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Policy Ideas
| Legalize marijuana. Current illegality is a waste of resources. More detail | |
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| Make it illegal for members of Congress to join the lobbying industry after their public service More detail | |
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| Reverse the decision that allowed drug companies to advertise directly to consumers More detail | |
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| Restrict junk food advertising aimed at children More detail | |
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| NE corridor states should contribute to a fund that will create a 21st century high speed rail system between cities More detail | |
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| Get rid of stand-your-ground laws. No state-sanctioned murder. More detail | |
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| Bring back federal physical education mandates in K-12 education. More detail | |
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| Work with NJ Governor to reinstate the plan to build another NY-NJ tunnel. More detail | |
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| Implement congestion pricing in Manhattan. Institute a car toll for entering Manhattan during business hours on weekdays More detail | |
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| Mandate lowered volume of fire engines and ambulance and police car sirens in NYC More detail | |
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| Institute a federal tax on soda and other sweetened beverages More detail | |
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Arguments
Idea #US36 - Restrict junk food advertising aimed at children
Restrict junk food advertising aimed at children
Argument
We have a major child obesity problem in this country. Why do we allow corporations to spend millions advertising sugary snacks and fatty fast food meals to children? We line their pockets and then spend millions on healthcare and the ever-increasing numbers of children with Type II diabetes and obesity.
Idea #US104 - Responsible Corporate Decision-Making
Congress should require corporations to pay for negative effects of their businesses
Argument
Great idea. Right now the government and the public has to shoulder the burden of externalities. If the goods or services you sell at a profit in turn create costs for society or government, and you are made to feel some pain with those effects, you will seek ways to decrease the negative impact. Examples abound: junk food/fast food and obesity, natural gas hydrofracking and drinking water pollution, etc. You can still reap the profits, you just have to factor in negative effects.
Idea #US73 - The Congressional Conflict of Interest Act
Make it illegal for members of Congress to join the lobbying industry after their public service
Argument
See this from rootstrikers.org
Idea #US74 - Mandated physical education in K-12 public schools
Bring back federal physical education mandates in K-12 education.
Argument
The mandate does not have to include any biometric testing or bad fat measurements. It would just require a certain amount of time for physical activity during each school day or week.
Idea #US74 - Mandated physical education in K-12 public schools
Bring back federal physical education mandates in K-12 education.
Argument
Too many states have eroded school physical education activities such that children get nowhere near the recommended amount of exercise (and, as we have seen, are unlikely to make it up elsewhere).
With the current levels of child obesity (about 1/3 of US children are overweight, and 17% are obese), we need to take prompt and significant action.
Counterarguments
Idea #US66
Require professional athletes that make more than $5 million per year to donate $25,000 minimum to charity annually
Counterargument
Why just athletes?
We just need to raise taxes on higher earners -- they are already incentived to donate to charity (up to a certain amount) for tax write-offs.
Idea #G6 - Tie Politicians' Pay to Regional Median Income
Politicians' income should be directly tied and capped to the regional median income for their constituency.
Counterargument
Isn't this kind of already the way it is? Aside from post-political-career lobbying jobs (see my idea: the99vote.com/idea/US73), I don't think anyone goes into politics for the money.
Theoretically, do we want politicians who have the median intelligence and education level as their constituents? I wouldn't think so. Don't we want intellectual elites -- the sharper tools in the sheds -- to be our leaders? If you only pay what the median make, you'll get middling politicians.
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