How would you fix US Economy?

[A.Nonymous]

You keep mentioning

 

[ElasticNinja]

Representative democracy is supposed to represent the people. If it's working the way it's supposed to, then the people get what they want every time.

If the people get what they want every time, taxation will be 10% of GDP and spending 60%.

Thats why we have politicians.

If people want to buy drive their cars everywhere, their attitudes will have to change.

 

[A.Nonymous]

If the people get what they want every time, taxation will be 10% of GDP and spending 60%.

Thats why we have politicians.

If people want to buy drive their cars everywhere, their attitudes will have to change.

Politicians who don't do what their constituents want them to do are called unemployed.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Politicians who don't do what their constituents want them to do are called unemployed.

To an extent, that doesnt make it right.

Things cant remain the same forever, its dangerous.

 

[A.Nonymous]

To an extent, that doesnt make it right.

Things cant remain the same forever, its dangerous.

Again, it's how the system works. If you can pitch a $2 a gallon tax on gas to the public, knock yourself out. If you get enough people to back it, it'll happen. Personally, I think you pitch that in todays economy you will get massive kick back. I may be wrong. Americans are not interested in light rail. We're culturally invested in the automobile. We want cars at the end of the day.

Look at something that's far simpler. For many, many years they've tried to get rid of the dollar bill and replace it with the dollar coin. Logically it makes way too much sense. Coins are cheaper to mint and circulate than paper money. Paper money does not take abuse well and the bill have to retired all the time. Coins tend to last forever. It makes perfect sense. They've tried at least three different dollar coins that I can think of (Susan B Anthony's, Sequoia's and now the coins with the Presidents). None of them have gone into wide spread use people people refuse to use them. Congress has talked of simply discontinuing the production of $1 paper money. Every time this has been proposed it has encountered massive kickback. People want their paper $1 bills, not $1 coins.

Now you want to propose basically replacing automobiles which is going to entail far more upheaval than simply replacing a dollar bill with a dollar coin. Replacing currency is fairly straightforward and takes no time to get used to. Replacing the automobile is a lifestyle and cultural change.

 

[syi]

Lol we have too much damn korn.

I'd legalize prostitution, marijuana, shrooms, lower the drinking age, raise the driving age, flat tax for everyone, change tax loopholes, increase pay+benefits for teachers at hs or below.

 

[saptech]

Now you want to propose basically replacing automobiles which is going to entail far more upheaval than simply replacing a dollar bill with a dollar coin. Replacing currency is fairly straightforward and takes no time to get used to. Replacing the automobile is a lifestyle and cultural change.

What I mention about having HSR system was not about replacing automobiles, but a way to help the country's economy and create jobs.

The point about raising a gallon of gas to help pay for it and hopefully would encourage people to take alternative transportation. If they don't want to they would still have their cars and pay for higher gas prices, which is going higher and higher and not much of any alternatives.

 

[A.Nonymous]

What I mention about having HSR system was not about replacing automobiles, but a way to help the country's economy and create jobs.

The point about raising a gallon of gas to help pay for it and hopefully would encourage people to take alternative transportation. If they don't want to they would still have their cars and pay for higher gas prices, which is going higher and higher and not much of any alternatives.

My argument is that in the vast majority of the country, there are no alternatives. For example, for me to take the bus to work, I'd have to get on at least 3-4 buses by my count and and the route it takes to catch the bus I need to get to work. Some of the stops along the route are only visited once an hour. So if the bus I'm on drops me off at the wrong time I could be waiting up to an hour for the next bus to come by. This is not a practical means to commute across town, but it's all my city has and it's not likely to improve. I would lay odds that the fact that my city actually has a bus route puts it ahead of a whole lot of other towns. The surrounding towns don't have one at all. The nearest towns of any significant size to me are ~1 hour away. None of them have buses. If you put a light rail between here and there, there's no public transportation once you get there. You would be proposing spending a crap ton of money forever to shore up these public transportation systems in these small towns because they are not going to even be close to profitable by themselves.

 

[OutofDate1980]

Let the Bush tax cuts expire.

