Spitballin' ways to fix America (1 Viewer)

[The Dude]

Just throwing out some thoughts.

-Congress needs to take the lead in some areas and not do the bidding of the president.  For instance, they should have an annual infrastructure budget going forward and a committee should determine what the objectives of the next year are and there should be a 4 year plan.  Infrastructure upgrades is a flat out good idea - so why risk it coming down to a partisan vote and allow the possibility that noting might be done?

-We need to rethink new cities - like the pitch from Marc Lore.  Get away from these relics.

-We need to rethink education.  This is a broad one but for instance there should be like 20 proficiency levels of math - and your child climbs/descends the ladder based on ability.  And there are 20 instructors in a state.  All recorded and on line with supplementary tutorials.  

-Need to do something about social media but I am not sure what

--Need to somehow limit streaming content by age - so our kids aren't watching R rated at the age of 12 or whatever when parents are not home; maybe email notifications to the primary account holder of what is being played.

-Edited out this one - maybe later

You can lambast if you like - but let's try to have positive contributions.  if you don't like something I said, go ahead and say so - but explain what's wrong with the idea other than posting the simple minded laughing emoji.  

And please chip in with your own ideas.

 

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[RCon]

Policies that discourage the most extreme elements in our society from running for, or winning, political office: proportional representation and ranked choice voting.

 

[quick-hands]

Convention of states. 15 down 19 to go.

 

[quick-hands]

Policies that discourage the most extreme elements in our society from running for, or winning, political office: proportional representation and ranked choice voting.

What does that mean and who decides that?

 

[RCon]

What does that mean and who decides that?

Ranked choice voting would mean, for example, that in 2016 I could have voted for Evan McMullin as my first choice, HRC as my second choice, and Trump as my third choice.  If my first choice is eliminated from consideration, my vote would then count for my second choice, and so on.  To super simplify by example...

Pretend there are 3 candidates (John, Jane, and Jimmy) and 10 voters.  The votes break out like:
* 2 votes for John first, Jane second, Jimmy third
* 4 votes for Jimmy first, Jane second, John third
* 2 votes for Jane first, John second, Jimmy third
* 2 votes for Jane first, Jimmy second, John third
In this example, John would be eliminated because he has the fewest "first choice" votes.  Both people that voted for John first preferred Jane second, so both of those votes would transfer to Jane, giving 6 votes, enough to win.

Implementing this as a policy would eliminate the "throwing your vote away" mentality of voting for a third party, as you could still vote D or R as your second choice.

 

[RCon]

What does that mean and who decides that?

Proportional Representation would mean that seats are allocated by party rather than winner take all.  For example, here in CT we have 5 Congress districts.  All 5 are currently held by Democrats, even though Republicans regularly win 35%+ of the total votes.  Proportional representation would, for example, award the Republicans 2 seats of the 5 if they received 40% of the total votes, rather than the 0 seats they receive now.  This one is a little more complicated than ranked choice voting, as there could be lots of variations in the exact policies and calculations.  Many European countries do things this way.

 

[kface]

Proportional Representation would mean that seats are allocated by party rather than winner take all.  For example, here in CT we have 5 Congress districts.  All 5 are currently held by Democrats, even though Republicans regularly win 35%+ of the total votes.  Proportional representation would, for example, award the Republicans 2 seats of the 5 if they received 40% of the total votes, rather than the 0 seats they receive now.  This one is a little more complicated than ranked choice voting, as there could be lots of variations in the exact policies and calculations.  Many European countries do things this way.

PR or ranked choice is really the only way to achieve anything that resembles what people want nowadays

 

[Boston]

*Members of congress are not allowed to own property in DC and have to live in their home districts for at least 70% of the year

*Term Limits

*Social media illegal until the age of 18...only emailing, texting and use of internet allowed

*Any media member on TV that worked for a political party has to have it in their byline when talking

*Anyone that gets a certain amount of government assistance and/or gets it for an extended period of time has to perform a certain amount of community service per week...preferably going to low-income neighborhoods and painting houses and repairing homes and stuff like that

*Any public official convicted of misusing public funds or fraud gets triple the normal sentence

*No public employee is allowed to touch their pension/benefits until an age like 63 or something like that

