That interesting thought occurred to me this weekend as I sat on my back patio watching my English Setter make the rounds in the yard. What if an ordinary person suddenly became Presdident of the United States? What would ordinary folks want to do policy wise if they had the power?
So I thought I would ask on this blog: what policies would you pursue if you had the power? So, post yours here in the comments if you wish. I will share this on FB, so one can post in the comments there as well. Please be serious; if there is a demand for a similar, unserious, exercise, I will do a blog on that later.
In that spirit, I will post my first thoughts on policies to pursue below:
1. The first thing I would do is propose to Congress a Constitutional Amendment requiring that the Federal budget be balanced except in times of national emergency declared by the President, and approved by two thirds of the House and Senate. Such an amendment would need to include:
a. A time limit to bring the budget into balance upon passage of no more than 5 years;
b. A requirement that the budget and accounting therefore be according to generally accepted accounting priciples required of taxpaying businesses;
c. A requiremnt that entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare be budgeted separately from the general budget, and require that they be maintained in a solvent situation according to actuarial standards required of the private sector;
d. Some reasonable method of enforcement.....I would deprive any Congressman or Senator who voted for an unbalanced budget of their right to hold Federal office, and cancel their retirements and benefits (LOL).
Getting this through the absolutely corrupt Congress would be a problem, I recognize.
2. I would propose legislation, including a Constitutional Amendment if necessary, to require full disclosure on a publicly available website within 3 days of all political contributions from whatever source and in any amount. Such legislation should also include:
a. A requirement that any organization that substantially engages in efforts to influence elections or legislation be included. That would include the large organizations that are tax exempt and free from any reporting now.
b. The legislation should also require prompt disclosure by elected officials and staff of contacts by lobbyists or campaign donors or their agents made with intent to affect legislation or actions by the executive.
c. Presence of lobbyists when legislation is being marked up, or rulings of the executive are being written, should be prohibited. Let the dang folks we elected write it all up. Keep the big money out of it.
Repeat comment about corruption in Congress (which also extends to the executive branch as well. Please note that aside from prohibiting lobbyists from writing their own bills or rulings as they do now, this only requires disclosure of there the money comes from.
3. I would order, or request legislation to require that before any Federal rule or regulation is adopted, that a thorough cost/benefit study be done, and that nothing can be adopted unless the benefits outweigh the costs.
4. Abolish, or drastically reorganze the following federal departments and agencies:
a. The Department of Homeland Security. This has become an abomination. The few useful functions that it serves can be put under other departments;
b. The Department of Energy. This organization hinders energy development, and has never been useful for much of anything. What it does that needs to be done can be done with a much smaller agency;
c. The Department of Education. This department has done irreparable harm to education. Matters of education, including the financing thereof should be left to the states and local governments. Most of them are hooked on the federal money, so that should be made to the states in block grants without strings, and phased out over 7 to 10 years.
d. The Federal Reserve should be abolished. It is a privately owned organization that was given total power over our money in 1913. It has used that power solely for the benefit of its owners. Functions of the Federal Reserve, including the Federal Open Market Committee should be moved to the Treasury, with strict prohibitions against the "revolving door" we see now between the big banks, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury. It is time to bring control over our money back to the people and to their elected government.
Repeat comment about corruption. It is endless.
5. It has to go somewhere: bring the boys and girls (ground troops) home from overseas. Now. We should only have ground troops out of the country where they are required by treaty obligations, or are necessary to protect our diplomatic missions or existing air and naval bases. We need a strong Navy to protect our maritime interests and a strong Air Force to protect the homeland. We also need a good and mobile Army just in case, but they should not be deployed constantly like they have been.
6. The Drug War. This has to be discussed. I have been in the law business for 49 years. Have been a judge and before that a prosecutor. The one conclusion that I have come to is that what we are doing about drugs does not work. I have come to believe that it is counter productive is some ways. I would propose that a thorough study be done of very aspect of the drug situation, from enforcement to treatment. A thorough cost/benefit analysis has to be done. Drugs are a scourge upon our society, but so is the "war." Our policies on drugs, like before with alcohol, have created massive criminal organizations that are beyond our control. We have to reconsider what we are doing. If I had an answer, I would post it, but I do not. As a partial solution we might consider with marijuana what we finally, and sensibly, did with alcohol....legalize it, regulate its sale, tax the hell out of it, and prohibit driving and similar activities while using it. This is a terribly difficult area to deal with but we must find some answers somehow. We will need a lot of luck.
OK. I am going to stop. Criticism and comments are welcome. Feel free to disagree....I may end up disagreeing with myself. Just no personal attacks. That will not be tolerated.
Showing posts with label Balanced Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balanced Budget. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The State of the Union
It sure didn't take Obama long to solve the fiscal crisis here in the US.
He is going to freeze spending!
This occurs at the point where the Congressional Budget Office confirms that spending at current levels will result in a $1.5 TRILLION deficit this year.
