You're President of the US, what would you do?

Oh, sorry Enmos. I suppose there're more than one reason for me not becoming a president

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madanthonywayne,
As I am not an american citizen, I can't become the president. So will settle for a few comment on your list. The list itself was surprisingly good, but there are a couple of changes that could be made.

"Repeal Sarbanes-Oxley"
I think I would modify it rather than repealing it, the implementation costs are already mostly been made, and we could retain the good aspects by streamlining/simplifying it without ditching it all together. Ditching it would be plan B I suppose.

"Massively increase funding into alternative energy sources in a "moon shot" type program."

Now that's were I am most sceptical. I am not certain that the government people who were to give out this money will have enough information to 'bet' on the right technology. If Co2 emssions is the problem, the best alternative would be to tax Co2, i.e. a tax on energy sources proportional to its Co2 emission. This allow the market to come up with the most efficient solutions through R&D and consumer choice. The total tax burden should not go up, i.e. taxes need to be cut in other areas for this to happen.

 

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I would resign immedeatly...and call it the biggest mistake of my life to even consider something like this.

Now if I was president of Russia...I would probably be just like Putin except I would invest more money into nanotechnology, life services (water, thermal heating), and space exploration.

 

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That was great! I agree with everything, down to Dennis Leary as press secretary. He'd be great. I can just see him at a press conference. Smoking, talking a mile a minute, and ending by telling the press corp to fuck off.

 

I would sign a bill that would make everyone under 18 years old, 18 years old, by law.

And another one to make it mandatory to wear your underwear on top of your pants on tuesdays.

 

It might be possible to reform it. I know that right now it seems to be doing a lot more harm than good, so just trash canning it would be simpler.

My goal is more national security than decreasing carbon output. Decreased carbon output would be a side effect, and would help sell the idea. It's our dependence on middle eastern oil that keeps us involved in all the crap over there.

I'd love to see oil become obsolete. It would defund the Islamofascists. With their funding cut off, middle eastern extremists would be no more dangerous than African dictators.

 

Oil and each of its byproducts can be manufactured with relative ease from practically anything organic. Plant material, slaughterhouse offal, whatever you have. The problem here is that it will acutally have to be manufactured where it is currently free for the taking. Nature did us a favor (or perhaps made us the subject of a rather cruel practical joke) and made vast underground lakes of the stuff just ready to be tapped.

The alternatives are all there but they all have the same curse tied to them: we actually have to work for them. Its quite doable, but we will pay for the independence. And, if some other major power doesn't switch over to alternate forms of power, they are going to get a significant boost in strength relative to whoever does take that leap.

Its a game of chicken. Everybody holds on to naturally created oil as long as they can, only jumping out of the marker right before something cuts off their supply. The chance to see the middle east turn back into desert and goats has to be weighed against China eating us alive.

 

I'd drive out the troublemakers, unite my citizens, and then engage in a glorious war to conquer the Earth!

 

Please explain how cutting corporate taxes will benefit the people ? So the flat tax increases, and the poor get even more poorer.. I'm glad your not running for President, you'd be laughed off before you even got in.

I don't know much about the US's economical problems, but I would not cut the progressive tax system or Introduce a Flat Tax. I would try to curb consumer spending by putting up tax rates, but again, I'd have to rely on my experts.

Other things I'd do.

• Increase govt. spending in essential areas Social Security, decrease military spending(by closing bases overseas etc)
• Apologise to the people of Iraq, Ensure that they have basic services, and kick the ass of the Iraqi Parliment for taking to many damned holidays.
• Create processing centres for Immigrants and assess their value to the local economy. Ensure a minimum wage for all workers.
• Shut down the Preemptive strike policy and the Monroe Doctrine
• Stop executing kids under 21.
• Ask the UN into Iraq and Afghanistan to provide more infracstructure, Ask for a UN peacekeeping force to protect vital infrastructure.
• Increase ties with Allies, give Australia concessions in Agriculture, open FTA for NZ.
• Stop trying to start a war with Iran.
• Accept that its time to turn our focus inwards.
• Get a national Healthcare system. (using money from cut military spending)
• Kick out the damn contractors and use the Corps of engineers.
• Under the US NHS, veterans should be given priority.
• Ensure that NAFTA does not have economic repercussions at home (ensure that workers here are compensated etc)
• Increase Corporate Taxes.

but of course, Lucky for me , I'm in Australia, So I won't have to fix up all these problems, I just have to ensure that the bases in Australia are closed, Border security is made more humane, that the Aboriginal communities have proper healthcare and govt. housing. and that we get a more independent foreign policy, by putting more troops in Afghanistan than I raq.

 

Making the Government a Military State

 

You can't really tax corporations. They either just pass on the cost to the consumer or (more likely) move somewhere else. Then "the people" lose all the jobs created by the corporation. What's the difference, anyway? You'll get your taxes on the incomes of everyone who works for or owns the corporation.

The flat tax wouldn't even start until 15 or 20k, so many of the poor would pay squat.

We're massively in debt. And social security will devour our entire budget soon even without any increases due to demographics! So please, no increases there.

Our apology is staying there until things are set straight.

