Well... here’s a few ideas. I know I’m no Uncle Ike... but here goes...
Take all State and Federal pensions and transition to be replaced completely by SSI. Yup Draconian. Those pulling down 6 figure incomes from us will be replaced by SSI. Transition them to allow selling assets to prepare for the austerity.
Allow nationwide corporate insurance companies. Open up all competition for health care. Repeal Ocare, and medicare... yup... I said it. Have the individual responsible for selecting their level of care on the open market and give individuals on medicare currently a credit to buy the minimal coverage. While giving the individual choice about the programs he/she may want to join for the extra care, paid for by either retirement/ssi etc.
Taxes... while easy to say... are hard to implement. But we can do better. No more progressive taxation, institute a flat tax that is equal for all Americans.
Because we will have a flat system remove taxation of corporate entities. (Corporate dividends for individuals would be taxed as normal, as would the taxation of selling stocks/bonds)
Remove Welfare. Instead institute a program that provides room and board for a full days work. Those who are seniors, handicap, special needs etc have no exemption, find something for them.
Institute a pay for children tax credit that helps rewards people who have children. Only for people who receive no public welfare, or government assistance. We are going to need lots of children in 30 years to help drive the economic machine and we need to start thinking about this now. These micro families we are having will be a real issue for us. Healthy homes and strong footing help raise children in many cases. This isn’t a slam dunk, but it’s a start. If one parent would be removed from the work force for raising the child it would be nice to reward that decision since so much revolves around the family unit.
Institute Gold as the backing for the reserve again. Get back to something that is tangible and credible.
Open up Offshore drilling, ANWR, remove the red tape for Nuclear reactor building, offer companies a subsidized zero interest loan for reactors. (Cap the profit on electricity by allowing those companies (who take the loan) 10% profit) This is easy to say hard to institute since government contracts normally are horribly written and allow run-away costs. We don’t want cost+, we want fixed price+.
Create the same program for Hydroelectric dams. Encourage them, and support them.
Remove all subsidy in Solar and Wind. Wait until the commercial market researches improved battery and storage mechanisms, and incentivize them to do so.
There are far too many to list but wholesale remove about 60% of federal departments. Consolidate the intelligence community. Build and invest in military hardware. Expand 10x special operator units and decrease the standing military. Most fights are going to be small conflicts which need highly trained operators. Invest more into the Navy and Air Force, and shut down many standing army bases around the world.
Return a large portion of Federal property. Sell it to Families, and individuals first. Then allow larger portions in certain areas to be sold for development etc. Give American’s back what they had in the beginning, a place to build their dreams and a chance to own property if they are lawful tax paying citizens. (Perhaps a heavy discount if served in the military)
I think I could go on and on... I’m really more interested in what others would contribute. I’m sure some of my above will strike a chord.
Of course saying the above would never get a person elected...
” I know I’m no Uncle Ike... “
Most of the time, *I’m* no Uncle Ike.... ;)
“Of course saying the above would never get a person elected...”
Most of your suggestions are sound. But even if the political will existed to bring them about an extended period of transition would be required to effectuate them. I still contend that an appropriate readjustment of our relative currency exhange rate would be appropriate under the conditions. THis would force us to consume less, export more and improve our energy efficiency / output. Then we can begin the process of rebuilding our “real” economy and trimming back Leviathon and all its imperial trappings.