Fixing America

[AZGrizFan]

Get rid of ALL closed primaries.
Require rotation of primary dates (i.e. Iowa and New Hampshire don't always go first)
12 year term MAX for senators and house members

$2500 vouchers for lower-income individuals to get out of crowded, expensive cities
break up any bank that's too big to fail
bar Social Media companies from censoring information
cancel $250 billion of China debt over Covid

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

What do you think of the idea of the presidential election being held separately, on a separate date, with ONLY presidential candidates on the ballot, and being run at the national level, versus 50 different states rules?

[HI54UNI]

Regarding the putting the Coast Guard under the Navy - just read this

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/06/coast- ... nse-cutter

Why do we have USCG cutters based in Bahrain?

[HI54UNI]

Get rid of ALL closed primaries.
Require rotation of primary dates (i.e. Iowa and New Hampshire don't always go first)
12 year term MAX for senators and house members

$2500 vouchers for lower-income individuals to get out of crowded, expensive cities
break up any bank that's too big to fail
bar Social Media companies from censoring information
cancel $250 billion of China debt over Covid

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

I agree with Ivy on the closed primaries and freedom of association. However I also think the states should stop running the primaries. Why is the government paying for the expense of the primary? The party is a private entity. They can run their own primary election. And the way it is now the uniparty makes the rules and makes it very difficult for independent or 3rd party candidates to get on the ballot.

[Ivytalk]

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

What do you think of the idea of the presidential election being held separately, on a separate date, with ONLY presidential candidates on the ballot, and being run at the national level, versus 50 different states rules?

Why do that? One of my big beefs with the Donks’ proposed voting “reform” bill is the complete federalization of elections. And, yes, I do not want to get rid of the Electoral College.

I’m more sympathetic with the notion of having a national Presidential primary election, held in each state on the same date for each political party. That takes care of the Iowa/NH issue. If we could compress an entire election into 6 weeks like the Brits do, all the better!

[AZGrizFan]

What do you think of the idea of the presidential election being held separately, on a separate date, with ONLY presidential candidates on the ballot, and being run at the national level, versus 50 different states rules?

Why do that? One of my big beefs with the Donks’ proposed voting “reform” bill is the complete federalization of elections. And, yes, I do not want to get rid of the Electoral College.

I’m more sympathetic with the notion of having a national Presidential primary election, held in each state on the same date for each political party. That takes care of the Iowa/NH issue. If we could compress an entire election into 6 weeks like the Brits do, all the better!

Yes, those are good alternatives also. That’s why one of my proposals was to limit the election time.

[HI54UNI]

Voter ID
Term limits on Congress.
No lobbying Congress after you serve as an elected official. Ban is for life.
No purchasing individual stocks as a Congress member. Ban applies to all family members.
Family members cannot lobby. Companies with a federal lobbyist cannot hire family members of Congress critters.
Line item veto.
Single issue bills. Make Congress vote on everything, i.e. they might have to work all day voting on bills.
Eliminate dept of Ed.
Eliminate majority of programs under Ag department. Most are duplicative or no longer needed.
Eliminate most foreign bases and bring troops home. Use those troops on southern border.
Get out of NATO. The European freeloaders can pay for their own defense while they buy natural gas from the "enemy" we are protecting them from.
Build back strategic industries.
Maintain energy independence. Increase use of nuclear.
Fix immigration. No amnesty for those here illegally. Find a path for them but no general amnesty.
Flat tax. First $10,000 per person is exempt. Everything after that 15%. All income taxed the same.
Move cabinet departments out of DC. Base Ag in Kansas City or Des Moines, Move Interior somewhere out west. or better yet eliminate more departments.

[HI54UNI]

As an Iowan I would gladly give up being first in the primary process. Although the way the D's f''d up their process last time I think we are probably done.

[AZGrizFan]

Voter ID
Term limits on Congress.
No lobbying Congress after you serve as an elected official. Ban is for life.
No purchasing individual stocks as a Congress member. Ban applies to all family members.
Family members cannot lobby. Companies with a federal lobbyist cannot hire family members of Congress critters.
Line item veto.
Single issue bills. Make Congress vote on everything, i.e. they might have to work all day voting on bills.
Eliminate dept of Ed.
Eliminate majority of programs under Ag department. Most are duplicative or no longer needed.
Eliminate most foreign bases and bring troops home. Use those troops on southern border.
Get out of NATO. The European freeloaders can pay for their own defense while they buy natural gas from the "enemy" we are protecting them from.
Build back strategic industries.
Maintain energy independence. Increase use of nuclear.
Fix immigration. No amnesty for those here illegally. Find a path for them but no general amnesty.
Flat tax. First $10,000 per person is exempt. Everything after that 15%. All income taxed the same.
Move cabinet departments out of DC. Base Ag in Kansas City or Des Moines, Move Interior somewhere out west. or better yet eliminate more departments.

I’d be perfectly happy with your tax proposal…I was trying to compromise with my tiered brackets.
And yes, 100% on the moving and cutting departments. There’s’ ZERO reason to have them all in DC.

