hizgeorgiapeach
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~FR~
This is actually a tough question when looking at the OP - because it asks specifically what TWO things would you do. While folks have given some great ideas, most have gone far beyond that "two". It's not an easy decision to make, out of the several things that Need to get done to get things back on track.
1.) Balance the budget. Which would include things mentioned as various different items by others, but Starting with pushing for an absolute Flat Tax of 12% across the board - both for individuals and for companies - with Zero loopholes. I don't care if you're rich or poor, a private citizen or a multimillion dollar corporation - for every $1 you make, 12 cents comes off the top in taxes. If you only make $1, you only pay 12 cents, if you make $1mil - you pay proportionately, no exceptions. And for those who attempted to make their own loophole by moving their money outta the country - seizure of any and all real assets remaining on US soil - how's That for an incentive not to try and cheat, folks - lose everything, no exception, if you do so. After that come other steps. Cutting all federal programs that are not absolutely necessary to run this country completely out. Cut military spending by at least half. Requiring that any budget put before me by congrease have zero deficit spending. Refusal to sign any bill that contained riders giving congrease any sort of raise or benefits increase. Repealing any law currently on the books (regardless of it's form) that gives the members of congrease special privilages over and above what their constiuancy carries (ie, no more tax breaks, no more getting their expenses paid outta the public til, etc.) Disolve the Fed. Reserve and make banks succeed or fail on their own management and merit, just like any Other business. Outlawing all PACs, and any campaign contribution over $500 from a singal source (whether company or individual) and immediate prosecution of any politician accepting bribes in the form of goods, services, or cash from any entity except excplicitly during active campaigning for office as long as the donation falls within that $500 limit. Want more money to campaign with? Convince more people that you'll do a good job so that they're willing to donate! (That will level the playing field significantly, and force politicians to actually do a good job in order to get reelected - thus cutting down on their propensity to do stupid things like offer deficit budgets, give themselves unearned raises, send folks off to die in the name of corporate greed, etc.)
2.) Work on rebuilding our capacity for self suficiency as a nation. This would include significantly higher import taxes levied against companies on any products produced overseas - whether the company was based here or not - possibly combined with significantly lowered export taxes. Such tax incentives - of either variety - would not include the base 12% flat income tax on all entities - it would be a seperate sort altogether, and based strictly on import/export taxes, which are completely seperate from sheer level of gross income. This is duel edged, as it gives the company a doubled tax incentive to keep the majority of their jobs here - which in turn keeps more people employed, and able to spend money on what that company produces. Tax incentives for those trying to start small businesses and community based businesses. Also included in this part would be massive overhaul of the educational system from the ground up, getting rid of wishy-washy feel-good claptrap like "no child left behind" - if they can't cut it without lowering the standards, then they can't cut it, and they need to start learning at an early age (like many of us did) that Success is NOT guarenteed, failure isn't rewarded, and life is full of disappointments and not always coming out on top.
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Rhi
Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
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RE: If You were President - 
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So true except for those who steal huge amounts. My ex-husband was a drug addict who has spent most of his teen and adult years in and out (mostly in) various jails and prisons. I guarantee you that not one of them was a "Hilton" or any kind of similar country-club environment. There are men who have stolen hundreds, perhaps thousands, times the money he has and - if they ever spent a day inside - did it in an environment of near luxury with lots of freedoms. The "average" criminal in this country does not have a holiday inside, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves it's not that bad. I'm not saying it shouldn't be "bad," just saying it's ludicrous to think they're living it up. Knock over a couple liquor stores and do forty years of hard time. Pull a stunt similar to what the Enron pricks did and skip away happily. It's disgusting. If anyone lives it up in lieu of punishment, it's those assholes...............luci
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