What's your wackiest policy idea

[quinnox]

I just read an interesting (ok, it was hilarious) thread about a DUer's ideas on how to rewrite the constitution. What is your wackiest idea regarding this subject. Is it an outlawing of meat eating and an immediate release of all captive farm animals? Or perhaps a minimum wage of $20 an hour, with a guarantee of receiving lifetime unemployment never required to go to work? Or an outlawing of all religion? Hit me with the strangest out there leftist ideas you got!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Free Lap Dances From Government Workers

[Bandit]

51. Bush* doing a lap dance ~ Oh that's hilarious

D'oh you said workers that lets Bush* off the hook.

[HFishbine]

56. Would that include

my mailman? Yuck!

[bobd]

2. Outlawing ALL Firearms

Period. No excuses, no collecting, no fucking guns. None.

[leanings]

18. Compulsory militia membership

Just like the Swiss. Everybody gets issued an assault rifle and is required to know how to use it. Period. No foriegn invasion, no oppressive governments, no fucking burglars. None. :)

[Bandit]

52. Kinda like Dodge City in 1860?

Righhhtttt!!!!! No more shooting Deaths ~~ Righhtttt!!!!!

[slackmaster]

62. No exceptions for police, private security guards, etc.?

Go ahead and back-pedal now.

[jeffreys14b]

3. Flourescent lights have to go

My anit flourescent lights speech

"If elected, I will ban the use of fleourescent lights everywhere! Who cares if you read well with them? Who cares that they are efficient? Join me in ending the scourge of flourescent lights. Do not endure one more day at the office looking as if you're green. Do not endure the ridicule of younger, fellow office workers who secretly laugh at just how God awful you look. Indeed, God, the Lord almighty, would not stand for this. Make no mistake my fellow citizens, you do look awful under these lights of hell. But if you vote for me, I will outlaw these evil devices and help you to become beautiful again. Be beautiful! Vote Jeffreys!"

[Melsky]

4. Good thread

All police must wear clown suits

Anyone convicted of corporate fraud must spend rest of life working at minimum wage job

[ShaneGR]

5. Repeal the 22nd Ammendment, add an ammendment for Universal Healthcare

And while I'm at it, make it federal law that everyone has to vote and remove the electoral college.

[blondeatlast]

6. Quality, affordable health insurance with a better than middle-class

wage for nurses, doctors, and all other health care workers.

But then, I've always been a dreamer.

[tomp]

22. i'll go you one better

free health care for all AND everyone, and i mean EVERYONE from bill gates to the homeless enter through the same door and get triaged, no exceptions. extra money does not buy extra or more convenient health care. holistic/alternative treatments get real research funding.

[blondeatlast]

27. Works for me!

And plenty of $$$s for stem-cell research.

[Brian Sweat]

7. Eliminate federal programs that transfer wealth from one state to another.

Cut the red states loose and let them go to hell.

[Lisa]

8. moving the government around

Spend half the year in the capital, and the other half in randomly-chosen communities in 6 different regions of the country, a month in each.


Okay, so maybe that's not strictly leftist, but my proposal for universal funding for postsecondary education/apprenticeships is. And the "maximum wage" cap.

[JVS]

9. 12 year sunset clause on the constitution

[mdmc]

10. election reform

No machines.
Paper ballots.
Voting takes place from the first of November until the second Tuesday of November.

[justicebuilder]

11. Here's one

This program takes place on a sign-up basis (no coercion):

Every person is allotted a certain baseline of subsistence goods - that is, meager but adequate shelter; cheap, nutritious food; a couple changes of clothes, running water, etc. People with kids get allotments for the kids as well.

In exchange for this, you work for six months per year as a farmer, teacher, home builder, etc. The rest of the year you are free to do what you like, and use the money for whatever you like.

People who are retired or disabled may have a decreased work requirement.

Basically sign-up socialism, without any coercion by the state. If capitalism isn't working out for you, come on over.

jb

[blondeatlast]

14. Hmmmm; not bad . . .

I'm hardly a socialist but I've always thought that the wealth ought to spread out at least as far as a reasonable simple standard of living. After that, you can make as much money as you want to; but tax the hell out of the wealthiest.

[Warpy]

12. DNA tests for candidates

...ensuring that none of them has Bush DNA.

An amendment forbidding people from Texas or California to run for president would be nice, too, with residency having to be established in one's "home" state for at least 3 years before running for office.

