• Enforce penalties for those who provide marijuana to minors.
• Enforce penalties for those who endanger the rights of others through irresponsible use, such as driving under the influence.
• Develop drug treatment programs focused on rehabilitation, rather than incarceration.
• Support the efforts of state governments in developing innovative approaches to drug policy.
• Improve drug education by emphasizing science over scare tactics.
• Implement a Department of Justice program that would review the records of, and consider for sentence reduction or release, inmates convicted for nonviolent marijuana offenses.

Tom Koos believe that even as we fight to build an America stronger at home and safer in the world, we should all take heed of what Robert Kennedy once said: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." ]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/national_service.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/national_service.html Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:57:27 +0530 America is a country of innovators and optimists, and the genius of the American people has always driven the story of American progress. A few decades ago, entire regions of our country were shrouded in darkness until visionary leadership and the Rural Electric Administration brought light and power to millions of Americans. More recently, leadership that looked beyond the next election to the next generation funded the DNA research that has saved thousands of lives and improved thousands more. Today, the possibilities for progress are limitless - but they won't be realized under a government that starves science and technology and slashes budgets for future research; that stifles the creativity and entrepreneurship that will produce the next big idea; that lets politics and ideology trump progress and science. http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/science_and_technology.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/science_and_technology.html Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:53:05 +0530 AGAINST crime!]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/crime.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/crime.html Crime Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:32:17 +0530 Some have said a nations greatness can be measured by the voice of its artists. One of many roles of government in a society as free as diverse and as democratic as ours is to foster and promote the creation and accessibility to the arts and public broadcasting. It is not the role of government to influence or dictate the contents of the medium. On so many occasions our citizens have supported the arts and public broadcasting, and it is time to free these institutions of the vagrities of annual federal budgetary battles, and to establish a trust fund which can be drawn from in perpetuity. It shall be funded by a variety of mechanisms, one of which is to allow public broadcasters to auction off parts of the broadcast spectrum in the free market and to use proceeds for funding. Secondly, I recommend a broadcasting tax on televisions and radios. http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/public_broadcasting.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/public_broadcasting.html Public Broadcasting Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:27:49 +0530 While every abortion is complex and often wrenching decision for all of those involved, ultimately this difficult decision rests with the woman who carries the child. I believe it is the fundamental right of each individual, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/reproductive_rights.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/09/reproductive_rights.html Reproductive Rights Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:24:35 +0530 Tom Koos is announcing his plan to make food safer by taking on the big food companies and food importers on behalf of American consumers and producers. First he would finally implement country-of-origin labeling so families can learn the source of their food and have the option of choosing domestically-raised and grown food. He would also strengthen the Food and Drug Administration's oversight over the safety of American and imported food. http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/food_safety.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/food_safety.html Domestic Policy Food Safety Policy Statements Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:40:11 +0530 End Poverty by 2036:

Koos believes that ending poverty should be a goal our nation actively pursues. A national goal will rally support for the cause and help us measure our progress. In 1999, Tony Blair announced a 20-year goal to end child poverty in Great Britain and he has already reduced child poverty by 17 percent.

Today, Koos is calling for a national effort to:

Cut poverty by one third within a decade, lifting 12 million Americans out of poverty by 2016.

End poverty within 30 years, lifting 37 million Americans out of poverty by 2036. [Census Bureau, 2007]

]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/a_path_to_end_poverty.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/a_path_to_end_poverty.html Domestic Policy Poverty Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:25:38 +0530 Homeland Security More than a year ago the 9/11 Commissioners graded homeland security improvements since September 11th; their report card was riddled with D's and F's.

Since then, several events have reminded us that we cannot afford to ignore these failing grades. A proposal to sell our ports to a Dubai company called attention to the fact that we do not screen all cargo on ships and commercial airlines. Terrorist attacks on rail systems in Mumbai, following similar attacks in London and Madrid, killed hundreds of innocent civilians. Our British allies disrupted a plot to blow up airliners bound to the United States underscoring our vulnerability in the sky.

]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/homeland_security.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/homeland_security.html Homeland Security Policy Statements Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:13:28 +0530 ]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/post.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/post.html Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:44:44 +0530 In America today, families are working harder and struggling to get by, while powerful special interests in Washington are doing better than ever. Income inequality is at its greatest level since 1928. But the number of Washington lobbyists has tripled to 36,000 since 1996, more than 60 for every member of Congress. Our tax code is the perfect example of the Two Americas – one for the wealthiest Americans and Washington insiders, and the other for everyone else. Tom Koos believes that wholesale changes are needed to put our economy and our tax system back in line with our values. http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/tax_reform.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/tax_reform.html Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:06:07 +0530 Today, Tom Koos is calling for repairing the sacred contract with our veterans and military community. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifice, Koos believes we must guarantee quality health care for service men and women and every generation of veterans, provide families with the support necessary to withstand the strain of separations, and ensure returning troops have access to the education and opportunities to succeed in civilian life. Central to the sacred contract is a solemn pledge to every man and woman who risks their life for our country that we will take care of them as they take care of us.

]]> http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/for_our_armed_forces.html http://www.stanford.edu/~tkoos/tomsblog/2007/08/for_our_armed_forces.html Our Armed Forces Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:26:29 +0530