Put simply, when we wore our nation's uniform, we were enlisted personnel. After our honorable discharge and with our papers in hand, we attended our colleges and universities. Thus, we are now formally credentialed, and for those of us who are Spanish-language proficient and culturally assimilated, we gravitated to the Latin America Region. With many years of experience and with a wealth of knowledge, we are now considered "experts" by the many who know us well.

To date, we still continue to ascribe to the idea that the "economic engine of prosperity for the United States is the Latin America Region". Additionally, we also ascribe to the American Dream articulated by President Harry Truman, and to wit, 'integration and education', 'home ownership', and followed by 'owning and operating a small business'. And by no means last, we ascribe to the philosophical underpinning for "Individualism and Social Tolerance" that includes our advocacy for organizing our national resources to implement the idea that "Self-Empowerment is the Nexus for Ambition and Opportunity".

As is our normative behavior, we vote in large numbers. Additionally, we leverage the votes of our spouse, our family members, and the votes of our neighbors, and our wide circle of friends. Further, we reside within our national community of our Brethren of Shared Experiences--all 26 million of us who have proudly worn our nation's uniform in either peace or strife. Thusly, there are 3.5 million of us--military vets--who, as an organization, advocated for a Declaration of War in keeping with the Constitution and the War Powers Act, in the run-up to the War on Terrorism and the Invasion of Iraq. Consequently, we are not "confused" relative to our national Constitution, and we fully understand that Courtesy, Civility, and Compassion, are not outdated ideas, or deemed passe by those unwilling to lace up the combat boots and strap on the body armor in defense of our nation, even though we 'met the wagons' of an historical European migration.

Background: The Chicano Veterans Organization can best be viewed as politically centrist, but with a subtlety and nuance for being an "aggressive" moderate in contrast to being a "passive" on most hot button issues. And on the business side of the ledger regarding politics, the CVO ascribes to the viewpoint and supportive of the traditional business model for economic development. This perspective starts with the consideration for financial capital, social capital, and individual capital. Moreover, the innovative marriage of all three elements will determine the final results and ultimately, the successes contemplated.

A Balanced Budget. What we are suggesting in the way of a national Balanced Budget, is that the Mayors, with a mix of urban and rural Mayors, be convened at a an appropriate location and charged with the responsibility for creating a balanced budget. Although this process is somewhat extreme in approach, but given the current history of our Congressional Leadership, this mix of Mayors can provide that self-interested third party push and as a fulcrum for change. Perhaps, the over 5,000 Hispanic elected officials that form the nucleus of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials can provide this Leadership effort?

Re-Engineering Our Tax Code. What we are suggesting in the way of re-engineering out national tax code, is that Municipal Council Members, with a mix of urban and rural city council members, be convened at an appropriate location and charged with the responsiblity to craft a 'new' tax code. Consequently, we would encourage these participating members give consideration to an innovative template that takes into account the following: a) National Security and Defense, b) the Individual and the Family, and c) Commerce. Moreover, we suggest that Commerce be further segmented into 1) Small Business, 2) Intermediate Business, and 3) Large Business. And again, perhaps the NALEO can provide this much-needed Leadership drive?

A "means" Test. Because of our concern for the low-income and the working poor, the deliverability aspects of governance has for the past four years, been to shift the tax burden off of the wealthy and onto the middle class. Our view is that only a 'means' test can truly shift this political dynamic appropriately. Therefore, it is imperative that we refocus our efforts on helping those at the lower rung of the economic ladder by 'reaching back', and not necessarily in 'reaching up' or in 'reaching out'.

Universal Health Care. We propose that our national health care be "rolled-into" the Veterans Hospital System, and where the low-income, seniors and military vets will stand queued together. Given that several authoritative studies have now been completed and the overarching assessments is that the VHA System is qualititatively on a level with private sectors medical delivery systems. Consequently, the time has now come to achieve a universal health care system. Perhaps, the seniors, the low-income, and the military vets can craft a 'new' political dynamic by their participation and engagement in our national political process, and thereby reinvorgating the moribund middle class and for those of us with a politically centrist perspective.

An Academic-Military Draft. For the past two years, military recruiters have shifted their intense efforts into the Southwest and West in pursuit of "minority young adults" with an additional but not so obvious approach to 'closing the sale' by targeting the "influencers" of these minority young adults. And yes, we all know about the history of the military draft, the agruments of the pro and the con, and yet, we remain undeterred. Why? When one is facing the cul de sac of a choice in terms of the nexus for ambition and opportunity, formalized preparation is equally important. Thusly, our non-traditional approach to an "academic-military" draft is that solution. For example and during a three-year enlistment, each person would focus fifty percent of the time on academics and the remaining fifty percent spent on the military mission. Consquently, at the time of separation and with discharge papers in hand, each enlistee will have completed, his or her GED at a minimum, and completed a two-year community college level of studies which will be equivalent to an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies. Moreover, each enlistee can go down to his or her local lending institution and borrow a sufficient amount of funds to complete his or her third and fourth year of academics at a college or university of choice. Therefore, the federal government would provide the requisite loan gurantees in keeping with the G.I. Bill.