a "no whining, just solutions" thread

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Flat tax or *massive* tax reform. Taxes shouldn't be about redistributing wealth, but making the country run and providing essential services.

I'm with you on this one....but we'd disagree on what is essential.

[Superman]

Prohibit participation in public policy formation by anyone other than citizens/voters, and their associations. Campaign contributions. Lobbying. All manner of participation in lawmaking or government administration is prohibited to legal entities that are not citizens/voters. In other words, no corporate involvement in politics or public policy-making. Citizens only. For each instance in which a corporation is found to be involved, a tax of 50% of its profits for a period of five years would be assessed. If you cannot vote, then you have no business is Washington.

[Jeff Higgins]

I'll go one step further, Supe. Only contributing citizens get a vote. In the past, in Great Britain and other places, property owners were the only ones allowed to vote. That's kind of harsh, but we do need similar qualifications. If you don't work, you don't vote. That's pretty high level, and there would have to be a great deal of discussion over the general boundaries of that, but that's the gist of it. If you are putting into the public larder, you have a say in how it is managed. If you are taking from it, you do not.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm with you on this one....but we'd disagree on what is essential.

well, let's see. I can guess a couple we might disagree on, but we might agree on a fair amount as well.

To me "essential" are those things that are critical for the sovereignty of the nation, and also things that a "civilized" society should promote and maintain.

Transportation. Someone has to plan and maintain the infrastructure. There has to be some national cohesion so that the infrastructures can coexist. ie, we can't have 50 different railroad gauges.

Education. There needs to be some accountability and minimum set of standards. I do not believe that a fully privatized/capitalist education system can work. If you want "the poor" to get ahead, education is the path. Society should have some set of mechanisms in place to enable that.

Health Care. I do not favor national healthcare only, but instead a mix of public and private. Let's call a spade a spade - we essentially have a bastard form of national health care now but don't call it that, and don't run it in any efficient way. Establish a minimum level of care for everyone through a network of facilities. Then allow private as "value added." Yes, you get better health care if you have more money. That's the way life works. But you shouldn't be denied basic care just because you're poor.

Welfare. Abolish the current system and move to a work/mentor/public service model. In order to receive assistance you have to do something. Pick up trash in parks, sweep the sidwalk in front of your apartment, etc. Ideally one would work for a local small business as their "service."

The Arts. I think there needs to be some money provided to support the arts. I'm not clear on how to best do this, but I was struck the other night when watching Frontline and they did a 25 year retrospective. They produced some amazing content that is still compelling. Commercial tv just doesn't do that. I know...I deal with the industry and they have no interest in quality, just what sells.

Energy. Fund the "Manhattan Project" for energy independence. Support decentralized production (co-ops) and conservation along with alternatives. But don't become the teat for large industries to suck on. If there is money to be made in oil, coal gasification, nuclear then industry should go for it.

Military. As long as we have humans, we will have wars. But the MIC is pretty broken and insane amounts of money get wasted. Time to revamp the system. That's a huge undertaking in itself, but we don't have a sustainable model. There is work towards the "future warfighter" and costs and human factors need to be a huge part of the equation. I'd streamline intelligence but at the same time increase their capabilities.

that's a start...

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I'll go one step further, Supe. Only contributing citizens get a vote. In the past, in Great Britain and other places, property owners were the only ones allowed to vote. That's kind of harsh, but we do need similar qualifications. If you don't work, you don't vote. That's pretty high level, and there would have to be a great deal of discussion over the general boundaries of that, but that's the gist of it. If you are putting into the public larder, you have a say in how it is managed. If you are taking from it, you do not.

The logical extension of this argument is that you get to vote ACCORDING TO THE SIZE of your contribution. Not sure you want to go there.

[pavulon]

A Marriage license should be like a fishing license. It expires every year. Going out of state? Get a 3-day license.

Not my idea, but the guy who thought of it might be a genius.

[Seahawk]

Some comment:

Originally Posted by nostatic

well, let's see. I can guess a couple we might disagree on, but we might agree on a fair amount as well.

To me "essential" are those things that are critical for the sovereignty of the nation, and also things that a "civilized" society should promote and maintain.

Transportation. Someone has to plan and maintain the infrastructure. There has to be some national cohesion so that the infrastructures can coexist. ie, we can't have 50 different railroad gauges.

