If I were the president

[Freiwillige]

We all complain about Bush or Obama so I thought to myself what would I do if I had 4\8 years in the white house. Here goes...If I were the president....

I would shut down the Department of homeland security. The millions spent would be better spent on hiring, training and outfitting local law enforcement.

I would shut down the A.T.F. again millions spent to do what law enforment already did. Americans dont need all these special interest sub groups in the Fed government telling them what to do. Again the money would be better spent on local law enforment, training and equiping.

Secure our borders and let the national guard and immigration enforcement
work together without there hands being tied to secure our nation.

Disband welfare for all able bodied citizens. While using the money to create state projects to employ the previous welfare recipiants.

Take all of these savings thus far and pump it into Education, day care for single mothers and family services.

Rebuild social security with a simple system of you get what you paid in. If you didnt pay in you get nothing out!

Decentralize the Federal Government and give state governments more rights to deal with their constituants. If one state votes yes on Gay marriage then that state recognises and pays benifits to gay couples but if a state votes no on the issue that state has no obligation to validate the contract.

Pull the U.S. out of Nafta and close down all incentives and tax loopholes that send U.S. jobs overseas. Reduce taxes on all goods manufactured in the U.S. and increase taxes on goods made by American companies outside the U.S.

Close most military bases outside the U.S. Big$$$ savings. If a country wishes to have American bases on its soil for its protection it must shoulder the cost of Keeping American troops on its soil.

End all foreighn finacial aid in times of non emergancy. Example Isreal. Isreal is armed enough to protect itself.

Benefits to Israel of U.S. Aid
Since 1949 (As of November 1, 1997)

Foreign Aid Grants and Loans
$74,157,600,000

Isreal accounts for 1/3 of U.S. foreighn aid and we pay out roughly 14,000 dollers annually per Isreali! (Source: Washington report on middle east affairs)

Mutual aid pact Yes, Endless finacial taxpayer burden...nooooo!

So I figured with my common sense aproach ive saved the U.S. billions and billions while fixing stuff in the process!

Can you do better?

[SteamWake]

Can you do better?

I dont know, would be hard to be much worse though.

I thing your views on foriegn relations are a tad un-informed.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

I dont know, would be hard to be much worse though.

I thing your views on foriegn relations are a tad un-informed.

So were Obama's and Clinton's. Sniper fire!!!!!!! Run!!!!!!!!

[VipertheSniper]

You know, disbanding welfare and especially the dropping of Israel like a hot potatoe amounts to political suicide... If you can sell it, good on you, but I think you wouldn't get elected, unless you plan to decieve your voters (like so much other politicians). And even then, who would vote for your proposed changes in Senate and Congress?

[longam]

I guess some don't realize how BIG the border really is.....

[Freiwillige]

Whoa I never said anything about dropping Isreal, Paying for Isreal is another thing. I doubt sincerly that joe public has any clue if and how much we are spending on Isreal. In this time of finacial crises I think its time to realise that Isreal is a big boy...all grown up, Time to get a job and stop living off of USA's allowance. Isreal has by far the strongest military in the region and a decent economy, Why in the hell should we subsodize their high standards of living while americans are losing homes and jobs?

And also I said that Welfare was being dropped to those who could work.
Peoplewho work for there money do far better in society than people who dont. Ever been to some of the highest welfare per capita city's....Crime drugs and gangs. People who work have more pride in themselves and less time for crime, Drugs and Gangs.

The border issue is easy. Communist Eastern europe had one of the largest borders around yet less people got thru there in 50 years than got thru ours in a day!

Cant do worse you say eh? Okay well lets just spend our way to bigger issues then and collapse under our own debt like were doing. Ill be Amazed if there is still any semblance of a nation in 50 years the way were going....call me paranoid but I smell civil war when all collapses

[Onkel Neal]

You didn't say anything about taxes, illegal immigration, or motorcycle tracks.

[CaptainHaplo]

The key here is some ideas have some merit - though each has its own problems.

The problem is - as president you cannot just go around closing this and that and making this new program and that new program instead. Nor can you close a few doors and shift funding.

Congress controls the purse strings of the Federal Government. So pretty much anything you would want to do - goes through them. Good luck on the ATF, HS or anything else - because those all boost special interest money into the politicians re-election campaigns.

The office of POTUS is best used as a bully pulpit to accomplish things. Historically - speaking in the "modern" era where communication is instant and widespread, that has been how it has been most effectively used.

Want to get things accomplished - you have to be able to convince the people that this is important enough for them to raise the roof calling their LOCAL representatives. Only in that way can you exert any real leverage over congress.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

Can you do better?

Perhaps.


Here's my plan. I claim the same fiat powers you use.

