Do things need to get worse before America will wake up and smell what is cooking?

The discussion has already gone off an decided itself, but I have to ask: what's your point? What is the problem that you have, what to you want to see happen, and what results do you expect?

What Republican changes are you talking about? What effects are they having and why do you think those effects are bad? What do you propose would help? What should this revolution you keep mentioning do and why is that better for the American public?

The entire post boils down to "it's bad now and we should fix it". These kinds of nebulous complaints don't further any discussion.

 

A plan is not a litany of complaints.

 

Zeitgeist!!!

 

Schpazz!!!

 

Thanks guys. I didn't google for it as I trust your opinions on it more.

 

I appreciate that which is why I was sheepish to direct you to the official party website, we all know how informative they can be. I actually think that Reason Magazine Website is the best contemporary representative to the philosophy. It's an easy read.

 

You want a plan? OK here's my plan...

1. Institute publicly funded elections with a $100 limit on private donations and donations by corporations or organizations banned.

The biggest issue I see is that because of how the system is set up now, politicians have to spend about half their time begging for money to get re-elected. It doesn't matter if you're good or bad, or which party you're with, the money chase is constant. This means that in order to get elected or re-elected any candidate has to pander to those with money, which is often not the same as those he or she is elected to represent.

2. Abolish the electoral college and institute Instant Runoff Voting for Federal office.

IRV (or AV on your side of the pond) produces results more closely tied to the will of the electorate and also gives minor parties a better chance of participating in the government. This system is used successfully in many parts of the world.

3. Institute national single payer health care

As I think everyone knows, the US has the most expensive health care system in the developed world yet produces the worst outcomes. A system such as "Medicare for all" where the government is the single payer but services are performed by private providers would go a long ways towards rectifying the situation. This would replace Medicare and Medicaid as well as the current private insurance scheme with a system which is funded by a payroll tax split 60% / 40% between employees and employers. Given the greater efficiencies of the government run system (3% overhead instead of 30%) the actual cost to employers would be less in many cases and would get them out of the healthcare business. Costs would also be more predictable. Malpractice reform and mandatory insurance to providers tied to performance would also help control costs.

4. Reform the tax code to encourage job creation and domestic production while penalizing speculation

I'm a huge believer in using tax code to drive better behavior, both for individuals and corporations. The boom and bust cycle the US economy has been on in recent decades is not good for anyone except those raking in millions at the top as everyone else gets screwed. Large taxes on short-term capitol gains would tend to discourage the "make a pile now and who cares what happens next week" mentality. In addition, regulating the commodities market to require buyers to actually take delivery thereby keeping speculators from artificially rising prices. The overarching goal would be, as much as possible, the removal those who make money without creating any value and injecting volatility from the system.

There are lots of other changes I would like to see happen, but those four concrete concepts would, I think, make the biggest difference.

 

Good post! I agree with your first point whole heartedly. As for the others I don't feel informed enough to comment but I am looking forward to the debate.

 

www.lpuk.org
It's a new party, they only got founded in 2008, but they'll be in mainstream politics before you know it... I hope.

 

Looking at their site I doubt it. Clipart, simplistic policies and the abolition of the NHS equal fail to me.

 

They want to replace NHS with something better. But we've already had a long thread about that. I still think the NHS is a massive black hole, and you only have to look at how little Germany and Singapore spend for higher rated health care to see that.
And economically they're the only party who seem to get it. Phase out income tax, get rid of council tax and replace it with local sales tax, reduce business tax and market regulations, leave the EU and join the EFTA instead, and introduce free banks.

 

@cthippo, are you running for office anytime soon?

seriously, couldn't agree more with your "plan," particularly #4. tax code appears to be all we have to stem the short-sighted, runaway wealth game.

 

cthippo for President 2012!


I'd vote for you.

 

Absolutely.

 

And go up against the Nexxo / Bindi ticket? I think not.

 

Is that a UK platform, or a Taiwanese one?

 

They want to reduce the government to the smallest entity possible, remove the welfare state and have a completely free market economy? I'll give one example of why I think this is simplistic and wrong.

In a free market economy the more in demand a commodity is the more expensive it is. It is widely reported that the UK currently has about 1 million fewer homes than we need which keeps prices artificially high. We have a low income worker who has just been told he does not have to pay tax any more. Great more money! Unfortunately he lives in a local authority house subsidised by the government and now that the welfare state is gone he has to pay the market value to buy or rent the house. Oh dear as housing is in demand he now has to pay more for his house so less money to save for a pension. Health care is now in the hands of insurance companies so he better keep on paying those premiums in case he or a family member gets sick. That's less money to save and put towards a pension. In our free market economy Tesco goes on a spending spree and becomes a bigger monopoly than it is and starts raising food prices. Bugger more of those tax savings are being spent elsewhere just to survive. Oh no! Here comes a harsh winter and energy prices sky rocket! Now he's too old to work and does not have a pension and cant afford his rent. What happens with no welfare state to help?

Simplistic and extreme example but it as simplistic as lpuk.

 

Nexxo for supreme ruler of Earth!

 

Not on my private island. Beware my army of trained ninja assassin monkeys!!

 

Only one point. Higher housing prices creates higher demand. In a free market, more housing is created to meet the demand, and prices drop.

Only when when the creation of housing is artificially restricted are home prices are kept high regardless of demand (a shortage). That is not a free market system. Comparing housing prices here in the states you will find the most affordable homes in communities where building the least restricted (more free) and the most expensive housing where building is most restricted (less free). Shortages and surpluses are minimized, if not eliminated in a truly free economy.