[Noilemaillilm]

Considering politcs nowadays...

If you could change one thing about America, what would it be?

Some things you may want to consider:
- the economy
- corruption in business
- the wars in the Middle East
- how Americans treat one another
- political divisiveness
- issues related to global warming
or any other issue you think is most important.

Your response can be short or long, developed paragraphs or lists,
anything as long as it is reasonable and well thought out.
Respond on the thread or send as a private message if you'd prefer.

P.S. This is for my Senior Project, I'm exploring the different ideas citizens have, instead of going only off those that politicians present to us.

Any reply is greatly appreciated!

[Kragh]

Well, you didn't say anything about being bound to political feasibility so I'll indulge myself. If I could change any one thing about America (or the world for that matter) it would be the growing tendency of people to want to force their ideas on others. "Live and let live" is one of the best notions mankind has come up with yet.

[Adimos]

Well, you didn't say anything about being bound to political feasibility so I'll indulge myself. If I could change any one thing about America (or the world for that matter) it would be the growing tendency of people to want to force their ideas on others. "Live and let live" is one of the best notions mankind has come up with yet.

Yup. Start with promoting personal responsibility, and a lot of the problems you listed will fix themselves.

[UvjqTVVC]

Instead of conservatives talking so much about this being a christian nation, have them live like it is one, starting with an emphasis on all things in common (read the book of Acts), caring for the poor, the widow's mite (yes, you should be taxed more if wealthy). Turn the other cheek. Avoid war (NT baby, none of that OT shit) Imagine if these conservative Christians ACTUALLY wanted a government that embraced REAL christian principles.

Hell, I am agnostic and even I see the beauty in real christianity. Why can't christians?

[dumadegg]

I so appreciate that you put "how Americans treat one another" on your hypothetical list, because I think everything pretty much boils down to that.

I think the reason that half of all eligible voters pay no attention to politics is rooted in the frustration over some obvious things that aren't being done, and when the public feels like they're ahead of politicians, they just tend to get disenfranchised instead of invigorated (more than three quarters of the public wants the Bush tax cuts done away with, they don't want Social Security or Medicare tampered with, they want out of the Middle East, taxes to go up on millionaires, the end of big corporate subsidies, crooked financiers on Wall St. to go to jail).

Basically, if the public could have things their way, we would become friendlier to Middle East countries and promote our values by setting a good example which means the public embraces peace and diplomacy; the public doesn't want "entitlements" to be touched, which means they value the social safety net that we do have in place, and it also means they value older people even if it is mostly older people who keep voting to cut these things; the public wants justice when it comes to corporate malfeasance.

There's a hunger out there for social justice and an economic policy that expresses the real values that Americans share, which have everything to do with creating an atmosphere once again where the middle class is strong and where the working poor actually have a shot at climbing the ladder. Ever since the big bailouts a couple years ago the public has been thirsty for a people's bailout, for a renewal in America's investment to her own self instead of the direction that most regular people see their money going, which is constantly up the ladder instead of down.

If I could change any one thing, it would be to recalibrate America's tax and spending in order for the country to prosper once again. Tax revenue this upcoming year will be at it's lowest share in some 60 years. More and more people don't even make enough to hardly pay any taxes, which makes no sense. We need taxes to go back up modestly for the top two income brackets the way they were before the big Bush tax cuts of '01 and '02. When we're promised that lower taxes mean more jobs and lower deficits and then it ends up that about a decade later we've got fewer jobs and bigger deficits as a result, we need to just be mature about it and reverse the mistake. If we spend a lot less on corporate subsidies and with modest tax increases on the top earners to the Clinton years and then throw in a few modest cuts in gov't waste with some smart investing in technology, innovation and job creation, we can grow the economy and then rein in the debt as times get better.

But it all depends on the willingness of the country to invest in itself. It's what the public wants along with some of the other things I mentioned, but as we're witnessing in Washington right now, there is a disconnect between what the general public deems to be the priorities while the Congress seems to be dithering instead of simply moving forward the people's business. How we treat one another will either grow the disconnect or if we invest in ourselves by recalibrating our tax and spending policy to reflect what the country is wanting, we can strengthen and form a more perfect union.

[sleepergun]

Too broad a subject to do a post shorter than 100,000 words.