0) Amend Constitution to cap Federal budget as a percentage of GDP (5% ot so) within 40 years. Include provisions for emergency spending and annual quotas towards the goal.

1) Phase out Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Any benefits that are not collected in the next 20 years are lost. Scale back DHHS funding proportional to need as we phase these out.

2) Privatize 25% of defense spending. Cut total funding by 10%

3) Cut funding to the following Federal Agencies by at least 50% over 8 years: Depts of State, Commerce. National Science Foundation, NASA.

4) Cut funding to the following Federal agencies by at least 90% over 8 years: Depts of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Labor, and Transportation. EPA, FDA, DEA(Legalize all or most drugs) ATF, OSHA.

5) Abolish the following Federal Agencies: Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security,Energy, National Endowment for the Arts, probably a bunch of others.

6) Amend Constitution to more strictly limit federal regulatory powers over interstate commerce(and ban subsidies!), promotion of general welfare, tariffs(ban!), within 8 years.

7) Abolish federal business taxes over 8years

8) Cap federal income tax(10%) and universalize rate within 20 years.

9) Amend Constitution to abolish the Central bank and return to backed currency within 40 years.

10) Make it a felony to afford public benefits to illegal immigrants under constitutional defense provisions.

11) Amend constitution to require 66% majority for passage of legislation and 75% for veto override, include line-item veto.


Naturally, any and all savings will have to be applied towards the goal of (0). Rather than relying upon cunningly crafted legislation and a politically astute populace to control the state, we'll just starve them out of power.
They certainly won't be founding(or re-founding) any new agencies with their budget capped at 5% of GDP, and if 11) can be passed, we'll be more insulated from insidious political goals than ever. There won't be any incentive for anyone to lobby the federal government, because it will be almost totally neutered.
As the tenth amendment intended, all they powers they will no longer have will have to be surrendered to the states, or the people.

[August]

While you guys are redrawing the Constitution here are a few things i'll want written in...

1. An elected official must either resign or finish his present term of office before he can run for another office. They ain't doing their job if they are out campaigning for another one and I dislike being used as someones stepping stone.

2. If Social Security is going to be abolished then every dollar of social security taxes collected must be paid back to it's contributors, with interest. I'll take mine in land.

3. All elected officials at all levels of government must wear the logo or name of all their major political sponsors on their clothing and their vehicles whenever they are in public. Think nascar driver gaudy. I want to be able to tell at a glance who owns them.

4. "None of the Above" is a valid choice in all political elections. If it gets more than half of the vote it forces a new election to be held immediately with a new crop of candidates, and yes that means the incumbent becomes a lame duck.

5. Federal income taxes are limited to 25% of state income taxes. I support the common good but i'd rather see the majority of my contribution spent more locally where I have better control over it.

6. National political parties are to be outlawed. When "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" I want him going there to represent the people of his district, not the damn Democrat or Republican parties.

7. Foreign manufactured goods will have a tariff placed on their importation if the nation or nations that produced the product do not meet or exceed US environmental, minimum wage or workplace safety standards, equal to the difference in the cost of compliance. If we're gonna compete globally lets do it fairly.

[Zachstar]

My plan.

A) Disband the existing educational standards. When all students can think about is passing (Or cheating through) the test so they can play Xbox. It leads to huge current losses in national educational levels. The only reason we dodged a bullet on computer literacy is that computer gaming encouraged citizens to educate themselves so we have not ended up with a huge need for computer experts.

B) Replace the existing standards with a hybrid of science/exploration education with nothing but technical training. For those who want to learn they will not have to compete with those who rather not as education will not be mandatory anymore. You want to drop out? Go ahead and apply for McDonalds (Or equivalent minimum wage hard work) at 11. A couple of hard nights later and I am quite sure most will want to get the technical education. It may sound extremely harsh but no words is going to convince these next generations what happens when you dont take education seriously.

C) Disbanding NASAs involvement in Manned spaceflight. The past 4 years have proven that NASA will do anything for the bucks including misleading the public about the issues surrounding Ares 1 until now its failure will likely wreck any chance at a return to the moon. Gov will assist those developing the technology to make us a space fairing race a realality without all the "agreements" and stuff that cause a simple return to the moon to become a political nightmare.

D)Change the welfare system. This part of course makes me unelectable but the welfare system needs to be changed to further help people who actually do make a difference. Precendence needs to be given to those who are trying to get a better education that gets them into a position to develop the next great technolgies. Who knows how many Einstiens are more worried about what they can afford to eat for dinner instead of his/her theories.

E) Phase out direct foreign aid. Instead of spending billions keeping entire nations dependant on us. Spend billions developing cheap solar water purifiers and aids treatments that can save many millions.

