what change do you want to see?

[ulysses]

Please note that I'm not asking about what amount of incremental change you think is politically expedient at the moment. I'm not asking about what spin-friendly position you think might pass in a divided government. The Republicans don't bother themselves with such niceties. Trust me. They don't.

What change do you want to see? What kind of initiative or reform do you, down there where you keep your gut feelings, want?

[Iverson]

1. half a day, no responses

kick.

[ulysses]

2. thanks, Iverson

Change is overrated, maybe...:shrug:

[uhhuh]

3. hard to answer

I think the most important changes needed are universal health care and some sort of universal housing program. People have to feel that they can risk failure in an attempt at innovation without ending up dying in the streets. The bare essentials should be guaranteed to every citizen, so that each one can use their unique talents to achieve excellence. If you want more than that, you will have to work hard and take risks, and provide something that others will value so that you can then take these resources and achieve more.

[dbt]

4. OK, I'll bite:

The first thing I want to see is national health insurance. Go ahead and call it Socialized Medicine if you need it in a convenient box.

Then all energy companies need to be nationalized.

Then I want to see all paid lobbying of Congress outlawed, coupled with public financing of campaigns. Moreover, all Representatives and Senators must wear uniforms and live in barracks in Washingtoon. (Think school uniforms.)

This should be followed by the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine and the breakup of the media conglomerates a la Teddy Roosevelt's "Trust-Busting."

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find out if I'm a Communist or what.

:evilgrin:
dbt

[uhhuh]

5. Wow! I forgot about my biggest peeve!

Thanks for reminding me. Publically funded campaigns! Out lawing lobbyists! Those alone would probably get the ones I want done. Thanks again.

[sweetheart]

6. wide brushstrokes aye!

Certainly an end to the war on drugs, and a total reform of the principal of criminalization as a solution to addiction... that this be abandoned for engagement and liberty.

I guess at the root of it, i want liberty... for ALL 6 billion people on this earth. The liberty to be included in government by its old definition and the liberty to not be disenfranchised from it. This would mean all reforms that once again awaken peoples voice in government as truly representative.

Honestly, this is a new constitution, as the current american system is a failed state. The new constitution would be similar to the old (without the senate of course), except have 2 more branches of government. electronic media regulation as a equal branch of government to the treasury (independent regulator), and a new elected treasury credit committee that would replace the federal reserve governance system.

Then the new financial regulator would create a huge new computer system that incorporated the public costs of various goods like noise pollution from aircraft and such... that the true cost be applied in a value chain transaction tax system to equalize unfair exploitation of environment and labour. This radical regulator would replace all tax collection authorities and collect all taxes on a electronic "transaction toll" for ALLLL bank-financial transactions... this would include wholesale market transactions... and due to this, would not be very high... perhaps 10-15% to raise much more revenue than the entire current tax system... without any compliance headaches, no tax court system and no IRS and no prisons of taxpayers doing time for holding back on the war-murder-machine.

In the new congress, it would take a 80% majority of the unicameral congress to deploy troops outside the nation's borders... the president would only have the authority to administrate such an action, not to initiate it.

No financial bribes, or political advertising 6 weeks before an election (same as the financial reporting blackout period where listed companies cannot release "sensitive" info to the market without being potentially liable to the charge of market manipulation.) All political parties should be publically financed and proportional representation voting would be implemented.

Oh yea, all the things in the universal declaration of human rights would become "the bill of rights"... in there is healthcare, education and a whole gamut of rich rights far beyond america's paltry liberties today.

is that more like your question was?

[Armstead]

7. The question is a little vague

Maybe that's why there aren't a lot of answers.

If what I think your asking -- what basic changes are bold but could be sold --- I think if the Democrats started targeting reining in corporate power and abuse in ways that actually spoke to people, that would make a difference. Challenge some of the mega-mergers, and explain why, and stop tryoing to soft peddle it.

Also universal healthcare. It ought to be a basic part of our social infrastructure.

[LWolf]

8. In the order they popped into my brain:

1. Abolish and debunk high-stakes testing and top-down, politically twisted one-size-fits all control of public education. Small schools, small class-sizes, local control.

2. Universal health care for all.

3. Safe, affordable housing available to all.

4. A sea-change in cultural attitudes and norms: the valuing of conversation, books, and ideas over electronic entertainment. The internalizing of respect, civility, and good manners. The healing of the hyper-competitiveness that demands winning at any cost, including at the cost of honesty, integrity, fairplay, civility.

5. Regulation. Or whatever else needs to happen to remove corporate control from our government and our airwaves.

6. A renaissance of small, independent, family-owned businesses, farms, etc. The disappearance of big-box franchises.

7. A true commitment to sustainable practices, to environmental healing and health. Including the clean up of toxic sites, banning all nukes, sustainable energy production, and sustainable, organic food production without resorting to GMOs.

8. A reduction in population. Not in population itself, but the actual number of humans occupying the planet. The birth rate needs to be low enough to bring those numbers down for several generations.
If only the people who actually liked to spend time around kids and talk to them; who actually liked investing their precious time and life into them had them, we'd be better off.

9. A kinder, gentler, more hopeful world.