Community | December 20, 2012 | 60 comments

A Christmas wish list of ways to Fix our country

Image
FoosMaster
A list of ways to Fix our country:
*(Numbers 10 thru 17 will pay for everything with a Surplus to pay down the debt. Once our debt is PAID in full Then we can lower taxes accordingly)
1) Universal Healthcare
2) Make Very Tough new environmental laws and properly fund the EPA
3) Quadruple spending on education
4) Fix our infrastructure
5) Repeal Prohibition! Legalize and regulate drugs
6) Eliminate the DEA
7) Invest Heavily in Renewable/Green energy and Fix/Upgrade the national power grid
8) Tough new laws on Corporations
9) Too big to fail is TOO BIG. Bust them up!
10) Very Tough new Banking laws
11) Fix offshore banking laws
12) Fix Corporate Tax laws (Eliminate Corporate loopholes!)
13) Tariffs on goods from low wage countries
14) Tax penalties for moving jobs to low wage countries
15) MUCH Higher taxes on the Rich and all Banking and Wall Street profits
16) Tough new Wall Street regulations
17) Cut Military in HALF
18) Close Most military bases around the world
19) Quadruple spending on the Veterans Administration
20) Increase SS spending while also Fixing the problems such as…
a) Rich must pay SS taxes on 100% of their income
b) SS to be given to Only those who need it, (No more SS benefits for the Rich)
c) Fixed “Livable” benefit amount Not based on lifetime contributions
d) Real Cost of Living annual benefit increases
21) Increase minimum wage to a “Livable” wage
22) Take better care of the Elderly and Disabled
23) Eliminate All Gerrymandering!
24) Eliminate the Electoral College
25) Take All private money out of politics *(Publicly funded elections!)
26) Automatically register Every eligible person to vote and make it Easy to do so
27) Federally regulated voting in All elections with far more monitoring of the machines
28) Presidential cabinet and court appointments need only majority Senate approval
29) Limit Supreme Court appointments to 12yrs.
30) A new “Fairness Doctrine” type of law. Stop the LIES on “News” channels!
31) Tough Gun Laws
32) Eliminate ‘For Profit Prisons’ *(Treat prisoners as People, not numbers!)
33) Increase the FDA budget *(Better monitoring and regulation of our food supply)
34) FAR Better privacy laws
35) Repeal the Patriot act
36) Stop All monitoring of private communications without a court order
37) Fix Immigration laws:
a) Give temp visas to those in college and those currently legally employed
b) Allow Far more people to come here ‘Legally’
c) Deport illegals
d) Get tough on companies that hire illegals
38) Require 90% congressional approval to go to war
39) Keep ALL Religion out of politics!!! *(Preachers, ministers, etc…Not allowed in politics)
40) Remove ‘Tax Free’ status from Any church that has Any political stance

All suggestions to add to the list will be considered.

Merry Christmas everyone
FoosMaster
  1. groups:
    Community,   Politics,   Culture,   Progressive America,   9 more
  2. tags:
    Politics,  Lists,  New Years,  Wish List
  3.     
    |

60 comments // A Christmas wish list of ways to Fix our country

  • BRAVATRAVELS
    • +3
      BRAVATRAVELS  

    • Merry Xmas FoosMaster

      I disagree with some ...

      Of course the ones on immigrants but that is a long and hard discussion....

      The majority right on the money :D

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
    • 0
      FoosMaster  
    • BRAVATRAVELS:

      I suspect that we are FAR closer in our opinions than our congress is on the Few issues we may Slightly differ on. ;-) I intentionally didn’t get too specific on most of the issues on purpose because they are Very complicated issues.
      I have a bit of a conservative view, to a point, on Immigration, but I am open for discussion on that issue but our current congress has NO intention of discussing anything. The Republican's Only intention is to Obstruct Everything the way they did last term because they still believe that if they Completely destroy the economy that the voters will blame the Dems and give control back to them. They Never learn from history and actually try their best to Ignore it, or just re-write it, so we need to teach them a lesson in the coming elections!

      Hope you had a Merry Xmass Brava and hope the new year will be your best year ever.

