The Big Ideas Project

Institute harsher penalties for corporations and individuals who employ illegal immigrants, while making it easier for unskilled workers to receive temporary work visas. This should increase tax revenues by allowing us to collect income taxes on salaries currently paid under the table, level the playing field for American workers by forcing foreign workers to be paid minimum wage, and reduce exploitation of foreign workers in slavery-like conditions.

Submitted by Kerry in Economy & Jobs Dec. 31, 2014, 11:34 a.m.

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#660

280 votes

Overhaul the entire penal system to stop overcrowding and outlaw extended solitary confinement. Also abolish capital punishment on the federal level. No more death penalty.

Submitted by no in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 11:46 a.m.

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#662

279 votes

Guns - Like cars: Require training, testing, license, registration, insurance, liability (incl manufacturers); only our military (our well-armed US militia) should be allowed to operate assault-type weapons. Ammo - require limits, registration (ID on every bullet).

Submitted by hikinglo in Society & Community Dec. 17, 2014, 5:05 p.m.

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#662

279 votes

Assign an Indepedent Special Prosecutor to investigate and report on the former VP Dick Cheney's role in illegal domestic snooping, torture at Guantanamo and via "renditions," and the 9/11 attacks, specifically WTC Building 7's demolition and the mysterious absence of airliner parts in Shankstown, PA, and at the Pentagon.

Submitted by Lew A. (Lincoln) Welge in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 18, 2014, 10:50 p.m.

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#662

279 votes

Equal Ballot access in all 50 states so that all parties and independents have access to the ballot also includes ballot referendums to all 50 states allowing citizens to act to enact or repeal laws when state representatives won't

Submitted by ron in Government & Elections Dec. 9, 2014, 11:37 p.m.

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#662

279 votes

We need laws to break up monopolies like Comcast. We as a people should be able to regulate big corporations and banks.

Submitted by Jack D. from WA in Government & Elections Jan. 6, 2015, 9:13 p.m.

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#666

275 votes

Revamp our immigration policies to allow a larger visa quota, stop deportations until fair hearings can be held, open a pathway to legal citizenship for the undocumented who do not have a criminal record, pass the DREAM Act, allow parents of DACA students to apply for stay of deportation while President Obama's executive order is in effect.

Submitted by Rev. Vernon Naffier in Civil Rights Dec. 9, 2014, 12:05 p.m.

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#666

275 votes

Ban all trafficking in personal data (including geolocation) with a few limited exceptions (e.g. for credit rating agencies). Limited amounts/types of data held by companies/organizations with which one is directly dealing should be allowed, but sharing that data with other businesses owned by the same holding company should be forbidden. Accidental violations should have modest penalties; systematic or egregious violations should have very nasty penalties.

Submitted by Dave Anderson in Civil Rights Dec. 19, 2014, 1:44 p.m.

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#666

275 votes

The (NRA is the source of them, I believe) black human form shooting targets must NO LONGER be used for police or military training. The not-so-subtle but subliminal message in those is horrifying. They SHOULD be illegal in any venue, but I fear it'll be difficult enough to start eliminating them from governmental agency use.

Submitted by peabodyrus in Civil Rights Jan. 4, 2015, 4:19 p.m.

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#669

274 votes

Shareholders should have the power to fire a CEO or Board of Directors if they are engaged in activities that are immoral, or unethical. It should also be required that shareholders approve any corporate money that is spent on lobbying.

Submitted by nealwp in Economy & Jobs Jan. 4, 2015, 6:26 p.m.

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#669

274 votes

A bold U.S. climate change strategy would highlight the single most challenging issue of our time and offer solutions to many of the major problems we face--jobs and infrastructure needs, public health, public education, renewable energy, conservation of lands and resources, pollution control, etc. It would unite our diverse citizenry with a constructive mission to lead the race to save the planet.

Submitted by Patricia W. from WA in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 1:44 p.m.

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#669

274 votes

End lobbying to prevent more wars for profit, control of health care by big pharma and insurance companies and the prison for profit groups.

Submitted by batteredup in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 2:29 p.m.

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#672

272 votes

I doubt many/any of the Big Ideas will be enacted until legislators represent We, the People. So job #1 is to change how campaigns are funded. My gratis proposal is The Fair Elections Fund--a Whole New Ball Game. Is your country worth $7.00 a year to you? @thefairelection

Submitted by artandnaturelady in Government & Elections Dec. 28, 2014, 7:45 p.m.

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#672

272 votes

Create a loan guarantee program for banks and credit unions to give loans to homeowners and small businesses that want to install solar panels to generate hot water or electricity. Then we just have to meet basic standards for cost and quality, and we can get low-cost loans to install solar instead of paying the utility companies for all our energy.

Submitted by Steve in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 29, 2014, 8:01 p.m.

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#674

271 votes

We need better healthcare for middle income people. How is it that I work, have healthcare through my employment but still have to pay 20% of a hospital bill? Employers are choosing low cost health plans and pushing more costs towards the employees. This is a huge burden. What I suggest is that all people that work get the same healthcare plan that our dear senators have, you are voted in by the people in essence you work for us, if you have 100% coverage so should we.

Submitted by Chickstar in Health Jan. 4, 2015, 8:38 p.m.

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#675

268 votes

Reset the priorities of the private sector so the economy serves people as well as businesses. Require the private sector to pay for all aspects of the public safety net at premium rates, proportionate to the number and wages of their employees. End the Wal-Mart subsidy. This should motivate businesses to produce jobs and provide living wages to reduce the safety net expense.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Economy & Jobs Dec. 31, 2014, 12:29 p.m.

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#675

268 votes

Tax the rich Billionaires. Expand Social Security. No Cuts More regulation. Stop polluters, BP, EXXON Mobil, Fracking, Tar Sands. Less Privatization.

Submitted by no in Society & Community Dec. 11, 2014, 12:53 a.m.

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#675

268 votes

People and businesses. corporations who commit Medicare fraud, Tax fraud or evasion, inflated billing practices on our government, setting offshore accounts or moving elsewhere to avoid paying their share of taxes should be heavily penalized.

Submitted by ifleecom in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 3:17 p.m.

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#678

267 votes

Stop all the killing of Wild Horses and Burros on Public Land.. Make the heavily subsidized Ranching Industry pay for the grazing Cattle on Public Land and dismantle the corrupt BLM whore of Big Cattle..

Submitted by Rosemary G. from CA in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 4:35 p.m.

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#679

266 votes

Stop China and South Korea from dumping cheap steal into the market and Manipulating the numbers causing these unequal trade deficit Free Trade agreements like the TPP which has caused more jobs than products made in the US to be exported, by willing to pose tariffs on imports.

Submitted by Roger M. from NY in Economy & Jobs Dec. 30, 2014, 2:56 p.m.

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#680

265 votes

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