Author Topic: What do you want our government to do  (Read 5695 times)

stoneaxe

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What do you want our government to do
« on: November 01, 2012, 07:46:14 PM »
Given the obviously very polarizing nature of the campaign and the back and forth of the presidential thread I thought I'd try to seek some common ground....not sure if this will work but maybe we can all add our thoughts to this and see if maybe we will find we aren't so far apart as it seems.

Before you post please respect the idea behind this. No arguments about your idea, no put downs of the ideas of others. I'm not looking to define how you would get to your idea or whether you think the Dems or Repubs plans have a better chance of getting us there. Obviously some ideas or wishes will show us to be to the left or the right in fact I'd like to see us post our bias and where we think we are politically as part of the 1st post. I'm just kind of wondering what we want from our government and what we don't want them doing as well.

This may be dumb but I have a crushing headache and am getting tired of the acrimony...my own included...starting to be displayed in the Presidential Politics thread.

« Last Edit: November 01, 2012, 07:48:02 PM by stoneaxe »
Bob

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stoneaxe

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2012, 08:18:55 PM »
I think of myself as a centrist with a lean to the right. I'm independent politically and have never voted the party line. Fiscally conservative, socially accepting with some definite limitations. I believe strongly in individual responsibility.

Some of these are platitudes.... :P Things we may all agree on as a goal but disagree on the best methods to get there.

Create an environment that gives my children better opportunity

Provide for a strong defense.

Provide the infrastructure that we all depend on, roads, bridges, ports, etc..

An education rooted in the fundamentals of learning in a safe and secure atmosphere for every kid

Sorry some pretty basic stuff here...my head is exploding and I gotta go close my eyes. I'll add some meat tomorrow.
Bob

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ObviousSup

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2012, 08:31:46 PM »
To remove the PFD requirement!  ;D

808

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2012, 08:34:02 PM »
Get the heck out of the way. Perfect example is this storm. In order to help everyone recover quicker Obama  "cut the red tap" so everything would be more efficient. Why don't they do that every day?

Glider

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2012, 08:46:11 PM »
Start by telling the truth
Defend the constitution (honor the oath they took) maybe even read it !
Put America first, not themselves
Defend the borders
Ensure a safe food supply
Pass fair business laws
Spend no more than they take in (balanced budget)
Review why we have troops in 135 counties around the world.  I'm sure a large % of them could come home.  

Stop social engineering, leave that to the private sector

One arguing point:  With all the money this country waist, we should be able to provide medical and dental for all kids up to 18.   After that adults should be responsible for them selves.

Basic starting points

freetobeme

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2012, 09:01:21 PM »
boy this could be a long list.  my immediate utopia...

Do:
provide free or damn near free healthcare and higher education to every American as both should be viewed as a human right, tax all citizens the same % of income, make adoption an easy and cheap process, give our troops sufficient financial-education-mental health-vocational supports, legalize drugs across the board, secure America as the leader in education-healthcare-industry & innovation but most of all general happiness

Don't:
invade other countries unprovoked and become a terrorist nation yourself, make laws based on religious dogma, depend on rich people to spend their money so middle class and poor folk can get some, kill people for killing someone else as that just makes you a killer  ???, continue to allow America to be known for guns-greed and ego
« Last Edit: November 01, 2012, 09:14:01 PM by freetobeme »
"Everything you want is on the other side of fear" - George Addair

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Weasels wake

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2012, 09:09:28 PM »
Only what the Constitution says and no more.
It takes a quiver to do that.

PaddleAnything

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2012, 02:43:56 AM »
Simple answer:  "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity"

I'm far less concerned about the direction of the federal government than I am the recent history and current direction of my local and state government.  The corruption, waste and interference at the local level directly impacts every aspect of my life and child's future.  Everything from the environment, education, development is being traded like a commodity by my locally elected representative.  Because one party has been in control for going on 20 years, these bastards feel they can get away with anything to the point that the FBI had to get involved. 

Sure, the 8 years of GWB and 6 years of a Republican controlled Congress took the country down the wrong road, IMHO; but, at least there was the check of a minority party in the Senate.  The same check controlled Obama and the Democrats.  The only checks at the state and local level are bank drafts, sweet deals and free meals. 

ADKSUPr

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2012, 04:32:31 AM »
Respect each other and work together in good faith.


lucabrasi

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2012, 04:50:11 AM »
Things we may all agree on as a goal but disagree on the best methods to get there.
I think that is pretty spot on.

Ask not what your government can do, but ask what you can do for your government.
  (or something like that)


SlatchJim

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2012, 07:06:25 AM »
Only what the Constitution says and no more.
Amen.

The problem with free health care and free education is that nothing is free.  Roads aren't free, military isn't free, and locking up criminals isn't free.  You pay for everything via taxes. Socialism is a great idea until you run out of other peoples money ...and then you're Greece.

Menlo SUPr

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2012, 07:16:37 AM »
Only what the Constitution says and no more.
Amen.

The problem with free health care and free education is that nothing is free.  Roads aren't free, military isn't free, and locking up criminals isn't free.  You pay for everything via taxes. Socialism is a great idea until you run out of other peoples money ...and then you're Greece.

The benefits of an educated workforce help the entire community (positive externality), so there's a good arguement for why society should pay for everyone's education. It makes economic sense.

SlatchJim

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2012, 07:34:12 AM »
I fully agree that there is a good argument for it Menlo, but I would probably be on the other side of that argument, or taking the view that it is an issue best handled at the state level.

I'm very invested in this argument by the way.  I've offered to help pay for the education of both children.  My 24 year old son, would have wasted my money as fast as he was allowed to were it not for certain requirements I put there to insure it wouldn't be wasted.  He ended after one failed semester and now supports himself just fine without the college education.  My daughter is 2.5 years into her BA and seems to be benefitting from the education, although that won't be certain until she's got the degree and the value is apparent.  I'll be $50k worth of chips into the game by the end.

Many kids benefit more from the effort it takes to get there than the actual college experience itself.  A walk through UCSB's Isla Vista after the Halloween festivities would be all the evidence I'd need to prove that point... (something I did last weekend).  Giving things away for free skews your perspective of the cost of the given item.
« Last Edit: November 02, 2012, 07:36:15 AM by SlatchJim »

PonoBill

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2012, 12:45:21 PM »
The fundamental problem with "free" is that becomes the value of the good or service, and then it gets wasted profligately. The wasting can't continue, so someone gets put in charge as the gatekeeper. And suddenly it's not really free. The quality declines until it's worth pretty much what you pay for it. We've had free K-12 education in this country for a very long time. I consider it babysitting on a grand scale. A few minutes of man-in-the-street questions would pretty much support that opinion.

You can get a tremendous education for free on the internet. Kahn academy, college classes from Harvard, MIT, Standford, you name it. You can learn anything you want, you just won't have a piece of paper.

I'd have to think long and hard to answer this question. We have to start from where we are, not where we'd like to be. I'd start with some very straightforward goals--reduce the deficit would be #1.
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ObviousSup

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Re: What do you want our government to do
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2012, 08:06:40 PM »
  A walk through UCSB's Isla Vista after the Halloween festivities would be all the evidence I'd need to prove that point... (something I did last weekend).  Giving things away for free skews your perspective of the cost of the given item.

I'm sorry no one told you that parents should never go through IV right after Halloween..  But it is University California Surfing Branch after all...  ;D

Haven't been there since the 80's for Halloween but figure it should still be a wild time. Though it looks like the kids aren't  falling off the cliffs like they used to.

 


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