- Jan 26, 2000
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Government is neither the problem nor solution. It exists at the pleasure of the electorate, to serve, not interfere.
Specifics:
The government has the right to raise taxes. Poor people pay less because they don't have a lot. The more you earn, the more you pay because you can. Life sucks when you have lots of money. Get over it. The wealthy already have.
In return, you get value. All entitlement programs are reviewed and changed as needed.
Take medicaid. It's a hugely bloated program of "give me my stuff now". It ought to be a service granted to those in need on a temporary basis, except for those who are mentally or physically unable to work. For those, they get whatever they need. Otherwise you work. Now the economic reality is that it's easy to say "Get a job you bum" in areas where no one is hiring. That's reality. OK, so you want to be on the dole. Congratulations. You are now a public employee with a couple twists. First, here is a broom, a mop and a shovel. We say "dig" and you dig or your pay gets cut. Want to have a billion babies to get more money? Surprise! You are going to have to work extra to pay for that kid. Welcome to the real world Neo.
BTW, while all this is going on, you have to attend classes and get education and PASS the courses which will not be dumbed down. We'll start with elementary education if necessary. You do good, you get more money or time off. Blow it off, and there's crapload of potholes with your name on it. Once you have that education then what? Economic incentives to businesses to come into depressed areas. There's also going to be a crapload of police who will be arresting drug dealers and thugs. There's a lot of land in America where they will be given seeds, tools and equipment to work and grow food to live on, because they aren't going to have anything else but a shitload of razor wire and machine guns and land mines around the perimeter. Bottom line, we'll make your streets safer, give you training and a work ethic and a real economic opportunity. No you won't like it at first. Tough shit.
Next up, business. Businesses employ people. That's good. When they get laid off that's bad. Want to be CEO? OK, but guess what? Don't screw the employee or Americans in general. If you decide that the next quarter earnings market expectations are what it's all about, that's fine. BUT if you pull a stunt like AIG where they want a free market and feet off the government tit, guess what? You personally are going to take a hit where it hurts. Ok, we need a banking industry, and you made loans you knew or ought to have known were bad and you come running to Uncle Sam for relief. Well, you've just lost your bonus at a minimum. If egregious enough, you not only lose that, but are fined and prohibited from working as a corporate employee or getting ANY profit from ANY related source. Go pump gas. Tough shit.
Infrastructure. We need it. We have a teeming welfare population able to work. Where that isn't sufficient, tax funds will rebuild bridges, streets, sewer lines. This is not an option. Yeah, it's going to cost a lot.
Energy. Guess what, we need it too. Immediately we will fund both academic and private research for real alternatives including basic science research on a scale not seen since Apollo. This is a top priority, and if the oil industry doesn't like it, you guessed it. Tough shit.
Education- A couple things here. First America realizes that education is a public matter and has been for some time and that's how it is. Teachers have been trying to educate whiny brats for generations more or less successfully. Recently, parental apathy has become more of a problem. "Johnny won't do his lessons" "Really bitch? Well screw you". How are you going to educate a kid with a parent like that? Easy as pie. Johnny need to learn, because America needs him too. If you obstruct it, your ass is going to get penalized. Effective immediately, teachers will have legal powers to summon parents to meetings if necessary. If there are any problems, a group of three teachers from three different schools will hear the specifics of the case. They can be paid to do this on a rotating basis. They will then have the authority to fine the parent if needs be. Parents who don't know the meaning of accountability will learn it. If they aren't educated, they can also be mandated to take remedial courses and pass. Time to bring everyone up to speed. Oh, someone ought to be concerned about abuse of power. Let's say that no teacher will want to be found guilty of that. With power comes responsibility AND accountability.
A core philosophy here is that the sole function of public education is to do just that. No Creationism, no promotion of any social agendas be they religious or not. We'll keep our hands off your kids unless it's for the specific reasons already mentioned.
Law enforcement- Do the crime, pay for it. A new twist. Restitution. Jimmy decides that he wants to smash his neighbors car. Send him to jail? Why? To make a career criminal out of him? No, garnish his wages which directly goes to the victim. Doesn't have a job or quits his for spite? Well, there's no more welfare or unemployment for you. Here's a shovel, a mop and a broom. We'll make sure you are paid minimum wage of which some portion will be taken for restitution. Refuse? Well we have that special farm in the desert just for you.
More serious crimes may require prison, but the majority of petty things need to be acted on. Judges are letting serious crimes pass because of lack of jail space. Have a hierarchy of crimes and punishments. Vandalism, petty theft, drug use offenses have to pay for it, plus perhaps a bit more to fund the jails as well. Murder, drug dealing, drive buy shooters? Heaven help you. Oh, if you are a cop, make sure you don't abuse your power because the police won't be handling it. No more internal affairs. A separate anonymous panel will view the evidence, and if punishment is warranted the people you have hurt will decide your sentence. Hanging upside down on a cross will probably be banned though.
The Military.
We need it too, but we need a steering committee to determine which programs are needed and which are not. Having the Whizbang 3000 may not on the toy list, especially if it proves it isn't working. The first task we'd tackle is providing basics like body armor and the like. You won't run out of bullets, and you won't be driving a tin can if you are in the service. Also, we're sorry, but we aren't going to pay you a zillion dollars like you merit for sticking your neck out, BUT we'll have a great GI bill. A revamped VA, financial assistance, and oh, if you are disabled you are free from all taxes forever. In the latter case, you gave everything, and by heavens we'll treat you like gold. Again, don't expect to work the system or be a deadbeat, because the treatment you'll get will be 180 degrees out from what you'd have otherwise. We're grateful, not stupid.
Public Service:
Added money for college that you ELECT to take advantage of. Nuff said.
Foreign policy:
We're big and powerful. We have tramped around like a dinosaur with a tiny brain. We'll still be a big hulking beast, but with a bigger brain- more like a carnivorous Barney. Really good to play with, but if you seriously piss us off for cause, you could be dinner. When it comes down to it though, freedom isn't an election, it's a right of self determination that could manifest itself in ways we would rather not go. Want a religious govt? Hey, it's your country. Likewise the reverse. The caveat here is how you implement things. You go for religious persecution, you are on our crap list. Want to shoot everyone who doesn't convert? Same thing. Whether or not we interfere depends on many things too complicated to go into with hypotheticals, but don't piss off Barney.
Well, that's all for now. Have fun, and remeber to look twice before crossing the street
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