If you were president of your country...

[Danoff]

To borrow an idea from Fox news, I thought it would be fun to get everyone's ideas on what they would do if they were in charge. Please forgive the "president" term, I didn't want to use the word "leader" because it didn't sound right, and I didn't want to add PM/King/dictator/etc. to the title.

The idea is this, you're in charge and you're very popular. Which means what you want to get done is going to get done. What would you do? How would you change things?

To try to keep this thread focused, I want to restrict the discussion to DOMESTIC POLICY ONLY!!!!!!! This thread isn't about wars (starting or ending them). If you want to talk about foreign policy, perhaps we should start another thread.


Ok, so I'll go first.


If I were president of the US I would...

First and foremost change our income tax to a sales tax. It sounds like a simple move but it would have major effects on the country. It would mean social security was treated like a tax (which it is) instead of an investment (which it isn't) - which would help us eliminate social security in the future. It would also help prevent the unbridled growth of government we've been seeing since it would make it much easier for poor people to see the effects of their votes in favor of handouts. If everyone has to pay sales tax, everyone sees the effects of increased government spending.

It also would eliminate (or nearly eliminate) the following:

entire tax code (all bazillion pages of it)
government knowledge of our employment and expenses
all need for tax attorneys, preparation, etc.
social engineering via deductions
the IRS ($10 billion saved is $10 billion earned)

...and, to boot, it would help with the illegal immigration problem. Instead of controlling a black market for employment, we'd be trying to control a black market for sales - which I think would be siginificantly easier. It would certainly be easier to get the big stuff.

The conversion of income to sales tax would be made more potent if we passed constitutional amendment to prevent goods from being taxed at different rates, and to prevent income tax policies from being reinstituted (at both the state and national levels). Basically this would simply be a repeal of the 16th amendment which was never properly ratified anyway.

That would be my first goal. It would be a huge step on many fronts, from illegal immigration to social security to government growth.

So how about it? Comments on my idea? What policies would you want? I'll probably add some more to this later.


Edit: By the way, if you want to you can decide to be president of someone else's country too.

 

[YSSMAN]

If I was President in the United States:

1) First and foremost, I am going to get immigration under control. We are going to be building a wall, a big one at that, increasing funing for the Border Patrol and doubling their presence on top of what Bush has promised to do allready. After that, I'm increasing the funding for the INS, and hope to deport as many illegal immigrants as possible who are either sitting in jail, or have had any kind of previous criminal record.

This may be a tricky one, but I also want to play with the rules with how one becomes a US-citizen from birth. Too many people come to the US to have children so that they can stay here, and that needs to change.

2) A MORE progressive tax needs to be placed on incomes, but things such as the death tax and taxes on investments need to dissappear. The more progressive income tax would be similar to that of the UK or Germany, no more than 40% of any income past $100K goes to taxes, but possibly move the cap north to $500K or more. I'd have to see full figures, but in it's current state, there is a lot of money to be made. I don't want to go as extreme as Germany's 42% income tax on ALL income past $100K.

3) Something needs to be done with welfare as well. I don't have a solid plan, but I still thing too many people are depending on it to get by when they are perfectly capable of getting a job and getting the income that they need to survive. Now of course there are some people who do need the money, and I understand that, so for them, I wish to redefine how much the cost of living is, and reconstruct the poverty line to 2008 standards.

4) More needs to be done to encourage business to stay in the US, but as noted before, taxes on things like investments should be done away with in hope to encourage it. Generally, it would be a continuation of Bush's economics plan, with a few changes, but it has proven that it can work very well indeed.

5) I would like to see further investment in the development of the American ICBM defense shield on the west coast, as the program is still far from complete, and we desperately need it as nations like Iran and North Korea have their ICBMs going online. Hopefully if we can get it right, we can sell the technology to our Allies in Europe and Australia, and install the system in Japan as well.

...Beyond that, I'm not sure. Being a fairly moderate conservative, it becomes a matter of adjusting to what is going on at the time, and not attempting to be too left or too right.

 

[Danoff]

2) A MORE progressive tax needs to be placed on incomes, but things such as the death tax and taxes on investments need to dissappear. The more progressive income tax would be similar to that of the UK or Germany, no more than 40% of any income past $100K goes to taxes, but possibly move the cap north to $500K or more. I'd have to see full figures, but in it's current state, there is a lot of money to be made. I don't want to go as extreme as Germany's 42% income tax on ALL income past $100K.

