As a passionate supporter for civil liberties, I was excited to see that the American Civil Liberties Union has released a document today called Actions For Restoring America. It is a set of detailed recommendations on steps that the new president should take to 'clean house,' renew freedom, and restore the nation's reputation, actions that the executive branch could take on its own. And it rocks.
Go check it out for yourself.
The document says
'On Day One, the next president should, by executive order, direct all agencies to prohibit the use of torture and abuse; direct the new Attorney General to appoint an outside special counsel to investigate, and, if warranted, prosecute any violations of federal criminal laws; close down Guantánamo and either charge and try detainees in criminal or traditional military courts or transfer them to countries where they won't be tortured; and end the practice of extraordinary rendition.
"In his first 100 days, the president should take actions, as detailed in the ACLU document, to end illegal spying and surveillance, to protect Americans from privacy violations and discrimination, to end the federal death penalty, and to increase government transparency.
Inspiring stuff, and as far as I could see, actually do-able. I'd follow it to the letter.
What else would I do?
I would limit all campaign donations to $10,000 and reform the lobbyist system; whilst reforming it I would make those funded by lobbyists wear boiler suits with the brand names of their sponsors sewn on as patches like F1 drivers.
I'd repeal Bush's tax cuts, and repeal immunity for US oil companies in Iraq. Throw myself into providing universal healthcare and call an urgent environmental summit, whilst signing Kyoto as a first step. Offer tax breaks for car-sharing, invest in public transport, allow stem cell research and sign up to the International Criminal Court.
And take Bush and Cheney's passports away whilst a criminal investigation was launched.
I'm not an American. I'm from the UK and still learning about the finer points of US politics. There's lots I don't know enough about it but I've loved learning as much as I can during this long election process.
What would you do if you were President?
PS. Thanks to all the Daily Kos readers who wrote to ask for a stay of execution for Troy Davis, who was due to be executed on Monday. He got a stay of execution and his attourneys have 15 days to prove they can meet stringent requirements to continue his appeal process.
Troy Davis update