Education. There needs to be some accountability and minimum set of standards. I do not believe that a fully privatized/capitalist education system can work. If you want "the poor" to get ahead, education is the path. Society should have some set of mechanisms in place to enable that.

Minimum standards at the federal level, all based on the three R's. We don't need the incredible mess that is the education bureaucracy to tell us what needs to be done. Politics invade at both the state and federal level, but the mistakes are magnified when the Dept of Ed goons it. Let state and school districts experiment if they want. Pay good teachers what they are really worth and change will follow.

Health Care. I do not favor national healthcare only, but instead a mix of public and private. Let's call a spade a spade - we essentially have a bastard form of national health care now but don't call it that, and don't run it in any efficient way. Establish a minimum level of care for everyone through a network of facilities. Then allow private as "value added." Yes, you get better health care if you have more money. That's the way life works. But you shouldn't be denied basic care just because you're poor.

Not sure. Health care is the 800lbs booger. HC needs revamping but it must include real reform in tort, pharm, etc.

Welfare. Abolish the current system and move to a work/mentor/public service model. In order to receive assistance you have to do something. Pick up trash in parks, sweep the sidewalk in front of your apartment, etc. Ideally one would work for a local small business as their "service."

The Arts. I think there needs to be some money provided to support the arts. I'm not clear on how to best do this, but I was struck the other night when watching Frontline and they did a 25 year retrospective. They produced some amazing content that is still compelling. Commercial tv just doesn't do that. I know...I deal with the industry and they have no interest in quality, just what sells.

No funding for art at the federal level. None. State, sure.

Energy. Fund the "Manhattan Project" for energy independence. Support decentralized production (co-ops) and conservation along with alternatives. But don't become the teat for large industries to suck on. If there is money to be made in oil, coal gasification, nuclear then industry should go for it.

Agree but it would be a nightmare to manage...I have some ideas on incentives and think that the appropriations for the project must be clearly tied to metrics and benchmarks. Insane amounts of money could get wasted

Military. As long as we have humans, we will have wars. But the MIC is pretty broken and insane amounts of money get wasted. Time to revamp the system. That's a huge undertaking in itself, but we don't have a sustainable model. There is work towards the "future warfighter" and costs and human factors need to be a huge part of the equation. I'd streamline intelligence but at the same time increase their capabilities.

Roles and missions need to be constantly refined...Gates is actually doing a good job. We simply cannot afford the military in it's current livery...manpower is an overwhelming bill that will have to be paid in the coming years. We are at the point in the curve where we are gold plating weapons systems to the point of absurdity. Best is the enemy of good enough and we can't afford billion dollar aircraft. Unmanned vehicles will rule the next century.

that's a start...

[Jim Richards]

Unmanned vehicles will rule the next century.

Hahahahaha! Sure...next you'll be saying we're going to break the sound barrier!

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Some comment:

Minimum standards at the federal level, all based on the three R's. We don't need the incredible mess that is the education bureaucracy to tell us what needs to be done. Politics invade at both the state and federal level, but the mistakes are magnified when the Dept of Ed goons it. Let state and school districts experiment if they want. Pay good teachers what they are really worth and change will follow.

The pay part of the equation is key, and I'm fine with having the states deal with most of the admin. But there has to be some fed bar to jump over.

Not sure. Health care is the 800lbs booger. HC needs revamping but it must include real reform in tort, pharm, etc.

Agreed. In my previous post I mentioned tort/insurance reform. They have to go hand-in-hand. I think that a "civilized" society really should provide a certain level of health care though. How we best achieve that without bankruptcy is the trick.

No funding for art at the federal level. None. State, sure.

I think we'll agree to disagree on this one. I'm not really clear on the details of how this would work, but I think that the arts are part of our national identity.

Agree but it would be a nightmare to manage...I have some ideas on incentives and think that the appropriations for the project must be clearly tied to metrics and benchmarks. Insane amounts of money could get wasted

So in other words, don't let SAIC run it?

Metrics and sane deliverables are key. But frankly overhead costs have just become ridiculous. We need to crack that nut.

Roles and missions need to be constantly refined...Gates is actually doing a good job. We simply cannot afford the military in it's current livery...manpower is an overwhelming bill that will have to be paid in the coming years. We are at the point in the curve where we are gold plating weapons systems to the point of absurdity. Best is the enemy of good enough and we can't afford billion dollar aircraft. Unmanned vehicles will rule the next century.