You are aware that last time taxes were decreased, federal revenue increased thanks to the boost it gave to the economy. Raising taxes could reduce federal tax revenue.

4) More needs to be done to encourage business to stay in the US, but as noted before, taxes on things like investments should be done away with in hope to encourage it. Generally, it would be a continuation of Bush's economics plan, with a few changes, but it has proven that it can work very well indeed.

That's not exactly the signal that raising taxes sends.


Perhaps instead of raising taxes you could find places to cut spending.

 

[Danoff]

Woah was that a tumbleweed?? Sure is quiet in here. Oh well, time for this thread to die.

 

[wfooshee]

I'll start by saying that politics, economics, sociology, etc. are NOT strong points in my education or background. Until I was nearly 30, I asked my dad how I should vote, because I trusted him and couldn't be bothered. (I see that in my kids now, and somehow it's wrong, all of a sudden. )

This may be a tricky one, but I also want to play with the rules with how one becomes a US-citizen from birth. Too many people come to the US to have children so that they can stay here, and that needs to change.

I agree with this 100%. A person being born here should not automatically have U.S. citizenship. Perhaps being born to a legal alien, at the most. There's a difference between riding the bus across the border while in labor and living here legally, with a good job, contributing to society, etc.

American couples' offspring are citizens, no matter where born, just as it is already.

First and foremost change our income tax to a sales tax.

The tax issue is weird. I don't know if anybody really knows what's going on, what with loopholes, brackets that change from year to year, tax breaks for favorite group of the day, whatever. Florida is a state with no state income tax and fairly high (compared to neighboring states) sales tax, but Florida also counts on collecting sales tax from a large body of tourism, money that would be unavailable by income tax on residents.

I hate being taxed on the money I make, but I'm not sure sales tax gets anywhere, either. All of a sudden everybody's an importer at best, or smuggler at worst. Would the bureaucracy really be reduced? Lawyer hassles over trying to prove exemptions and whatnot would go away, but there'd still be an incredible agency to manage and enforce this money.

I also fear the feds pushing their weight around on the states. "Handle your sales tax such-and-such way or we will deny such-and-such funds," just like the 55 MPH speed limit that used to be in effect. There was never a national speed limit law, it's not allowed for the feds to set a speed limit. What they did was threaten to deny highway funds to states that did not comply with the 55.

government knowledge of our employment and expenses

I agree that not having an income tax should increase our privacy, in that the government would then have no reason to know my employment status, income level, job history, whatever. The tax burden shifts completely from individuals to businesses, though, increasing their costs, thus ours as well. Will it balance, and in whose favor?

One change in government I would love to see goes beyond line-item veto. Why should an amendment to a bill have nothing to do with the bill's original premise? You attach a non-related amendment, something that has little or no chance by itself, to a bill that's almost guaranteed, and you can't do anything about it. Should not be allowed. I know, it's part of the give-and-take, the deal-making ability, but it serves Congressmen, not constiuents. Do away with unrelated riders.

No one has mentioned medical care. I'll leave that alone myself, as I have no clue how to fix it. Socialized medicine is no good, the quality goes down, the bureuacracy goes up.

Schools need work. First thing they need is discipline. Educators are powerless to enforce order in schools, and many parents treat schools as daycare, not caring what happens, as long as the brats are out of the house for a while. Once you have discipline, you might actually see them able to teach. There are too many illiterate graduates running around, people who have an "education" according to someone's testing standard, but have no clue how to get along in society. They can't get a job, they can't fill out forms, they can't even read sometimes. Beyond reinstating corporal punishment, I don't know how to fix this, either. Throwing money at it won't fix it, I know that from seeing it done for the last 30 years.

Sounds like I'm not going to be up for a second term, I think.

 

[Sting]

Tonight Matthew, I'm gonna be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
little UK referance there, you Americans might not get it.

Anyway, onto business, two main annoyances of this country in my view.

1) Much like YSSMAN, it's time immigration was controlled in this country. I would call for a national roundup of ALL immigrants and put them through a screening. There might be some that are pulling their weight, paying taxes, earning a living and fair enough, if they are doing that they are welcome to stay. However on the other hand those that aren't and those that have criminal histories, sorry but bye bye. Back to your own country you go.

2) Totally trash the current benefit system and re-write it to be alot strictera and have regular checks. There have been too many instances of benefit cheats in this country and I'm sick to death of hearing about it. I pay my taxes (unfortunatly) and I'm fed up of helping with the upkeep of these cheats and liars. You want nine kids or something stupid like that, fine your choice, but get a freakin job and start paying for them and if you can't you work two jobs or more. You got yourself into that situation now you can work yourself out of it. Same goes for all these teenagers that seem to get pregnant at early ages, you want a baby pay for it!

