I think in general your list has too many, too detailed, and in several cases conflicting planks. To be an effective platform it needs to outline a few guiding principles rather than a bunch of specific objectives pursuant to those principles.
Think of the Contract with America in 1994. It was 10 items that were somewhat specific, but not nearly as detailed as what you have outlined here. The simplicity of the Contract made it resonate. Had it been broken down into a bunch of specific provisions like your list it would have produced a bunch of arguing over which provision is the best policy idea and would have gone nowhere.
The idea that you could come up with even 10 specific policy recommendations as being an overarching platform for a massive grassroots movement like the Tea Party Movement — let alone the 20 plus that you have in your list — is a non-starter and waste of time. The Tea Party Movement is about limited government, returning to the principles on which our nation was founded, and reducing the scope and power of government in our lives. Trying to centralize and nationalize the movement cuts against many of the very premises upon which it is built.
I am not suggesting that we turn the Tea Party movement into a centralized or nationalized movement. I am simply putting forth the proposition that putting the right people into high public office didn’t solve the problem the last time and it won’t solve the problem this time.
Your suggestion about reducing the number of planks is a very good one. One that I will do in the end to the essential one, or two.
1. Congressional Term Limits: One four or six year term limits.
2. Members of Congress shall enact the flat tax, with no exemptions up to a set minimum amount.
2a. Members of Congress shall restore the federal income tax deduction for medical expenses, including medical insurance expenses.
3. Members of Congress shall equally abide by all laws enacted and imposed on the general public.
ex animo
davidfarrar