Your "Top 5" legislative proposals to "fix" the "Top 5" issues of the day... (testimonies, Earth)

[s2a]

OK.

Now that we have (albeit marginally and most indefinitely) enumerated the "Top 5 things to fix" (in the USA, or the world) within the initial thread " Your top 5 issues to "fix" in the world..." with a numerical tally/summary of issues here...

...I subsequently submit a theoretical premise...

As nutty as the notion may be, let's assume for the moment that you are a newly instigated and placed legislator of political mandate and enforceable (and fiscally supported) legislation/law.

I know, I know. Reality does not long tolerate nor respect freshman representatives from even introducing, much less lending due provision for estimable consideration or body-wide vote of any prospective legislation borne of a neophyte...but let's just pretend that such a concept is both possible and veritable...if only for the sake of expression, discussion, and debate.

[Note: This topic actually challenges all prospective contributors to think before they post. Specificity is incumbent in lent reply, as solutions to outlined/enumerated "issues" are much more challenging to propose than mere "problem identification". It's easy to observe that global warming is a "problem" that "someone should do something about". But what if you were that "someone" charged with actually "fixing" that particular problem? What legislative action would you propose as remedy? Should Coca-Cola flow freely from all public school water fountains? Should the use of coal-burning or nuclear power plants be suspended indefinitely, or encouraged? Should targeted foreign aid exceed the expenditures lent to the military, or be lesened/eliminated? Should cancer research funding take a back-seat to AIDS research funding, or vice-versa? Would you ban all gay marriage options before or after outlawing federal protections for any form of abortion? Would you raise the minimum wage to $12/hr.to help ameliorate lower-class poverty?]

In instigating this thread, I invite prospective respondents to specifically outline their legislative proposals that they deem would serve to "fix" the most pressing issues/problems of our times. Philosophic perspectives are prospectively interesting, but not especially conducive to veritable and implementable legislative "fixes". Proposing a bit of legislation to "Help the Poor" is sentimentally sound, but not especially helpful nor specific in any proposed methodology/enforcement techniques/regimens required to obtain such a goal.

I invite all respondents to offer five legislative proposals to address their "Top 5" issues/concerns worthy of repair/revitalization on a nationwide level.

In acquiescence to the prospect that most respondents will be unmotivated/uninspired to actually propose five distinct bits of legislation...I thusly lend caveat, that even one thoughtful proposal is valid (enough) for consideration/debate. I would also discourage those that have absolutely nothing constructive to offer beyond personalized philosophic ruminations or faith-based proclamations/testimonies of ultimate human futility. Faithful adherents of status-quo sensibilities are invited to keep their perspectives to themselves. In essence...put up, or shut up.

Let's ponder some reasonably implementable solutions for ourselves...instead of waiting for others to determine our course and fate.

What do you say?

[EnhancedSpirit]

1. Do away with the IRS. Six months of your income goes to the IRS, if you had that money, you could afford private school for kids, and such . . .

2. Put a 60% ceiling on how much profit can be made from any product. Material, plus labor, plus 60%. No more spending $2000 for a dress that has the same amount of material and stitching as a $20 dress. Or $200 for a bathing suit that has 2 inches of material.

3. Legalize marijuana, use hemp to replace ALL petroleum products.

4. Raise minimum wage to $15 per hour.

5. Any money left in a bank for more that 12 consecutive months will become property of the community and destributed to fullfill the needs of the community. No more hoarding money, if you ain't using it, give it to someone who will. . . .


I know these may seem a little fruity, but if I remember correctly, the main reason we wanted to succede from the union was to get away from taxes and laws of the king. We wanted one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[standing_on_one_foot]

Originally Posted by EnhancedSpirit

I know these may seem a little fruity, but if I remember correctly, the main reason we wanted to succede from the union was to get away from taxes and laws of the king. We wanted one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Strictly speaking, we revolted to get away from taxation without representation, not from taxation itself. The US did try that for awhile (a federal gov't unable to tax), and the gov't basically couldn't do anything. Which, some would argue, isn't a bad thing...

I can't think of my top five so quickly, but one thing I'd propose is more protection of the environment and more funding for research on alternatives (like alternative fuels, since it's unreasonable to tell people to just stop using fuels without providing any options). Stricter regulation of pollution and emissions. Incentives to businesses and individuals to be more environmentally friendly. Tree-hugging and whale-saving, if you will, since I hate to think how much we might be screwing over our descendants (or even ourselves).

I'll get back to you on the other four after more thought.

[s2a]

*THUD*

*dink*

*unk*

Such is the sound of a lead balloon when it settles to the earth, with no one to hear....

*sigh*

How much easier it is to whine that to resolve...

"SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT!" (as long as it's not me)....

[PureX]

1. Eliminate legalized bribery. Eliminate the accumulation of massive campaign funds by giving each candidate a set amount of campaign money, and some guaranteed air time to communicate their intents to the voters. We want FULL disclosure, and a ban on ALL perks. Also, publish the voting/performance record of all candidates who have previously held public office, at election time.

2. Stop the practice of attaching "riders" to unrelated legislation. No more outrageous pork projects being forced into law by attaching them to other, necessary legislation. Each issue must be debated publicly, and voted on separately.

3. Institute a "flat tax" system. No more loop-holes for the wealthy, or for special interests, or for anyone else. Establish an amount of money needed for basic survival, and guarantee that amount to every citizen. If we make more then that amount, we're all taxed according to the same ratio. The more we make, the higher the ratio. No exceptions. If we make less then that amount, we will receive the difference as public welfare.

4. Socialize essential services, like health care, home heating and electricity, and phone services. When a service is essential, it becomes an automatic monopoly, and must therefor be owned and operated by the society it serves.

5. Eliminate mandatory insurance. If people want to insure themselves against damages caused by anything, they can do so. If they don't want to, they don't have to. Health care will already be provided to every citizen, so all we're talking about now is insuring property.

Just these five changes would radically improve the state of our nation, over night! Sadly, I doubt that we'll live to see a single one of them enacted. The wolves are in charge of the hen house, and they ain't gonna vote themselves away from the feast.