    • 5 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +5
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Image

    • Here's my addition to yours...(Edited 12/27/12)

      1) JOBS
      2) Living wages paid for work performed
      3) End to predatory lending
      4) End to exorbitant usery interests on:
      a) Revolving credit card
      b) "installment loans"
      c) car loans
      d) student loans
      e) "line of credit" loans
      5) End to deficient interest earned on:
      a) checking accounts
      b) savings accounts
      c) IRA/Roth/CDs
      6) ridiculous "customer service" fees
      7) the hoarding of Bank/Financial Institution funds for:
      a) Small business loans
      b) Refinancing of home mortgages to reflect actual values, i.e., "underwater loans"
      c) Refinancing of student loans
      8) Extension to U.I. UNTIL the job market improves - no matter how long it takes
      9) Retraining for job skills required for today's workforce
      10) End to outrageous CEO compensation and "golden parachutes"
      11) End to tax breaks for the 2% (Which is being borrowed from China, et al
      12) End to tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas
      13) Close ALL tax loopholes used by corporations
      14) Close offshore accounts that are used to avoid taxation of those funds
      15) Stop states from competing for businesses with other states by offering "sweetheart" tax breaks and incentives for employment, road access/building, land deals - all of which does nothing but cheat the "host state" from revenue that would be earned and go into the general fund to support government services that must be made up with taxes on its citizenry which is realized as "lost revenue" of the previous "host state" that lost out in the process Swapping workforces from one state to another does no good for the country as a whole. If a company wishes to relocate, they should bear the burden of the cost alone. Not be supplimented by the "winning bidder" state. Also not permit these tactics from being used by foreign companies wanting to open up businesses in the U.S.
      16) End ALL subsidies that unfairly keep commodities at artifically high price levels
      17) End ALL farm subsidies that pays farmers from using farmland to grow produce
      18) Prevent opening up of National Preserve/Park land from exploration for oil/gas/coal
      19) Prevent the use of National Preserve/Park land from being used for transportation pipelines for oil/gas
      20) Prevent offshore drilling near protected/designated areas or reserves
      21) Prevent deepwell drilling
      22) Prevent Arctic drilling in sensitive areas
      23) Strengthen regulations of the Banking industry
      24) Reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1932
      25) Reinforce the Social Security Trust Fund
      26) Universal Healthcare - to be supported by employer and workforce contributions
      27) Reinforce Voter Rights - ensure all votes cast come with a receipt guaranteeing accuracy
      28) Term limits for ALL Elected Offices - it's used for the presidency - it's good enough for all
      29) Do away with lifetime appointments of the SCOTUS
      30) Gun control - semi OR automatic weapons banned - hunting/protection guns ONLY
      31) Public transportation improvements - high speed and commuter rail services
      32) Rebuilding of ALL infrastructures, i.e, bridges, roads, dams, levies and overflows
      33) Communications services for 100% of the country, i.e., REAL high speed broadband
      34) Clean Air Act to be beefed up
      35) EPA to have the authority to use preventative actions and for cleanup services
      35) Mandate fuel efficiency for ALL vehicles, INCLUDING trucking transportation
      36) Closing of ALL nuclear reactor facilities - NO EXCUSES
      37) Cut the funds that support the MIC and its insane production of weapons thereby reducing the amount of weapons that find their way to countries in Africa, Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, the Near East, the Middle East and the Far East that is used by unscrupulous nations and mercenary forces to kill and maim Mankind.

      P.S. I forgot to add fracking to my list (it is an old list I made up a few years ago)...until now.

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
    • +3
      FoosMaster  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      I believe that nearly all of that is covered in my list in one way or another but there are some good ones there.

      17 – I don’t think we need to stop ALL farm subsidies. Just eliminate the ones that give money for “alternative fuel” crops and Definitely eliminate All subsidies to Corporate owned farms.

      15 – Eliminate State tax breaks and other giveaways to companies that start businesses or re-locate to that state. It is unfair to not only other states but also to the people of those states who have to pay for those Few jobs for others with higher taxes.

      20-22 – Deep Sea drilling should be Eliminated, PERIOD, and all other drilling should be regulated with FAR, FAR Better safety measures. But, since we don’t currently have good enough safety measures then ALL water drilling and sensitive area drilling should be STOPPED until FAR Better regulations can be created. And, with the Huge investments in Green energies we may not need to start back that drilling. ;-)

    • 5 months ago
  • SFirman
  • Leen61
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +5
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Image
    • SFirman:

      I haven't missed this "place"...but I have missed quite a few that frequent it...most of all...you! And Colleen...and V...and Ziggy...and Haruko...and Jack...and SandyBerman...and on and on!

    • 5 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • SFirman
  • BRAVATRAVELS
  • Leen61
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +2
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Image
    • SFirman:

      "No one else comes to my rescue when the bad guys corner me."

      LOLOLOLOL!

      I was going to holler out to you to throw me a Lifesaver myself, but I couldn't remember which was my favorite flavor!

      I'll try to watch your back as you have been watching mine!

    • 5 months ago
  • MarshainFlorida
    • +3
      MarshainFlorida  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      Good list Bill, but I'd add: Stop deeming banks "To Big To Fail" when it or they are found to be engaging in criminal activities, and start prosecuting and jailing these corrupt bankers. Same applies to Wall Street investment firms.

