THe Real Problem is

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

After much thought I have figured out the real problem with America and our Govt. We have two sides that play to a base, that try to fix problems that may or may not exist.

If we could just all agree, before the debate starts, what the problem is, then come together with common sense solutions to fix them that do not infringe on individual liberties,Often time we start talking about the fixes before we identify the problem.

Can We all Agree, without starting a debate as to how to fix them that

A. The Medical industry in this country is broken.We need major reform.. Costs are way out of control. Something has to be done. We can not keep doing what we are doing. We do not have a great system and it is not working. If we can all just agree to that maybe we can find a fix

B. We have got to figure out a way to keep guns out of the hands of Mentally ill and criminals that does not impede the rights of honest law abiding citizens

C. Entitlement Programs have done little to lift the poor out of poverty.In fact they have done the opposite They are bloated and full of fraud and way to little of each dollar is helping those that need it the most.We need major reform that rewards work and self reliance. We also have to ensure we provide basic help to those who truly need it. No child in this country should ever be hungry, want for medical care, or live in abuse. Howeverwe have got to get able bodied adults off the system

D. Military cuts have got to be part of the talks. We can not afford any longer to police the world.

E. We cannot keep growing the debt and we can not keep raising taxes.We need a tax system that is flat, and all rules apply to all equally. One that politicians can not bend to reward donors and special interests. Also one that places no tax burden on the working poor.

F. Congress nor the president can pass or sign any law that they are not subject to themselves.

G. All Americans are equal under the law.We can have no law that denies or gives special rights to any group because of Race,Religion or sexual orientation.

Can you imagine if Pubs or Dems could all agree the above are problems then find Bi-partisan ways to fix them

H. Illegal immigration hurts America and it has to be addressed.

Ok I gave no solutions. Would everyone agree the above list are problems that need to be addressed no matter how different our solutions may be.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

I agree with most of this, but C) has been repeatedly proven false, over and over again. Abusers are in a VERY small minority. G smacks of the attitude that 'protection for the minority from the majority is wrong' and 'the majority is always right.' History has taught us better. We all deserve equal rights but sadly rights have to be listed explicitly as belonging to people of colour, GLBT people or people of religions which aren't Christianity. And as for H? Let's just say my views on that one are strong and you will find them ridiculous.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Not a Tailor

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I agree with most of this, but C) has been repeatedly proven false, over and over again. Abusers are in a VERY small minority. G smacks of the attitude that 'protection for the minority from the majority is wrong' and 'the majority is always right.' History has taught us better. We all deserve equal rights but sadly rights have to be listed explicitly as belonging to people of colour, GLBT people or people of religions which aren't Christianity. And as for H? Let's just say my views on that one are strong and you will find them ridiculous.

As to G so you don't think all people should have the same rights regardless of Race,Sexuality or Religion

ODD and Racist

[lostinblue 1,989]

I agree with most of this, but C) has been repeatedly proven false, over and over again. Abusers are in a VERY small minority. G smacks of the attitude that 'protection for the minority from the majority is wrong' and 'the majority is always right.' History has taught us better. We all deserve equal rights but sadly rights have to be listed explicitly as belonging to people of colour, GLBT people or people of religions which aren't Christianity. And as for H? Let's just say my views on that one are strong and you will find them ridiculous.

C) has been repeatedly proven false, over and over again. Abusers are in a VERY small minority.

Abusers are a large majority. We just look at things differently. When a white women picks a man to have a child with knowing that HE cannot or will not provide support for his offspring with the clear understanding that the government WILL pay for the upkeepthat is an abuser. When a white man gets a women in a "family way"knowing he cannot support that child or the other 5 children by 4 different women ...HE is also an abuser. When a white boy drops out of school in the 10th grade HE is an abuser knowing that the government will provide for his upkeep. ......Look at that biker in NY City who attacked the nice Asian family.....He has 20 arrest citations.....IF any one of his family gets government assistance due to the fact he cannot or will not get a job to provide for his family then HE is an abuser.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

C) has been repeatedly proven false, over and over again. Abusers are in a VERY small minority.

Abusers are a large majority. We just look at things differently. When a white women picks a man to have a child with knowing that HE cannot or will not provide support for his offspring with the clear understanding that the government WILL pay for the upkeepthat is an abuser. When a white man gets a women in a "family way"knowing he cannot support that child or the other 5 children by 4 different women ...HE is also an abuser. When a white boy drops out of school in the 10th grade HE is an abuser knowing that the government will provide for his upkeep. ......Look at that biker in NY City who attacked the nice Asian family.....He has 20 arrest citations.....IF any one of his family gets government assistance due to the fact he cannot or will not get a job to provide for his family then HE is an abuser.

