The problem with this country is us.
I think alot, probably too much. I believe I have the answer to most of this countries problems. I'd run for office but my past (and sometimes current) exploits would preclude that in our 2 party system. So since I may never get the chance, I've decided to lay out my platform and let some squeeky-clean wasp from New Hampshire take the ball and run with it.
1. The Economy; We're being destroyed by our trade deficit, I think the answer to this one is simple. (and please correct me if I'm wrong.) Tarriffs never work, (tarriffs are taxes you add to the price of something before it arrives to "level" the playing field.) What we need is a simple policy change, if 25% of your goods are sold here, than 25% of your manufacturing will be here. whatever your total sales are to the American market, that's the total of your production that will be based here.
2. Taxes; This idea is not mine, but I believe in it so strongly I've adopted it. A national sales tax. All other forms of Taxation would be abolished. You only pay taxes on the things you buy. An exclusion would be made for every household for basic living needs. (food, clothing, utilities) All other purchases would have a sales tax of 22-25% added. The I.R.S. would cease to exist.
3. Welfare; I was on welfare for awhile so I know a little of what I speak. Offer a program to those who are interested, 3 years of welfare checks in a lump sum check, if they accept they can never apply for welfare again. This money could be used to start a new life, move to a better area, start a new business, buy a house, pay crushing debts. Instead of keeping people on a subsistance lifestyle, offer them a fresh start.
4. Drugs; Stop prosecuting users and street level dealers. Treat it as the medical problem that it is. Anything higher than street level though is an automatic 20 year sentence, no parole. Attempted murder would be added as a charge against all dealers.
5. Immigration; If you are not a legal citizen and you commit ANY crime, you will be deported. Stop the influx of illegals with tighter border patrols and economically punish the Mexican Government if it doesn't aggressively enforce thier side. Aggresively go after companies that employ illegals and force them to pay minnimum wage to all thier workers.
6. Terrorism; Whether you agree or disagree with how we got here, it doesn't matter now, we're here and this isn't going to stop in our lifetime. We aren't going to talk our way out of this. The "radical" Muslems hate us and its our fault. We've been swinging our dicks in thier affairs for 50 years. You wouldn't like it either. They honor God above all else and we honor Brittney Spears, BMW and our televisions. I can see thier p.o.v. BUT, once you start killing us, I really don't care how good your reasons are, it's got to stop. You only have a few choices. Eradicate all Muslims. Not very practical, damn costly and not very pleasant. Try to establish democracies in the Middle East. A pretty good idea and I think/thought that was what we were up to over there. My idea is to divide Persia (Iraq) into the 3 countries it wants to be. Kurds, Sunni and Shia. Isolate the naughty ones and work with the cooperative ones. This just solves Iraq, but one hot potato at a time, I'm just a plumber from Pennsylvania for God's sake.
7. Global Warming; I've looked at this debate and I still don't know what to believe. I think we can all agree that the planet is warming, but my question is why? The place I'm writing this was under hundreds of feet of ice 10,000 years ago. The last ice age covered most of Europe and North America and has been receeding ever since. So yeah, its getting warmer, no doubt. Is my mp3 player adding to this? I don't know, but as President I'd find out. We need to lock these brainiacs in a room and get a firm answer, not consensus, a true factual, no bullshit answer that only the nuts on the fringes will argue with. Only with facts can we fight a problem this big. (and please don't send me links to argue your side of this, I've read them, that's why I wrote this.)
8 Social Security; This ones tough because NO ONE will dare touch this sacred cow, but if we don't change the basic structure we're going to go broke. We need to raise the age to collect social security plain and simple, its a numbers game and as cruel as it might sound we need less people to make it to the age where they can collect. Lifespan in this country keeps rising but the age to collect hardly moves. It needs adjusted, jumps to age 72 then 74 by 2014 would keep us solvent through the boomers.
Summary; Although I'd love to run things and show this country a little common sense, I know that's unrealistic, but if you find a nugget of inspiration her, pass it on to others. Our nation is in deep shit from about 5 different directions and if we don't change the way we're thinking, we're all collectively fucked.
The problem with this country is us. If you are honest with yourself, you know its true. We can't blame politicians, we don't vote, we don't pay attention cause we don't care. Of course they're going to rob us blind, we're not watching them, we're watching T.V.! We are lazy and governmentally stupid. If you can name the last 3 American Idol winners but you can't name your representative in Congress, then you are the problem. I know life is hectic, I work 60 hours a week. I know you just want to veg out after work with some mindless shit on the boob-tube but they love that we don't pay attention, they love low voter turnout. They don't give a shit if we ever move off the couch. Just pay your taxes and shut the hell up. That's fine with them. Come on PLEASE, PLEASE WAKE UP the alarm is going off and we're already late! Please, if not for yourselves, do it for your kids or your future kids or your grandchildren. Don't piss away the greatness we have in America. Thanks for reading.
