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Policy Ideas
| Politicians' income should be directly tied and capped to the regional median income for their constituency. More detail | |
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| The Canadian Senate is literally an oligarchy of elitists created by Victorian idealists. More detail | |
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| Offer the basics: food, water, shelter and clothing freely to all people residing in a country regardless of any factors More detail | |
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| Bring back the Mesoamerican ballgame Ollamaliztli to settle international disputes, taking players from parliaments. More detail | |
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| There is no conclusive medical reason to stop it, it can be reversed, and preventing it violates religious freedom. More detail | |
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Arguments
Idea #US279 - Same-Day Voter Registration
Bring simplified, safe same-day voter registration to the nation so that no qualified voter is barred from the polls
Argument
This is how it is done here in Canada, and it works just fine. It's not perfect, and there are a few people who show up with absolutely no documentation and expect to be able to vote, but with proper education on the system most of the problems will be mitigated and outweighed by the benefits of a fully eligible voting populous.
Idea #US101 - Stop subsidizing high fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup interferes with the body's mechanism of satiety and is contributing to the obesity epidemic
Argument
This will be much more effective than a sugar tax, and will be more appealing to many voters.
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.
Argument
Forcibly more than half of people would want to make the median income for working in politics, other expenses such as travel are already paid, it would restrict corruption and encourage fewer people for joining to get rich, but would still provide enough for anyone to join politics.
Idea #G40 - The Base of the Pyramid of Needs
Offer the basics: food, water, shelter and clothing freely to all people residing in a country regardless of any factors
Argument
This will allow people the basic necessities that are the platform for reaching their potential. It will also give them the opportunity to freely leave negative support structures such as gangs and abusive relationships, and it will give proper focus and understanding to the true elimination of poverty. Think of it as a new, sustainable and real American Dream: To be guaranteed to have what you need, not to have a chance at everything you ever dreamed of.
Idea #G29 - Ollamaliztli
Bring back the Mesoamerican ballgame Ollamaliztli to settle international disputes, taking players from parliaments.
Argument
Each time a war is declared at least 1/2 the warmongers will pay for it themselves, and the effects of war will be much more carefully weighed.
Idea #US657 - User Input to Motive Fix Infrastructure
To fix aging, overused, and neglected infrastructure, use the eyes and ears of everyday users to raise needed attention
Argument
I've called this sort of thing "Little Brother" before. It's the idea that the huge number of cameras and other devices being used by the public can be used to keep an eye on our reps, governments and large corporations, including lending a hand where needed.
Idea #USNYLOC1
Ban NYC stores from displaying cigarettes behind the counter.
Argument
Here in Alberta this law is in effect. After a few years of that the government got the guts to sue the tobacco companies for their negligence and damage to the public health. The government won billions of dollars for our healthcare system. Once the advertising is gone and the attitudes change corporations will become accountable.
Idea #US74 - Mandated physical education in K-12 public schools
Bring back federal physical education mandates in K-12 education.
Argument
A major shift in the perception of Phys Ed needs to take place. It's good for society to have fit people, they contribute more and eat away less. Phys Ed should be competitive, just like Math, English and Science, no one gives a Math student an A because he tried hard, same with gym. We can set standard fitness levels that need to be passed to graduate, it's just a tough pill for people to swallow and needs a great deal of ideological change.
Idea #CA1 - Abolish the Canadian Senate
The Canadian Senate is literally an oligarchy of elitists created by Victorian idealists.
Argument
The Senate was literally created to help the rich keep power over the rest of the country. This system is outdated, corrupt and useless.
Idea #US223 - $500BN in Federal Spending Cuts
Cut spending by approximately $500BN/yr in 2016 assuming robust economic recovery with 4% annual growth
Argument
All you'd have to do is cut military spending... done!
Idea #G10 - Preserve the parents' right to male circumcision.
There is no conclusive medical reason to stop it, it can be reversed, and preventing it violates religious freedom.
Argument
Any government that bans male circumcision is making the argument that the state knows that the procedure has no positive spiritual effects, it is against a secular society for the state to make theological claims like this.
Counterarguments
Idea #US72 - Sweetened beverage tax
Institute a federal tax on soda and other sweetened beverages
Counterargument
Before taxes are laid on the sweets remove the subsidies on the corn syrup! This will save the economy and alter the price of unhealthy food.
Idea #US105 - Cap on Military Contractor Profit
Profit by military contractors should be fixed/bounded to eliminate conflict of interest in having more war
Counterargument
The cap should be $0. No more pirates, no more mercenaries.
Idea #US671 - Our Duty to Israel
Make sure Israel's sovereignty is not encroached upon and her borders remain the same as today for generations to come
Counterargument
Israel's illegal extensions of its territory must be available to be put on the table if there is to be serious discussion about peace in the region. Its sovereignty should be respected, but it will always be questioned if unrealistic demands are made on its part when peace is on the table.
Idea #US908 - Provide Welfare With Counseling Check-ins
Guarantee necessities (welfare) but make recipients speak with a counselor quarterly about what they're up to
Counterargument
The check-ins would be pointless unless they were used for data collection or for monitoring the service, making it not welfare, but a merit-based initiative identical to every already operating system. What should be provided is all the basic necessities as well as access to a (emotional/financial or career) counselor if the individual requested it. Some people do not contribute positively to society and one way or another we pay their way, better to just do it directly and openly. Others need help and it is easier to help them if your hand is already held out open.
