I won’t be old enough for a few years, but I’d be a great president.
Electability:
I served in the military. I grew up in a southern state (Louisiana), and currently reside in a swing state (Virginia). I have no scandals in my background.
Issues:
In one word, a pragmatist. What works?
I believe in Keynesian economics. It’s appropriate and, indeed, necessary for the government to step in and spend money when the private sector is not. I would prefer that this spending be on things that really help the country and our future- due to my scientific background (my degree is in Physics and Astronomy), I am inclined to favor scientific endeavors, and due to my engineering background (nuclear-trained engineering officer on a submarine), I favor infrastructure projects. I would want to build bridges, improve transportation infrastructure like railroads and roads, update our electrical power infrastructure, spend heavily on medical R&D and energy R&D, and explore space.
I think it’s necessary that we make it a national goal to make oil a trivial part of our energy economy. While I support environmental efforts, the real reason for this is national security- I want us to disengage ourselves from the Middle East. Nuclear energy would be relied upon heavily until other options were up to the task of powering the country- nuclear power can be far safer than other forms of power, and it has the generating capacity to meet the needs of the country.
On social issues I am very liberal. Gay marriage should be legal. Abortion should continue to be legal. Contraception should be subsidized, extremely easy to get, and the population should be well educated on contraception. Education would be prioritized. Despite popular belief, many, and even most, American schools are in good shape- it’s just the small chunk of schools that are terrible that bring our numbers down. So those schools are the ones we need to focus on- and more than the schools, it’s the school districts that are the problem (IMO). It doesn’t matter much how the school is if the parents take no role, and if the home-life is dangerous and stricken with poverty. So that poverty, joblessness, and desperation is the priority for education. I would strongly oppose teaching pseudoscience (creationism, ID, climate-change-is-a-hoax, etc). Not everyone needs to go to college, but nearly everyone should go to some sort of post-high-school training- trade schools, apprenticeships, etc. Over time primary and secondary school teachers should see an increase in pay and prestige such that the profession is as attractive, financially, as professions like engineers and other professionals.
On taxes- I support more income tax brackets- the top bracket should not be 250K, but more like 10 million. The top brackets should be close to 50% (but no higher). Capital gains should be modified such that lower levels of gains (like under 250K or so) are taxed very lightly or not at all, while higher levels are taxed more heavily. The tax code for capital gains would favor (that is, be at a lower rate for) active investment (meaning new companies, companies that are hiring and/or improving their business, etc), and disfavor money that “just sits there making more money”. The estate tax would change to an inheritance tax. Under a certain amount (say $1 million) there would be no inheritance tax, and above that level 50%.
Defense spending should shrink, and military operations in Afghanistan would end as soon as reasonable.
There should be no cap on payroll taxes.
I support single-payer health care. The easiest way IMO is Medicare-for-all.
With defense cuts and increased tax revenue, I think we could start to pay down the debt (very slowly). We don’t need to get rid of the debt- it should just be smaller, and grow at a rate consistent with economic growth.
For pragmatic reasons, I don’t support restrictions on gun ownership, except for the closing of existing loopholes.
So vote for me.