Empowerer
What should a Croatian presidential candidate's program include
by
, 19th-September-2014 at 01:19 AM (11045 Pogleda)
What should a good program include?
Background Story
Values statement
What are the foundational values that guide you in your decision making?
Hopefully the candidate's values align with the political conservative worldview.
Promote and protect:
- Individual liberty
- National sovereignty and interests
- Rule of law
- Traditional values and social order
- Limited government
Vision statement
What sort of a vision do you have for Croatia?
Primary Responsibilities
Democracy
Reform and Protect the Constitution
Promote direct democracy and greater civic and civil involvement by citizens.
Constitutional Reform should be based on:
Croatia is the Homeland of the Croatian people and the Homeland will be defended in the interests of the Croatian people.
The constitution will protect the fundamental principles of equality, individuality, justice, rule of law and protection of property rights (both physical and intellectual)
The constitution does not define the rights of the people, but it does define the limits of government.
The constitution will limit:
- the scope of government (the number of departments)
- promote subsidiarity (not centralization of power)
- the size of government (personnel as % of population)
- the size of the budget (as percentage of GDP) and limits on deficits
As a representative democracy
- representatives will be elected as individuals, not as party list
- there will be process of recalling (firing) an elected representative
Direct democracy
- develop an annual process for national referendum (rather than ad hoc process as present)
- define what sort of issues can go to referendum
Changes to the Constitution
- the constitution can only be changed by a referendum of the people with a requirement of 51% of citizens voting in favor of the change
- since the constitution sets the limits of the government, the government should not be able to change the constitution and set its own limits (conflict of interest)
I would like to see the main theme of the 2014 presidential election in Croatia
to be a "Battle for the Constitution"
- Ivo Josipovic with the "Red Constitution", promoting socialist ideals, further centralization of the state and entrenchment of the powers of the political elites
- Milan Kujundzic with the "Blue Constitution", promoting conservative ideals, promoting limited government, subsidiarity and empowerment of the people
Diplomacy
Follow the Canadian model where embassies also act as trade missions. Ambassadors and staff should have more of a focus on business with a goal of increasing trade and investment.
Defence
Ensure a highly moral military force. Officer cadets should be sent to military academies around the world such as RMC in Canada, West Point in the USA, Sandhurst in the UK, École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in France, Federal Armed Forces University in Germany and the Australian Defense Force Academy. This will give Croatian military officers a wider perspective.
But! For most people the primary responsibilities, diplomacy and defence of the president are not very important as these departments have little role in the life of everyday citizens. Diplomacy and defence need to be looked at from a different perspective - symbolic - "proudly Croatian defending Croatia". The main issues for the people are the economy and rule of law (corruption).[/INDENT]
Secondary Issues
These issues are more under the control of the Parliament, but the president can put pressure on the Parliament to do something and criticize the government for now doing it. The president should challenge the Parliament to DO BETTER!
Economy
Promote decrease bureaucracy and increased in vestment through the trade missions in the embassies.
Through the diplomatic/trade missions (integrated with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce?) help increase Croatian exports and increase investment in Croatia primarily by Croatian Diaspora.
Rule of Law (anti-corruption)
Parliament should be the role model for all of society.
Personal Characteristics
Strength - will be able to do what is necessary. Show anger! Anger is an emotion that shows passion. Anger shows that you are willing to fight. Politicians that show anger are seen as being strong - but you need to be angry in a measured sort of way.
Capability - Education and previous job experiences
Trust - can we trust you? Why should we trust you?
Credibility = Strength + Capability + Trust