The Big Ideas Project

Nationalize the banks to keep them in line, doing business honestly, and under control to prevent corporate chicanery and dishonesty that is currently endemic. Banks have way too much control over our economy and it's rigged against the citizenry, and a threat to our democracy.

Submitted by Susan W. from TX in Economy & Jobs Nov. 12, 2014, 11:30 a.m.

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#700

253 votes

So long as the United States commits to sending troops to war, all citizens must be eligible to serve at a certain age. The human costs to military and their families of wars that preserve our 'way of life' must be shared by all. Such policy will severely limit the likelihood of U.S. participation in wars.

Submitted by Lynn C. from NM in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 9, 2014, 6:28 a.m.

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#702

252 votes

change our economic system from one based on unlimited growth for large corporations to one that provides incentives for small, local, environmentally safe and healthy worker and/or community owned businesses that serve the interests and needs of the community where they are established. Increase incentives for renewable, safe and clean energy initiatives and increase incentives for growing small, local, organic foods from farms to stores.

Submitted by yes in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 2:36 p.m.

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#702

252 votes

Make all representatives wages be the median wage of the districts, counties, or cities they represent.

Submitted by Nicole B. from MN in Taxes & Budget Dec. 29, 2014, 8:31 p.m.

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#702

252 votes

Student loan forgiveness. This is a big idea that should be implemented. Wipe the slate clean for all students. So many students or former students are buried in dept that they will never be able to even start paying because their income is too low. Anybody who is on SSDI, SS, or SSI should automatically have student loans forgiven without having to jump through hoops.

Submitted by Donna G. in Education Dec. 9, 2014, 8:48 p.m.

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#705

250 votes

Cut Congressional pay to $125,000. Then if Congress wants a raise, they must also raise minimum wage by the same percentage they give themselves.

Submitted by William S. from AL in Government & Elections Dec. 26, 2014, 7:29 p.m.

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#706

249 votes

Encourage small farming. It's a strange quandary that if the farmer has a bad or good year cropwise, he/she can lose money. Farming should be decentralized for food security. We produced 4X the food we use, more farmers should be paid to restore the biodiversity their land once had.

Submitted by John Norton in Environment Dec. 18, 2014, 3:20 a.m.

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#706

249 votes

Climate change needs to be aggressively addressed, like a Marshall Plan for the United States.

Submitted by Diane E George in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 11:04 a.m.

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#708

248 votes

ban the use of eminent domain to prevent the condemnation of property for use by private parties for the express purpose of profit without a tangible benefit to the public at large.

Submitted by roxey l. from MI in Society & Community Dec. 13, 2014, 8:01 a.m.

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#708

248 votes

Force the Veterans Affairs in Los Angeles to use the land that was donated to them for purposes of housing Homeless Disabled Veterans.At one time the sole purpose of the West L.A. campus was to house veterans. That began in the late 19th century, when a couple of prominent Californians donated the land to the federal government specifically to create a home for disabled soldiers.NOT STARBUCKS, BANKS,MEGA MALLS,BASEBALL TEAMS! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!

Submitted by Scottie in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 7:23 p.m. 1

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#710

247 votes

All laws passed by Congress must apply to them as well as ordinary citizens.

Submitted by BNRusso in Government & Elections Dec. 30, 2014, 1:37 p.m.

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#711

246 votes

Invest in good management of forest and rangelands to help reduce global climate change.

Submitted by Robert Stebbins in Environment Nov. 11, 2014, 8:19 p.m.

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#712

245 votes

Legal mandate for the Affordable Care Act to be the only medical / health care benefit provided for all federal government workers including (and especially) all members of congress, the supreme court, the president, and all of their staff.

Submitted by ·Dave in Government & Elections Jan. 11, 2015, 5:34 p.m.

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#712

245 votes

I think all guns sold in the us should be pre-fired and the ballistic characteristics on file with the fbi. this will be a starting point in crime investigation and will make people think twice about who they sell a gun to.

Submitted by hooter in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 5:34 p.m.

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#712

245 votes

Have the federal government create a national seed-money fund, similar to block grants, that would empower local community organizations to create community-owned businesses to hire local people, pay decent wages -- all with the intent of people becoming self sufficient and free of politicians.

Submitted by Earl S. from IL in Society & Community Nov. 11, 2014, 8:32 p.m.

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#712

245 votes

A national, comprehensive, carbon fee and dividend program which charges fossil fuel companies for the costs their emissions impose on the public and then refunds the money to everyone in the country. This would catalyze a shift to clean energy and thus reduce our carbon emissions, while also boosting consumer spending and thus our economy. The carbon dividend would also protect low-income Americans from any resulting increases in energy prices, and provide them with a guaranteed income.

Submitted by Ian in Environment Dec. 9, 2014, 11 p.m.

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#716

244 votes

We need safe, free pre-school for all our children, including a hot, free lunch. If parents work a late shift, then make sure children are safe, secure and fed. Our children need a chance at a good start in life.

Submitted by Ideaone in Education Jan. 4, 2015, 8:25 p.m.

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#716

244 votes

Establish a large, federal seed money program and guidelines around which groups of people can organize local and regional cooperatives -- for agricultural and energy production, mutual insurance protection, any endeavor -- much like the co-ops that were once essential to the nation's growth and westward expansion.

Submitted by M. Ames, writer and former researcher, U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 5:34 p.m.

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#718

243 votes

Reduce military industrial complex spending by 50%. Use the money to double SS and Medicare benefits, fight global warming and improve other social programs.

Submitted by Gordon R. from WA in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 26, 2014, 11:43 a.m.

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#719

242 votes

Ensure that every voting machine in the USA has independent verification of ts recorded votes. For example, my precinct electronically reads paper ballots that are then kept available for review and comparison to the electronic tallies. The integrity of elections is central to democratic processes -- and the cost of verifiable voting is a minor but sacrosanct contribution to that goal.

Submitted by Kenfucious in Government & Elections Dec. 17, 2014, 6:52 p.m.

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#719

242 votes

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