    • 5 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • MarshainFlorida
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • Texas_Lefty
  • wally60
  • wally60
  • Texas_Lefty
  • bulraybet
    • -1
      bulraybet  

    • Just something to consider. Make mexico a state and make all drugs legal. solves two things. No millions in cost of boarder wars.!! or millions in cost of fighting the drug lords.!!

    • 5 months ago
  • MarshainFlorida
    • +1
      MarshainFlorida  
    • bulraybet:

      Don't agree with making Mexico a state, but sure agree with legalizing and controlling all drugs the same way as cigarette and alcohol is controlled and taxed. Put the "drug lords" out of business.

    • 5 months ago
  • remanns
  • remanns
  • remanns
  • FoosMaster
  • remanns
  • gump
  • FoosMaster
  • moondown1
    • +2
      moondown1  

    • Looks like a GREAT list to me! I would also add putting an end to lobbyists though that may be covered by number 25. (By "putting an end" I don't mean kill them just outlaw the practice!)

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
  • MarshainFlorida
    • +1
      MarshainFlorida  

    • Fun post Foos. My 2 cents worth would be to eliminate all health care benefits, paid vacations, pension benefits and pay raises to all members of congress for at least the next 20 years. The don't need it. They are in politics, after all, for the power, not the money. Use those "budget cuts" to help balance the budget. Any surplus from those funds should be applied to Medicare first and Social Security second.

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
    • +2
      FoosMaster  
    • MarshainFlorida:

      I also think that they do not deserve the benefits they now have with the way they have been doing things but if they pass everything on the list then they will have Earned their pay and benefits. ;-)

    • 5 months ago
  • Mishima
  • letsliveinpeace
    • +6
      letsliveinpeace  

    • If there's any changes to Medicare and Social Security start with the Republican’s benefits first. Also add an .5% tax to every share of stock sold, and with the micro-trading Wall St does, that will add up real quick.
      Oh by the way great post.

    • 5 months ago
  • cw9000
  • FoosMaster
  • FoosMaster
  • letsliveinpeace
  • letsliveinpeace
  • gump
  • MarshainFlorida
    • +1
      MarshainFlorida  
    • cw9000:

      hey cw, you're so right! Sounds like double-dipping to me. Free medical checkups at the Naval Med. Ctr., but also free health care insurance and tax-free pensions! Wow, wish I had that.

    • 5 months ago
  • MarshainFlorida
  • cmc101
  • FoosMaster
  • MSII
  • FoosMaster
  • Conniepae
    • +7
      Conniepae  

    • If I had a Christmas wish of a way to fix our country and help our environment, then I would wish for an honest discussion about industrial hemp and jobs in America.

      The 'drug war' rhetoric has spun hemp out of the dialog. Hemp is as important, or even more important to the general population than cannabis.

      Here's a short little video about the possibilities of hemp today. "Hemp for Industry" video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kybQTtnJjQA Hemp really could create environmentally friendly jobs and improve our environment at the same time.
      Industrial hemp is a good filter for the soil and air. Russia planted Industrial Hemp around Chernobyl after the nuclear accident. http://www.scribd.com/doc/92218818/Phytoremediation-Chernobyl-HEMP-Cannabis-Sati...

      Yes, if I had a Christmas wish for America, I would wish for jobs, environmentally friendly products and a cleaner environment. I just wish we could have the conversation, but it always reverts back to drugs. IMHO, that is done with purpose. Drug rhetoric distracts from the facts about hemp.

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
  • MarshainFlorida
    • 0
      MarshainFlorida  
    • FoosMaster:

      A reporter was talking about this very thing today on Bill Press. Apparently there is a lot more pressure out there to legalize at the least, marijuana, and to consider how the war on drugs is benefitting only the dealers and cartels and crippling governments. They also had a clip of Pres. Clinton peace initiative group that has also turned him around and is speaking in favor of legalization over what we have now. Apparently foreign governments are blaming the U.S. for their own illegal drug trade problems. I expect to start hearing a whole lot more on this issue in '13. (Lucky "13")

    • 5 months ago
  • FoosMaster
  • MarshainFlorida
  • Leen61
    • +8
      Leen61  

    • Fairness in elections in which the media does not choose the candidates for us that allows 3rd Party candidates an even playing field, access to all debates and the elimination of Citizen's United buying elections and allowing all candidates presidential consideration.

    • 5 months ago
  • FreeSpiritMuse
  • FoosMaster
  • FoosMaster
  • Leen61
  • Leen61
  • FreeSpiritMuse
more from Community:
from the community

top videos