"It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and
who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt
Don't just criticize the system. Do something to fix it.
The Elitism Project
A free society must always retain the authority to defend the rights of the minority in the face of a popular majority. As some of the most disgusting policies in history - from discrimination to slavery - were once popular, we find it most valuable to support principals that are right, and not necessarily popular. Rights and liberties should not be contingent upon a favorable opinion poll. From Plato onward, concerned thinkers have warned of the tyranny of the majority. As such, we defend freedom for all, whether it is popular or not. Support >>
In 2008, stay tuned for PI's opposition project to Vote or Die...
The Outcome Tax
The outcome tax consists of two proposals, implemented together. First, all welfare state programs should be entirely replaced with a single subsidy (a "reverse tax") of approx. $10K/yr to every poor American. Second, the current progressive income tax should be replaced with a flat tax of 15%, starting at incomes of $35,000. The former eliminates the need for all future welfare programs, can be indexed and adjusted accordingly to alleviate poverty fluctuations, and should be contingent upon the proactive effort of the penurious to keep their children in school, seek work, etc. The latter, as proven by many economists, increases government revenues by encouraging economic growth, upward mobility and investment, while lessening the incentive for tax evasion. Perhaps best of all, the system would eliminate the waste and inefficiency from America's myriad government agencies, as the system would be implemented under one agency. Support >>
Private Solutions for Medicine
While health care can never function effectively without strong regulation, the concentration of America and the world should be on finding private solutions to as many medical inefficiencies as possible. Price competition among medical practicioners, personal health savings accounts, more choice and competition among insurers and HMOs, deregulation of pharmaceutical development, and other market-oriented policies would be effective in reducing costs while preserving quality for the consumer. However, fully-socialized medicine encourages overuse of the system (Why not go to the doctor? It's free!), creates shortages and lowers quality, and thus should be avoided entirely. The poorest Americans should be covered under government health insurance, but those who can pay should be enjoy a free and open market in medicine. Support >>
Nuclear Power: The Future
Imagine a world free of air pollution, free of oil dependency, where power outages don't occur, and where power itself is close to free. Quit imagining and get the Luddite environmentalists out of the way so it can happen. Is it expensive? Yes, but so were the automobile, the telephone, and the computer at their beginnings. Prices don't lower themselves - they are forced lower through competition. Is it proven to be safe? No, but neither is anything. Support >>
Censorship, Morality and Theology
Morality, whether Christian or secular, can never be effectively transmitted through laws. Why? Ethical or religious behavior derives its value from the voluntary adherance to the principles. Forcing someone doesn't achieve anything - for you or them. The adherant to any religious or moral code should be able to argue and prove the superiority of his position - without the assistance of a government censor. Support >>
We Don't Need State Education (We Don't Need No Thought Control)
A comprehensive school voucher system should be implemented in the United States to give all parents, regardless of income, the ability to send their children to any K-12 school, public or private, that they find most suitable and effective for their children. The policy applies the same principles of free competition among schools for students as well as teachers, independent decision-making authority for each institution, and private, student funding, that are employed by America's universities to great success. Our universities, by myriad objective criteria, are the absolute best in the world. We should learn a lesson from them, follow the same formula, and allow the rest of our educational system to achieve the same great success. Quality education is, after all, the most effective method for every citizen avoiding poverty and achieve success. Support >>
Free Trade: The Truths No One Likes to Hear
Workers whose jobs will be taken over by cheaper labor are costing us too much, anyway. And any competitive disadvantage America will face on the global market is a weakness that must be eradicated through competition, not ignored through protectionism. Support >>
Africa: The Revolution Solution
African nations are in deep poverty because the countries lack a legal system that protects property rights, free speech and private enterprise. Such a system is the sine qua non to build wealth and prosperity, as shown by the history of the West and other developed nations around the world. Foreign aid does nothing but entrench the corrupt, autocratic, socialist regimes that are systematically starving the people of Africa and denying these basic rights. The solution? Just like everywhere else: revolution, preferably of the nonviolent variety. Support >>
Disgusted Heterosexuals for Gay Marriage
Our support of gay marriage is not a promotion of the lifestyle, or even social support of the institution of gay marriage itself. Rather, we support the legalization of the act on Constitutional and equity grounds. We hope that the private groups and institutions who, unlike the state, will truly preserve and distinguish the institution of marriage accordingly within their social circles. Support >>
Don't Marginalize it, Decriminalize It
