A guy in my position gets to talk to a lot of folks out in the real world at the grass roots level. People trying to get as much as they can out of this short life and be the best they can be. The people I see are searching and it may surprise you to learn that not all are after more money. Some just need a little excitement back in their life, others are trying to lead family members to success, and some are just looking and know not for what.
By and large the wants and needs are universal and they all bitch about the same things. But I was thinking, what if one person had the supreme power to tackle all our big problems in this country and could make decisions that couldn’t get vetoed. You know, like the CEO of any major company who’s hired to do just that. I know that won’t happen and maybe it shouldn’t, but, what if?
For the sake of this article I’ve been elected to that position and at the risk of getting all political here and at further risk of pissing off some readers we’re going to solve some big problems and make the world a better place to live, (or not). If you don’t like my answers, that’s ok, but we ain’t puttin’ it up for a vote or having a committee meeting. It’s still my decision and either I’ll destroy the earth or it’ll be a better place, so pray for me…I’ve now been elected to the post of Platinum President.
That means I’m the CEO of America and get to tell the President and congress what to do, and they must carry out my wishes or they get fired.
Here goes:
The Deficit – This one’s easy. Run America like any other company. The chunka coming in must be bigger than the chunka going out. If not, fix it and do it quickly. Start at the top by cutting government waste. I’ll do that by first getting more out of less and doing away with needless agencies like the IRS (more later), and cutting the budgets of most agencies remaining by 10% or more. Then I’ll job out everything possible and let entrepreneurs fight over all contracts, not just some, which will lower the cost of everything the government makes, manages or funds that has to do with enterprise. This will free it up to actually govern (make decisions).
I’d make this easier by outlawing unions (an organized excuse to get lazy and complacent). Unions are what drive labor costs through the roof. If you can’t get fired you get lazy. If you have no need to compete, you get complacent and trained to be a job slave. No reasons to excel, create, think or act outside the box. In fact, if you do you get punished. Why should you, big brother is watching out for you…So you’re told.
You Can Either Labor Or You Can Think
Those Who Labor Work For Those Who Think
If unions go away, the cost of goods go down, including gas. The workers don’t pay dues and have more disposable income, the government will need less money, the deficit will decline, businesses will be more productive, the free enterprise system will work out its own problems and I’ll feel better.
By the way, the unions were created to protect workers from employer abuse. Competition, technology, and attorneys will do that nowadays. Unions are no longer needed. A self governing, economy driven, consumer controlled society and me, Mr. Platinum President, will take over from here. Thanks to all the unions and your years of service. See ya!
Tax Reform – This one’s easy.
Do Away With The IRS
And Implement A National Sales Tax
This would add all the money the IRS consumes to the deficit correction and by itself would do away with it in a few short years. Of course, CPA’s would have to find a better way to make a living, but hey, maybe they could buy houses.
Just think, no tax returns, no payroll deductions, no IRS liens or confiscations, one less government agency and a lot more money goes to the family to spend on consumer goods so we can pay more sales tax.
Such a simple solution! If this country was serious about fixing this problem it would have been done by now. Since I’m Platinum President consider it done. Here’s my plan.
Figure out what the government needs to operate for a year and add 10% for the Murphy Factor. Now figure how much America purchases in a year which should go up with no income tax to pay. Do the math and we have a number to charge on goods purchased. The poor will buy less so they pay less. The rich will buy more so they pay more. What could be more fair? Do you really mind paying .25¢ more per gallon of gas if you can save 35% of your income?
As the national budget changes the tax rate can be adjusted annually. The more we spend the lower the rate. The less the government spends the lower the rate. Yes, there will be bugs to iron out, and it won’t work perfectly, and some people won’t like it. Tough! I’m Platinum President and the decision has been made. Live with it.
Foreign Oil – Why don’t we just buy Kuwait? We’ll use the money we saved by killing the IRS. Maybe we could actually tap into the massive reserves we have in our own country in Alaska and offshore. Hey, if it’s a choice between endangering a species or two or being a slave to the oil cartel, we can survive without the speckled penguin. As Platinum President I’ll put a leash on our rich oil companies so they can’t intentionally squelch alternative fuel research. This will free them up to bring home more oil from our resources which will lower our prices. Since there will be no more unions I predict a gallon of gas will drop below $1.00 shortly. Aren’t you glad I’m Platinum President?
Health Care Reform – This one will require several actions. First, we make people buy car insurance; we should make them buy health insurance. Since they’re not paying income taxes there should be some funds available, but I’ll make that easier by drastically lowering the cost.