[HI54UNI]

Voter ID
Term limits on Congress.
No lobbying Congress after you serve as an elected official. Ban is for life.
No purchasing individual stocks as a Congress member. Ban applies to all family members.
Family members cannot lobby. Companies with a federal lobbyist cannot hire family members of Congress critters.
Line item veto.
Single issue bills. Make Congress vote on everything, i.e. they might have to work all day voting on bills.
Eliminate dept of Ed.
Eliminate majority of programs under Ag department. Most are duplicative or no longer needed.
Eliminate most foreign bases and bring troops home. Use those troops on southern border.
Get out of NATO. The European freeloaders can pay for their own defense while they buy natural gas from the "enemy" we are protecting them from.
Build back strategic industries.
Maintain energy independence. Increase use of nuclear.
Fix immigration. No amnesty for those here illegally. Find a path for them but no general amnesty.
Flat tax. First $10,000 per person is exempt. Everything after that 15%. All income taxed the same.
Move cabinet departments out of DC. Base Ag in Kansas City or Des Moines, Move Interior somewhere out west. or better yet eliminate more departments.

I’d be perfectly happy with your tax proposal…I was trying to compromise with my tiered brackets.
And yes, 100% on the moving and cutting departments. There’s’ ZERO reason to have them all in DC.

I could live with your tax proposal as well. Big thing is no deductions and all income treated the same.

[HI54UNI]

Another thing - all existing or new programs are only authorized for 5-10 years Congress would have to review and vote to reauthorize for a program to continue after that period.

[BDKJMU]

Agree with 90 to 95%.

5 brackets is too much. Make it 2, at most three.

Could have up to a certain level (poverty level, or around 1.5x poverty level for that size family as a standard deduction. No other deductions.

.
Fed controls too much land, but don’t know if I’d go that far. No military bases?


Thats really a states’ rights deal.


Agree federally, but if a state wants to make it illegal, that’s a states’ rights deal.


Overturn Roe v Wade and let every state set their own abortion laws. States’ rights deal.

Its a states’ rights deal.(Also more an economy than social issue). I’d get rid of the fed minimum wage all together. Every staye should be able to set their own minimum wage. There is so much economic difference between the states, and even within states. Where $8-$10 an hr in one place could be like $30 in another. You have extremes that are so far apart- grown adult working in expensive city (NY, San Fran, Seattle, etc vs 15/16 year old in rural area in poor state, living at home with mom and dad, working their 1st no/low skill job. $15 an hr would kill teen employment in much of the country.

I knownI keep mentioning states’ rights. The 10th is pretty clear: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Now nationwide conceal carry like you mentioned would be ok, because its not a states’ rights deal due to 2A.

Yes, I realize many of these are considered “States Rights”, but the mish-mash of laws that people have to try and navigate when traveling across this country have become unwieldy and unmanageable. A woman can get an abortion in one state, and be thrown in prison in another state. I can buy a joint in Nevada, and get sent to prison for bringing it back to Texas. Some things need to be federally mandated (like drinking age is).

And no, I’m not including military bases (except those owned in other countries…or do we lease them???)…but there are also many former military bases that are abandoned but not sold, so THOSE could be liquidated.

I don’t know of any state where just having ‘a joint’ will get you thrown in prison (more than a year). Just looked up TX. According to FindLaw under .25 oz is a Class B misdemeanor pubishable by up to 180 days in jail (not prison). How many people have actually gotten 180 days for ‘a joint’ (sans having a lengthy record). If the majority of Texans don’t agree with the pot laws, they can get the law(s) changed. I believe in general its easier to get a state law changed, than a national one.

I think the drinking age should be left up to the states. There’s nothing in the constitution about it.

I take a contructionist view. Article 1/Sec 8 lays out the 18 sets of enumerated powers of Congress. Abortion, drugs, drinking age, etc aren’t in there. And the 10th basically says if if not there, its up to the states..

[UNI88]

Get rid of ALL closed primaries.
Require rotation of primary dates (i.e. Iowa and New Hampshire don't always go first)
12 year term MAX for senators and house members

$2500 vouchers for lower-income individuals to get out of crowded, expensive cities
break up any bank that's too big to fail
bar Social Media companies from censoring information
cancel $250 billion of China debt over Covid

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

Parties should pay for closed primaries. No more sucking off the gubmint teat.

[SDHornet]

Get rid of ALL closed primaries.
Require rotation of primary dates (i.e. Iowa and New Hampshire don't always go first)
12 year term MAX for senators and house members

$2500 vouchers for lower-income individuals to get out of crowded, expensive cities
break up any bank that's too big to fail
bar Social Media companies from censoring information
cancel $250 billion of China debt over Covid

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

Agreed. CA removed this and now it will always be a Dem vs a Dem for statewide offices. Regardless, state elections are up to the states, not the Fed.

[SDHornet]

Regarding changes to SCOTUS, how about going up to 13 seats, with each Circuit getting a seat/representation. Nominations can only be replacements (if the judge representing 9th circuit retires/dies, the nominations for that seat have to come from the 9th circuit). There are 11 Districts + DC, the Justice makes 13 and potential tie breaking vote.