Tax Cuts For The Rich Linked To Income Inequality, Not Economic Growth, Study Finds

A new study by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has found that over the past 65 years, tax cuts for the rich have not led to economic growth and instead are linked to greater income inequality in the United States.

The study found that cutting taxes for the rich does not increase saving, investment, or productivity growth. "The top tax rates appear to have little or no relation to the size of the economic pie," the study said.

 

[RazorSharp]

Definitely agree on letting the Bush tax cuts expire, we need a progressive tax model that would call for those with the highest personal income to be paying the largest share of taxes.

I'd also severely slash the military-industrial complex and pump large amounts of that money into education funding. No idea how Republicans can call themselves a party that cares about the future of our country when they consistently try to slash education spending and teachers' wages.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Definitely agree on letting the Bush tax cuts expire, we need a progressive tax model that would call for those with the highest personal income to be paying the largest share of taxes.

I'd also severely slash the military-industrial complex and pump large amounts of that money into education funding. No idea how Republicans can call themselves a party that cares about the future of our country when they consistently try to slash education spending and teachers' wages.

Well, IMO, the federal government should play a very limited role in education.
It has done some useful things I'm sure, but its not their job and pumping money in isnt necessarily the solution.
Now, mind you, I think college costs should be made multiples more affordable, perhaps the federal government could do something there - but I think the feds overreach as is.

States, not local government, should pay for schools and pay teacher's salaries, as well. It seems ridiculous that city and county governments run schools and pay teachers to me, it creates so much funding differences.

 

[RazorSharp]

Well, IMO, the federal government should play a very limited role in education.
It has done some useful things I'm sure, but its not their job and pumping money in isnt necessarily the solution.
Now, mind you, I think college costs should be made multiples more affordable, perhaps the federal government could do something there - but I think the feds overreach as is.

States, not local government, should pay for schools and pay teacher's salaries, as well. It seems ridiculous that city and county governments run schools and pay teachers to me, it creates so much funding differences.

I guess I disagree with you. For one thing, U.S. states apply for federal aid in many areas, not just education. States' budgets are often strained; here in Massachusetts, we had to approve opening casinos in order to bring in more money. It's hardly "throwing money at the problem", to paraphrase with a common idiom - it seems only logical that the federal government should definitely be kicking in more money; not only would the reduction of the military be making significant strides forward in terms of peace commitment, the extra funding would work towards raising American education standards, which have fallen by the wayside over the past few decades.

Second, I think federal involvement to create uniform standards in education is a good thing; each state doing things separately would lead to disconnect, discord, and inequality. As it is, we're lucky that we only have two major college entrance exams. Each state has different silly little standardized tests that children must take as they advance through primary/elementary and secondary school. It seems like a federal uniform standard would reduce a serious amount of grief from all the states trying to compare and contrast each other, figuring out what is equivalent to what.

 

[ElasticNinja]

I guess I disagree with you. For one thing, U.S. states apply for federal aid in many areas, not just education. States' budgets are often strained; here in Massachusetts, we had to approve opening casinos in order to bring in more money. It's hardly "throwing money at the problem", to paraphrase with a common idiom - it seems only logical that the federal government should definitely be kicking in more money; not only would the reduction of the military be making significant strides forward in terms of peace commitment, the extra funding would work towards raising American education standards, which have fallen by the wayside over the past few decades.

Well if budgets are strained, you borrow if their is a temporary deficit, and raise taxes and cut spending if there is a structural deficit. I would argue that a lot of the spending burden needs to be moved from federal to state governments.

Second, I think federal involvement to create uniform standards in education is a good thing; each state doing things separately would lead to disconnect, discord, and inequality. As it is, we're lucky that we only have two major college entrance exams. Each state has different silly little standardized tests that children must take as they advance through primary/elementary and secondary school. It seems like a federal uniform standard would reduce a serious amount of grief from all the states trying to compare and contrast each other, figuring out what is equivalent to what.

Well, states controlling education is natural in a federation.
In Germany education systems are far more varied from state to state, and the federal government is far stronger there (states don't set much tax rates and cant legislate for criminal law), although I guess states internally are more homogeneous, but Germany itself is not (Baden-W

 

[A.Nonymous]

States budgets vary from state to state. Some states are fiscally responsible and routinely run surpluses. Alaska famously cuts checks to all of it's citizens out of money it makes from it's pipeline dollars I believe. Other states are completely broke and near bankruptcy.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Definitely agree on letting the Bush tax cuts expire, we need a progressive tax model that would call for those with the highest personal income to be paying the largest share of taxes.