Idea #G25 - Middle East Treaty
Assure full rights + statehood to Palestinians if Middle East countries agree not to develop nuclear weapons
Counterargument
Statehood for Palestine should not be conditional, and above all it should not be conditional in a way that supports the idea that Arabs are a unified bunch of bloodthirsty terrorists just biding their time before nuking the West. Israel's statehood should be revoked unless it gets rid of its nuclear weapons and immediately and permanently halts all crimes against humanity, even if they're just Palestinians.
Idea #USPA2 - Revenge of the 99%
New Khemet economic recovery plan for the 99% nation in America
Counterargument
Building an investment and job creation base to be used by a select few super-rich people who live above the law is how the current system works. Having the 99 "contribute" monthly to paying for these rich people to "create jobs," is how the current systems works. The only difference in this model is that it is even more strictly defined and would in fact be less than the 1% that actually has power and "financial freedom."
Idea #USTX6
Texas should create a registry of all handguns bought by its citizens.
Counterargument
The gun registry in Canada has become a massive political issue. If it isn't made a priority and handled very carefully it can become a huge burden of ineffective bureaucracy. I don't think there is enough support for this anywhere outside of Europe to have it handled cleanly and efficiently.
Idea #USTX5
Texas should require a permit to buy a rifle, shotgun or handgun.
Counterargument
The right to bear arms in the United States is the right for the citizens to maintain the freedoms that they once had. With State intervention in the right to bear arms this important check on Tyranny is morphed into a useless and un-impressive "right to hunt if the government says so." The point is to have unregulated un-controlled access to arms that the People can use to defend themselves from the Government. Yes, it may increase the instances of vigilantism and possibly gun-related deaths, but how many gun-related deaths are we seeing in Syria? Remaining able to fight oppression is more important than worrying about how a few people will misuse guns where they would have misused something else instead.
Idea #US20 - No Texting While Driving
Texting while driving should be banned in all states.
Counterargument
There is a distracted driving law here in Alberta, Canada. It is pretty good and you can definitely notice the difference, the only problem is that in our judicial system there's not so much of a "innocent until proven guilty" thing, so if a cop says you were on your phone, you were on your phone, and you're going to get a $300 ticket.
Idea #G1 - Free Water Everywhere Initiative
Create an unlimited fresh water supply and global distribution network.
Counterargument
Aside from the enormous costs involved there are already problems when piping oil that will not be solved with piping water. Furthermore this will not eliminate any of the causes of water shortages, and there are cases where this is simply not true. Lastly, oil is not piped everywhere, it is moved with massive ships.
7 Topics
Discussion
Idea #G1 - I'm thinking of it as an aspiration for government (2 replies)
(view source)It's getting more expensive even in places like the US where it is mostly a reality. In places such as the Arctic, and sub-saharan Africa it is not a reality because of factors much larger than not being able to find/create/transport water, those problems stand much more firmly in the way of this goal. Lastly, clean water is a human right according to the UN, and there are many people working tirelessly to secure it for everyone through much more efficient means than moving it around the globe in pipes, but they are still failing. This problem has persisted from the dawn of man and will continue well beyond our lifetimes. It would be neat and all, but I won't bank on it happening.
started
by TaylorWebb
on Aug 14
Idea #G6 - Pay
(view source)There is no political system where the pay of the politicians is tied to the median income legally. Of course there will be a tendency for the pay rate to follow inflation and the general economy, but what I am talking about is litigation on the matter.
Those who seek higher salaries are no smarter than those who do not. The more educated, the best leaders, the people we need to run a government will not be deterred by the fact that they will not be making six figures, especially since they will forcibly be making more than half of the population. Lastly, do you mean to imply that governments in countries with lower standards of living cannot afford good politicians? Of course not. Good leaders make due with what their constituents can afford.
Those who seek higher salaries are no smarter than those who do not. The more educated, the best leaders, the people we need to run a government will not be deterred by the fact that they will not be making six figures, especially since they will forcibly be making more than half of the population. Lastly, do you mean to imply that governments in countries with lower standards of living cannot afford good politicians? Of course not. Good leaders make due with what their constituents can afford.
started
by TaylorWebb
on Sep 17
Idea #G6 - Reply
(view source)The public sector wages would almost universally decrease, as the median household income for any state in the US is less than $140 000 (the salary of a Senator) for example. This would free up money for all of the sectors you mentioned, and the incentive to increase one's own wage would be realized by politicians trying to boost the median income, which would benefit the majority automatically. There are people willing to get in to politics because of reasons other than money, and those people would be willing to make as much as their fellow citizens make because they love their city, country, state, or nation.
Idea #G10 - We allow parents to cut hair and nails, pierce ears, and ... (2 replies)
(view source)It is easier and safer for someone to decide later in life to re-grow their foreskin than it is for them to decide later in life to have circumcision. Adult circ. is more dangerous, more painful, and more difficult to conceal than foreskin replacement procedures. There are also those who regret being outside of the protection of God for their entire childhood (in accordance with their own beliefs).
Idea #CA1 - Replacing the Senate
(view source)