SOCIAL-LIBERTARIANISM
As a social-libertarian I acknowledge, rather than fear or deny, the reality that we are social beings. Public policy works best when based on recognizing our social nature and the fact that our well-being is linked with the well-being of all living creatures. As a libertarian I believe our private lives are exactly that-private. It is not the role of government to approve or disapprove, reward or punish private behavior.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
The two most dominant forces in our society--the economic system and the corporate media--are profoundly antidemocratic. They are controlled by and serve the interests of the corporate, economic and political elite while undermining the interests of the majority. The economic system is designed and functions to channel wealth away from the vast majority of Americans and American communities and then delivers that wealth to the corporate and economic elite. This results in great wealth for the elite, budget shortfalls for local, state and national governments and profound economic insecurity for most Americans. Corporate media portrays this as normal, acceptable and the best economic system possible. Meanwhile, it suppresses consideration of more just and efficient economic models such as cooperative economics, economic democracy, economic decentralization and economic patriotism.

THE FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTION: DEMOCRACY
The essence of democracy is the dispersal and sharing of power-economic, media and political power. Here are examples of policies I support that will create a more just and democratic society:

FULL EMPLOYMENT
Everyone must have ongoing opportunities to discover, nurture and use their talents to reach their potential as loving, complex, multi-talented beings that joyfully serve society and do justice to their own private journey as unique human beings.

A REDUCTION OF THE WORK WEEK
Among other benefits a reduced work week will reduce stress, energy consumption, traffic jams and accidents. A reduced work week will lower health care costs, facilitate full employment, allow parents more time to raise healthy children and provide everyone more time to become well-rounded, creative, caring and multi-talented human beings.

HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
An employment based health care system driven by the profit motive has not worked. A single-payer system based on prevention and corporate and individual accountability will reduce costs, reduce needless suffering and death, increase patient choice and improve the health of all Americans.

ENDING THE "WAR ON DRUGS"
The "War on Drugs" is the longest running, most futile and most expensive war in American history. It has enriched criminals, corrupted law enforcement, created escalating levels of violence and done nothing to improve our health and well-being. History makes clear that prohibition, be it alcohol, marijuana, or other substances, does not work. Our bodies and minds do not recognize "legal" or "illegal" drugs. Our bodies and minds only recognize healthy or unhealthy practices. Altering consciousness has been a part of human societies throughout history. It is inherent to the human experience and can be done in ways that are healthy or unhealthy. It is time we use common sense, save tens of billions of tax dollars each year and view the alteration of consciousness as a private matter not a criminal issue.

A CITIZEN-CONSUMER TV AND RADIO NETWORK
Corporate media has used our public airwaves to subtly and not so subtly promote a corporate agenda that is antithetical to creating a just, sustainable, intelligent and democratic society. Television is the most powerful tool in history. To entrust this tool to corporations is to ensure, among other problems, a society with endless war, violence, environmental destruction, a deeply inequitable and unsustainable economic system and other travesties incompatible with a civilized society. If American democracy is to take root and flourish we must create a media that will serve the public interest, not the interests of corporate profiteers.

TAKING ACTION
if you believe these and the other ideas on the SJR4GOV web site deserve to be included in political debate please share this web site with others. Also, please consider creating a small group in which everyone contributes a dollar or two and then bundle that contribution and mail it to my "Dollars for Democracy" SJR4GOV campaign. Remember, no other candidate is promoting "Total Democracy"--economic, media and political democracy.

THANK YOU
Scott J. Raskiewicz, 647 Cleveland Av. S. #5, St. Paul, MN 55116.