That will certainly get the job done.
The state of our union is going to be desperate until we get better leadership.
Sigh.
He is going to freeze spending!
This occurs at the point where the Congressional Budget Office confirms that spending at current levels will result in a $1.5 TRILLION deficit this year.
That will certainly get the job done.
The state of our union is going to be desperate until we get better leadership.
Sigh.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
New Year's Resolutions
Christmas has passed and we approach the New Year, so it is time for some resolutions.
Not for me. For Uncle Sam.
Mine are the same old ones: lose weight and avoid going broke.
Uncle Sam needs a lot more than that, so here goes with what I think they should be (in part):
1. BALANCE THE BUDGET!
Now. Not 10 years from now; not 5 years from now. Do it NOW!
How to do it? Cut spending. How about cutting the budget to where it was on September 1, 2008? That was before the bailouts started. A good start. But not enough.
Restore Federal employment to the level of September 1, 2008, then cut it 10% across the board, except for the uniformed military.
Taxes? Tax rates don't need to be raised. Just do away with all of the tax shelters that the very wealthy use to avoid paying taxes.
No more tax subsidies for anything. If it is not profitable without tax breaks, then let the resources go to something that is. (this would include the oil and gas depletion allowance, something dear to my heart, among other things).
Stop subsidies as well, for the same reason. (this would include farm subsidies, and the ethanol subsidy, also very dear to close friends).
If that has not insulted everyone, I could continue. The point is that nothing should be sacred except preserving our economy and our freedom. Everyone will have to pay up. It has to be an equal opportunity cutting contest, with no sacred cows. Everything must be on the table.
It has to be done, so get started..
2. Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that would require a balanced budget every year unless a super majority of Congress and the President declared a national emergency. There needs to be teeth in it so the politicains can't ignore it. 'Nuff said.
3. Do away with Too Big to Fail.
If a financial institution or large corporation is that big, the law should require that they be broken up. Think Teddy Roosevelt.
A corollary to that would be to reenact the Glass-Steagall Act, or something that accomplishes the same thing.
The big banks and bankers are getting fatter and fatter, while our middle class shrinks.
Go back and strengthen the extraordinarily weak regulation of financial institutions that was passed last year. Congress let the perps write their own rules. Ridiculous!
With the above, outlaw bailouts of corporations (and states, and municipalities) that go broke.
4. Enact a Sunset Act which would subject every Federal agency and program to expiration if not renewed every 10 years. No exceptions.
Texas has one that is pretty good. Model it on theirs, but stronger.
5. Reform Social Security.
Gosh, where to start? Begin by extending the age of eligibility to 70 years gradually, like it was previously extended to 67. Then index the eligibility age to life expectancy in the US.
Remove the Social Security tax from the general revenue budget, and restore the trust fund ( really too late. That horse is out of the barn.).
Establish a way to begin changing Social Security to a defined contribution plan rather than a defined benefit plan, like the private sector is doing.
6. Reform Medicare and Medicaid.
I have to admit that I do not have a clue about these.
Obviously, the benefits will have to be reduced. There just have to be limits, particularly on end of life payments. Tough choices there, but they have to be made. It needs to be made the right way, by doctors, patients, and families, not bureaucrats. Although the right is critical of Medicare supporting end of life counselling, my view is that it is necessary to encourage families to plan ahead for that eventuality. My family has. We have medical powers of attorney, living wills, and the like. Everyone should.
Premiums and deductibles for Medicare will have to be raised. The same for Medicaid.
While we are on health care, Obamacare needs to be replaced with something less intrusive. Some reform was needed, but the bill went WAY too far.
Other suggestions are quite welcome.
7. Bring the boys (and girls) home.
No great power has ever pacified Afghanistan, and we can't do it now. If we did, what would we accomplish? There is nothing there that is worth the expenditure of lives and money that is required. Declare victory soon, and bring them home.
Keep the carrier strike groups in the Persian Gulf, however. We will need them when Iran makes their first nuclear weapons. That could be another resolution, but I will resist.
8. Secure the borders now.
When that is accomplished, and only then, we can make some strides on a humane way to deal with the illegal immigrants that have been here for a good while. But there should be no blanket amnesty.
We can also then reform our immigration policies to make immigration more available to other than those who come illegally. Our current rules are way too restrictive. We need to be a bit picky about who we let in as well, but based upon skills and education, not race.
Before anything else the borders must be well secured first. And soon.
This is just a few of many things that are needed. Both political parties have contributed to a terrible situation that is a real threat to our country in many ways.
They have both sold out to the big money folks and the big labor unions. Campaign contributions are far more important to our elected officials than doing the right thing.
The big banks, labor unions, and politicians are thriving, while the middle class and the lower class is suffering.
It is time for a change, but for the RIGHT change.
This is not a complete list of what I think should be done, and I am not married to all the details. But the overall resolutions are quite necessary, in my opinion.