A progressive tax system tied to the median wage and changed every 3 years in times of low inflation/deflation and every 6 months if the 1970s style inflation is repeated would be nice, too. To provide a disincentive to naked greed, how about a 100% tax on everything over a million bucks a year? They could still brag about salary length, er, size, but the legalized embezzlement would go into the public coffers for the public good.

[KCDem]

13. well, this is far from liberal... but if abortion is outlawed,

I propose that all men be DNA-typecasted at birth. Then, when a woman gets pregnant out-of-wedlock, find out who the father is (heck... in several years, I'm sure we could have this kind of technology) and require him to pay child support until the child turns 18.

Outlawing abortion would make 50% of the population nothing more than subservient potential baby-makers. Screw that, make the whole population responsible. The way I see it, this is a win-win situation. Pro-choice women would be thrilled to share the burden with men, as well as happy that they wouldn't be cast as the "less-important" sex. Anti-choice people would be happy that these babies they're so desiring to have born will be financially taken care of and less of a strain on taxpayers. The only people who wouldn't be happy are pro-choice men, and, maybe the threat of something so arcane and reactionary would actually convince pro-choice men that voting Republican is dangerous and stupid.

[blondeatlast]

15. I like, I like . . .

nm

[GayboyBilly]

17. Public floggings of...

officials that campaign on one thing, and vote against it.

[Warpy]

20. I've always proposed

..that men pay a prick tax which would go to supporting women and children decently. It's time we abandoned the concept of motherhood as slave labor at best, a self-indulgent hobby at worst.

[KCDem]

61. a Prick tax!!!

I LOVE it!

So, would circumcized men get 25% off? :evilgrin:

[Capn Sunshine]

16. It's Not for the Constitution but

in MY mythical Administration, the DEFENSE BUDGET would be cut down to an amount equal to TWICW what the next two countries in the world are spending.
Also, NO new Pentagon appropriations until they account for at least 75% of the missiing three trillion dollars. That gives 'em a trillion dollar cushion for chrissakes.

WE ARE TALKING FREEING UP BILLIONS!Currently we spend as much on defense as the next five countries combined!! Talk about overkill.

[leanings]

19. Recreational drug prescription card.

Everybody who so desires goes and gets their doctor to check them out for signs of addiction. Doc signs off on your card, which you then take to the police station. PD checks for any drug related arrests or complaints. If you're good, a judge validates your recreational prescription card for another year, and you can go to the pharmacist to buy set amounts of anything save heroin, meth or PCP. Who's with me?

[MaynardIsGod]

44. .. that's actually a pretty good idea...

how do you stop the drug industry from buying out the doctors though?

[sexybomber]

54. put a law on the books expressly forbidding it.

Either that or outlaw the drug companies.

[Chicagonian]

72. only if they bring back Quaaludes-

otherwise, there's just too much beuracracy...and if you're going to have heroin, meth, and PCP on the verboten list, you should add cocaine, crack, and Ecstacy...
although I don't exactly know what that leaves for the pharmacist to dole out.
Do you envision that they would sell acid, mushrooms, peyote, and pot at the pharmacist?

what drugs did you have in mind?

[LewisJackson]

21. Require an endurance test of senators/congressmen

FIFTY ROUNDS OF DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION!!!!!

[billbuckhead]

23. TAX CASH! Go after the underground economy.

Everytime cash changes hands. BANG, another 5%. Another 5%, middle America doesn't have to pay. A 5% paid by those making money off the books, but needing to make it legitimate.
This idea will start a fight in any bar.

[Blue-Jay]

29. billbuckhead!

I hate your idea. I make quite a bit of money in bars (I'm a musician) My supplier, Andre, also hates your idea. (I'm a pothead) ;)

My crazy idea would be Free YooHoo for everyone!

[MGKrebs]

24. Must hold stocks for a minimum period, perhaps

10 years.

[scisyhp]

25. No voting for Congress.

Popular representatives are selected by random draw from a whole
of adult population. Get rid of POTUS, most dangerous man in the
World.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. One person, one vote, and count them all

One person, one vote, and count them all - what a crazy idea!

[GBD4]

28. Well . . .

Those close to me know I have always been "anti-factory." Now, I understand that many American workers rely on factories for employment. However, I am a strong supporter of strict environmental policies and I would outlaw factories that spew. Smokestacks and above all, spewage (stuff that is emitted from spewing smokestacks) should be 100% illegal. We need a spew-free society. I am surprised Canada hasn't declared an environmental war on us already thanks to our drifting spewage courtesy of Midwestern factories. But even within America, air-quality is terrible, and how can a community look desirable when massive spewing smokestacks loom tall above our parks and lakes? I promise you there is no sarcastic effort here, we need to eliminate these disgusting factories that have made many areas of America so ungainly. There must be a different source of employment that would not prove to be so detrimental to our environment.

