toldailytopic: If you were in charge how would you fix the ailing economy?

[Nathon Detroit]

The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 13th, 2010 12:13 PM

toldailytopic: If you were in charge how would you fix the ailing economy?

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[The Berean]

There really is no way one person or one plan can really fix the economy IMO. To "fix" the economy everyone needs to do their fair share. I would suggest that everyone cut spending, especially buying on credit. Payoff your credit cards, and get rid of almost all them.

 

[Nick M]

It needs an overhaul, not repair.

Dump our socialism for capitalism. Taxes should be distrubted evenely between all men. That will put more money in the economy and it isn't stealing. Government progams like social security, medicare, medicaid, and AFDC would be ended, as they are stealing and hurt the economy.

And stop printing money from thin air like Obama did.

 

[Nick M]

[chrysostom] Vote republican [/chrysostom]

 

[Newman]

In a world full of band-aid fixes, it seems a real cure is almost impossible.

Yet, I would gradually remove all entitlement programs, eliminate the income tax, let gold compete as currency, dramatically reduce spending (if not take out entirely) in most of the "Department of"s, maintain a non-interventionist foreign policy while bringing all troops home (out of the total 180 countries we occupy now), and refund all payments made into social security.

 

[grebe]

But...but...but the economy is recovering, albeit "painfully slowly", to hear our esteemed leader tell us!

 

[kmoney]

Don't fix it. Let it crash. Fix the monetary system and let the economy normalize. Build it back up from there.

 

[The Berean]

Don't fix it. Let it crash. Fix the monetary system and let the economy normalize. Build it back up from there.

elohyim, is that you?

 

[kmoney]

elohyim, is that you?

:chuckle: No. I just happen to have the same, or a similar, view of elo.

 

[Nydhogg]

Stop subsidizing failure. If something has to be bailed out on pain of the economy collapsing, nationalize, clean up, THEN sell.
NEVER, under any circumstances, hand out money no strings attached to the incompetent halfwits who got us into this mess.

Give a massive tax cut to new small businesses, up to including suspending their taxes for a year.
Review the way we tax small businesses, especially sole proprietorships. Gross receipts ain't income. Business owners don't get to keep all the money that goes in as gross receipts, and legitimate business expenses should be easier to deduct.

Slightly lower defense spending for two years. Use the money thus saved for public works projects that will create (temporary) jobs and thus stave off unemployment until consumption kicks in again and the economy works.

Some measures are left wing, some are right wing. It would be a fair compromise that both Democrats and Republicans could play as a victory and it would do many of the things that are needed.

 

[Paulos]

The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 13th, 2010 12:13 PM

toldailytopic: If you were in charge how would you fix the ailing economy?

1) Shift to nuclear and other alternative forms of fuel and then shut down power plants that generate electricity from burning coal, oil, and natural gas (thus significantly cutting back on oil imports).
2) Export our excess natural gas/coal/oil in order to bring in revenue.
3) Legalize industrial hemp (would give birth to a whole new domestic industry; there's no good reason for it to be illegal in the first place).
4) Legalize marijuana (raises tax revenue, frees up prisons of non-violent marijuana offenders, frees law enforcement to go after real criminals, etc.).

That's just 4 ideas off the top of my head. Of course, 1 and 2 would be phased in over a period of decades, but it is doable.

 

[The Berean]

:chuckle: No. I just happen to have the same, or a similar, view of elo.

So what is your view of elo? :think:

 

[CabinetMaker]

The Phoenix Method maybe. Let it crash and burn and see what rises from the ashes. I am not convinced that our current economic system is still a viable model.

 

[firon]

close all federal offices; dismiss all bureaucats

close all federal offices; dismiss all bureaucats

The federal experiment has run its course, and proven itself to be an abysmal failure. Patrick Henry and other sensible patriots who were known as anti-federalists, have proven they were right. The problem with our economy stems from the federal government's willful violation of the constitutional limits placed upon it.

Nongovernment organizations should immediately be shutdown, for they function without constitutional authority and always contrary to public interest. All military forces should be returned from offshore duties and their force used to the extent necessary to secure all borders and render all Federal and NGOs powerless, and disallow their activity in any further governmental position - even to the point of having any authority in a dog catcher position in the smallest local government.

The horde of NGOs make such measures absolutely necessary because their intent is to rule over us in an atheistic, socialistic tyranny.

To those of you who think this is unnesessary: Remember what you have just read. Keep it in mind because the day draws near when you will wish you had paid attention.

 

[Lighthouse]

I wouldn't have given all that money to companies that found themselves in a hole because they squandered their money. I mean, who thinks it's a good idea to give more money to someone who clearly doesn't know how to hold on to it?

I would give all the people [taxpayers] their money back.

 

[Nydhogg]

The federal experiment has run its course, and proven itself to be an abysmal failure. Patrick Henry and other sensible patriots who were known as anti-federalists, have proven they were right. The problem with our economy stems from the federal government's willful violation of the constitutional limits placed upon it.