Clearly, the economy is not singled out for a resolution. The government just needs to get out of the way of the economy, and the other resolutions will help that quite a bit.
Other suggestions are welcome, either on this site or on Facebook.
Fire away. Let the conversations begin.
Not for me. For Uncle Sam.
Mine are the same old ones: lose weight and avoid going broke.
Uncle Sam needs a lot more than that, so here goes with what I think they should be (in part):
1. BALANCE THE BUDGET!
Now. Not 10 years from now; not 5 years from now. Do it NOW!
How to do it? Cut spending. How about cutting the budget to where it was on September 1, 2008? That was before the bailouts started. A good start. But not enough.
Restore Federal employment to the level of September 1, 2008, then cut it 10% across the board, except for the uniformed military.
Taxes? Tax rates don't need to be raised. Just do away with all of the tax shelters that the very wealthy use to avoid paying taxes.
No more tax subsidies for anything. If it is not profitable without tax breaks, then let the resources go to something that is. (this would include the oil and gas depletion allowance, something dear to my heart, among other things).
Stop subsidies as well, for the same reason. (this would include farm subsidies, and the ethanol subsidy, also very dear to close friends).
If that has not insulted everyone, I could continue. The point is that nothing should be sacred except preserving our economy and our freedom. Everyone will have to pay up. It has to be an equal opportunity cutting contest, with no sacred cows. Everything must be on the table.
It has to be done, so get started..
2. Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that would require a balanced budget every year unless a super majority of Congress and the President declared a national emergency. There needs to be teeth in it so the politicains can't ignore it. 'Nuff said.
3. Do away with Too Big to Fail.
If a financial institution or large corporation is that big, the law should require that they be broken up. Think Teddy Roosevelt.
A corollary to that would be to reenact the Glass-Steagall Act, or something that accomplishes the same thing.
The big banks and bankers are getting fatter and fatter, while our middle class shrinks.
Go back and strengthen the extraordinarily weak regulation of financial institutions that was passed last year. Congress let the perps write their own rules. Ridiculous!
With the above, outlaw bailouts of corporations (and states, and municipalities) that go broke.
4. Enact a Sunset Act which would subject every Federal agency and program to expiration if not renewed every 10 years. No exceptions.
Texas has one that is pretty good. Model it on theirs, but stronger.
5. Reform Social Security.
Gosh, where to start? Begin by extending the age of eligibility to 70 years gradually, like it was previously extended to 67. Then index the eligibility age to life expectancy in the US.
Remove the Social Security tax from the general revenue budget, and restore the trust fund ( really too late. That horse is out of the barn.).
Establish a way to begin changing Social Security to a defined contribution plan rather than a defined benefit plan, like the private sector is doing.
6. Reform Medicare and Medicaid.
I have to admit that I do not have a clue about these.
Obviously, the benefits will have to be reduced. There just have to be limits, particularly on end of life payments. Tough choices there, but they have to be made. It needs to be made the right way, by doctors, patients, and families, not bureaucrats. Although the right is critical of Medicare supporting end of life counselling, my view is that it is necessary to encourage families to plan ahead for that eventuality. My family has. We have medical powers of attorney, living wills, and the like. Everyone should.
Premiums and deductibles for Medicare will have to be raised. The same for Medicaid.
While we are on health care, Obamacare needs to be replaced with something less intrusive. Some reform was needed, but the bill went WAY too far.
Other suggestions are quite welcome.
7. Bring the boys (and girls) home.
No great power has ever pacified Afghanistan, and we can't do it now. If we did, what would we accomplish? There is nothing there that is worth the expenditure of lives and money that is required. Declare victory soon, and bring them home.
Keep the carrier strike groups in the Persian Gulf, however. We will need them when Iran makes their first nuclear weapons. That could be another resolution, but I will resist.
8. Secure the borders now.
When that is accomplished, and only then, we can make some strides on a humane way to deal with the illegal immigrants that have been here for a good while. But there should be no blanket amnesty.
We can also then reform our immigration policies to make immigration more available to other than those who come illegally. Our current rules are way too restrictive. We need to be a bit picky about who we let in as well, but based upon skills and education, not race.
Before anything else the borders must be well secured first. And soon.
This is just a few of many things that are needed. Both political parties have contributed to a terrible situation that is a real threat to our country in many ways.
They have both sold out to the big money folks and the big labor unions. Campaign contributions are far more important to our elected officials than doing the right thing.
The big banks, labor unions, and politicians are thriving, while the middle class and the lower class is suffering.
It is time for a change, but for the RIGHT change.
This is not a complete list of what I think should be done, and I am not married to all the details. But the overall resolutions are quite necessary, in my opinion.
Clearly, the economy is not singled out for a resolution. The government just needs to get out of the way of the economy, and the other resolutions will help that quite a bit.
Other suggestions are welcome, either on this site or on Facebook.
Fire away. Let the conversations begin.
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