I may be wrong on this, but I think the top income earners already pay the lion's share of the tax revenue.

 

[OutofDate1980]

I may be wrong on this, but I think the wealthiest pay little or no tax as unearned income is taxed at 15%.

http://androidforums.com/politics-current-affairs/351387-how-not-pay-taxes.html#post2796650

 

[ElasticNinja]

States budgets vary from state to state. Some states are fiscally responsible and routinely run surpluses. Alaska famously cuts checks to all of it's citizens out of money it makes from it's pipeline dollars I believe. Other states are completely broke and near bankruptcy.

Said states need austerity, in that case

I may be wrong on this, but I think the top income earners already pay the lion's share of the tax revenue.

You are right with regards to federal income tax. Having everyone pay tax to the federal government is a bit mad anyway, I think the lower levels for state income tax should be much lower than for federal income tax.

 

[A.Nonymous]

You are right with regards to federal income tax. Having everyone pay tax to the federal government is a bit mad anyway, I think the lower levels for state income tax should be much lower than for federal income tax.

State income taxes vary from state to state. Some states have ridiculously high tax rates. Others have lower rates. Some have no sales tax. Others have high sales tax. All of this varies from state to state and cities/municipalities set their tax rates as well.

 

[ElasticNinja]

State income taxes vary from state to state. Some states have ridiculously high tax rates. Others have lower rates. Some have no sales tax. Others have high sales tax. All of this varies from state to state and cities/municipalities set their tax rates as well.

I know, but my point stands

 

[A.Nonymous]

Well, the trend is toward more nationalization and has been that way since the civil war really. States rights aren't something that is a big priority though the Obamacare bill changed some of that as there are many states that want to nullify it and opt out of it.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Well, the trend is toward more nationalization and has been that way since the civil war really. States rights aren't something that is a big priority though the Obamacare bill changed some of that as there are many states that want to nullify it and opt out of it.

Well, I guess with Obamacare, there was the issue that states were failing to look after their citizens needs with regards to healthcare at all.
Same can't be said for education, although I'm sure they could do much better.

 

[PH8AL]

I was thinking about me being president and finding ways to help the economy like ideas all fantasizing of course nothing serious

Ideas:
1. Well we manage to get gaddafi 30 billions frozen why not take a couple billions from there for the favor we doing and a little oil

2. And Japan with all the problems they are having should move those big companies like Toyota I think they are having problems because of all the natural disasters relocate them here in the U.S. so we have more jobs. Sony is also over there right ?

3. Make people start farming corn for some reason is a valuable resource...

I would appoint yes men with bad secrets to all the highest military positions and then stage a military coup.

Then I would send all the members of congress back to their home disricts to be locked in stocks in front of the local court houses so its easier for their constituents to hit them in the head with rotten fruit and feces.

I would have all the lobbyists forced to eat our phony paper money until their intestines burst.

Then I would open a national chain of state owned strip joints where every night is 2 for 1 lap dance night.

That should handle the Government Budget which is the 1st step to leading by example.

At this point I would prolly get bored so I would then turn over control to google because, well, I trust them with everything else, why not?

 

[OutofDate1980]

... Then I would open a national chain of state owned strip joints where every night is 2 for 1 lap dance night. ...

I agree, but the primary human form, i.e. XX, may frown upon the XY, whining about the mind is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

[PH8AL]

I agree, but the primary human form, i.e. XX, may frown upon the XY, whining about the mind is willing, but the flesh is weak.

I guess we could open a chain of male reviews as well. In the name of fairness. My logic was that male reviews do turn a profit but the big spenders are all male.

But I guess to maximize budget funds we should open several chains each catering to different tastes. Furries are people to.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I do like the idea of sending Congressmen home in stocks. I wonder if we could implement a system where if you are defeated in an election you are sent home in stocks to be publicly humiliated for your poor performance. Choose to retire before your constituents are sick of you and you can go home in peace.