[StandWatie]

30. forcibly convert Christians to Secular Humanism..

If Coulter can get her bullshit into mainstream thought I don't know why she is worth listening to and my idea is wacky (it is, I wouldn't really support that but it's tempting).

[jmm]

31. Politicians need to face the consequences of their actions.

For example, if a governor wants to cut education funding they should be forced to send their children to the worst public school in the state.

[Ekaterina]

64. my humble suggestion

would be to prevent adding irrelevant riders to bills. If the bill and funding is about textbooks then there should be no bloody "riders" tacked on for anything not pertaining to that (like when they sneak things on to otherwise "good" legislature and then it's completely ruined)........

[Northwind]

32. How's this? (and I am serious with this)

The abolition of property and wealth, the elimination of incorporation.

[TrogL]

33. legalize prostitution and marijuana

and tax the hell out of it

[Chicagonian]

38. nothing wacky about that.

I just hope I live to see the day.

[Terwilliger]

41. nice to see ya Trog, but I completely disagree

what justification is there to tax either of those pursuits?

[Chicagonian]

58. "sin" taxes are always popular with the populace.

To think that legalized pot/hookers wouldn't/shouldn't be taxed is just plain naive.
and the people that partake in either would gladly pay the taxes to enjoy their vices legally.

There's already a "tax" of sorts built into the price of both products- their illegality keeps the prices inflated, and the availability controlled.

[Rowdyboy]

34. Allow women to choose to "abort"...

up until the 18th birthday of the child. This would return a measure of control to mothers who say, "I brought you into this world and I can..." Children would once again respect their parents and, once again, society would be in balance.

[Ekaterina]

65. ?

now that's plain scary. Any mother will tell you, the idea would be just too darn tempting at times (but we eventually get over it and raise pretty decent kids)........
:-)

[stevedeshazer]

35. Make politicians wear contributor decals...

...like NASCAR drivers. A flameproof suit with the logos of all their corporate sponsors.

Can't you see * wearing a big crooked Enron "E" on his flight suit? A "700 Club" sticker on his cod piece?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

70. Ooh, I bet you could get that one passed

if you started an initiative petition drive!

[BurtWorm]

36. Registered Republicans pay double tax for however many years

it takes to save SS and Medicare and get the budget in surplus again. We also use TIA to double tax anyone who ever bought a book by O'Reilly, Coulter, Limbaugh, Savage or any Regnery title that made it onto the NY Times Bestseller list.

[Aaron]

37. Three regarding the Senate that I've kicked around a little (+others)

1. Return the election of Senators to the states themselves rather than the people.

2. Turn the Senate over to proportional representation.

3. Grant D.C., Guam, Samoa, Puerto Rico, etc Senators/Reps. The small islands, Samoa/Virgins/etc. could be grouped for these purposes to one district/state.


A few others not related to the Senate in order of what I guess their feasability to be (Some of these don't know that I'd endorse- I'd be interested in seeing some national discussion of them):

National voting holiday. No one works more than 4 hours on voting day.

Restore "Fairness Doctrine"

Provision of national broadband 10mb/10mb or higher as a free gov. service like roads. People could pay for hookups from nearest gov. road to their residence. ISPs could provide services like e-mail/webspace/techsupport for those that wanted them. No regulations placed on internet besides those (No content regulation, no copyright laws, no content laws except with regard to incitement of direct physical harm or whatever the standard is for private speech)

All Diesel sold in us must be at least 20% biodiesel - all gas 20% ethanol or something like that.

Free community college for all.

Eliminate right to work laws.

Legalize hemp.

Provide funds for public eduation services in Mexico w/provision that functional English be taught as well as Spanish. Teach Spanish in all American schools :)

Eliminate all campaign finance laws and in exchange give every single candidate equal time on radio and TV. The higher the office they're running for the more time someone gets.

Gut FCC licensing requirements so that stations would cost waaaaaay less so community groups could run tv/radio stations.

Eliminate restrictions on marriage except regarding marriage of children - remove term 'marriage' from government documents and policies replace with 'significant other' status obtained by showing religious marriage certificate, state certificate, property contract, or proof of joint living or something like that.

Gun control changes - Vermont rules made nationwide, allow shotguns shorter than 18", relax automatic weapons ownership regulations.

House districts set to 200k people max. Maybe 100k.