*Anyone caught littering has to perform 100 hours of cleaning the town/city they did it in...if the littering involved a cigarette, it is 200 hours

*Anyone convicted of voter fraud gets a 10-year sentence with no chance of parole

*Anyone convicted of identity theft gets a 10-year sentence with no chance of parole

*Back to the basics with education...reading, riting, rithmetic...in high school and college courses on personal finance, mortgages, insurance and other stuff like that are mandatory

*Tenure is banned at any public universities and colleges

*It is legal to verbally abuse people who cannot make eye contact and say hello in a public setting

 

[The Commish]

Get rid of social media and 24 hour "news" 

People lack the discipline to do it themselves. 

 

[Sinn Fein]

I'd say the first step is to stop shooting spitballs.

 

[Summer Wheat]

Policies that discourage the most extreme elements in our society from running for, or winning, political office: proportional representation and ranked choice voting.

I agree.  If we eliminated the 10 each of farthest extreme left and right from congress or maybe 15 each, at least 5 each of the same from Senate we would be so much better off.

 

[Summer Wheat]

Proportional Representation would mean that seats are allocated by party rather than winner take all.  For example, here in CT we have 5 Congress districts.  All 5 are currently held by Democrats, even though Republicans regularly win 35%+ of the total votes.  Proportional representation would, for example, award the Republicans 2 seats of the 5 if they received 40% of the total votes, rather than the 0 seats they receive now.  This one is a little more complicated than ranked choice voting, as there could be lots of variations in the exact policies and calculations.  Many European countries do things this way.

Sounds like the way things should be run.  

 

[jon_mx]

The #1 way to unite the country.  Remember that little civil war we fought so that slaves would be free and all persons would have equal protection under the law?  How about now that we have had a couple of generations which thoroughly rejected discrimination and we have passed laws which provides strong protections in all areas.....why not stop stirring the phony racism politics and the obscene obsession with extremism which isn't all you think it is.  

 

[The Dude]

Get rid of social media and 24 hour "news" 

People lack the discipline to do it themselves. 

not sure you can get rid of news channels.  People need to informed.  I think it’s more about reforming news outlets and killing opinion leader shows including radio

 

[Nugget]

The #1 way to unite the country.  Remember that little civil war we fought so that slaves would be free and all persons would have equal protection under the law?  How about now that we have had a couple of generations which thoroughly rejected discrimination and we have passed laws which provides strong protections in all areas.....why not stop stirring the phony racism politics and the obscene obsession with extremism which isn't all you think it is.  

We should do the opposite of this to unite the country. 

 

[jon_mx]

We should do the opposite of this to unite the country. 

Yeah, more racist leftwing nonsense creating a society with so much hatred to motivate a crazy black male to run over 50 people.  And a BLM movement rioting over mostly justified shooting of violent criminals resulting in over $2 Billion in damages and a soaring murder rate in said cities where protests occurred.   A media which can't tell an honest story about race unless it fits their agenda of villifying white conservatives.  Yeah, just keep peddling hate.  

 

[Nugget]

Yeah, more racist leftwing nonsense creating a society with so much hatred to motivate a crazy black male to run over 50 people.  And a BLM movement rioting over mostly justified shooting of violent criminals resulting in over $2 Billion in damages and a souring murder rate in said cities where protests occurred.   A media which can't tell an honest story about race unless it fits their agenda of villifyung white conservatives.  Yeah, just keep peddling hate.  

I was just we suggesting we should listen to people more instead of assuming we know everything about them.  I don’t think minimizing their experiences and calling them phony or extreme is going to bring the country together. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

Interesting shift in tone as one person enters the discussion.   

 

[Nugget]

not sure you can get rid of news channels.  People need to informed.  I think it’s more about reforming news outlets and killing opinion leader shows including radio

I would like to explore a model without advertising. Especially from a social media standpoint - no personalized ads or using data from the visitors to the site. Let’s stop being the product that advertisers are purchasing. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

not sure you can get rid of news channels.  People need to informed.  I think it’s more about reforming news outlets and killing opinion leader shows including radio

I took him to mean the 24 hour news cycle that pushes narrative instead of a shorter form that delivers news.  I agree with him, but 0 clue how we back off that at this point.  

at the very least we need a center-focused network, and get more long form interviews.  more a podcast or at least like last where we had a D and R rationally talking to each other.  