You get no argument from me...if only the contracting process could be a little quicker we might be pushing the UAS even harder into the next level

I think money needs to focus on efficient training and keeping people out of harms way. Education/training, intel, and UAS all help do that. Gold plated tanks don't.

[Superman]

Where did you cretins get such rational ideas?

[scottmandue]

Ban lowfat yogurt!

The rest should fall into line.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Superman

Where did you cretins get such rational ideas?

I practice when I'm alone

A few more reforms that I feel are trenchant and imperative:

- College football play-offs...if Mount F'ing Union can get it done, I think the student athletes at LSU can.

- No Hockey past March.

- Wooden bats in college baseball...someone is going to get killed.

- The US Senate will forever be banned from investigating any sports scandal.

- Invigorate PE in grade school...make running a mile in under 15 minutes compulsory for getting into HS. I kid

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I'll go one step further, Supe. Only contributing citizens get a vote. * * * If you don't work, you don't vote. That's pretty high level, and there would have to be a great deal of discussion over the general boundaries of that, but that's the gist of it. If you are putting into the public larder, you have a say in how it is managed. If you are taking from it, you do not.

ABSOLUTELY! No more voting for retirees! And let's have a National Kill Old People Week too!

[RWebb]

IF a student fails a test, they get to take another, similar test.

If they fail the second time, we execute their parents.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Superman

Prohibit participation in public policy formation by anyone other than citizens/voters, and their associations. Campaign contributions. Lobbying. All manner of participation in lawmaking or government administration is prohibited to legal entities that are not citizens/voters. In other words, no corporate involvement in politics or public policy-making. Citizens only. For each instance in which a corporation is found to be involved, a tax of 50% of its profits for a period of five years would be assessed. If you cannot vote, then you have no business is Washington.

Yes, but if I draft you as Surgeon General, will you serve?

[VaSteve]

Turn off the ****ing internet and get back to work. Really. I started a new job this week, they have web filters. I have gotten more done this week then ever. If we could get people to stop IM, myspacing, youtubing, PPOTing, we could really get some **** done.

[VaSteve]

No welfare. Can't work cause you got 6 kids? Fine. Drop them off at the babysitting co-op. Some other "can't work" baby mamma can watch them while you work and then vice versa.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Turn off the ****ing internet and get back to work. Really. I started a new job this week, they have web filters. I have gotten more done this week then ever. If we could get people to stop IM, myspacing, youtubing, PPOTing, we could really get some **** done.

Couldn't agree more, also cut out smoke breaks. Probably one hour out of 8 wasted every day going and coming from smoke breaks, can't do it in high rise buildings so they take extra time to get outside, no addressing the medical cost associated with this habit.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland

Flat tax - no deductions, exemptions, or credits.

Not only would it simplify the tax process and save a pile of time and money, it would eliminate political "vote buying". Candidates could no longer buy votes buy promising favored (or punitive) tax treatment for this-or-that group.

Our tax code is written to incentivize certain behaviors. I prefer that I and most of the people on my street are encouraged with tax breaks as home OWNERS. The guy next door that rents and doesn't cut the lawn? Asshat. Just think if we all had to rent? Only the building owners would have anything...no pride of ownership.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

No welfare. Can't work cause you got 6 kids? Fine. Drop them off at the babysitting co-op. Some other "can't work" baby mamma can watch them while you work and then vice versa.

Got no kids, but from what I hear, ain't that simple.

1) In my opinion, having 6 kids in this overpopulated world ought to be a crime (I believe that the population explosion (what an archaic expression!) is a very real problem).

2)Given that this situation exists, gotta, of course, look after the kids - but - if day care costs as much or more than the working mother brings home, which I hear is, more often than not, the case, where is the incentive for the mother to work rather than stay at home and take care of her brood at her own (yeah, I know, "our") expense. Math's a b!tch, can't argue with it.

Welfare is only legitimate if it is an effective tool to help extricate deserving recipients from a dependent, poverty situation, enabling them to become productive members of society, which, given the huge and growing population of this country, presents a monumental task for the glacially slow and addlebrained beureaucrats administering the current system.

Of COURSE reform is needed! But recognizing that fact is the easy part; taking effective action to bring about effective change is the befuddlingly difficult part.