Substitute a group of national services like healthcare, and means tested housing, mt clothing, and food provision plus some cash stipend for minimum wage. Free trade with all nations with same or greater regulatory burdens.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

39. Education

The government pays for everyones college education.

[Chicagonian]

40. Make the legal driving age 18, or upon high school graduation

whichever is first.

[MaynardIsGod]

45. Try again sorry

Let's ban asian drivers! They can't drive! Just like old people! Those hispanic people pile into the their white work vans by the dozen, let's stop them from driving too! You seem to have singled out a single group (teenagers) for some bad experiences driving. Well try again. Teenagers aren't the problem, bad drivers (and many of them too) are the problem. Maybe more stringent tests, both written and practical but 16 for most states is fine. In Northern Virginia , I've noticed that the teens like myself, are usually much more courteous than any of the old yuppie bastards drinking their starbucks, and schmoozing on their cell phones.

[Chicagonian]

47. check the stats, punk.

teenagers are statistically the problem.
why do you think insurance rates for that group run so high? but then- I'm willing to bet that you don't pay the insurance bill, do you?

Until they get out of high school, there's no good reason for kids to need to get behind the wheel of a car.
that's why we have bikes and busses.

[DS1]

42. Logan's Run, anyone?

:shrug:

[redeye]

43. One policy idea...

...that actually didn't get into my social platform list is a rewrite of Article 1 and its replacement with:
a) A House of Representatives elected by proportional representation, open list system.
b) No Senate.
c) Between 30 and 50 Specialized Legislatures of 200 members each, elected by proportional representation, open list.
d) Reduction of the minimum age for the House to 21.
e) All laws must be passed in three readings with a minimum time of debate in the Hosue or in a Specialized Legislature (e.g. 24 hours net).

[T_i_B]

46. Put all MP's on performance related pay

Congressmen in your case. If they want it for others....

[Lydia Leftcoast]

48. Government contracts

In order to stem the flow of companies going offshore to avoid taxes and moving production and clerical work offshore to keep personnel costs down, I would propose the following rule for government contracts, which large corporations drool over, even as they rail against "big government."

1. If a company has moved its paper headquarters to the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes, it cannot bid for govt. contracts, period.
2. If all its production and/or clerical work is done in other countries, it is de facto not a U.S. company and cannot bid for government contracts.
3. If no potential supplier has a 100% U.S. workforce, then the competitors will be given points for having the highest proportion of its employees in the U.S.
4. Current suppliers will be replaced after their contract runs out and will be forbidden to submit a new bid if they move any existing U.S. jobs overseas.

[markus]

49. 90% tax on privately held capital

Capital and capitalism are fine, provided the capital is in the control of workers (401ks), their unions, or any other group of people who join together to own capital. Board of directors for aggregate holders of capital are all direclty elected and subject to recall by the (indirect) shareholders. One person, one vote controls board (people vote, not shares) No capital holding association may deny any person the right to join (buy in) for any reason.

[slackmaster]

50. Immediate, complete, unconditional adoption of the Metric System

Back in the '60s school kids were taught it would happen by 1980.

What went wrong, America?

[Rose Siding]

53. Defense spending can't exceed that of Education

[Sirius_on]

55. Not wacky

I think we should be able to opt out of SS. If you opt out of it, you have no chance to ever get a penny from it.

[TacticalPeek]

57. direct election of presidential electors, at least

Today, we have no constitutional right to vote for President. U. S. Representatives since inception, and Senators since 1913 (!), yes. President, no.

Our state legislatures (gag) select the electors who elect the prez.

Even with a perfect voting system result, a legislature can simply do as it wishes, with no legal check available period. That slimey Florida gang were lining up to do just that in 2000; if the fix were not already in for aWol at the end, they could have routed that Ryder truck straight to the dump and annointed their chump, with no possible legal recourse under our Constitution. Constitutional crisis I think they call that.

Elimination of the electoral college and direct election of the President may be desirable, but getting support for such an amendment would probably meet much opposition, and face an uphill battle.

So, why not at least pass an amendment that does for the office of President what the 17th amendment did for Senators? Make the vote of the people count.

I am yet unable to imagine a logical, sustainable opposition view. So maybe it could be done? It certainly should be done, pronto.




* I do realize that there are many, many good guys and gals in the state bodies out there, and I salute your public service. My concern is more with the state power structures, the temptation and greed for power that almost put it's foot down in Florida.

[trof]

59. COMPANY PAID ALIMONY!

I flew with a guy (at TWA) who actually tried to get that in our contract.