I'm against minimum wage. Let people work for whatever pay they're willing to work for.

Nah, I'd like to keep my options open.

Why should a 20 year old who murders not be executed while a 21 year old is? I'd have no minimum age. Decide on a case by case basis.

Screw the UN.

Nothing against Australia or NZ, but why should those issues be high on the US president's priority list? And why should we give them concessions?

I'd also prefer to not go to war with Iran. But I'd hate to see Isreal wiped off the map. So it depends on what Iran does.

Still can't afford it. We must pay off the debt before any new entitlement programs are started.

Here's something we agree on. No NHS, but Vets should definitely be treated well. Sadly, they sometimes recieve substandard care in their government run healthcare system.

I don't know much about Australian aboriginals, but why do they need government housing? Can't they work? And doesn't everyone in OZ get government healthcare?

 

Actually, under law, corporations are a legal "person", so if you can tax a person, you should also tax corporations. If you want to stop taxing corporation, take away the benefits they get from being a legal "person"

Right, and the flat tax would also ensure that all your FTA's will have to be heavily modified.

No, your moral obligations is staying there until things are set straight, Your apology is for mishandling the occupation and infrastructure of Iraq.

Right, so when all the employers get to rip off the working class, you'll be happy.

This particular option allows you to strike at people without any substantial evidence. This also increases your countries reputation in the world as a warlike, imperial nation. And when you eventually start self destructing, the rest of the world won't be eager to help you.

Under the law here a 21 year old is seen as more responsible, however, I see your point, So why not abolish the entire thing and just use life in prison, (unprivatised) .

Like it or not, the UN is the other option, in regards to Iraq, No other country will touch that mess, but the UN might.

Hmph, well, we'll remember next time theres a conflict like Korea,Vietnam,Afghanistan, Iraq.. .. and for gods sake, Its Australia, not AUSTRIA.. Even if you don't alter the FTA, at least get the damn country right.

You know perfectly well that Israel is capable of defending herself from Iran. The one thing she's not capable of defending herself from is international opinon, So, quitting doing the dying for her, or the defending. and listen to your own intelligence first.

I'm not an economic expert, but heres a compromise, why not have a 2 party system like Australia?, We've got both private and federal.. under the federal, everyone gets the same benefits, under the private, they get red carpet treatment.

Yes, but in rural areas, good hospitals are hard to find.
Or for that matter, Good doctors.

 

This is a good point which leads to another reform idea...stop all US aid to Israel. No more free gifts of three billion a year!!!

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html

"Since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing that given to any other state. It has been the largest annual recipient of direct economic and military assistance since 1976, and is the largest recipient in total since World War Two, to the tune of well over $140 billion (in 2004 dollars).

Israel receives about $3 billion in direct assistance each year, roughly one-fifth of the foreign aid budget, and worth about $500 a year for every Israeli. This largesse is especially striking since Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capita income roughly equal to that of South Korea or Spain."

 

Sorry, but I think someone beat you to that.

--Increase corporate tax and do away with corporate welfare.
--Abolish the Federal Reserve system
--Cut aid to other countries until my country was well taken care of.
--Completely revamp the educational system so we no longer produce a nation of idiots.
--Make racism a crime punishable by death.
--Cut current energy spending in half and increase green fuel spending by 5000%
--Make "Made in Amercia" mean something again.
--Any American company that out sources to other nations will be taxed at a new rate of 50% of gross receipts.
--Make gun ownership mandatory until crime is reduced by 90%

Just a start.

 

Yeah, I forgot about the Gun control thing, *adds to imaginary list*

 

But you can incorporate anywhere. It's a global system. Raise taxes on corporations and you just chase them out of your country. Not good for business. Like I said, tax the people.

So what. Modify them.

Few people work for minimum wage, anyway. Raising it makes it harder for low skilled workers to find jobs, and encourages employers to hire fewer employees.

I wouldn't count on the rest of the world helping us anyway. It's a jungle out there. Show weakness, and you'll get attacked, not helped.

Because I believe the only just punishment for murder is death.

I didn't say Austria, did I?

Isreal is a small country, it wouldn't take many nukes to completely destroy it.

We already have medicaid for the poor, and private healthcare for everyone else.

 

Fair enough, I would think that nuclear powerstations is most feasible option, but I would leave that decision to the market rather than the government.

 

Hold on, one question, "you're president of the united states", sure, but do I still have to follow the constitution? Can't I be a president out of a coup?

 

I'd get rid of as many laws as I could, and privatize EVERYTHING. Deregulation, repeal restriction on stuff like Uranium and what not to make building power plants more attractive.
Spotted owls and Atlantic salmon up for sale on eBay, etc.

And see if I couldn't get rid of that pesky interstate commerce clause in the Constitution. Also, eminent domain would have to go.


[edit]
I don't mean a spotted owl; I mean someone would have ownership of all spotted owls. He could then sell the spotted owls to someone else, such as myself who wishes to eat endangered animals. If you didn't like that, you would have to outbid me. Alternatively, Greenpeace could incorporate or something, and begin buying up endangered animals.

 

The ultimate capitalism, eh?

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No, it'd be far better for the nation to be under a military regime.