I think we all know the entitlement system is full of fraud waste and abuse,and does not help poverty

Now if both sides could admit it, then set about ways to fix it, While still ensuring that we help those that are in true need.

There would be Billions saved

and

More money for the truly needy

[Darnell 8,478]

I dunno, if you wiped out all of the monies donated by the Koch brothers, retro-actively back to day 0, the landscape would be different.

[Danno 1,228]

I dunno, if you wiped out all of the monies donated by the Koch brothers, retro-actively back to day 0, the landscape would be different.

Of all the big money donors, why focus on just one?

You could have mentioned Bloomberg, he might not give as much but his targeted donations have a huge impact on those specific areas.

[Darnell 8,478]

why focus on 1, just one?

Oh, that's easy. The Tea Party wouldn't exist. But I just assume (rightly or wrongly) that anyone knowing about the Koch Brothers or the Tea Party would already know this..

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

As to G so you don't think all people should have the same rights regardless of Race,Sexuality or Religion

ODD and Racist

I think, absolutely, that all people should have exactly the same rights. I am also inherently familiar with something called systematic racism. I am also inherently familiar with the fact that a woman makes 80 cents for every dollar a man makes and that that percentage drops if that woman is a person of colour. I am also inherently familiar with the systematic oppression of peaceful religions by a majority who sticks their fingers in their ears in order to keep saying that religion is evil.

I am VERY familiar with the fact that, when it comes to G, the phrasing used in the OP is used as a bait and switch tactic to remove protected classes and therefore effectively removing rights from individuals.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think about anyone can agree you listed some problems that need to be fixed. But that is "not the problem". The problme is that each party uses the problems for political gain and power...NOT to solve the problem. The "problems" are not problems to politicians. They are job security, gauranteed "need" for government and "need" for government programs.

The solutons are often basic and pllied to other problems but forgotten where they would really work. Example...to enforce "Obamacare" they impose a TAX if you do not comply. Why do we NOT do the same thing to assure compliance with wage/hour laws? Employ an illegal and exploit them for profit and WHAMO! Tax penalty! No court, nothing. Slam the doors closed and padlock them, seize the property and sell it to pay taxes due for violating the law. No more illegal aliens beng exploited for profit. 11 million new jobs paying at least minimum wage and medicare/medicaid/SS/workman's comp and maybe even benefits! Why has this not been done? Because it will work and it will solve the problem that no one wants to solve.

11-12 million new jobs would make a difference in our economy. It would make a difference in Mexico's economy also. Tough shitski.

Why not eliminate the nonsense we have now by requiring budgets be passed or Congress is ejected and new elections are held. Previous members would be disqualified from running for one term, minimum. If they cannot do the basic job they are required by law to do then GTFO! and let someone else do it. Problem solved. There will be NO governmentshut downs. Other countries do it...so can we. On October 1st the only people that SHOULD HAVE BEEN out of work were every Senator and Representative! If you PLAY with our government you will be ELIMINATED. Get lost! GTFO!

FAIR TAX would create millions of jobs and billions in investment but could not be manipulated by politicians. So it is bad.

Term limits? I hate the idea. We are supposed to pay attention and get rid of people that do not perform, but we don't. So lets do this instead....

Limit campaigns to 30 days prior to elections. Eliminate all primary elections for any office. These are party functions, not government functions. members of the parties can nominate their candidates...just like they used to!

Appoint the Senate. Eliminate elections for Senators. They are supposed to represent STATES, not people. It was a big mistake to change them to elections. Go back to the way it was. We do not need to elimnate campaign contributions...we just need to eliminate campaigns for one house of the legislature. The founding fathers were right to give equal power to a chamber that is NOT subject to election. Senators should be appointed by state legislatures they way it was designed.

Medical care? FIRST, lets try allowing insurance companies to compete the same way auto and home insurance companies do. I want to see little lizards (without the annoying British accent pelase!) advertising health insurace on my computer screen in pop-ups. THEN costs will go down. Strictly limit legal liability and eliinate the endless costs for "defensive medicine" It is necessary to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars before getting simple cataract surgery simply to cover the Doctor's @ss from me suing him! Ridiculous. His malpractice insurance ain't cheap either.