[dback]

60. No death penalty--but violent crimes get life in prison w/out parole

You commit any sort of assault, rape, murder, etc., you don't get the death penalty--but you never, ever leave prison. No plea bargaining, no "rehabilitation," nothing. Only non-violent crimes get rehabilitation.

I think a lot of the problems with our judicial system involve releasing hardened criminals back into society--especially if they figured a couple years in the pokey have given them "street cred." Fuck it; you're never seeing the outside world again.

[JanMichael]

63. I wonder why people are falling for this?

You'd think by now this sort of thinly veiled mocking/attack of the Left would be easily identified.

Bummer.

[havocmom]

66. put the monetary system on the Oatmeal cookie standard

then if prices go to high, we can eat the money

[Tracer]

67. Jerry Seinfeld Stole My Idea!

Damn. Had a good idea, and whaddya know ... he pilfers it.

Here it is (or here is was):

FOR EVERY LAW CONGRESS PASSES, THEY MUST TAKE 2 LAWS OFF THE BOOKS.

Just think. In a few years our lives would be so simple!

[Throckmorton]

68. I wrote a revised US Constitution Once.

My Idea of what it should look like, hubris I know, but what the hell. I'd post it but its 40000 characters long and would crash the server. Here's my new Article I, Section 9 Though,

Section. 9.
Clause 1: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus for all private persons currently inside the several states, the territories, and military installations shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion, and then only when required by declared national emergency under Article II, Section 2. This section shall not apply to those lawfully enlisted, or commissioned in, the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any person being a citizen of any nation currently under a declaration of war.

Clause 2: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. All laws addressing the raising of revenue shall apply only to those monies attained after the date of enactment of said laws.

Clause 3: No Capitation, or other direct Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

Clause 4: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

Clause 5: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Clause 6: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

Clause 7: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Clause 8: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, vehicles, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized, and the period for which the warrant is valid. The person against whom this warrant is issued, along with whomever he shall wish, shall have the right to witness this search, and be entitled to a complete inventory of those effects seized.

Clause 9: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of Declared War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; having been once tried and acquitted in a lawful trial, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Clause 10: No private person shall be held for questioning, bound over for trial, or imprisoned without the presence of proper legal council of their choosing. If said person does not have the financial means to attain these services, the people shall remunerate to said persons legal council all customary fees and wages.

Clause 11: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. If the accused, in the opinion of the court, is non compos mentis, or otherwise unable to assist with his defense, the trial shall be delayed while treatment is administered.

Clause 12: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty thousand dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Clause 13: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted for any crime. The use of the death penalty shall be reserved for the following:

(a) Treason in a time of declared war.

(b) Commission of acts of mass destruction in times of peace, in which persons within the several states and territories are killed. Acts of mass destruction are herein defined as the use of Nuclear, Chemical, Biological, or explosive devises or agents against the People of the United States with the intent to kill or do bodily harm to said people.

( c) Murders committed as a result of agreements with third parties (murder for hire)

(d) Murder of a law enforcement officer in the discharge of his duties.

(e) Murder of a Judge or Juror, in the discharge of their duties, the intent of which is to influence the outcome of a trial, or the severity of a sentence for a crime.

(f) Murder of a material witness to a crime in an effort to prevent said witnesses testimony.

No person, whom having committed the aforementioned crimes while under the age of majority shall be put to death, but shall instead be imprisoned for no less than 30 years. No child under the age of 12 shall be tried for capital crimes. No person confessing the crime of a capital nature in open court shall be put to death, but instead shall be imprisoned no less than 30 years.

Clause 14: No person under the age of 8 years may be tried in criminal court for any act, error, omission, or crime.

Clause 15: No person under the age of 13 years may be tried as an adult, nor shall minors be imprisoned with adults.

Clause 16: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude; except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted in a legally constituted court or law, or the Congress; shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Clause 17: No person may be held in contempt of court unless a tribunal of Judges, upon recommendation of the trial court, finds said individual in contempt of court. No person who invokes his right against self-incrimination shall be held in contempt of court.

[theboss]

69. Drug legalization

Which I don't even think is that "out there" anymore.

[Chicagonian]

71. At some point- the religoid rightists are going to have to decide-

which they find more immoral, higher taxes or pot. higher taxes or prostitution. higher taxes or hard drugs.

I'm betting that eventually, pot and prostitution will win out, given all the tax benefits of legalization of each relatively harmless and victimless "crime". (although I'm guessing that some of the feminists are going to have at me for that.)