3) Bring in the death penalty. Now some people may disagree with what I'm about to say, however this is my opinion. In my view, you take someone's life than your own life is null and void (this does not apply in times of war.).
Of course this doesn't have to be by brutal methods of stoning, quartering, etc etc regardless of how it would satisfy a victims family to see the criminal suffer.
I'm not sure if capital punishment was ever around in the UK, but I think it should be implemented. Just last month a young boy was stabbed to death on a path that I walk along to go to work. It's horrible to see the flowers and pictures of the boy smiling and realising he'll never have the opportunity to grow up and see the world.
Electric chair, lethal injection, hanging and even firing squad would certainly serve to change anyones mind about killing innocent people.

 

[a6m5]

I'm just going to comment and add stuff that you guys already mentioned.

Tax - I'm pretty happy with the current system, but I do agree that State and Federal governments should control their spending. At local level(city, county, state), we hear too much about government spending that doesn't make any sense. When they spend it after the voters votes it down, or when they don't even ask, it's very frustrating.

Social Security - Bush try to fix this(or to ditch it), but I guess the government is not interested now. Talk about a denial. I would try to fix this. Probably something similar to the Bush's original plan, like 401K.

Crime - I think me and keef were fuming about this while back. Prison system is a joke. If it was up to me, after three strikes, you will do serious terms, even if you were just shoplifting. Also, no more special treatments in prisons. It will go back to what prisons are supposed to be. Very unpleasant places that you wouldn't want to go. No free medicare, college courses, nice meals, gyms, basketball games, cable TVs. All those things and then some, they will be gone. Heck, I don't even have cable TV or gym membership. If I could just do those things and play basketball during break time, I wouldn't mind that much about going to prison(just don't drop the soap. ). I would provide water and limited electricity, but the "rights" of people who violated others' rights will not be a high priority for me. Almost forgot; they will be put to work. Full time job, plus, duties around the prison. Laundry, cleaning, etc.

Foreign Policy - For starters, I would stop sticking noses into where you are not welcomed. While I would still protect Israel, I wouldn't sweat over Iran, Syria or Iraq(oops, too late). But I would make it very clear that if they messed with us or our allies, we will hit back hard. This is not a good move for people who make money in situation like the one in Iraq, but is the right move IMO. You will be brought down quickly in real life though, possibly assassinated.

Another bad move: I will drop China, and get back in with Taiwan. I don't know what to do with South Korea. They are always moaning about something. I prefer to get back on good term with them too though. After going cold with China, India probably becomes even more important partner to the U.S.

Immigration - I agree with you guys on this. Being born in the States by illegal immigrant parents should not award the baby a automatic citizenship. I would take the baby away into a newly created "Direct" adoption system. Pretty soon, illegals will be begging to let them out. j/k

Good thing I'm not a leader, huh?

Wow. This got a lot longer than I thought.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

If I were president I would:

• balance the budget; reduce/eliminate the national debt
• eliminate "free" trade agreements
• reform campaign finance
• eliminate taxes on capital gains; progressive taxes elsewhere (this includes corporations... no more tax loss carryforwards... pay up... now.)
• slap heavy fines on publicly-traded corporations' management that try to re-price their stock options after a significant price decline
• implement a universal healthcare plan
• increase education/social spending
• completely overhaul RegSHO and make the total number of FTD's available to the public domain (and who's responsible for them)

Obviously there's more... but since this is restricted to domestic policy only (and the fact that I'm extremely tired from a long day's work), I'm going to leave it at that.

 

[Casio]

If I were President of Australia

1. First up. I'd need to fling the Queen of England away as our Head of State so I can actually be President and not a boring Prime Minister
2. If you can't speak English. You can't work in a business that requires talking to people. I'm sick of going to the bakery in the morning and asking for the same thing 4 times before she finally understands what I'm saying.
3. Total Tobacco Ban. There is no reason for it. I Don't want it.
4. Heavier punishment for crimes. Murder gets life, none of that bail bull****. Attempted Murder gets exactly the age you are now, so once you're past 40, it's not the wisest thing to do. Same applies to pedophiles. Rapists get genitals removed
5. You have to have a job once above the age of 24. (Obvious exceptions for disabled people). If you don't you will be given one. People complain about jobs being taken by overseas people, half of that reason is because people eat on their ass all day.
6. Pay for the job you do. Not for your age/experience etc. I do the exact same job as someone else at my work. I get 3$ an hour more then them, someone else gets 3$ an hour more then me. Why? Because I'm older/younger. It's a stupid system.
7. The Australian and New Zealand Netball teams to merge together to form an uber netball team of bibical proportions.

