We should ask ourselves what would happen to our country if we had no standing military. Those who say we would be attacked and taken over by other powerful nations, are merely selling us a bill of goods and praying upon our fears. Perhaps equally true, those who believe that nothing would change and that we would be better off, may be overly ambitious in their sense of optimism. If the answer and course for America lies somewhere in between these two philosophies, and I believe that it does, then we must surmise that until there is an absolute commitment from all nations to refrain from all hostilities and make world peace their foremost priority, then it is not unreasonable for the United States to maintain a standing military with the sole objective to protect the homeland and support those international efforts designed to bring about peace on earth, as those of the United Nations, but for no other purpose. The men and women chosen to serve their country thus, must be of the highest integrity with an undying love in their hearts for the American People as a whole, and not some part thereof. By reducing our military expenditures in such dramatic fashion and setting aside those programs that are uneeded, unproven, or worse still, immoral, we can create a better, and yes, even stronger, America. In line with this approach, the United States must, by Executive Order first and Act of Congress second, renounce methods of defense that lack morality. The United States must commit to never again engage in acts of assassination or psychological terror against any individual or people, most particularly her own, but rather, vow to fight only when no better way lies in front of us, and then, to fight only with honor irrespective of the methods of any foe. Under proper reflection and with all respect and affection for our Constitution, I believe it would be better for us to lose our precious country and retain our values and honor, rather than keep it, in some namesake fashion, by committing deeds and acts of war far below our sense of right and wrong, and undoubtedly far below those our Founding Fathers could bear see us do. In this America, that I propose, so strongly believe in and ask you to join, we will not only find safety and security, but greater prosperity, openness, and a renewed chance to not only seek, but obtain, the American dream for all, and in achieving this, serve once again as a light for all the world to follow.