Markups on drugs are ridiculous – about 1000%. That’s got to stop, and it will as soon as I limit the awards from medical malpractice to $3,000,000 per person. This will slash the cost of insurance, increase the desire to practice medicine, cut all medical and drug costs, and maybe even decrease the attorney population.
While I’m at it, I’ll cap all consumer products awards at $50,000 so if you get fat eating junk food, the most you can collect for your own stupidity is $50K. I’ll add a provision if you bring a frivolous law suit the judge throws out you must pay all attorneys fees and contribute $10,000 to a charity of the defendant’s choice.
Welfare Reform – If you can work, you do so or starve. If you can’t we’ll take care of you, but you’d better be prepared to prove you can’t every 3 months, and then you’ll be declared disabled. If not, our government will put you to work to earn a fair wage doing things like cleaning up our cities and taking care of the disabled and elderly, and helping to monitor welfare abuse, thus reducing the need for welfare.
If you can work, but won’t, you’ll be shipped off to a camp in the middle of the desert to fend for yourself or die, or you’re free to leave the country and go to Mexico or Cuba or anywhere else you like. To get back in you’ll pay a $25,000 fee and show proof you own a business or have a job waiting. There will be some problems with this one, but we’ll work them out.
Illegal Immigration – This won’t be a problem anymore. Other countries will have to worry about our freeloaders exiting so it’ll be their problem for a change. We’ll grant citizenship to all immigrants who can pay $250,000 per immediate family after a background search. If they commit a felony they will be permanently exported, or if it’s a capital crime…executed. People who can pay $250K to get in will be productive citizens; buying goods, lowering our deficit and creating jobs. People who can’t will be shipped off to the camp in the desert. Since they’ll understand this policy in advance, maybe they won’t come without permission. I’ll probably implement an application process and set some standards for admittance, but I’m not sure what they are yet. Maybe citizenship after 3 years of public service if we can figure out how they’ll make a living during that time. I’ll have to noodle it awhile. I’m all for allowing immigrants in if they go through the correct process and become productive citizens, not freeloaders. We can use some of the welfare workers to speed up the screening process and get it down to a 60 day waiting period.
Terrorism – This one will require some swift and immediate action. The government must have the power to do what it takes to find and stop terrorists and execute those who get convicted. I could care less about the rights of a terrorist. They have none and they must be convinced we will have no mercy. If this means foreign visitors from terrorists countries get more scrutiny, so be it. Ask the families who survived 9/11 if they care if we’re not courteous to suspected terrorists. These people are out to kill us and there is no negotiation process that will stop them. Unfortunately, it’s kill or be killed, and since they don’t seem to mind dying, that puts us at a disadvantage. We have to do what it takes, even if the few get inconvenienced to save the many.
War on Crime – How about we actually punish criminals in a timely manner and take away the power of a judge to let them off light. I’ll set up a policy manual for criminal punishment once convicted. Something like this:
- First Degree Murder – You die within 1 year
- Rape – You get medically castrated and 10 years in prison where all prisoners are made to work and produce enough income to pay for the prisons.
- Robbery – 5 years in the above prison
- Selling Drugs – 5 years
- White Collar Crime – 3 years and financial restitution.
- Second Degree Murder – 10 years
- Manslaughter – 7 ½ years
A second offense doubles your sentence. A third strike means an automatic 20 years.
Yes, this will increase our prison population, but they’ll be paying for themselves, and perhaps it will actually decrease because criminals will know they’re in for hard labor because the punishment is clearly laid out in advance.
No early release program or reduced sentence. Do the crime, do the time. These prisons will all be run by the private sector like any business so they will actually produce a profit. Each prisoner who works will receive a small wage which will go to the victims of their crimes. Now the prisons become self perpetuating factories that produce goods and services people buy and pay sales tax on to support the economy, instead of huge money suckers we get to support.
Ok! I’ll admit, I’m ranting and raving and none of this stuff is gonna happen, and I certainly won’t get elected Platinum President…but you have to admit there’s a good idea or two in here somewhere.
What does this have to do with real estate? Nothing I guess, but now it’s off my chest. I’d certainly welcome your comments, pro or con, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted, but I can take it. Submit to ronsarticle@Goffn.com and Dennis will forward it to me.
Peace
Ron
P.S. I know there’s a lot more problems I must solve, but this is all I can handle in one day.
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November 10th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
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