That'll do for now 👍

 

[MrktMkr1986]

If you can't speak English. You can't work in a business that requires talking to people. I'm sick of going to the bakery in the morning and asking for the same thing 4 times before she finally understands what I'm saying.

Offer free (mandatory or optional, your choice) English lessons to alleviate the problem.

Attempted Murder gets exactly the age you are now, so once you're past 40, it's not the wisest thing to do. Same applies to pedophiles. Rapists get genitals removed

Make the time for attempted murder etc. the same regardless of age.

You have to have a job once above the age of 24. (Obvious exceptions for disabled people). If you don't you will be given one. People complain about jobs being taken by overseas people, half of that reason is because people eat on their ass all day.

This is an economic impossibility... there are several different types of unemployment. Cyclical unemployment is dependant upon economic factors that you have no control over (unless this a true command economy). Frictional unemployment is dependant upon the individual (either the worker or the company itself)... and unless you have control over the free will of the people, this law will not work.

If you don't mind my asking, what's purpose of this law anyway? What are you trying to acheive?

 

[MrktMkr1986]

Ok, so I'll go first.


If I were president of the US I would...

First and foremost change our income tax to a sales tax.

First of all, I think it's important to note that taxes are not theft. They are payment for goods/services that we use everyday as supplied by the government of the United States of America. Not paying taxes is akin to walking into a restaurant, ordering, eating, and walking right back out.

Now that that's out of the way...

By eliminating the income tax (I'm assuming you mean for both corporations and individuals) you will wipe out a little over $1 trillion worth of revenue from the budget. I can see how that might sound tempting, initially... However, it does raise the question: What government programs have to eliminated in order to compensate for such a drastic decrease in revenue? Have you stopped to consider the ramifications such actions might have on the country? As I see it, changing income taxes to sales taxes would have serious consequences that far outweigh any possible benefit for the average American.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.

*edit*

How would you mitigate the impact on the elderly (retirees specifically), and low and middle income earners?

 

[wfooshee]

First of all, I think it's important to note that taxes are not theft. They are payment for goods/services that we use everyday as supplied by the government of the United States of America. Not paying taxes is akin to walking into a restaurant, ordering, eating, and walking right back out.

Now that that's out of the way...

By eliminating the income tax (I'm assuming you mean for both corporations and individuals) you will wipe out a little over $1 trillion worth of revenue from the budget. I can see how that might sound tempting, initially... However, it does raise the question: What government programs have to eliminated in order to compensate for such a drastic decrease in revenue? Have you stopped to consider the ramifications such actions might have on the country? As I see it, changing income taxes to sales taxes would have serious consequences that far outweigh any possible benefit for the average American.



*edit*

How would you mitigate the impact on the elderly (retirees specifically), and low and middle income earners?

He's not looking to reduce revenue, just change the source. He also hopes to reduce the bureaucracy, thinking that a sales tax agency will be thinner than the IRS. I don't know about that, but I can see how many dollars would flow in if Uncle Sam got even just a penny on every one anybody spent anywhere. I'm not sure the collection and enforcement would be any more streamlined than what the IRS has to do already.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

He's not looking to reduce revenue, just change the source.

Income taxes account for $1 trillion worth of revenue. If a sales/consumption tax were to be implemented, it would have to be extremely high (think 40-60%) in order to match the revenue produced from income taxes. Sadly, changing the source alone (without a signficant increase in the sales tax rate) will reduce revenue. Which might sound tempting... As you say, it:

reduce the bureaucracy, [because] a sales tax agency will be thinner than the IRS.

But the real question is: How do we mitigate the negative effects of such a policy if it were to implemented?

I don't know about that, but I can see how many dollars would flow in if Uncle Sam got even just a penny on every one anybody spent anywhere.

Not nearly as much as you might think unless the rates were very high. Europe has an income tax and they use a VAT to supplement their income. VAT alone is not enough to cover government expenses. The only other option is to make drastic cuts to public programs/services... which is exactly what Dan has on his agenda... giving slash 'n burn a whole new meaning.