If you look at the makeup of SCOTUS now, too many are coming from the DC/beltway area which, imo, is part of the problem with SCOTUS.

[Ibanez]

I'd like to add, increase representation in Congress. I'm fine with 2 senators per state but the House of Reps is totally out of whack. Our population has more than tripled since 1929 (when 435 became the standard) and we haven't increased representation per citizen since then. I don't think we need 1000s of representatives like Trip but I do believe there should be more representatives. How is 1 person supposed to represent 760k people? Districts are massive and sometimes make absolutely no sense (that's a gerrymandering issue, but it goes back to representation). Utilize the Cube Root Rule (# of reps = Cube Root of US Population) and reconcile it with the population changes in the states.

Also - get rid of Congressional pensions. After 5 years you can retire and live off the gov't. Forget that - this is national service not the boardroom of a law office.

[Ibanez]

Regarding changes to SCOTUS, how about going up to 13 seats, with each Circuit getting a seat/representation. Nominations can only be replacements (if the judge representing 9th circuit retires/dies, the nominations for that seat have to come from the 9th circuit). There are 11 Districts + DC, the Justice makes 13 and potential tie breaking vote.

If you look at the makeup of SCOTUS now, too many are coming from the DC/beltway area which, imo, is part of the problem with SCOTUS.

Pack the courts!

[CAA Flagship]

I'd like to add, increase representation in Congress. I'm fine with 2 senators per state but the House of Reps is totally out of whack. Our population has more than tripled since 1929 (when 435 became the standard) and we haven't increased representation per citizen since then. I don't think we need 1000s of representatives like Trip but I do believe there should be more representatives. How is 1 person supposed to represent 760k people? Districts are massive and sometimes make absolutely no sense (that's a gerrymandering issue, but it goes back to representation). Utilize the Cube Root Rule (# of reps = Cube Root of US Population) and reconcile it with the population changes in the states.

Also - get rid of Congressional pensions. After 5 years you can retire and live off the gov't. Forget that - this is national service not the boardroom of a law office.

So what number would you max it out at that would provide for necessary representation?
I say 30. Anything more than that might as well be 1,000,000.

If we get to a more reasonable balance of State vs. Fed rights/rule, there is no need for more HORs.

[Ibanez]

I'd like to add, increase representation in Congress. I'm fine with 2 senators per state but the House of Reps is totally out of whack. Our population has more than tripled since 1929 (when 435 became the standard) and we haven't increased representation per citizen since then. I don't think we need 1000s of representatives like Trip but I do believe there should be more representatives. How is 1 person supposed to represent 760k people? Districts are massive and sometimes make absolutely no sense (that's a gerrymandering issue, but it goes back to representation). Utilize the Cube Root Rule (# of reps = Cube Root of US Population) and reconcile it with the population changes in the states.

Also - get rid of Congressional pensions. After 5 years you can retire and live off the gov't. Forget that - this is national service not the boardroom of a law office.

So what number would you max it out at that would provide for necessary representation?
I say 30. Anything more than that might as well be 1,000,000.

If we get to a more reasonable balance of State vs. Fed rights/rule, there is no need for more HORs.

I think that's as impractical as 1Rep=760K people. By use Cube Root, I think the # of reps increases to 690 (give or take) so let's just say 693.

[kalm]

After thinking about this for a day my answer is we need to fix ourselves. Government ain’t gonna fix us no matter how many bandaids we apply.

[Ibanez]

After thinking about this for a day my answer is we need to fix ourselves. Government ain’t gonna fix us no matter how many bandaids we apply.

Fuck off, Dennis!

[kalm]

After thinking about this for a day my answer is we need to fix ourselves. Government ain’t gonna fix us no matter how many bandaids we apply.

Fuck off, Dennis!

[BDKJMU]

I strongly disagree with abolishing closed primaries on freedom of association grounds. Why should an unaffiliated voter have a right to select a major party candidate if he has no skin in the game? Many states let you change your registration before a primary and later change back. Leave it to the states, but don’t force open primaries on all of them. Of course, crossover primaries (where Donks can vote in GOP primaries and vice versa) are the absolute worst.

Agreed. CA removed this and now it will always be a Dem vs a Dem for statewide offices. Regardless, state elections are up to the states, not the Fed.

Agreed. States’ rights.

[Ibanez]

Agreed. CA removed this and now it will always be a Dem vs a Dem for statewide offices. Regardless, state elections are up to the states, not the Fed.

Agreed. States’ rights.

StatesRightsJMU

[Ivytalk]

Abolishing public employee unions (state and federal) makes abundant sense to me. Who needs collective bargaining when job security in the public sector is already stronger, employee performance measures are not geared to the market, and public employee health, insurance, and other benefits are greater than or equal to those of the private sector? Conversely, as witnessed by the shameful recent acts of teachers unions, public employee unions disregard the interests of the constituencies that their members are supposed to serve.

[SuperHornet]

I'd have to look a bit more closely at AZ's proposals here and your responses to them. In terms of individuals, though, I'd say that getting rid of Biden, Harris, Pelosi, and Newsom would go a LONG ways toward "fixing America...."