reply to post by upstairsjim
Not sure what you mean by problems, but I would suggest that our current societal model, where 50% of the people don't may income taxes is a
significant element as it provides zero incentive to ensure that the government is operating effectively. I merely incents voting for people who
promise more. The goal should be to reduce taxes while expanding the percentage of people who actually pay them.
Ultimately we need jobs, not handouts and to create jobs it must be far easier to open and operate a business. Our regulatory environment stifles
business. Environmental regulations which are absurd, permitting processes, EEOC overhead, Sarbanes/Oxley and the like provide a significant
dissincentive to operating a business.
The government is insanely corrupt. I summarize a solution would be to:
-zero base the entire federal budget. Start with the assumption that all budgets are zero and build them back up with total transparency. Make the
process transparent. Over 1/2 of the federal government would be eliminated, including massive cuts in defense.
-zero base all regulations, rejustify them, calculate the economic costs, analyze the confusion between state, local and federal with a bias on local
regulations. Thousands of regulations would be eliminated and with them the cost of compliance and the workers who ensure compliance.
-end the revolving door between government and special interests, including corporations and groups that lobby government in a big way, such as labor
unions. Make it illegal to work for the government or visa versa for 5 years - no switching sides and that includes Congressional staff.
The entire government needs to be redefined and the roll conformed to supporting economic expansion, not the expansion of the government/welfare
state. The goal should be the elimination of the welfare state. There should be a safety net, but all the rest of it should be eliminated.