If You had the ability to enact/repeal one law without congressional approval...

If you had the ability to automatically enact or repeal only one law without congressional approval, what would you choose and why?

I would choose anything relating to the environment to re-enact. Anything to help the environment I would support. What about the rest of you?

Cannabis legal.

1. Over crowded prisons.
2. Over stretched courts.
3. Tax income.
4. Take a bite out of gang income.
5. Expanded medical research.

Soopairik said:

If you had the ability to automatically enact or repeal only one law without congressional approval, what would you choose and why?

I would choose anything relating to the environment to re-enact. Anything to help the environment I would support. What about the rest of you?

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I would probably enact campaign finance reform.

Hmmmm.....I would enact campaign finance reform, with about 100 ear marks.

Campaign finance reform. Though with Citizen’s United I almost think meaningful campaign finance reform might take a Constitutional Amendment.

Restore ALL civil and Constitutional rights to men and women convicted for crimes who have served their sentences.

Allow expungement of criminal records after a reasonable period without re-offending.
Prohibit housing discrimination.
Repeal all "public registration" requirements. If society thinks someone is THAT dangerous, then sentence the perpetrator appropriately at time of conviction. (I.e. serial murderers to life imprisonment, pyromaniacs and sexual predators to psychiatric confinement).

Do the time, pay for the crime, return to full citizenship.

ecofarm said:

Cannabis legal.

1. Over crowded prisons.
2. Over stretched courts.
3. Tax income.
4. Take a bite out of gang income.
5. Expanded medical research.

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I would expand your suggestion to making all possession and purchase for personal use legal. Personal exchanges legal. Sales legal if licensed.

Legal/criminal liability would apply for harms committed while under the influence.

Personal federal income tax reform. A simple system with only two numbers: a truly standard deduction of $30K and a flat 20% tax rate on income from all sources (above the standard deduction). The standard deduction amount would be indexed to CPI inflation, just as social security retirement benefits are. No other changes could be made without a supermajority approval - that, hopefully, would keep congress critters from loading it up with perks for special interests.

To begin, re-instate the Brady Bill.

Captain Adverse said:

Restore ALL civil and Constitutional rights to men and women convicted for crimes who have served their sentences.

Allow expungement of criminal records after a reasonable period without re-offending.
Prohibit housing discrimination.
Repeal all "public registration" requirements. If society thinks someone is THAT dangerous, then sentence the perpetrator appropriately at time of conviction. (I.e. serial murderers to life imprisonment, pyromaniacs and sexual predators to psychiatric confinement).

Do the time, pay for the crime, return to full citizenship.

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It is a national travesty that people are not really given a second chance. A felon has no chance of finding decent housing or a decent job. They're segregated to marginally not-ghetto housing, at best. They're segregated to menial labor, usually without benefits. In this segregation, they really have little chance of turning things around.

Additionally, removing the right to vote is absurd. It only serves to further marginalize felons and it closes off an avenue of rehabilitation. Getting passionate about politics can help give someone purpose. Why take that away?

All that said, I wouldn't go as far as you propose.

I would expand your suggestion to making all possession and purchase for personal use legal. Personal exchanges legal. Sales legal if licensed.

Legal/criminal liability would apply for harms committed while under the influence.

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I would make it entirely legal. Sale, possession, trade, all good with no license. 21 years of age.

Campaign Refinance. I would defiantly get rid of Citizens United.

Repeal Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the USC.

And watch the country descend into chaos. Just kidding! I think Congress is the best at making the laws.

Act on the Voting Rights Bill. And what about the ERA?

ecofarm said:

I would make it entirely legal. Sale, possession, trade, all good with no license. 21 years of age.

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In regards to this response, it was my error in formulating my post.

I was referring to ALL drugs. I would not hold any drug user accountable beyond civil and criminal liability for actual harms caused while using.

Throwing someone in jail for possession and use is a waste of jail space. I guess you haven't read my blog:

War on Drugs:
1. The war on Drugs should end, all drugs should be legal and drug use decriminalized.
2. All persons currently in prison for use or small level sales (no violence) should be immediately released.
3. All persons with a criminal record for use or small level sales shall have their records expunged.
4. Criminal acts shall not be excused because one was under the influence of drugs.
5. Taxes from legal sales will be used for education and treatment programs.
6. Employers may require drug testing for workers who appear under the influence at work, and may used confirmed results to discharge a worker.
7. Minors may not be sold drugs, but:
a. parents may issue and allow use within the home, or
b. grant documented permission for use under parental supervision at a party or gathering in another location.
c. Liability still ensues for criminal or civil violation while under the influence.
8. Drug laws involving the above shall be repealed, and Asset Forfeiture will be stopped.