Don't get me wrong, I fear big government just as much as the next guy, but I'm not looking to eliminate it either.

 

[Omnis]

I would legalize stem cell research and all that jive. If innocent casualties can be taken without much concern during war, then surely pluripotential cell research can be conducted with no more or less moral concern.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I'd have just a few basic laws. The most important law, you can't do anything that hurts somebody else. If you want to hurt yourself, like drugs (cocaine, heroin, pot, etc), booze, sex with a bull, drive a '72 Pinto, etc. go right ahead. But, you can't hurt anybody else in any way. That pretty much covers stealing, assault, murder, etc.

I'd also make a law that wont allow you to potentially cause harm to somebody else, like driving drunk, etc. You might not be hurting anybody doing it, but there's a huge potential for you to hurt somebody else. That's basically it.

Naturally, they're would be a need for other laws, like age of consent, environmental laws, tax laws, etc. but these will be structured much like the basic law. Tax would be, all income taxed 25% flat rate, and 10% sales tax on all items sold. That includes drugs, cars, homes, property, businesses, retail and private sale items, etc.

However, I'm aware that allowing people to do whatever they want to themselves could cut into the "do anything to yourself" legal tolerance, but that's the beauty of this law. If you do drugs, and people are dependent on you financially, spiritually, emotionally, and if your drug use is starting to cause suffering for your family, you can no longer do drugs. Therefore, you're breaking the law. If, however, you can do drugs without it hurting your family, then by all means, use drugs.

 

[///M-Spec]

First of all, I think it's important to note that taxes are not theft. They are payment for goods/services that we use everyday as supplied by the government of the United States of America. Not paying taxes is akin to walking into a restaurant, ordering, eating, and walking right back out.

Actually, it's more like walking into one of those buffet style food courts and everyone else who was already there has decided you're going to get mashed potatoes, corned beef and coleslaw, whether you like it or not. You can try to order something else, but you'd have to convince a majority of the people to change the menu and they're too busy eating. When you walk into the resturant, there's a guy at the door who takes your wallet, counts your money then charges you 10 bucks for the meal, but charges the guy in front of you 2 because he's got less on him. By the time you checkout it ends up costing you 25, but the guy ahead of you eats for free...

..and you just wanted to use the bathroom.


M

 

[Danoff]

By eliminating the income tax (I'm assuming you mean for both corporations and individuals) you will wipe out a little over $1 trillion worth of revenue from the budget. I can see how that might sound tempting, initially... However, it does raise the question: What government programs have to eliminated in order to compensate for such a drastic decrease in revenue? Have you stopped to consider the ramifications such actions might have on the country? As I see it, changing income taxes to sales taxes would have serious consequences that far outweigh any possible benefit for the average American.

I'd like to see your research that shows that it's impossible to get the same revenue from a sales tax that we currently get from our income taxes.

 

[Danoff]

[*]If you can't speak English. You can't work in a business that requires talking to people. I'm sick of going to the bakery in the morning and asking for the same thing 4 times before she finally understands what I'm saying.

If you're sick of it, why do you keep going? Your current economic system is built upon the idea that people will stop patronizing a business if something ticks them off.

(it's a rhetorical question really, I know what the answer is - that it doesn't bother you enough to make you stop going, it only bothers you enough to make you think other people's freedom should be taken away)

[*]Total Tobacco Ban. There is no reason for it. I Don't want it.

See above (in parens).

Rapists get genitals removed

Even rapists who are convicted of rape after their drunk date decided she was ashamed of herself after the fact? Not all rape convictions deserve this.

[*]You have to have a job once above the age of 24. (Obvious exceptions for disabled people). If you don't you will be given one. People complain about jobs being taken by overseas people, half of that reason is because people eat on their ass all day.

Sounds like a program that will grow every year.

[*]Pay for the job you do. Not for your age/experience etc. I do the exact same job as someone else at my work. I get 3$ an hour more then them, someone else gets 3$ an hour more then me. Why? Because I'm older/younger. It's a stupid system.

In theory (the company's theory, after all it is the company's money), you're not as good at your job as someone with greater experience.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

Actually, it's more like walking into one of those buffet style food courts and everyone else who was already there has decided you're going to get mashed potatoes, corned beef and coleslaw, whether you like it or not. You can try to order something else, but you'd have to convince a majority of the people to change the menu and they're too busy eating. When you walk into the resturant, there's a guy at the door who takes your wallet, counts your money then charges you 10 bucks for the meal, but charges the guy in front of you 2 because he's got less on him. By the time you checkout it ends up costing you 25, but the guy ahead of you eats for free...