So instead, I'll just nitpick Jason, since that's easier.

Jason, why only the top two tax brackets? That's not where the money is. The real money, $3 trillion over ten years, is in the middle class tax cuts. In recession years, revenue from those top two brackets plummets. If you try to fund the government mainly on the backs of rich people, you'll end up bankrupting the government next time there is a recession. If you are serious about higher social spending, the only way to fund it is through higher taxes on the middle class.

[scewLacysmazy]

Instead of conservatives talking so much about this being a christian nation, have them live like it is one, starting with an emphasis on all things in common (read the book of Acts), caring for the poor, the widow's mite (yes, you should be taxed more if wealthy). Turn the other cheek. Avoid war (NT baby, none of that OT shit) Imagine if these conservative Christians ACTUALLY wanted a government that embraced REAL christian principles.

Hell, I am agnostic and even I see the beauty in real christianity. Why can't christians?

I can’t speak for all Christians, and I heard democrat Christian that believe as you do. However, there are many flaws in this thinking. If taxes went truly to just help the poor, you would have me on board with paying more taxes, but we all know that democrats and republicans have been spending uncontrollably on pet projects that don’t go to help the poor – Cowboy Poetry to name one. Do you honestly believe that it is worth destroying this country economically for projects like Cowboy Poetry that can be paid for by admission tickets instead of taxes? And this pet project is a harmless one. What about projects that go against Christian ethics?

Also, our founding fathers that where Christian believed in separation of church and state. Christian’s believe in tithing (giving) to help the poor not government taking. Do you not see that there is no spiritual merit in having money taken from you by the government when you have no option to not pay those taxes. Christianity, as are most if not all religions, based on personal responsibility and personal giving and doing on to others – not government imposed responsiblity.

[sleepergun]

Christianity is a personal religion. It has no place as part of a governing structure, unlike say, Islam or Judaism or Confucianism. There is no Christian legal code except in the broadest sense, in fact Christianity arose in large part as a rejection of adherence to law, at least to the extent that law got in the way of faith.

Jesus does not speak about government at all except to point out that your currency has the face of government officials on it, and therefore it belongs to them if they want it back. Where he preached generosity to the poor, he didn't say "hand over your wealth to Caesar", he said "Give your money and possessions away".

Paying taxes isn't generosity, especially given that only a tiny fraction of tax money provides any benefit to the poor. The bulk of taxes are paid by middle class people to enhance middle class privilege.

[Adamdjeffe]

Remove the incentive for profit from the political system.

1. Limit campaign expenses to 1 million dollars. Period. End of Story.
2. Freeze all personal finances of politicians for the time of their activation.
3. Limit pay to $24,000 per year. I can raise a family of five on this why can't they take care of themselves.
4. Eliminate the lobby system and replace with a polling system of the American people.

[Jalieteplalry]

I believe this country is unfixable until the money is taken out of politics and the recent SC decision recognizing corporations as people makes this impossible. We`re doomed.

[sleepergun]

Money in politics isn't the problem. Money just represents influence, and influence wouldn't change much if we got rid of money somehow. Get rid of money, and Texan politicians are still beholden to oil, Washington politicians are still beholden to Boeing, and Michigan politicians are still beholden to the Big 3 auto companies.

The only way to "solve" that problem is to get rid of jobs.

[KuRoregioNka]

Instead of conservatives talking so much about this being a christian nation, have them live like it is one, starting with an emphasis on all things in common (read the book of Acts), caring for the poor, the widow's mite (yes, you should be taxed more if wealthy). Turn the other cheek. Avoid war (NT baby, none of that OT shit) Imagine if these conservative Christians ACTUALLY wanted a government that embraced REAL christian principles.

Hell, I am agnostic and even I see the beauty in real christianity. Why can't christians?

And anyone who says so doesn't understand Christianity.

It is good to help your fellow man, on your own accord, without boasting about it. No one is dragged kicking and screaming into heaven.

Whats worse, by engaging in the kind of class warfare that tells the people they are entitled to things they didn't earn, it encourages covetousness, thieving, and slothfulness as a virtue. There is only one place for those who encourage others to sin...