We promote the fully decriminalized use of cannabis for all adults 21 years of age and older. Supporting this position are two pieces of common sense underrepresented in the current debate. The first is the recognition that marijuana is no more harmful to the adult user than alcohol, and thus should enjoy equal legal status by virtue of equal treatment under law. The second is the recognition of the economic value of the substance, its consumption and its trade. Decriminalizing and lightly regulating the trade will allow the American economy to benefit from a popular behavior enjoyed by many of its otherwise-law-abiding citizens. Support >>
The Solution to Corruption: Stop Giving Government So Much Power
Lobbyists can buy anything they want. The problem is, Congress isn't supposed to be Constitutionally able to give them most of the things they're giving. Fix that, and you fix the corruption problem. Support >>
XX ≠ XY
We support the freedom and ability for women to pursue their ambitions in any field, recognizing that there are many women in the world who can outperform than any of their male counterparts. We encourage these endeavors and defend the freedom to pursue them. However, we recognize the reality (glibly transcended by socialists) that many women will simply be disinterested in such equality and competition, in work or otherwise. These different choices between men and women, in lifestyle, career and personality, should be celebrated, not trivialized through socialist/collectivist legislation. The true beauty of the societal interaction between men and women, we believe, is not found in their similarities, but in their differences. Support >>
Privatize Social Security!...to a point
America's Pay-As-You-Go Social Security system should be replaced with a system offering compulsory private accounts, where a worker's FICA taxes are collected in a state-administrated personal account. However, within various regulations, workers should be allowed authority to invest, transfer, bequeath and otherwise control their funds as they see fit. Such a provision will allow them to maximize their future retirement earnings, leave money for their children (currently prohibited in the collectivist Social Security system), and otherwise augment their proverbial nest egg. It also avoids the fiscal imbalances created by the current PAYGO system. Keeping seniors out of poverty should be the job of welfare (see our proposal above); allowing them to enjoy the Golden Years in relative comfort is the job of Social Security. Support >>
Let Them Work; Don't Let Them Take Over
The American immigration system should be reformed to ensure optimal economic benefit through new labor. Entry should be permitted first on the criterion of possession of a job offer within the United States, with highly-skilled or high-demand positions enjoying the greatest ease of entry. Guest-worker programs for currently-employed immigrants are one effective method of doing this. However, states and localities should also enjoy independent authority to restrict and/or assimilate new immigrants as they see fit. If some areas value homogeneity over a robust labor supply, they should be allowed to adjust their policies to that end. In this way, this country can maximize the economic value of immigration while still assuaging the legitimate social fears of the natives. Support >>
Positive Environmentalism
For centuries, growth and development has harmed the environment while benefitting the lives of millions. However, recent history has shown how technological advancement can slow or even reverse environmental damage (a Laffer curve effect, in essence). It has also shown how wealth itself, from either individuals or societies, creates a strong incentive toward and interest in environmental protection. Recognizing this, we support environmental solutions that stem from technology, development and wealth - not Luddite socialism. Whether from nuclear power, fuel-efficient vehicles, energy-efficient technology, or simply the tax revenues of wealthy citizens, the market can often effectively solve its own damage. When it cannot, such as in cases of pollution, PI supports a Pigouvian tax levied on all environmental harm, forcing those who pollute to pay directly for the damage they create. Support >>
Kill the Death Tax
The estate tax is a misguided attempt to punish wealthy Americans for leaving an inheritance to their children. Not only does this discourage the most fundamental of human impulses - to give as much as possible to one's children - but it encourages either tax evasion (for those who still will find ways to give to their kids) or greed (for those who will spend their money in old age instead of leaving it for their kids). It's just anti-human. Support >>
The New American Business
While the United States boasts the freest economy in the Western world, its predominant business structure is one of bureaucracy and rigidity. PI is doing its part to reduce Corporate America's stranglehold on US enterprise as we represent successful entrepreneurial ambition, innovative technology, creative thinking, European-style management techniques, and the adoption of new methods of productivity. We believe that if more new American companies were to similarly adopt more innovative and humanistic management structures as a competitive advantage, we would both boost economic productivity as well as eliminate the need for much labor regulation. Support >>
Discrimination, Smart; Racism, Stupid
True racism is a competitive disadvantage for the racist. For example, the racist employer who refuses to hire a minority raises his labor costs, thus opening the door for enlightened, nonracist competitors to undercut him. However, requiring a racist employer to hire a minority only forces his racist sentiment into more surreptitious avenues while relieving him of the competitive disadvantage he normally would have faced. At the same time, discrimination is a competitive advantage. Fashion companies discriminate against ugly models; the NBA discriminates against whiteys with no game; nightclubs discriminate against un-hip people; graduate schools discriminate against underachievers. It's the way society works. In conclusion, we believe racism in all forms is a repugnant attitude (yet one that should be legally protected) but discrimination (without racism) is a valuable technique. We promote policies to this effect. Support >>