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https://www.debatepolitics.com/blogs/captain-adverse/1391-time-re-introduce-myself.html

I would like to think that I would decline the opportunity.

Captain Adverse said:

In regards to this response, it was my error in formulating my post.

I was referring to ALL drugs. I would not hold any drug user accountable beyond civil and criminal liability for actual harms caused while using.

Throwing someone in jail for possession and use is a waste of jail space. I guess you haven't read my blog:



https://www.debatepolitics.com/blogs/captain-adverse/1391-time-re-introduce-myself.html

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I agree; however, legalizing cannabis is a cute little worm. Legalizing everything is a can of worms.

Hawkeye10 said:

I would like to think that I would decline the opportunity.

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We're all relieved.

ecofarm said:

We're all relieved.

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You missed the point that this would make me the better person I am sure.

Because at the end of the day you have to be you.

DONT BE A JERK!

We live by RULES.

THE CIVILIZED

:2wave:

I wouldn't create or remove a law without Congressional approval. I would do something else instead. Create a few new "Dear Colleague" letters from the Department of Education regarding (among other things) physical discipline of minority students and institute another federal initiative within one of the offices of Dept of Ed that would have states collect and report data on one particular data point that does not exist yet (outside of one report commissioned by Congress some 14 years ago) to incentivize improving results derived from that data point with another funding and technical assistance opportunity.

Hawkeye10 said:

You missed the point that this would make me the better person I am sure.

Because at the end of the day you have to be you.

DONT BE A JERK!

We live by RULES.

THE CIVILIZED

:2wave:

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That's psychotic.

ecofarm said:

That's psychotic.

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I score big on both style and truth, if you cant see that then, God, Mr EcoFarm, I dont even want to know you.

But if you think we're right, and you won't speak up 'cause you can't be bothered, then, God, Jed, I don't even want to know you.

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West Wing

Hawkeye10 said:

I score big on both style and truth, if you cant see that then, God, Mr EcoFarm, I dont even want to know you.


West Wing

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Are you trying to convince me or yourself? Because that looks like a steamy pile of insecurity.

ecofarm said:

Are you trying to convince me or yourself? Because that looks like a steamy pile of insecurity.

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In Zen we care about what is not what "looks like". .

That puts us way ahead of most.

I'd get rid of Citizens United.

If not now, when?

The Republican Control Act is a piece of United States federal legislation, proposed by me, which outlaws the Republican Party of the United States and criminalizes membership in, or support for the Party or "Republican-action" organizations and defines evidence to be considered by a jury in determining participation in the activities, planning, actions, objectives, or purposes of such organizations.[1]

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The act would include strict enforcement requirements and mandate criminal penalties for lax or non-enforcement.

Precedent:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Control_Act_of_1954#Controversy
The Communist Control Act (68 Stat. 775, 50 U.S.C. 841-844) is a piece of United States federal legislation, signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on 24 August 1954, which outlaws the Communist Party of the United States and criminalizes membership in, or support for the Party or "Communist-action" organizations and defines evidence to be considered by a jury in determining participation in the activities, planning, actions, objectives, or purposes of such organizations.[1]
.......
However, the Supreme Court of the United States has not ruled on the act's constitutionality. Despite that, no administration has tried to enforce it. The provisions of the act outlawing the party have not been repealed. Nevertheless, the Communist Party USA continues to exist in the 21st century.

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Modify Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
make punishment immediate or within a day or so.
Not capitol punishment but other types.
Some people definitely need their bare azzes whooped in public.
others need to be locked in stocks and be pelted with soft rotten veggies.

The other humane part of this would be once the punishment was dealt out, that is the end of it.
No criminal history that follows you for the rest of your life.
No stigma if you move to another place.
No records of it, because they will be destroyed as soon and the punishment is meted out and over. Done and done.

Number one candidate would be that white woman who mascaraded as a black woman. and make it so only black folks could do the veggie throwing. JUSTICE.
Give Warren a forced DNA test and deal out the appropriate punishment she gets if she is found to be NOT what she claims she is. Like live on a REAL reservation for two years with only the benefits they get.

No one really pays physically for their crimes anymore. This would change all that.

EXAMPLE: I talked to a retired DEA agent as a guest once. he said they busted a Russian dope smuggler at one time and he just laughed at all the threats the DEA said they would do to him. He told them once in a Russian prison he was buried up to his neck in gravel for two days in freezing temps outside. Now you people are threatening to lock me up in an air conditioned & heated luxury suite with three hot meals a day? Some of your American prison cells are better than some Russian apartments.