 

[jon_mx]

Interesting shift in tone as one person enters the discussion.   

Until we acknowledge the biggest problem causing strife in this country, we are wasting our time tweaking laws which won't fix it.  

 

[KarmaPolice]

I would like to explore a model without advertising. Especially from a social media standpoint - no personalized ads or using data from the visitors to the site. Let’s stop being the product that advertisers are purchasing. 

yeah, I think SM has to reform the whole business model of clicks + time on site.  

 

[The Commish]

not sure you can get rid of news channels.  People need to informed.  I think it’s more about reforming news outlets and killing opinion leader shows including radio

I said 24 hour news outlets......and my point being made for me in this very thread 

 

[DropKick]

Interesting shift in tone as one person enters the discussion.   

Yeah, Nugget kinda took it downhill.

 

[The Commish]

In our 245 year plus history, we have one, MAYBE two generations where all are treated equally under the law their entire lives. Thats, at best 50 years, practically 35-40 years. 

 

[DropKick]

In our 245 year plus history, we have one, MAYBE two generations where all are treated equally under the law their entire lives. Thats, at best 50 years, practically 35-40 years. 

Sounds like a positive trend.

 

[ekbeats]

Great topic Dude.  You had some great suggestions there, many of which I agree with.  Here's mine:

• We need more smart, INNOVATIVE people like Andrew Yang to run for office.
  
• We need a Constitutional Amendment that codifies more rules for the Supreme Court.  This is the one area of the Constitution the founders did a crappy job on.  Have 9 Justices, seats need to be filled with the Congress in session at the time of the vacancy, simple majority vote.
  
• Break up Big Tech.  They are the clearest examples of monopolies that ever existed.  This where I miss traditional Liberals - they would have called for this.  Nowadays everyone is in the sack with Big Tech, but the makeup of their editors and decision makers is overwhelmingly Liberal, and that's reflected in their policy implementation.  Conservatives are rightfully angry about this,  but they're too dumb to know that the solution here is to sue them for monopolistic practices.  This is actually a very big deal.  We're starting to enter Big Brother territory and we can't have all the world's information coming from so few sources, especially when they are biased.
  
• Republicans need to cultivate intelligent, young black men.  Prediction - the next black President is going to be a Republican.  It will happen within the next 20 years and this leader will go down as one of the greatest Presidents in American history, as once again a wise Republican rises up to save the Union from Democratic racism.  I truly believe this.
  
• We need a common sense transition from fossil fuels to clean fuels.  This is obvious.  One party wants to cut off fossil fuels too quick and the other party doesn't want to move to cleaner energy quickly enough.  Meet in the middle and get it done.  Invest in innovation.
  

 

[The Commish]

Sounds like a positive trend.

Well yeah.....its progress forward. Have to start somewhere. Problem is there is no  good way to make up lost time (other than time) which is needed in things like finance, wealth acquisition, education etc. Hopefully the laws stay in place long enough to make a difference and we comtinue to unwind the systemic problems from the system

 

[Nugget]

Well yeah.....its progress forward. Have to start somewhere. Problem is there is no  good way to make up lost time (other than time) which is needed in things like finance, wealth acquisition, education etc

Baby bonds sounded like a good program. I think over time it has been suggested by both sides. Cory Booker was the latest big proponent. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

Not sure how to do it or encourage it, but we 100% need more politicians from all walks of life and previous careers - IMO we drastically need more representatives that actually represent the majority of America.   And for sure term limits and ending lifelong appointments.  

 

[The Commish]

Baby bonds sounded like a good program. I think over time it has been suggested by both sides. Cory Booker was the latest big proponent. 

One of the fastest ways to close the gap is via real estate. 

 

[The Dude]

Until we acknowledge the biggest problem causing strife in this country, we are wasting our time tweaking laws which won't fix it.  

at times like this, where you are apparently on an island with your claim of the biggest problem - it would be wise to consider you may be wrong

 

[Nugget]

One of the fastest ways to close the gap is via real estate. 

How would that look?  Does the govt subsidize loans?  

They left banking out of the civil rights act in 1964. Hopefully they can fix that. Close the discrimination gap in banking.

