Platforms & Issues

IRAQ

Ray wants a measured withdrawal from Iraq within a year of the inauguration. Ray believes that we need to stop pouring unaccounted US tax dollars into private and politically connected contractors such as Haliburton (charging outrageous prices for fuel in Iraq). Ray wants to bring home the troops as soon as possible and stop the suicide missions of sending US troops out in vehicles without proper armored protection from roadside explosives. Ray also wants to stop American troops from being out in the open and believes that their presence should be retrenched in safe areas where snipers cannot attack US troops.

Ray supports the missile defense shield to incoming missiles. He also strongly supports satellite technology and missile technology development. He does not support an increase in US troops. Ray believes that our defense strategy should emphasize missile/surgical strikes rather than troop deployments that bog the US down in Vietnam/Iraq type conflicts.

IMMIGRATION

Ray supports the missile defense shield to incoming missiles. He also strongly supports satellite technology and missile technology development. He does not support an increase in US troops. Ray believes that our defense strategy should emphasize missile/surgical strikes rather than troop deployments that bog the US down in Vietnam/Iraq type conflicts.

HEALTHCARE

Ray believes that a national insurance policy would not work. It would create a huge bureaucracy with more paid federal employees, costing more to the tax payer in terms of federal pay scale salaries, pension benefits, and administrative courts to adjudicate issues of coverage, etc. Ray believes that the states should implement their own health insurance program as each state’s needs are unique. Some states have populations that are higher in terms of their uninsured status. Ray supports the idea of federal revenue sharing with the states to assist them in the cost of healthcare to their citizens. He strongly supports stem cell research including federal support for finding cures to such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, etc.

EDUCATION

Ray supports the Pell Grants, Lifetime learning credit and hope credit as well as other deductions for education. He will oppose any efforts to reduce those tax and assistance benefits. Ray also believes that no child should be turned away from a college education despite their ability to pay. The federal government should back all student loans and assistance for education. It is an investment in the future of our nation and pays dividends in the future. Ray supports the financing of research and development as well as patent development between universities and private industry. Such a relationship encourages the private industrial sector and the non profit college sector into a positive profit making relationship that would eventually turn into more tax revenue.

ABORTION

Ray supports the recent US Supreme Court decision limiting late stage abortions of babies. Ray believes that a woman should have a right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy in the case of rape, incest, or the life of the mother is in imminent danger. Ray also supports comprehensive sex education and preventive methods of pregnancy.

ECONOMY

Ray supports the recent US Supreme Court decision limiting late stage abortions of babies. Ray believes that a woman should have a right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy in the case of rape, incest, or the life of the mother is in imminent danger. Ray also supports comprehensive sex education and preventive methods of pregnancy.

Ray does support raising the bar to the social security tax for the wealthy. In other words, the wealthy would continue to pay the same rate on their income as the majority of Americans presently do. Such increase in federal revenue would be used to help offset revenue sharing to the states for healthcare insurance. Ray does support, in certain situations, subsidies for ailing industries such as the steel industry which recently has begun to flourish. Ray also supports doubling the size of the national oil reserve and to encourage, with federal subsidies, technology enhancement of our nuclear industry and coal production as well as alternative methods of energy.

ENVIRONMENT

Ray believes in limiting emission standards in vehicles. He is for an environmental friendly policy (within reasonable limits). He does not support blocking off major beaches or areas of our land to protect a species (such as the piping plover). He is for reasonable standards of environmental control. He supports continued research in our universities to determine the effects of global warming and ways that the environment can be saved through human effort. He supports regular monitoring of our nations water supply, air quality, and forestation with periodic reports to the executive branch and to congress.

TERRORISM

Ray supports the establishment of bioterror labs to research deadly chemical and other biological weapons that our adversaries can use against the United States. He believes that the role of bioterror labs can be expanded for research into areas of infectious diseases and other harmful elements to our environment. Ray supports the aggressive intelligence gathering and hunting and elimination of terrorists around the world. “They must never be allowed to rest.”