Nongovernment organizations should immediately be shutdown, for they function without constitutional authority and always contrary to public interest. All military forces should be returned from offshore duties and their force used to the extent necessary to secure all borders and render all Federal and NGOs powerless, and disallow their activity in any further governmental position - even to the point of having any authority in a dog catcher position in the smallest local government.

The horde of NGOs make such measures absolutely necessary because their intent is to rule over us in an atheistic, socialistic tyranny.

To those of you who think this is unnesessary: Remember what you have just read. Keep it in mind because the day draws near when you will wish you had paid attention.

NGOs operate with the Constitutional authority that freedom of association gives them. Whatever their agendas are and whether or not you agree with them, the First amendment is their constitutional authority.

If Patrick Henry had gotten his way, we would not live in a free country but a Christian version of Iran. I'm glad he didn't.

On unconstitutional acts of the Fedgov I'll accept your point is valid. Same goes for wantonly and randomly occupying half the world (It's profoundly stupid).

 

[ebenz47037]

The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 13th, 2010 12:13 PM

toldailytopic: If you were in charge how would you fix the ailing economy?

One of the first things I think should be done is to make all elected officials except for judges and sheriffs give up the fat paychecks they voted for themselves. Since most of their expenses are covered by the taxpayers when they're in office, they don't need the salaries they get. Since they're not working full time in Washington, they don't deserve those huge salaries anyway.

BTW, my mom asked me what I would do if I was elected president about two or three weeks ago. I told her, "The first thing I would do is write an executive order giving up the presidential salary. I would already have my home, food, security, and transportation paid for if I was elected. And, my current income is guaranteed to me for life. So, why would I need that money? I would want it to go strictly toward our military and our interstate highways, though."

From Wikipedia:

The president earns a $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment. The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and went into effect in 2001.

The White House in Washington, D.C. serves as the official place of residence for the president; he is entitled to use its staff and facilities, including medical care, recreation, housekeeping, and security services. Naval Support Facility Thurmont, popularly known as Camp David, is a mountain based military camp in Frederick County, Maryland used as a country retreat and for high alert protection of the president and his guests. Blair House, located adjacent to the Old Executive Office Building at the White House Complex and Lafayette Park, is a complex of four connected townhouses exceeding 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) of floor space which serves as the president's official guest house and as a secondary residence for the president if needed.

For ground travel, the president uses the presidential state car, which is an armored limousine built on a heavily modified Cadillac-based chassis. One of two identical Boeing VC-25 aircraft, which are extensively modified versions of Boeing 747-200B airliners, serve as long distance travel for the president, and are referred to as Air Force One while the president is on board. The president also uses a United States Marine Corps helicopter, designated Marine One when the president is aboard.

The United States Secret Service is charged with protecting the sitting president and his family. As part of their protection, presidents, first ladies, their children and other immediate family members, and other prominent persons and locations are assigned Secret Service codenames. The use of such names was originally for security purposes and dates to a time when sensitive electronic communications were not routinely encrypted; today, the names simply serve for purposes of brevity, clarity and tradition.

That's a lot of money, considering that he doesn't have to pay his bills (not counting credit card bills, here). And, the retirement is almost as bad (same source as above):

Beginning in 1959, all living former presidents were granted a pension, an office and a staff. The pension has increased numerous times with Congressional approval. Retired presidents now receive a pension based on the salary of the current administration's cabinet secretaries, which is $191,300 as of 2008. Some former presidents have also collected congressional pensions. The Former Presidents Act, as amended, also provides former presidents with travel funds and franking privileges.

Until 1997, all former presidents, and their families, were protected by the Secret Service until the president's death. The last president to have lifetime Secret Service protection is Bill Clinton; George W. Bush and all subsequent presidents will be protected by the Secret Service for a maximum of ten years after leaving office.

Sounds like a lot of waste going on, just with their salaries.

 

[elohiym]

Implement a new interest free national medium of exchange.

Encourage local mediums of exchange.

Repeal the Federal Reserve Act.

Repeal the personal income tax.

End deposit expansion.

Declare all debts based on deposit expansion void.

 

[bybee]

Curious

Curious

Implement a new interest free national medium of exchange.

Encourage local mediums of exchange.

Repeal the Federal Reserve Act.

Repeal the personal income tax.

End deposit expansion.

Declare all debts based on deposit expansion void.

What about the flat 10% (or thereabouts) tax which has been proposed? It would allow no one to be exempt. All would pay the tax except those at the poverty line.
I'm curious about people's thoughts on this proposal. I am not knowledgeable about economics so must listen to others.
Could this work?

 

[ebenz47037]

What about the flat 10% (or thereabouts) tax which has been proposed? It would allow no one to be exempt. All would pay the tax except those at the poverty line.
I'm curious about people's thoughts on this proposal. I am not knowledgeable about economics so must listen to others.
Could this work?

Personally, I'm all for a flat tax of 10 to 15 percent. The only thing I disagree with you on is that everyone, age 21 to 65, should have to pay it. Until 21, most kids are still under their parent's roofs. And, after paying taxes for more than 40 years, I believe that the seniors deserve a break.