..and you just wanted to use the bathroom.


M

I like your analogy better. I don't agree with it, but it's definitely funnier.

I'd like to see your research that shows that it's impossible to get the same revenue from a sales tax that we currently get from our income taxes.

Before I break out the "research" I never said it was impossible to get the same revenue from a sales tax. I said that the sales tax would have to be considerably higher (40-60%) in order to be equal.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the impression you gave me is that the current size & scope of the government is too large... hence wanting to replace income tax with sales tax without any increases. That's why I made the comments I made. I know a sales tax can take the place of an income tax, but you never specified a rate... so I assumed the worst.

Now that we've got that out of the way...

What sales tax rate (if it replaced income tax) do you deem "fair"?

*edit*

I just thought of something. Corporations may not like this idea. If there is no income tax, they cannot carry forward any losses they may have incurred during the fiscal year(s).

 

[Danoff]

Before I break out the "research" I never said it was impossible to get the same revenue from a sales tax. I said that the sales tax would have to be considerably higher (40-60%) in order to be equal.

Oh, I misunderstood when you said:

By eliminating the income tax (I'm assuming you mean for both corporations and individuals) you will wipe out a little over $1 trillion worth of revenue from the budget.

I thought you meant that this could not be replaced by sales tax. My bad.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the impression you gave me is that the current size & scope of the government is too large... hence wanting to replace income tax with sales tax without any increases. That's why I made the comments I made. I know a sales tax can take the place of an income tax, but you never specified a rate... so I assumed the worst.

I see. No we'd definitely need to set the sales tax rate to cover the cost of government.

What sales tax rate (if it replaced income tax) do you deem "fair"?

Whatever covers the cost of government.

I just thought of something. Corporations may not like this idea. If there is no income tax, they cannot carry forward any losses they may have incurred during the fiscal year(s).

Corporations may hate the idea because they'll have to pay sales tax as well. But that's tough cookies.

 

[wfooshee]

Corporations may hate the idea because they'll have to pay sales tax as well. But that's tough cookies.

That was sort of my point in an earlier post when I said the sales tax burden would be on business, not individuals. They collect the tax at the cash register, track it in their accounting systems, and forward it to Uncle Sam on some periodic schedule. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just see how I, as a possible business owner, would feel about yet another overlord looking at my books.

 

[Danoff]

That was sort of my point in an earlier post when I said the sales tax burden would be on business, not individuals. They collect the tax at the cash register, track it in their accounting systems, and forward it to Uncle Sam on some periodic schedule. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just see how I, as a possible business owner, would feel about yet another overlord looking at my books.

It would be the same overlord just looking at a different set of books. Right now they look carefully at your employment history checking what you withheld from each employee, how many employees you have, how much social security you paid on their behalf etc. Instead, they'd be looking at sales tax (which the state probably already does anyway). So it wouldn't be anything new for businesses.

However, I know that some states that require sales taxes give kickbacks to the companies for the trouble of keeping track of it all. That would be fine with me.

 

[RVDNuT374]

If I were president:

1. Marijuana would be legalized.
2. Eliminate the welfare system. Far too many people abuse it and it's lost its original goal of helping the truly needy.
3. Legal drinking age would be lowered from 21 to 18. If you can vote, serve in the military, and become an adult, you should be able to drink.
4. Much tighter border security:I'd build a 60 ft concrete wall (30 ft above ground, 30 ft below ground) along the entire US-Mexico border lined with an electric fence. Also, any person in the country found to be illegal has 2 choices: become a legal citizen the right way or get out and go back to their home country.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

If I were president:

1. Marijuana would be legalized.

For me, only a last resort in response to fiscal crises.

2. Eliminate the welfare system. Far too many people abuse it and it's lost its original goal of helping the truly needy.

Strongly disagree. What's the reason/motive behind this? Corporate welfare is where you should be concentrating your efforts. Why deny someone a measly $200/month? ... when there's much bigger fish to fry?

People like this guy are what you need to watch out for... not the single female head-of-household (w/ 2 kids) who was recently laid off and is trying to make ends meet.

3. Legal drinking age would be lowered from 21 to 18. If you can vote, serve in the military, and become an adult, you should be able to drink.

If you're going to do that, I'd say lower the maxmium blood-alcohol concentration.

