I would also enact a "government service tax". If you're an elected official or work in the executive/legislative branch in a non-support position and take a job where your job is to lobby or advise on matters political, then you pay a 50% excise tax to the government. It's a good deal for both sides. Most former Representatives/Senators/Staffers make $500K-$1MM a year. They'd pay $250K-$500K off the top then the rest would be subject to normal taxation. They still make more than they did and we stop at least some of the revolving door.
I would also build on that to say that someone can not take a job in the field that they were just regulating. We see this all the time with agriculture. Someone will work in the FDA and then get a phatty job with Monsanto right after they pass some legislation that gives Monsanto a leg up. It's bullshit.
throw me into the mix as well Mar..dunno about the 21 to vote thing. If 17 with prental concent and 18 on your own willget youa military enlistment and the grand chance to find your self in a shooting war..that ought to grant you the privilege of the vote. add to the mix that citizenship should be conditional on each person providing service to ones country, be it military,peace core or professional
I like the Electoral College, but prefer the Maine/Nebraska system over the winner take all scenario.
Yes I have heard that argument since the day the amendment was first purposed. It doesn't hold water Having been 18 myself, I am fully aware that being qualified to go to war when you are 18 (actually 16) has nothing to do with being and informed voter. In my opinion giving the vote to people that young, just make another voting block that politicians can target with a divide and conquer strategy.
I know a lot of voters that are over the age of 18 and are not informed on topics but vote anyway. Are you going to ban all lazy morons from voting?
Put Jack Ryan in the White House. EDIT: Not the Alec Baldwin Jack Ryan, and ESPECIALLY not the Ben Affleck Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford Jack Ryan FTW.
I thought of another one.... the ATF.... why do these people exist? I'm sure I'm forgetting a dozen other worthless agencies that shouldn't exist.
More regulation of the food industry (not like banning large sodas or whatever but more like outlawing added hormones to our food as I think it would help a ton when it comes to health for our country.) No campaign donations/endorsements from corporations so no under the table shady you help me-I help you politics happens. Less military involvement in other countries ( I believe in a strong military but not being the worlds police force.) Legalization of certain drugs to clean up prisons. It would be nice to get rid of the two party system as well but I believe that is impossible at this point...
Ding you almost nailed it. I agree on everything except the elimination of the two party system. Problem I see with that is the more parties you have the more the vote gets divided up and allows a fringe minority group the chance to take over. Extreme example: 10 relevant parties 9 are moderate and very similar, just different variations of what we have now, but they divide their votes very evenly. The 10th party is the Muslim Brotherhood, headed by Obama!!!, they are obviously a minority but can easily garner 15% of the total vote with their highly motivated voter base. Unless the other groups find a way of pooling their voter base or courting more voters than they loose then there is a good chance Obama is your president. I think maybe 4 parties is the max our system can hold and 3 is the sweet spot, I also think that your previous mention of campaign donations would solve the problem that we blame on having only two crappy parties. I would also add elimination of the income tax system and implementation of a national sales tax system to take its place.
ATF originally was the enforcement arm of the Treasure Department with the mission to put moonshiners out of business. Tax on booze was a major source of revenue. Same for the Coast Guard, make sure the Federal government collected all the tarriffs due on imports. The ATF seems to be there to confiscate Fire arms but you can't even say that now since they may have sold more than the confiscate???? My take is we sure don't need the FBI and the ATF in one department as it is, or Seventy.
Theoretically, no second terms allowed for any elective office. Outlaw lobbying. Repeal the ludicrous Citizens United "ruling". Require open bidding on all government projects of major expense. But realistically, it will take an actual revolution and complete ouster of all those in seats of power, and the deaths or lifetime confinement of the Skull and Bones club and all their cronies to prevent it from happening again. Not holding my breath.