities left in this primary and the chance to win this “Hail, Mary” campaign that many think is impossible to win. Columbus took a chance.

If I’m going to increase the quality of political debate, I believe I should have substantive positions on the following two additional issues:

1. Taxes

Calling for making President Bush’s tax cuts “permanent” is misleading. No Congress can bind a future one on tax policy outside of a constitutional amendment. I would vote to “extend” the tax cuts on the middle class. I am for the middle class and I will seek to raise the valleys of poverty and level the mountains of super excess wealth whenever reasonable.

This issue of how to tax the top 1% of incomes is one of the major differences between me and Congressman Chocola. The progressive billionaire tax rate used to be 96%. We once had a policy in this nation to have a strong middle class and to discourage excess wealth that could create an entrenched aristocracy of multi-billionaires. When it comes to taxing incomes over $200,000, I would not vote to extend the top rate at 35% on the top 1% of incomes unless the tax code is modified in at least one of the following two ways:

a. to focus more on wealth than income. For instance, I will seek to make a flat tax on those have a acquired a lifetime taxable income of $10,000,000 at 50%, of $100,000,000 at 60%, of $1,000,000,000 at 70% and of $10,000,000,000 at 80%. I would also support a constitutional amendment to limit personal wealth to one billion dollars which would prohibit anyone inheriting more than that level of wealth;

b. to re-instituted the payroll tax for that portion of incomes over $200,000. The payroll tax of 15.3% (employer and employee combined) is paid on all incomes up to $87.900. 12.4% of that is for social security and 2.9% is for medicare. The Clinton Administration made the 2.9% applicable to all incomes without a limit. I propose to preserve the payroll social security tax holiday for incomes between $87,900 and $200,000. I would re-apply it to the top 1% of incomes and use that money to take the catastrophic medical claims out of the system so that we can have affordable health insurance for all. My plan’s goal would be to limit insurance liability to $30-50,000 a year which reduce family medical coverage premiums from around $11,000 a year to about $3,000 a year so that even a minimum wage earner could have a reasonable chance of purchasing health insurance. I believe that anyone who works 40 hours a week deserves affordable health insurance. I have had to pay the payroll tax on every penny I’ve ever earned in my entire life, as most people have had to do. After having $112,100 in social security tax-free income, the top 1% of wage earners can afford to contribute their share so that we can reduce the costs of medical insurance.

Capital gains tax cuts have gone overboard. Billionaires who do not work but simply invest are now paying a lower tax rate (15%) than minimum-wage earners who pay not only the 15.3% payroll tax but also their marginal rates. I would not extend the 15% capital gains rates for high incomes.

2. Social Security

According to one estimate, medicare will go broke by 2019 and social security by 2042. It is now estimated that only 73% of social security benefits will be available by 2042. It wouldn’t surprise me if we find that these numbers were underestimated in the same way the prescription drug bill costs were. Therefore, we need to act now if we are going to deliver anything close to what we have promised.

When social security was started, life expectancy was 62. Full benefits kicked in at life expectancy plus 3 or age 65 if you could live that long. Life expectancy has gone up 11 years to age 73, but the age for full benefits for younger workers has increased by only 2 years. I believe it is reasonable to make full benefits start at life expectancy minus 3 or at about age 70 which will be gradually increased for those under age 50. This policy will go a long way in preserving the safety net that social security was meant to be. Social security was not intended to be extra spending cash for the Las Vegas one armed bandit slot machines.

Additionally, I would support a reasonable plan to establish a wealth/means/income test for full benefits. Granting full benefits to billionaires is inconsistent with the safety net philosophy.

By instituting these two major reforms, we will not only be able to preserve many of the promised benefits, but also we will be able to consider exempting the first $5,000-$10,000 from the payroll tax to end its regressive nature and to reduce the burdens on employers. With my current limited resources, I can not give exact numbers on how much we could afford to exempt.

Many politicians are afraid to touch social security, this “third rail” of U.S. politics. I am banking on the belief that grandparents care far more about the future of their grandchildren than these politicians give them credit for. We can not live in denial about the jeopardy that social security is in and we must have the courage to act now. We spend ten times as much money on seniors as we do on children. I have entitle my campaign committee “It’s the Kids, Smartie” because I believe we need to devote more attention to the future and those who will inherit our land.

Respectfully,
Tony Zirkle
IN Dist. 2 Republican Congressional Candidate

April 25, 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Zirkle Responds to Death Threats

During this past week, my e-mail box and cell phone have been repeatedly spammed with threats calling me names including multiple ones using the phrase “Nazi bastard” and have included multiple death threats. I’m still not sure what “bastard” has to do with Nazi.

Those who criticize me should also be complaining about President Jimmy Carter, another Naval Academy ex-Midshipman, who laid a wreath at Arafat’s tomb and who has spoken to Hamas recently. The difference between politicians and statesmen is that politicians slander their opponents and refuse to debate them because of the risk that the public will see who is truly the most qualified candidate. Peace makers have to take risks. Politicians tell their enemies whom they disagree to talk to their hand and ignore them. Statesmen engage in dialogue to try to change or re-direct the views of those whom the media paints as hate groups.

I love my country as much as anyone. The Zirkles have fought in every major war in this nation, including both sides of the Civil War, since the Revolution in the 1700s.

You might know if you’ve seen the video of my speech, that I began my speech by distributing an entire box of books on the life of Christ entitled “The Desire of Ages.” I believe that socialists deserve the Gospel as much as anyone and some of them might need it more than most.

Had the European community enforced laws against prostitution and pornography, Hitler would not have had one of his most powerful arguments, that Jews cartelled 97% of all international prostitution, and perhaps his following would have been less powerful. Without porn (a broad term that includes prostitution), WWII may have never happened.

I’m getting my fair share of death threats. I would gladly give my life in a fraction of a heart beat if it would eliminate porn-prostitution from this nation (We had 100,000 Web sites linked to child porn by 2001 after the Customs Department engaged in Operation Blue Orchid); however, I’m quite sure the porn dragon is far too powerful for me to make any real difference other than the temporary attention I can draw to it from my protest campaign.

I am very concerned about history repeating itself in the next anti-Jewish pogrom, and both Christian and Islamic prophecy can be interpreted in a manner that predicts that another one is coming in the future when the two religions will unite for once. People can lie about my motives, jump to wild conclusions, and slander me all they want; however, my position against the great porn dragon is correct and will be defended to the death.

I suspect though, that the porn dragon is far to smart to execute me at this time. If he did, there is a small chance that the public would connect my assassination to my stand against the porn dragon cults and that the public might actually wake up and realize this national security threat. No, more likely, the porn dragon will attack my loved ones, my friends, my job, my law license, my finances and my reputation in the community. Many of those attacks have already started.

The porn dragon will likely also start sending multiple women, or at least rumors of them, my way to create scandals that will be leaked to the press so that he can discredit me for being a hypocrite just like Governor Spitzer and many other strong men who fell.

Very truly yours,

Tony Zirkle www.TonyZirkle.com/campaign