F) A massive project to develop cheap yet effective housing. We have to move away from wood housing. Which is easily damaged and trailer parks that are death traps and a symbol of issues in the nation instead of being the frontier. If a 2 story house costs just 50 thousnad and could be erected with just a small team with a week. Small communties would see a huge boost which would help the national economy. And if they are not easily damaged insurance companies would gladly tank the fees in order to get many more customers. And it inspire confidence in young generations eager to get out on their own. Im thinking domes of cheap carbon based materials (Kind of like bullet proof glass except a tad more flexable material that can be made of carbon harvested from various plant life instead of oil supply oh and of course made to be unvieable in the entire visable spectrum) There seems to be a mutltitude of projects moving towards a goal like this. But it seems to be of low priority in the face of the housing bubble collapse.

ETc...

[VipertheSniper]

You want to move away from wooden housing and want two story building that can be built with a small team within a week and cost up to 50.000$...

Hmm I guess that could happen, if you want all houses to look the same. I've worked on two construction sites of two story brick houses... and a week just wouldn't cut it (more like 6 months with a small crew and that's without giving it a nice facade). You'd need to have pre-manufactured parts and for that to be cost-efficient you'll have to produce lots of them. Don't get me wrong, we've got quite a few , for lack of a better word, "ready-made parts houses" manufacturers, and the demand is there, but you're still looking at costs upwards of 120.000$ approx. without taking into account the cost for land, water connections and electricity

[Zachstar]

I dont want to derail this topic discussing future housing. I will start another topic.

[Freiwillige]

UnderseaLcpl and August....You get my vote!

Neil...Taxes=No more I.R.S. instead the wildly popular purchase tax would replace it. Every thing you buy has a small tax. The poor only buy what they need to survive so they pay less tax than the rich who buy alot of items.

Immigration... Well under a secure border system there could only be one way in....legally. I would stop all aid going to illegal immigration and make it a criminal act to support in anyway an illegal immigrant. After all if you knowingly help any other felon you are aiding and abeding. I would also do a short repatriation program helping those who are here go home and apply legaly.

Motorcycle tracks? Sure why not!

Gun control... Our existing laws are good enough

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by August

While you guys are redrawing the Constitution here are a few things i'll want written in...

1. An elected official must either resign or finish his present term of office before he can run for another office. They ain't doing their job if they are out campaigning for another one and I dislike being used as someones stepping stone.

Okay.

2. If Social Security is going to be abolished then every dollar of social security taxes collected must be paid back to it's contributors, with interest. I'll take mine in land.

No. We can't afford to pay the entitlements we already have. If you draw SS benefits within 20 years, or do so currently, you'll get them. If not, you don't. It sucks, but we have to draw the line somewhere. Be glad that it is now and not a few years from now when you'll just lose everything.

3. All elected officials at all levels of government must wear the logo or name of all their major political sponsors on their clothing and their vehicles whenever they are in public. Think nascar driver gaudy. I want to be able to tell at a glance who owns them.

I actually love that idea, though I wouldn't write it into the constitution. Besides, corporations won't support a legislator that has virtually no power.

4. "None of the Above" is a valid choice in all political elections. If it gets more than half of the vote it forces a new election to be held immediately with a new crop of candidates, and yes that means the incumbent becomes a lame duck.

Okay.

5. Federal income taxes are limited to 25% of state income taxes. I support the common good but i'd rather see the majority of my contribution spent more locally where I have better control over it.

Maybe. I'd prefer a GDP-based limit, though. I think it is more representative of national needs. After all, the conservative states would have the lowest tax rates and the most economic growth. We might end up hamstringing the Federal government more than necessary.

6. National political parties are to be outlawed. When "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" I want him going there to represent the people of his district, not the damn Democrat or Republican parties.

No, because you'd also eliminate single-issue parties. No worries, though. Under my plan, Washington won't be able to bankroll his agendas. You'll have to see your state legislature about that.

7. Foreign manufactured goods will have a tariff placed on their importation if the nation or nations that produced the product do not meet or exceed US environmental, minimum wage or workplace safety standards, equal to the difference in the cost of compliance. If we're gonna compete globally lets do it fairly.

Absolutely not. Not ever. I could go on about the "exports are better than imports" fallacy for pages, but to be brief, the point is that we stand to gain a lot more by exporting dollars and receiving goods.
Under my plan, business would flock to the U.S. like never before, espescially in today's socialistic world. Just imagine if we could replicate the tremendous growth of the Tiger markets here in the U.S.! It would be unprecedented.
Tariffs only hurt the consumer, namely us. They just make goods more expensive than they should be. Putting tariffs or even embargoes on nations we do not agree with will not help their citizens. Quite the contrary, we'll actually harm them. The less wealth there is in a nation, the more power an abusive statist government can wield.

There is nothing but benefit to be gained from completely free trade.