It's six years into the Bush administration and Republican approval ratings are going down. Interestingly, the Democratic numbers are not going up or only going up slightly. Why is this? It's because the Democrats are running on the "we're not them" platform and have not shown true leadership or shown that they stand for something and not just against the Bush White House.

My father, a retired aerospace worker, and I decided to write up a set of principles that any candidate for public office should reasonably be able to get behind, a set of principles that shows that there is a positive alternative vision for leading America strongly into the uncertain future. A set of principles based on fairness and pragmatism.

We call on all candidates for national and state office to stand up for something! Here's our take on what that something should be.

- No more unnecessary wars. This speaks for itself.

- Do our part to stop and reverse global warming: advance a long-term national energy plan that is not simply corporate welfare. Invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy production technology. Invest in the public and natural infrastructure - shorelines, levies, mass transit, etc. - that take the long view on climate change. We must guide a broad approach to a looming national crisis. Re-instituting a windfall tax program in energy shortage situations would be part of this program.

- No more tax cuts that amount to a "baby tax." It's time to realize and stand up against the tremendous burden the Bush tax cuts are putting on our descendants.

- Affordable health insurance for all Americans. What's wrong with Medicare/Medicaid for everyone? Industry is bailing out on health insurance for workers and people are worried. So is industry! High healthcare insurance costs are making U.S. industries less competitive globally.

- Uniform, national, guaranteed pension plan for all workers. This would be a contributory system in addition to the safety net of Social Security. It would replace the patchwork of IRAs, 401(K)s, etc. Everyone is beginning to have doubts about his/her employers' retirement system. We can correct it.

- Elimination of predatory policies of credit card companies and check cashing services. Interest rates must be capped. Rates like 24 percent used to be called usury and were illegal. What happened? Many of our citizens feel victimized by this system - and they are.

- A reasonable tax on inheritances; we must not become a country of family dynasties. Whatever happened to the basic American concept of the self-made man and woman?

- Restoration of our country's prestige in the world; restoration of our leadership of the free world. We have to start working again with the rest of the world, not just being arrogant and "taking our marbles and going home" like a spoiled child. Why aren't we promoting human rights with the same enthusiasm that we promote free enterprise?

- Restoration of faith in corporate America and the investment industry. Close out offshore tax havens. Reduce corporate welfare. Tighten accounting standards. Increase disclosure requirements.

- An aggressive but enlightened war on terror that recognizes that this is more than a military campaign. As one of our generals said, "We don't have enough bullets to kill all of the terrorists we are creating." We need to wage a war of ideas and ideals. We need to make maximum effort to bring peace to Palestine and Israel. We need to work with the whole free world and especially the parts of the world that are not yet free.

- Election reform. This would include shorter election campaigns, a national primary election, direct election of president and vice president, instant runoff voting and national election standards with guaranteed recount capability.

- A better deal for our men and women in service. When we put our people in harm's way, they deserve the best medical care and financial care that is possible. They haven't been getting it.

Standing up for such basic ideals of fairness would actually make a candidate stand out! Why? Because it would be so unusual.

Why should we vote for someone unless they're ready to use their public office to make a positive difference for Washington, the United States and the planet? We shouldn't.

Let's make sure this next election isn't a choice between "more of the same" and "a little less of more of the same". America deserves better. We deserve leaders with vision and integrity who are willing to stand up against an unfair and shortsighted status quo.

Lars Henrikson

High Point