If YOU Were Elected President...

[APACHERAT]

Hey Apache--I'm watching your helicopter on Smithsonian right now .

How would you deal with the Military Pension issue and the VA ?

I would go back to the old military pension system.
20 year of service, 1/2 of base pay. 30 years of service, full base pay. Full PX privileges and access to base infirmaries and hospitals.
The "New Left" in the 1970's wanted an all volunteer military so they wouldn't have to serve, now they can pay for it.

The VA, put a medical flag officer in charge, not a retired flag officer but an active duty flag officer.
Eliminate all of the fraud who are steeling the resources that should be going to those who actually need it.
Any vet who's making $90,000 per year shouldn't be using the VA to get a free new pair of $500 prescription glasses every two years.
(I picked $ 90 K because I have a friend who does make $ 90 K per year and does go to the VA for his glasses.)

 

[Linc]

This is quite good Apache.
Do you think that $90 K officer's pension should be getting 3% COLA each year--that's $2,700 the Nation can't afford.
Time for Paul Ryan's fix from last December you guys all fought don't you think?
Without means-testing of public pensions, including mine as a retired teacher in Illinois, pension bankruptcies will destroy our economy .

I would go back to the old military pension system.
20 year of service, 1/2 of base pay. 30 years of service, full base pay. Full PX privileges and access to base infirmaries and hospitals.
The "New Left" in the 1970's wanted an all volunteer military so they wouldn't have to serve, now they can pay for it.

The VA, put a medical flag officer in charge, not a retired flag officer but an active duty flag officer.
Eliminate all of the fraud who are steeling the resources that should be going to those who actually need it.
Any vet who's making $90,000 per year shouldn't be using the VA to get a free new pair of $500 prescription glasses every two years.
(I picked $ 90 K because I have a friend who does make $ 90 K per year and does go to the VA for his glasses.)

 

[APACHERAT]

But at some point, someone decided that it'd be a good idea to require all houses to have a certain kind of plumbing anyway. If they do it with plumbing, why not with electricity systems?

Besides the whole "saving the planet" bit, there are a lot of positive reasons why you might want to switch to owning your own electric production system. The government wouldn't control it. You wouldn't have to pay a monthly bill for it. You'd be in full control of how good or how bad it is (no more relying on someone else). You'd be less likely to lose power for days or weeks during and after a storm. You could even sell your excess power to neighbors.

You could use whichever lightbulb you want as long as it's powered by wind, solar, or geothermal.

I know the FCC/ISP regulation stuff is not within the realm of the president's powers, but as the OP said, in this fantasy situation, the rest of the government people would be generally willing to follow my suggestions, so the FCC would listen to me if I asked.

It's not the job of the federal government. The main job of the federal government is national defense. That what the Constitution says.
There's clause in the Constitution that the federal government shall build postal roads. They've done that. The interstate highway system is actually the National Defense Highway System. That wide medium you see in the center on the interstate is there for military tracked vehicles like tanks.


Your examples like plumbing and electrical codes. It's not the government who wrote them. The National Electrical Code are written by electricians, fire marshals and insurance companies. States adopt those codes or write their own. The electrical codes only covers preventing damage to the electrical conductors, preventing electrical fires and preventing injury or death.

When you see UL on any electrical appliance, it's Underwriters Laboratories, the insurance companies who test any thing that has to do that is electrical .
Insurance companies don't like paying out insurance claims because of electrical fires or someone got fried from electricity.

The private sector has it together and can do a better job than government.

Do you need any more proof than that Obama spent $ 2 billion dollars on a website for Obamacare and it didn't work.

 

[APACHERAT]

This is quite good Apache.
Do you think that $90 K officer's pension should be getting 3% COLA each year--that's $2,700 the Nation can't afford.
Time for Paul Ryan's fix from last December you guys all fought don't you think?
Without means-testing of public pensions, including mine as a retired teacher in Illinois, pension bankruptcies will destroy our economy .

We have to many flag officers, wouldn't you agree ?

Where do most of the flag officers work ? Inside the Pentagon. Doing what ?

Like I've said, we need to revisit the National Security Act of 1947. It didn't work in Korea, Vietnam or in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Positions that use to be filled by a 0-4 (Maj. or Lt. Cmdr) are now filled by two star flag officers.

 

[SayMyName]

Reduce the size of government.

Keep the navy strong to keep the seas open for commerce, but reduce our foreign entanglements, as Jefferson advocated.

All else will take care of itself.

 

[Chantal]

Ah, ok. So you disagree more with the method than the goal. That's fine. Which method(s) would you use to achieve the same goal?

 

[jaeger19]

I like some of these things you said. The one thing I'd correct is your unemployment number. The USA hasn't been anywhere near 9% unemployment for 2+ years. We're currently at 5.8% unemployment.

