a "no whining, just solutions" thread

[nostatic]

Put your ideas here. No pissing and moaning. No finger pointing. Just ideas. Shaun posted a bunch in another thread. Most of us think it is broke. So let's fix it.

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

Tort and insurance reform. Why is there such a massive industry around this stuff?

A "Manhattan Project" around energy conservation and alternative production with the goal of energy independence while improving the environment.

Art, music and a 2nd language education starting in elementary school and continuing through high school

Revamp the community college systems to become trade/retraining/atelier style learning institutions

[nostatic]

And let me expand on one of those. As we move into the digital age, about the only competitive advantage the US maintains is "creativity" (broadly construed). Education has become both diluted and specialized at the same time. There are some significant efforts starting to address how we train creativity. I think it is pretty clear that exposure and training in the arts has a significant impact on creative thinking. In addition, often the only things that survive a society are their art artifacts.

Learning a 2nd (and 3rd, and 4th...) language also not only helps one think differently, but also exposes them to other cultures and ways of approaching and appreciating life.

[legion]

Appoint me Benevolent Dictator for Life.

[K. Roman]

Can Byron and Mule do it with pictures?

[HardDrive]

I think a copy of Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance to each man woman and child in the country would be a good start.

[DARISC]

Awwwww, man! We really have to do this? That's cold, man - that's haaard to do! Awwww man!

[onlycafe]

five cent deposit on cigarette butts, and you can't buy a new pack without turning in twenty butts.
you would never see anyone dumping the contents of their ashtray on the street again, probably six or seven dollars worth at least.

[tabs]

CUT THE FEDERAL AND STATE BUREAUCRACY. Corporations had to get lean and mean at the end of the 80's to survive. and be competative To do so they cleaned out the dead wood middle management. How and why are the Civil Service Bureaucracys any different.

Cut the power of the Civil Service Unions. Including the Teachers Union.

[tabs]

No one today remembers that the US military budget for most of our history was almost nil. After the Civil War and after WW1, officers would be Captains for 20 years with almost no possibility of advancement.

[Jim Richards]

Congressional term limits: Rep's: 8 years, Sen's: 12 years.

[on2wheels52]

Only one six year term for president.
Jim

[Porsche-O-Phile]

- For every new law enacted, two must be stricken from the books until some reasonable number of total laws is reached, then it can become 1-for-1.

- Every new law must have some kind of expiration date or "sunset" provision

- NO right of citizenship for anyone. Citizenship will be earned by people upon completion of a mandatory two-year civil service program upon completion of high school or their 18th birthday (whichever applies). These programs will give young people a choice of military, public works improvement, administrative, law enforcement, search/rescue/public safety or other programs. When they complete the programs, they will have EARNED their citizenship (at age 20) and now have the rest of their lives to pursue interests, college, career, whatever.

- Requirement for a balanced budget every year by federal, state and local branches of government.

- Re-instate (and expand) tax credits for high-efficiency and alternative-fuel vehicles.

- Build more solar, wind and nuclear power plants. Expand domestic U.S. refining capacity in the short term. If the NIMBYs don't like it, they can move.

- Strict GLOBAL term limits. For sake of argument let's say 15 years. That means a person can only serve a total of 15 years in ANY elected office. Five years as dog catcher, three years as a neighborhood council member and four years as a state representative (for example) means if you get elected to a six-year term in the U.S. Senate, you're done after that. "Experience" in politics is overrated. Necessary to a point, but overrated. More important to get rid of career politicians/bureaucrats.

- Reduce government budgets by 20% a year until they are at most half of what they are today. Preferably more.

- Immediately levy a 50% tarriff on all goods imported from China until they de-peg the Yuan from the U.S. dollar. After that, make it 30%. If they don't like it, tough.

- Create a program rounding up and deporting illegal aliens. Upon arrest, give them a choice of six months in prison (followed by deportation) or six months helping to build the wall and other border security elements along the U.S./Mexico border. If they complete the six months, they get a chance to plea their case for becoming a LEGAL immigrant to the U.S. on the basis of good behavior and hopefully being a productive member of society - just like prospective immigrants coming over "cold turkey".

