The Big Ideas Project

Merged Idea

Care for the homeless, and address the causes of homelessness. Stop criminalizing homelessness, retrain law enforcement to ensure they assist the homeless, and provide proper care for mental patients. Veterans make up a disproportionate percentage of the homeless population -- we must also fully fund hospital care for veterans, house homeless veterans through the VA, and provide returning veterans with a transition period for debriefing, restoration, and job training before they are thrust back in society.

Submitted by Dr. James A. Perkins in Society & Community Nov. 16, 2014, 5:28 p.m. 1

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#22

5106 votes

Merged Idea

Stop imprisoning people, too many of whom are veterans and minorities, for non-violent crimes. Instead, have them do community service and/or use their abilities to help individuals care for their yards or homes, etc. It makes no sense to spend more money on a prisoner than a student for something like drug possession or sleeping in a park.

Submitted by Edwina S. from CA in Society & Community Nov. 16, 2014, 1:22 p.m. 2

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#26

4674 votes

Merged Idea

End Trans Pacific Partnership. It is fundamentally flawed by undermining U.S. laws and costing U.S. jobs. Prohibit any trade agreement that would allow a corporation to override federal or state laws. Put a hold on all multinational trade agreements. Prohibit fast track on all trade agreements. Require public comment before adoption. Consumer, environmental, and worker safety protections are at risk to foreign corporations' challenges.

Submitted by lloyd d. from CA in Society & Community Jan. 8, 2015, 8:42 p.m.

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#79

2659 votes

Hold corporate executives personally responsible both civilly and criminally, for malfeasance, deception or neglect that causes environmental, personal property, or physical harm to communities or persons. Prevent corporations, and their executives, from passing along additional costs incurred by 'accidents', recalls or judgments to rate payers (in the case of public utilities) or shareholders (in the case of publicly traded companies). For example: P.G.& E's San Bruno pipeline explosion.

Submitted by William-Robert S. from CA in Society & Community Dec. 18, 2014, 3:51 a.m.

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#87

2543 votes

Require all organizations using the word "News" to be held accountable for the veracity of their reporting and culpable for libel, slander and other defamation suits. Fox News successfully argued in court that it could not be held to such standards because it is an entertainment company, not a news organization. Yet it markets as a news channel...

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Society & Community Dec. 16, 2014, 1:58 p.m.

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#91

2383 votes

Restrict (and ideally ban) semi-automatic guns, and limit clips to 8 bullets or less.

Submitted by Ian R. in Society & Community Nov. 18, 2014, 6:59 p.m.

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#166

1388 votes

Make it illegal for companies to pay employees with prepaid cards. These cards charge a fee every time you use it and also if you do not use it. The card companies have made deals with employers to save employers money on paying wages and again screwing over the people that can least afford it. All wages should be paid in cash, check, or direct deposit.

Submitted by Keith M. from CA in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 3:19 p.m.

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#181

1337 votes

While we are discussing breaking up big banks, we should be discussing breaking up big media as well. Having public discourse controlled in the hands of a few corporate behemoths is dangerous for democracy. Repeal the communications act of 1996 part of the Contact on America.

Submitted by Jeff M. from GA in Society & Community Dec. 27, 2014, 10:08 a.m.

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#184

1320 votes

Stop the Republican attack on Social Security Disability. If they succeed in this attack they will do the same to the Retirees.

Submitted by Lee Anne R. from NY in Society & Community Jan. 14, 2015, 11:08 a.m. 1

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#185

1319 votes

A retiree bank should be created for those over 65 where people could deposit their money and earn a guaranteed 5% interest. Retired people could live on the money they saved and not have to put their savings into risky investments. The gov't would have plenty of money for projects we need and the average person could be secure in retirement.

Submitted by Gloria S. from CA in Society & Community Nov. 16, 2014, 7:54 p.m. 1

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#197

1225 votes

Time to actively work on moving from a war oriented industrial complex to a peace oriented country. Convert closed bases to spaces for the homeless and the aging. Refit arms manufacturers into alternative energy manufacturers. Work on paying public school teachers more or expand home schooling and the educational offerings on the internet. End the 40 hour work week and provide benefits to people who work part time or job share.

Submitted by Skywalker Payne, RN in Society & Community Nov. 11, 2014, 8:31 p.m.

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#234

1037 votes

Add a 1% sales tax, in addition to current sales taxes, on real estate transactions greater than $500,000. Use the funds to provide housing (homes) to the homeless. Salt Lake City has proven this to be more cost effective than leaving them on the streets. It also leads to far better outcomes for the homeless, which means even less assistance in the future... See Jon Stewart's Daily Show's recent piece on this program. It kills on this topic.

Submitted by Y. Sam in Society & Community Jan. 10, 2015, 12:19 p.m.

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#245

973 votes

Truth in political advertising, just like we have for products.

Submitted by Gary Peniston in Society & Community Dec. 9, 2014, 1:35 a.m.

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#253

927 votes

Train every police force in the nation to create a strong, positive relationship with ALL minority communities, getting out of squad cars, and talking with members of these communities, riding bikes, and becoming a neighbor to these people. Also, focus on hiring more members of that community in the police force.

Submitted by Wayne Carl Huber, MFA in Society & Community Dec. 9, 2014, 1:48 a.m.

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#268

866 votes

Repeal the law exempting gun manufacturers and owners from liability for the harm guns do and require all gun owners and manufacturers to carry liability insurance. Also repeal the law that prohibits the CDC from investigating the health effects of gun violence.These actions would do more to to shift public opinion toward reducing gun violence than any other gun legislation.

Submitted by Les Mezei in Society & Community Jan. 13, 2015, 11:48 a.m.

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#283

790 votes

We need to professionalize our police forces. Just like other professions, the people to whom we give guns and ask to serve and protect our communities need national standards of practice, ethics training, and continuing education requirements to maintain their license. If poorly paid social workers can pay for these things, so can the police.

Submitted by Laurie A. from OH in Society & Community Dec. 29, 2014, 5:25 p.m.

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#301

755 votes

The police are expected to deal with all the hand guns & assault weapons on the street which has created a situation to shoot first. If Congress passed laws to prohibit all the gun carry state laws, require background checks for unstable gun owners, & prohibit all assault weapons for individual ownership in America, our police forces would feel safer dealing with the public & murders would be reduced in America. More people might sign on if the laws were for police protection.

Submitted by Vicki in NJ in Society & Community Jan. 3, 2015, 9:05 p.m.

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#332

689 votes

Require that all toy or replica guns, including pellet guns and air rifles, be colored neon orange, yellow or green to avoid confusion with real weapons by law enforcement or others ...

Submitted by Brian G. from CA in Society & Community Jan. 15, 2015, 11:43 a.m. 1

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#342

667 votes

Criminalize corporate looting.

Submitted by hawnjigs in Society & Community Dec. 9, 2014, 8:45 a.m.

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#357

634 votes

Public and private investment in infrastructure and education. economic support for enterprise zones in urban centers and subsidies for small farmers, not large agribusinesses. End the tax break for large oil companies. Invest in new and creative sources of natural energy. Work to diminish and stop the damage being done to our planet by climate change caused by human activity.

Submitted by James S. from NJ in Society & Community Nov. 16, 2014, 6 p.m.

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#364

614 votes

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