I agree that the education system could use some help, so I want to hear how you would get things to change. How would you go about instituting educational change? How would you encourage more people to become teachers? How would you ensure that the people teaching are doing a good job? Which current education laws/mandates/etc would you keep?

That number on unemployment reflects the number of people that have given up looking for a job. When they do that.. it artificially lowers the number since they are not counted as unemployed.

As far as education? Now we are talking federal level. Because the real issue is local.

!. National scholarship program for new teachers. Get great grades in highschool... Maintain a b plus average in college, and masters degree in teaching... college largely paid for or paid for as long as you teach for 5 years. You get a bonus if you teach in either "areas of need"... so lets say science and math".. or you go to areas that are underserved.. (like inner city Detroit).

2. Fund at the local level for smaller class sizes. There needs to be a mechanism so that when the number of students per TEACHER (none of this counting aides, speech therapists, counselors and vice principles as "teachers" ) exceeds a certain amount.. it triggers mechanisms to get more teachers to that area (see above in underserved areas)... this may include block grants for more teachers.

It is very difficult for the federal government to ensure that every teacher are doing a good job. That's because there is no mechanism and its largely impossible to devise one.. to know who is a good teacher and who is not at the federal level. The only way that can be done is at the local level.. (unfortunate but true and we need to recognize that our we will continue to spin our wheels)..

However. the best way to ensure that their are good teachers are this. Have a ready supply of good teachers that want jobs. The best way to keep your employees honest and make sure they do a good job? Its to have someone that is willing to replace them. Honestly, that's the real reason why most bad teachers still teach.. its either because administration can;t identify them (administration is incompetent) OR because.. and I think this happens a lot.. there is no one to replace that teacher.. and therefore a poor or mediocre teacher is tolerated because at least they are a warm body.

At the federal level.. I would eliminate all education laws and mandates that did not pertain to the above. that's the problem that we don;t recognize. It can;t get done at the federal level. The no child left behind, Obama;s plans, and every plan before it failed for the simple fact that no matter the program.. no matter the federal law... at the end of the day.. its the individuals in the school that are in control of what gets done.. and they are not under the control of the federal government.

If you have a school that sucks because administration is incompetent.. the school board wants to push their religious agenda, the students don;t give a dang.. the parents simply want a baby sitting service, and the teachers are just biding their time until a better job comes along... no federal mandate is going to work.. no matter how good a name you put to the program..

 

[Renae]

Finally--I see you post.
What would you like me to put in my signature since I lost our Senate bet and how long?



On topic, I like this thread--too late to read everybody deeply and answer.

I would get ahold of the public pension mess from top to bottom in this Nation before it brings down our economy.

I can't completely explain why I trust Paul Ryan as the new Ways and Means chair but I do.

I strongly support now retiring Sen. Coburn's call for a Constitutional Convention but I'm not remembering all three of his goals--one was a BBA.

I especially liked his Back-in-Black plan in 2011 when we lost our last best chance at a grand bargain.
Hopefully, McConnell will be able to pull it off .

MrVicchio was right.

 

[radcen]

A partial list (as I'm sure I'll think of more later), and also presuming I could effect Constitutional change via amendments...

• Eliminate the Department of Education (should be state level and lower only).
• Flat tax. No deductions, no credits. Make $X, pay X%, period. No exceptions, not even for charities.
• Strictly enforce laws regarding illegal immigration, including deportation, but also make legal immigration much easier and more streamlined.
• End "birth rite" citizenship status where anyone born here is automatically a citizen. Must be born here AND have one biological parent already a citizen.
• Severely scale back our military interventions around the world, though I would maintain a strong military.
• Listen to the military regarding its needs, not lobbyists and their lackey Congresspeople.
• Rewrite the Commerce Clause to make it much more restrictive.
• End civil asset forfeiture, in all ways, shapes, and forms.
• All bills must be limited to a single subject.
• All new laws and rules must be approved by a body that is directly elected by the people. No more having appointed bureaucrats, who are literally unanswerable for their actions, making laws and rules.
• All the various federal law enforcement agencies would be re-consolidated back into the FBI.
• Repeal the 17th Amendment. The states need a voice in Congress to stop unfunded mandates, restore balance, etc.
• Repeal the 22nd Amendment. The people should have the right to elect whomever they prefer, even if it is a bad choice.
• Line-item veto.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Basics
1) pass a constitutional amendment removing this "reasonable restriction" crap that courts invented to limit the bill of rights
2) increase public education funding, possibly federalize schools
2a) I'd have a team study how schools are working in Asia and Europe and begin emulating those systems.
3) start a new round of publics works programs, new highways, water storage etc.
4) begin a new clean energy project, install dams, nuclear reactors, and nat gas, coal to be complete phased out by 2025
4a) alternative energy projects to phase out petroleum based automotive fuel by 2040
5) each state that bans unlicensed open carry, shall issue concealed carry, has magazine limits or AWB will lose all federal funding
6) is also reopen the PNW to logging, especially the hard hit O&C counties