It also includes protections for sexual preference and gender.

 

[The Dude]

Not sure how this one will go over.

we need to shut down the influencers that encourage our youth to believe gender and sexuality is a cafeteria plan

 

[DropKick]

at times like this, where you are apparently on an island with your claim of the biggest problem - it would be wise to consider you may be wrong

Actually, I think he is spot on.

 

[Nugget]

Not sure how this one will go over.

we need to shut down the influencers that encourage our youth to believe gender and sexuality is a cafeteria plan

Who are these influencers?  And how would you silence them?  I did cringe when I read your post.  

 

[DropKick]

Lose the electoral college in favor of popular vote.  As is, it is too easily manipulated.  Force politicians to look and act upon America as a whole.

 

[The Dude]

Actually, I think he is spot on.

is it claims of racism you are against or just the illegitimate claims

 

[ekbeats]

Not sure how to do it or encourage it, but we 100% need more politicians from all walks of life and previous careers - IMO we drastically need more representatives that actually represent the majority of America.   And for sure term limits and ending lifelong appointments.  

Term limits just might be the single greatest cure to what ills us.  The trick will be getting that type of legislation passed.  It would take a huge grass roots movement.  Would love to see it happen.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Well yeah.....its progress forward. Have to start somewhere. Problem is there is no  good way to make up lost time (other than time) which is needed in things like finance, wealth acquisition, education etc. Hopefully the laws stay in place long enough to make a difference and we comtinue to unwind the systemic problems from the system

We've talked about this in many threads - I feel like people really underestimate how short of a time frame this is when we are talking about the big picture issues like wealth acquisition.   Yeah, we can say "look, it's been 40-50 years", but people need to keep in mind that we are talking a factor of what - 10x wealth?  It's not like the people with 10x are losing that money - it keeps exponentially growing.   That's also basically just our parents we are talking about, and even many of them wouldn't say that they were free of discrimination.  

 

[DropKick]

is it claims of racism you are against or just the illegitimate claims

illegitimate... which far outnumber the legitimate ones

 

[jon_mx]

at times like this, where you are apparently on an island with your claim of the biggest problem - it would be wise to consider you may be wrong

Or as Einstein said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  I have a long history of being told how wrong I am by the vast majority of posters here.  I also have a long history of usually being right.  

 

[Zigg]

I think the current plan of politicians serving for 60 years and bending over for donors is going splendidly. Keep giving the billionaires everything they ask for, the money trickles down, everyone is happy. 

 

[ekbeats]

Lose the electoral college in favor of popular vote.  As is, it is too easily manipulated.  Force politicians to look and act upon America as a whole.

The electoral college is a necessary evil.  It's the glue that holds the country together.  It's sheer brilliance if you really look at it closely.

 

[The Dude]

Who are these influencers?  And how would you silence them?  I did cringe when I read your post.  

well, a friend is having a gender issue with a child at a vulnerable age that appears to be consuming bad info through the internet regarding gender options.  But there are television shows that are making the concepts accessible to young teenagers

 

[ekbeats]

at times like this, where you are apparently on an island with your claim of the biggest problem - it would be wise to consider you may be wrong

I think he's spot on as well.  He just tweaks you guys or you like messing with him, either one.  But he is 100% right about the Left pedaling racism and hate.

 

[The Dude]

illegitimate... which far outnumber the legitimate ones

Can you give a recent example?  And I would wager the legit outnumbers the illegitimate

 

[The Dude]

I think he's spot on as well.  He just tweaks you guys or you like messing with him, either one.  But he is 100% right about the Left pedaling racism and hate.

Are they pedaling racism or appealing to a sector that feels the other party has kept them down?

my possible objection was to the idea that this was the biggest issue the country faces

 

[The Dude]

Back to positive ideas

 

[jon_mx]

Are they pedaling racism or appealing to a sector that feels the other party has kept them down?

my possible objection was to the idea that this was the biggest issue the country faces

Where did I call it the biggest issue facing the country?  I said it was the the biggest issue causing strife and fixing it is the #1 way to unite this country.   As long as this country puts one race against another, these other issues go nowhere.  Not that I think any of the suggestions so far should go anywhere.