As a Libertarian, Kenny Kramer embraces the absolute truth that our founding fathers formed this country and our constitution to guarantee and protect the principle that all people have an equal right to liberty and freedom. Thus Kenny and all Libertarians seek to promote the maximum rational degree of freedom and liberty for all citizens, as our founding fathers intended.

1. Drugs - A NEW Direction
Stop the insane "Drug War" being forced upon New Yorkers! It has proven to be a disaster for the community and a failure in tackling the distribution and use of drugs. Drug usage will continue whether it is legal or not. The issue is how it is viewed by the community and treated by the law and by government. The current "Drug War" causes far more problems than it solves, and the heavy price we have all paid through the loss of our liberties and freedoms is a direct violation of the constitution.

The government's failed drug war has now ruined tens of thousands of lives in New York City. Over the past decade, marijuana arrests alone have skyrocketed from about 600 each year to over 60,000 in 2000. Many of those arrested are our city's youth, who as a result may be shut out of financial aid for college and denied employment opportunities, in addition to facing stiff fines, probation and even incarceration. We are harming their future for no foreseeable gain.

Not to mention the enormous waste of our already stretched police and court resources. Instead of focusing on treatment for people who may have serious drug problems, our political leaders cynically emphasize prosecution and persecution of our fellow citizens, who by using drugs are in most cases hurting no one but themselves.

It is time for a NEW approach and for New Yorkers to wake up to the fact that drug usage is a health issue, NOT a criminal issue. As Mayor, I cannot change the law (although I will use my bully pulpit to lobby for legislative reform), but I can and will order a complete de-emphasis on the enforcement of victimless crimes, including drug usage.

Under the Kramer administration, the NYPD will focus on the prevention and prosecution of crimes with real victims. The de-emphasis on pursuing and prosecuting drug usage will free time, money and resources for the overworked police and justice system to dedicate to more worthy causes and may lead to a sustainable long term reduction of wasted expenditure.

2. A NEW School System
The only way to enjoy a truly successful education system is to break the monotonous and archaic monopoly of the public school authoritarian dictatorship sponsored by current government policies.

We must have the courage to be bold and creative to solve these problems. We need NEW solutions to old problems.

I advocate all tenets of "school choice". They include, new privatization efforts, charter schools and vouchers to deliver greater freedom and empowerment for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Teachers will receive the wages increases dictated by market forces for their skills and experience. Wasted administration costs will be identified, reviewed and slashed.

You don't have to be a 'Rhodes Scholar' to know that the New York City public school system is a mess. It has been that way for years, and it is only getting worse. Barely half of our high school students receive a diploma or GED within four years. At the elementary and middle school level, only 41% of students scored at an acceptable performance level on standardized citywide reading tests in 2000, and only 33% scored acceptably on standardized citywide math tests. School chancellors come and go, school boards come and go, mayors come and go, and the students educated or not, come and go. All this and it is currently costing the City more on education per child than it would to enroll them in a private school. This is simply bizarre.

What can be done to end the failure?

Ideally, we would separate school and State completely and immediately, for the same reasons we separate Church and State. Unfortunately, our hands are somewhat tied because the New York State Constitution mandates a government-run school system. However, there are steps we can take to erode the government's monopoly on our children's education.

Vouchers can help middle class and poor parents to realize the same school choice that wealthy parents enjoy. As Mayor, I will pursue for a voucher program similar to Milwaukee's successful system.

Beyond that, charter schools can give our educators freedom from the centralized control that currently exists through the Board Of Education. In return for this autonomy, charter schools will be held to the highest standards of excellence by community panels that embrace academics, administrators, teachers, parental and student representatives. Home schooling - a growing group in New York City -will be encouraged and relieved from burdensome regulations.

Woven throughout my education policy will be a real emphasis on promoting passionate parental involvement, which is the only proven way I know to ensure that children are educated.