[smirnoffdear]

Invade Mexico, and push all of the inhabitants south until we reach the narrow point approximately at Oaxaca. Then build a very large, very well armed wall to keep them out. Logistically, it might make more sense to push even further, and build the wall at the narrow point in Guatemala, thus capturing all of Mexico, Belize, and most of Guatemala, as well. Use the newly captured territory to expand opportunity for Americans, and use the new wall to keep the problems of Mexico out of America.

Of course, someone would surely complain about such a plan...

[Jalieteplalry]

Money in politics isn't the problem. Money just represents influence, and influence wouldn't change much if we got rid of money somehow. Get rid of money, and Texan politicians are still beholden to oil, Washington politicians are still beholden to Boeing, and Michigan politicians are still beholden to the Big 3 auto companies.

The only way to "solve" that problem is to get rid of jobs.

Money in politics isn`t the problem? You`re not serious of course.

[sleepergun]

Money in politics isn`t the problem? You`re not serious of course.

It's the conventional wisdom, but it's just not true. The interests with pull are the interests with pull whether they put up money or not. Get rid of the money somehow and they still have their influence and nothing will really change.

[Greapyjeory]

Regulate the financial sector much more effectively and strictly. That's the number one thing we need to do.

Number 2, stay the hell out of most foreign conflicts and gradually withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Number 3, phase out SS and replace it with an NHS.

Number 4, orient more efforts in education toward technical programs.

Number 5, reform the citizenship process and work visas, so that we can better deal with migrant labor.

Those are my main priorities.

[wantedLOX]

I believe this country is unfixable until the money is taken out of politics...

True, and since politicians write the rules, it'll never happen except under Major duress. And the only way politicians will come under that much pressure is if the rest of us are under even more, so that doesn't bode well.

There are too many problems for 'changing one thing' to be a guaranteed fix. Short of a magic wand with multiple charges to make several changes, in the end we'll succeed or fail on the character and abilities of the general populus of America, so my 'fix' is to allow American policy to reflect America rather than corrupt American politics. Institute 'acceptance voting' for all elections. This should help break the lock on power the Democrats and Republicans have built for themselves and hopefully get some people into power whose priorites are more America-oriented than the current standard priorities of 'Self first, associates next, then party (with those two sometimes switched), and lastly America.'

Invade Mexico, and push all of the inhabitants south ... Use the newly captured territory to expand opportunity for Americans, and use the new wall to keep the problems of Mexico out of America.
Of course, someone would surely complain about such a plan...

Very practical, and would indeed help, perhaps immensely. But as you say, too many whiners would make it unworkable.

[Jalieteplalry]

It's the conventional wisdom, but it's just not true. The interests with pull are the interests with pull whether they put up money or not. Get rid of the money somehow and they still have their influence and nothing will really change.

The newly elected governor of Pa. received nearly $900,000 from the natural gas drilling interests while the losing candidate received about $90,000. Pennsylvania is now the only state where the gas drillers pay no tax. Zero. The new gov just slashed education funding in his new budget. What`s wrong with this picture?

[varrozans]

• Fire all politicians.
• Hold new elections.
• No previous elected official is ever allowed to run again.
• Remove the right to privacy for elected officials so that all Americans can know everything about how this person does their job.
• They should be audited twice per year and submit to monthly searches of their home and office.
• Make it punishable by death those who violate their oath of office.
• Publicly financed elections. Each candidate gets the same amount of money. No more no less.
• Make campaign contributions illegal.
• Make the process of firing an elected official not doing his job an easier process.
• Create a civilian agency whose sole job it is to keep tabs on all elected officials in the federal government. Kind of like an internal affairs kind of thing.
• Get rid of the Senate
• Make the House like jury duty. Regular people with college educations can volunteer and be put on a list for a session. Democracies need to be run by the people not just the wealthy elite

It all revolves around elections. We need to keep corporate influence out of government. There should be a separation between government and corporation mandated on the constitution and it should be worded that in all cases the needs of the people outweigh the needs of the corporation.

[PriernPayorse]

The newly elected governor of Pa. received nearly $900,000 from the natural gas drilling interests while the losing candidate received about $90,000. Pennsylvania is now the only state where the gas drillers pay no tax. Zero. The new gov just slashed education funding in his new budget. What`s wrong with this picture?

You mean that it took Harrisburg so long to make the cuts? Go Corbett.