 

[michijo]

I would reform the government by putting on trial various people who were leaders throughout the years like George Bush Senior and force them to admit that American Christianity is a cold war lie used to back fascist dictators globally who hurt their own people. I would bring formal charges against the US government for institutions like Samoza regime in Nicaragua and for killing midwifes who were helping peasants by backing an illegal Contra paramilitary group. Finally, Americans would have to see their elite admit that they were enslaving the world and endangering indigenous populations worldwide with an almost willful glee. Then I would put them all former presidents in Prison, Bill Clinton, etc - any who are still living.

 

[DA60]

Great thread idea.


I have no confidence in the present federal political system and feel any effort I would make would be wasted.

But...

I would order every soldier home and every overseas base closed and demolished.

I would tell every country leader that asks for military aid to 'fix your own problems you lazy mooches'.

I would never bail out any company.

I would sent troops to shut down the Mexican border. Then build an Israeli-style wall and then for 60 days (once the soldiers officially declare they have locked down the border) grant amnesty to every illegal alien without a criminal record and offer them a work visa and allow them to apply for citizenship...though they get no preferential treatment for the latter.
After that, everyone that tries to illegally cross the border is immediately sent back, no questions asked, no sob story allowed.

I would appoint Ron Paul or Jim Grant as Fed Chairman.

I would slash spending as much as Congress would allow (which unfortunately means almost nothing).

I would do what I could to open federally-run shelters in every regional center that provides food, shelter, clothing and basic (full for children) medical/dental care for every American who wanted it, for as long as they wanted it...but then end all other federal welfare programs (except for th mentally/physically handicapped, who would receive more money then they presently get).

I would try to legalize all recreational drugs.

I would close Gitmo immediately and either let them go or put them in the American Justice system (depending on their situation).
Those who were not charged, I would give them each a ton of money and a public apology.

I would ask Pearl Jam to play at my inaugural and no one else, throw fantastic parties at the White House (no politicians allowed...only cool people), never make a speech (except to try and get the above stuff done - no fund raising crap), veto every bill that unbalances the budget, publicly say the words 'f@ck' and 'sh!t' a LOT, NEVER play golf, NEVER use Air Force One (I would fly coach - but anyone over 12 that starts bugging me on the flight I will tell them to 'piss off'), never go to overseas conferences...just use Skype, have press conferences twice a week, have an almost all female cabinet (the brightest, most capable people that I can find - though two of them I would secretly choose because they are smart but also REALLY physically attractive and I think I would have a chance with - low self-esteem types).

Then I would wait until I lose the next election and then retire with a huge pension and a bunch of Secret Service people guarding me.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

Ah, ok. So you disagree more with the method than the goal. That's fine. Which method(s) would you use to achieve the same goal?

The best method is the one that I would use. Why not?

 

[Chantal]

[*]All bills must be limited to a single subject.

I particularly *love* that idea. I've been thinking for years about how to implement this. There are too many topics that are so complex that it's hard to limit some bills to talking about one thing because some topics don't affect just one thing. Like immigration: you can't talk about that without talking about citizenship and deportation, which are different topics.

So honest question: how would you word that law so it: 1) is reasonable, 2) makes sense, 3) is enforceable, and 4) doesn't have major loopholes.

 

[Chantal]

The best method is the one that I would use. Why not?

Care to give some more specific examples?

 

[Ontologuy]

If YOU Were Elected President...

... I'd focus on what the great majority wants and needs ..

.. Such as facilitating the creation of living-wage jobs, putting Americans back to work, "encouraging" illegal aliens to self-deport, restoring liberty and justice for all Americans, those kind of things. Basically I'd find out, if I didn't know already, what the great majority of Americans want and need, and I'd go about making those problem solving efforts a priority ..

.. And I wouldn't pander for reelection to my special groups, return favors, etc. I simply wouldn't waste my time, energy, and life on absolute nothings that the great majority of Americans simply aren't interested in. Heck, why grow old way before my time as most Presidents do worrying trying to achieve absolute nothings when the great majority has so many unfulfilled needs and the world's problems cause so many gray hairs and wrinkles already for the POTUS.

This approach would trouble liberals, conservatives, libertarians and the like greatly .. but it would finally give a voice to the silent majority, those who are centrists, and just might also greatly increase voter participation to the degree no President thereafter would ever have to be troubled by such extremism.

That's what I'd do.