4. Much tighter border security:I'd build a 60 ft concrete wall (30 ft above ground, 30 ft below ground) along the entire US-Mexico border lined with an electric fence.

Waste of tax money. They'll find a way around it (like dig 32 feet underground etc.), and it'll eventually be torn down just like the Berlin Wall. What's the purpose of having this wall and NAFTA at the same time???

Also, any person in the country found to be illegal has 2 choices: become a legal citizen the right way or get out and go back to their home country.

Sounds like a reasonable request.

That was sort of my point in an earlier post when I said the sales tax burden would be on business, not individuals. They collect the tax at the cash register, track it in their accounting systems, and forward it to Uncle Sam on some periodic schedule. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just see how I, as a possible business owner, would feel about yet another overlord looking at my books.

The tax burden would be on everyone. In order for a sales tax to cover the cost of our current government it would be extremely high. Individuals and businesses will be negatively impacted no matter how look at it. The only difference between the individual and the publicly-traded corporation (under the new system) is this: one can carry over tax losses (capital losses for example), where under the new system corporations cannot because (for the most part) their loss carryovers are based on income.

 

[Event]

My ambiguous goals:
1. Pull all troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan
2. Abolish the Patriot Act
3. Legalize and heavily tax Marijuanna and put an even heavier Tax on Tobacco and put the revenues towards Alternative Energy Research.
4. Use more domestic Oil to aid gas prices
5. Give goverment subsidies to Gas Stations who supply biodeisel and other alternative fuels
6. Legalize Gay Marraige, I'd like to get an amendment banning the descrimination of sex in couples in all 50 states, but seeing how close the vote was in banning it, I don't think it would pass...
7. No Affirmative Action! Hate crimes would only be tried as such if there was substancial evidence that the person committed the crime wholly due to race
8. Pro Choice regulations
9. Heaver punishments for Illegal Aliens, such as jail time/deportation and heavier punishments for employers who hire Illegal aliens, such as severe jail time. Illegal Aliens who have been here for more than a certain amount of time would be eligible to stay in the US if they can pass a US Government Test, Language Test, and pay all owed backed taxes.
10. Push towards more Nuclear Power.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

My ambiguous goals:
1. Pull all troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan
2. Abolish the Patriot Act

👍

5. Give goverment subsidies to Gas Stations who supply biodeisel and other alternative fuels

👍 👍

7. No Affirmative Action! Hate crimes would only be tried as such if there was substancial evidence that the person committed the crime wholly due to race

This is where it all goes wrong for me. Affirmative Action is a good thing.

10. Push towards more Nuclear Power.

👍 👍 👍

 

[Event]

This is where it all goes wrong for me. Affirmative Action is a good thing.

I can see why you're for it because of your race, but I don't think you should get special treatment because of who you were born to. All men are created equal, but Affirmative Action makes african-americans, asians, and other minorites more equal and often above us boring white guys.

For example:
My brother goes to Northern Illinois University, which is 70 miles west of Chicago. He got no scholarships, mind you he is white coming from suburbia and the middle to low class and got good grades. Several people whom he knows and sees around campus got to NIU on full, or very close to full scholarships. A large amount of these people are black and from the inner-city. What income class they are in is debatable. From what my brother sees is that these guys rarely go to classes or study and all they do is party. A non-negligible amount of them are also known for dealing and doing drugs. Now there are a lot of white kids who sell drugs and don't go to class, but they're more than likely not there on a full ride. My brother is paying all by himself and he actually tries and works towards his goal of becoming a meteorologist, unlike the kids there on full rides...

I'm not against african-american only scholarships, but favoring one minority is discrimination and reverse racism and I am whole-heartedly against that.

EDIT:
Also, so many people get longer sentences than if they would have done whatever they had done to a white guy...

And I guess you could clump Politically Corectness in with AA, which is complete rubbish. My house was saved by a FIREPERSON, thank you! What a load of rubbish that is. At the current rate, soon humans will be known as hupersons

 

[MrktMkr1986]

I can see why you're for it because of your race, but I don't think you should get special treatment because of who you were born to. All men are created equal, but Affirmative Action makes african-americans, asians, and other minorites more equal and often above us boring white guys.

For example:
My brother goes to Northern Illinois University, which is 70 miles west of Chicago. He got no scholarships, mind you he is white coming from suburbia and the middle to low class and got good grades. Several people whom he knows and sees around campus got to NIU on full, or very close to full scholarships. A large amount of these people are black and from the inner-city. What income class they are in is debatable. From what my brother sees is that these guys rarely go to classes or study and all they do is party. A non-negligible amount of them are also known for dealing and doing drugs. Now there are a lot of white kids who sell drugs and don't go to class, but they're more than likely not there on a full ride. My brother is paying all by himself and he actually tries and works towards his goal of becoming a meteorologist, unlike the kids there on full rides...