If that doesn't get it under control, then we go to plan B. What is plan B? I don't know but it is NOT Obamacare

Student interest rates? Who cares? WHY is it costing Pasha $47,000 per year for education? Nearly $200,000 for a stinking Bachelors degree? $300,000+ for a masters in Math? Why is he taking Sociology? Biology? Foreign language? He is already fluent in THREE languages, #######!!!!!!!!!!???????????? In the FSU for a math degree you do not study biology. You get a masters degree in 5 years...not 6. If that is what you want, you enter a 5 year master's program. It is a 3+2 program. Sergey had a Masters degree at age 20. Most would have this at age 21, Sergey started college one year early. Why are we delaying it until age 24? Answer...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ About $150,000 per student right now (private school, maybe $60,000+ in public universities)

Cut the COST in half and forget the rates for loans!

Some else come up with something. I'm tired.

You will see that not everyone agrees with me. Hence... politics

we need to eliminate the SYSTEM that allows Obama...or Boehner...or McConnell...or Reid...to hold up OUR government functions, remember it IS ours right? We need to eliminate a tax system that allows the possibility of politicians using it for their advantage. It needs to produce revenue...income...and that's it. We need to tell Congress..."Do your job or YOU'RE FIRED!" We cannot allow these monkeys to take control of OUR government.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I dunno, if you wiped out all of the monies donated by the Koch brothers, retro-actively back to day 0, the landscape would be different.

OK

So then let's put the Senate back as appointed, the way it was intended. You just eliminated the Koch brothers from Senate campaigns and since the Senate must also approve legislation, they can spend all they want to get Representativies in the House and it will do them no good.

Allow ANY amount to be contributed to ANY US Representative in the House...but require they reveal the source. It will be self defeating.

You only need to eliminate the influence in ONE chamber to affect both. Checks and balances are really wonderful if they are not eliminated

Instead of fighting endless, stupid litigation over the amount that can be contributed...which will always be "worked around" no matter what you do...just eliminate elections where we can. While we are at it...eliminate primary elections at the same time. No need for them And then let's limit campagning to 30 days prior to an election and recess congress for this time.

The Koch Brothers can take their money and ####### off. If will do them no good.

AGAIN, we need to eliminate the system that allows abuse.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

why focus on 1, just one?

Oh, that's easy. The Tea Party wouldn't exist. But I just assume (rightly or wrongly) that anyone knowing about the Koch Brothers or the Tea Party would already know this..

If you elimineated the system that allows this it would benefit the Tea Party by strippig self imposed power from the Dems and Repubs.

Eliminate as much as possible "party politics"...

No primary elections

No House Majority and Minority "leader", No whips,

The only congressional postitions mentioned in the Constitution are the "President of the Senate" (VP of the US) and the "Speaker of the House" The speaker's constitutional role is in line for the Presidency and nothing else. Any duties or powers they have are imparted by the parties themselves and rules the congressman made for themselves. The parties have taken over congress and are running our government for their benefit. Political parties are for "profit corporations" and nothing else. Even the committees have no constitutional authority to exist...or be paid for...by you and me. What happened to Representatives WRITING and introducing legislation? Now we have ONE guy, John Boehner in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate that can say "NO, we will not consider this bill" WHO T F are you? How did they get THAT power? They gave it to themselves!

This is nonsense.

And you wonder why I am neither Dem or Repub? They are both revolting! They are identical in every way except in which of your rights they will restrict. Gay people should be able to get married! AND carry concealed hadguns!

Eliminate this nonsense.

[Darnell 8,478]

Gary, sorry - I've read yer stuff, and it seems like you went on a massive tangent from my stuff.

Perhaps yer stuff is really stand-alone, not connected to my stuff in any way whatsoever.

[Rich and Wen 101]

I would add one additional proviso: Legislative districts will be drawn so that they all contain the same number of people. Period. No gerrymandering to ensure a safe seat. "These monkeys" have already taken control of OUR government, by gerrymandered legislative districts. Most of Congress is in safe seats and fear primary challenges from their own party more than facing the voters in the general election.

[BatmanUSA 105]

I agree with the list of problems.

I agree with stopping primary elections... this plays into the 2 party system..

I agree with limiting campaigning to only 30 days prior to an election..

If you stop all political campaign donations, that leaves the taxpayers to foot the bill.. where would that money come from?

All political offices should have term limits, why is congress/senate exempt.? (most people do not pay attention and/or continue to vote for the person who gives free money to others)..

whats your definition of an entitlement program.?? social security ? unemployment ? food stamps.???

Is it possible that the United States has outgrown itself.??? Has it become too big to manage ???

Edited October 14, 2013 by BatmanUSA