- The official language of the U.S. is English. End of story.

- A large-scale (someone said "Manhattan Project-like", which is good) initiative to completely rid the U.S. of dependence on foreign sources of fuel/energy within 40 years.

I'm sure I'll think of more. . .

[red-beard]

Eliminate Personal income, Corporate, death, capital gains, etc taxes. It will be replaced with a consumption tax. The exclusions on this tax will be those generally exempted from sales tax: Basic necessities. I would include in this vehicles under a certain value, fuel, etc. The Percentage will be changed as needed.

Remove all drug laws. Period. All.

Release from Prision all non-violent drug offenders.

Remake welfare. Using the above prisons which are now vacant, we will create public housing. The guards will stay on to keep order! Food, a place to sleep, work out facilities, basic medical care will be provided. No other welfare provided. No, it will not be pretty, but it will keep people alive. HOWEVER, all people in the welfare program will be required to take birth control pills, or injections. Doesn't meet you religous beliefs? Too bad, let your church take care of you then.

Health care: Create a basic set of "free" clinics. These will be staffed by the doctors with the lowest grades, but still passed. The docs will be paid a basic salary, and require no malpractice insurance. No malpractice lawsuits allowed out of this program. Medicare, etc be converted to this system. Only basic drugs will be given out with the program. Elective surgurey, transplants, hip replacements, gender changes, etc, are not covered.

Gun laws: All repealed, with the exception that felons cannot own firearms. There will be a process for felons to rehabilatate their right.

Lawsuits: All that are taken on a contingent basis, the LAWYER will be required to pay the legal fees of the other Law firm if they lose. They need some skin in the game.

Abortion: I don't like it, but if YOU want one, go get one.

Military: If you are an active duty member of the armed forces, you do not pay any taxes. Reservists/National guard will get a "discount" card which will some percentage off, equal to the amount of time served in a year. If Active duty, full exemption.

Speed Limits: Set by each state.

Drinking age: 16 yrs old, unless your parents are present. Then it is whatever THEY say.

Nuclear Power: Make a priority private development of Nuclear Generation for all electricity. Help create a standardized plant. I do not care about the carbon footprint, I just want to reduce the cost of electricity, and reduce our dependance on oil as a fuel of any kind.

Attorney General: I would appoint Joe Arpaio. I would work to minimize the number of laws, getting rid of enenforcable laws, etc. Once we have it down to the minimum to keep civil order, I'd let Joe enforce it.

Foreign Policy: In General, laissez-faire. Keep out foreign entanglements, like the founders wanted. Military should be kept strong. Talk softly, but carry a big stick.

Borders: Focus on keeping terrorists out. See below for "illegal" immigration. The borders should be enforced.

Immigration: If the economy takes off the way it should with the tax changes, we will not have to worry about Immigration. We will need to allow and regulate significant immigration.

Language: English is to be made the official language. Yes we should help immigrants learn english. A Basic understanding of english should be a requirement for working in the country.

UN: In general, request move from NYC to some "neutral" location. I don't expect a lot from the UN, as it represents the world as it is, not as we want it. But I don't see why the USA should be the main funder of the organization. Unless the UN adopts the golden rule.

Appoint Superman to the vacant post of Surgeon General.

Sunsets: All laws must have a sunset, maximum of 10 years. If the law is good, it can be passed again. If it sucks (AWB for example) it will die.

Red-Beard for President

[red-beard]

My Basic view is "Get the Government out of the way".

[Jim Richards]

A good share of these ideas are quite appealing (no pun intended).

[URY914]

Atomic power plants now.

[Paul K]

Eliminate 95% of suburban stop signs and replace them with yield signs. Save time save gas save brakes.

[Jim Richards]

Atomic energy is cool.

[Joeaksa]

I vote for RedBeard!

Two term limits for ANY political office, period. Then you get a job for the rest of your life.

A flat 10% tax for everyone in the country. It would pay far more than we have in the coffers right now and be much more fair to everyone.

[Jim Richards]

Taxing consumption (with some allowance for necessities) might change our habits towards saving and investment. I like it. It would have some negative impact on consumption, and perhaps the US market for goods and services might shrink a bit. In spite of that, I like it.