I'm not against african-american only scholarships, but favoring one minority is discrimination and reverse racism and I am whole-heartedly against that.

EDIT:
Also, so many people get longer sentences than if they would have done whatever they had done to a white guy...

I respect your position on the matter and agree that that particular situation (with your brother) is unfair.

However, I wouldn't call affirmative action "reverse racism"... I call it compensation. Preferential treatment towards blacks and other minorities isn't being given out because we're minorities. It's because we have been mistreated. And like any group that's been mistreated, we have a legal right to compensatory damages (kind of like a class-action suit).

Here's another example: Germany paid Israel a ton of money after World War II... no one would dare call this "reverse discrimination" because of how the Jews were mistreated during the Holocaust.

I'm not sure what you mean by that last sentence?

And I guess you could clump Politically Corectness in with AA, which is complete rubbish. My house was saved by a FIREPERSON, thank you! What a load of rubbish that is. At the current rate, soon humans will be known as hupersons

I agree that political correctness can get out of hand...

 

[Event]

I respect your position on the matter and agree that that particular situation (with your brother) is unfair.

However, I wouldn't call affirmative action "reverse racism"... I call it compensation. Preferential treatment towards blacks and other minorities isn't being given out because we're minorities. It's because we have been mistreated. And like any group that's been mistreated, they have a legal right to compensatory damages (kind of like a class-action suit).

Here's another example: Germany paid Israel a ton of money after World War II... no one would dare call this "reverse discrimination" because of how the Jews were mistreated during the Holocaust.

I'm not sure what you mean by that last sentence?

People get tried unfairly because they happened to commit a crim against a Black Guy.

And how long will we have to treat African Americans extra sweetly with sugar on top? It's been like 40 years since the big civil rights movement. I mean now Jewish people get no special treatment, it's not a hate crime to kill a Jewish guy, as far as I know.

From what I see now, in business and politics, blacks have equal opportunities, and it should be like that everywhere now. I mean Barack Obama (my favorite Politician) may even run for PRESIDENT in the presidential primaries (I'll vote for him not because he's black, but he's an excellent politician). He probably won't win, because all of the south would vote for the other guy, even if the other guys was Hitler, unfortunately... I think that women are at more of a disadvatage nowadays than blacks...

Offtopic: What happened to the Turbo-Brick, Brain?

 

[MrktMkr1986]

People get tried unfairly because they happened to commit a crim against a Black Guy.

Rodney King and (terrifying close to home) Amadou Diallo were both victims of excessive police force. Yet all the officers (defendants) were acquitted despite strong evidence that they were guilty.

And how long will we have to treat African Americans extra sweetly with sugar on top? It's been like 40 years since the big civil rights movement.

Racism and discrimination continues to be an issue. Racial economic inequality is just one example. So to answer your question: as long as it takes to reach true equality. Perfect equality is impossible, I know, but the civil rights movement was only the start. We (minorities) have a long road ahead and although a lot of progress has been made, I don't believe we've made enough progress to warrant the elimination of affirmative action.

I mean now Jewish people get no special treatment,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparations_Agreement_between_Israel_and_West_Germany

And I'm sure there are other examples, but because I have to get up early to go to work tomorrow I'm trying to keep this short.

it's not a hate crime to kill a Jewish guy, as far as I know.

It's only a hate crime if the intent behind the killing was based on the person's religion, race, sexual orientation etc... so it depends on the circumstances.

From what I see now, in business and politics, blacks have equal opportunities, and it should be like that everywhere now.

It's better now than it was before, I'll concede. But there's still room for improvement.

I mean Barack Obama (my favorite Politician) may even run for PRESIDENT in the presidential primaries (I'll vote for him not because he's black, but he's an excellent politician). He probably won't win, because all of the south would vote for the other guy, even if the other guys was Hitler, unfortunately... I think that women are at more of a disadvatage nowadays than blacks...

That's cool that you like him, I do too and for the same reason that you do. There's a very good reason why the South votes mainly to the right... but that's another discussion (I might start the thread another day).

Offtopic: What happened to the Turbo-Brick, Brain?

Thanks for asking! ... enjoy the videos (the thread explains all).