JIm,
Jack, if you were President for one year and had a Congress that agreed with you 100% of the time what changes would you make?
Jack, for me the changes would be so vast that it boggles my mind.
You're right. It's mind boggling. Just to start, here goes:
1. Tax simplification/reduction. Either flat or flatter, maybe some national consumption tax. Let people know how much they're actually paying with BIG LETTERS on each paycheck, including employer's part, social security, Medicare. Include a statement: "The above taxes have lowered the amount of this salary check."
2. Health care.(1) A basic, no frills national health insurance that covers everyone whose feet are on American soil and who chooses to use it. Administered in conjunction with teaching hospitals, medical schools.(2) Another system of private insurance with competition and various levels of coverage, physician and hospital choice, depending on what you pay for the policy. Pay for the type of coverage you want and can afford. Yes it's multi-tiered, and the rich would get fancier health care (not always better), just as they do now in cars, housing, clothing and food. Doctors and medical groups and clinics would not be allowed to advertise.
3. Legal/tort reform. Stop all of the wasted resources on frivolous lawsuits and suits which are essentially extortion, settling because of the threat of a suit which will cost you or the insurance company more than the settlement. Some form of "loser pays" seems appropriate or perhaps caps on settlement amounts. Contingency fee arrangements would have to be preserved to permit the poor to sue, however the lawyer taking the case would be responsible for loser pays costs. Lawyers would not be allowed to advertise.
4. War. The president would not be allowed to send troops to other countries or bomb and attack other countries without the permission of congress and a declaration of war. (As far as I know the last declaration of war was WWII). Emergency missions would need approval of the speaker of the house and leader of the senate who would then have to defend their decisions to the complete body for approval of continued action.
5. Contributions to parties or individuals. Limited severely or widely publicized on TV as well as print media.
6. Term Limits. two terms for president and congressmen/senators.
7. Judicial reform. Find some way to stop the Supreme Court from in effect making laws instead of interpreting them.
8. Constitutional reaffirmation. A commission to find the current laws (and regulations which have the force of law) which evade or contradict the constitution. Eliminate those laws and regulations. (Example: forfeiture laws in drug cases).
Hey, Jim...It's a start.
Jack |
