The Big Ideas Project

Our current system of taxation is backwards: I pay 30% and multimillionaires pay 15%. Everyone should pay their fare share and everyone should get the same basic deduction. All income should be included: from salaries, wages, and tips to interest, dividends, bonuses, and capital gains. The deduction should be $60,000 and the rate should be 20% for EVERYTHING over that amount. No other deductions or loopholes whether you are Mitt Romney or Joe the Plumber - one size fits all.

Submitted by Mike M. from WA in Taxes & Budget Jan. 5, 2015, 7:27 p.m.

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#1060

148 votes

Renegotiate trade deals to increase wages on all sides of the border, protect the environment, protect consumers, place corporations under rule of law, etc. For example, make it a trade violation to threaten to move someone's job out of the country. Make it a trade violation to sell goods made in a way that pollutes, hurts workers, etc.

Submitted by Dave J. in Economy & Jobs Dec. 27, 2014, 2:20 p.m.

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#1060

148 votes

Begin pilot projects in each geographic climate in the USA testing the viability/durability of solarized/PV roadways, sidewalks, bridges, fences, road signs/lights, light poles, & publicly-owned building rooftops. Once these pilot-projects have demonstrated their strengths/weaknesses, expand the program to all regions of the USA where the climate/terrain make such projects fiscally & practically feasible, so as to make all governmental services as energy independent/sustainable, as possible.

Submitted by Janiece Staton in Environment Dec. 19, 2014, 3:06 a.m.

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#1060

148 votes

Mandatory annual town hall meetings representatives at the state and local levels where the public hears a briefing on how they are being represented and with open question hour.

Submitted by Jacqueline A in Society & Community Dec. 6, 2014, 11:34 a.m.

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#1064

147 votes

Simply pay educators proper salary for their efforts to educate our children. Most if not all are under paid.

Submitted by joy b. from NM in Education Jan. 9, 2015, 12:10 p.m.

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#1064

147 votes

Require all legislators read the total of ALL bills, including amendments, before voting on any of them.

Submitted by msgemstone in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 7:45 a.m. 1

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#1064

147 votes

Having "Ecocide" being declared another Crime Against Humanity, to hold CEO's and Boards responsible and liable for environmental destruction created by their companies projects or policies.

Submitted by Jonathan P. in Environment Dec. 20, 2014, 2:34 a.m.

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#1064

147 votes

Strengthen Toxic Substances Control Act; specify that states, counties and communities may enact regulations more stringent than federal ones.

Submitted by Cheryl, Environmental Scientist in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 3:54 p.m.

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#1064

147 votes

Dramatic reductions in federal & state funding of public colleges & universities over the past 15 years have 1) caused large tuition price increases & 2) driven these public institutions to the private sector for funding, making academia beholding to corporations & their interests & views, corrupting education itself. Set federal & state budgets for public education at every level based as a percentage of GDP so that it is free or at least 75% subsidized. Loans, if necessary, at rate banks get.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Education Jan. 9, 2015, 11:04 a.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Solar and WIND to help those who are hardest hit by high Home Energy Bills. Congress should approve the Department of Energy to provide 0% Loans to Home Owners 50 and older making 60,000 or less a year to install Solar, Wind and Natural Gas High Efficiency systems along with other Technology to make homes as Energy GREEN and Insulated as possible. Hurricane WV, got a grant for solar panels to reduce Sewage Treatment Costs, Why Cant I or YOU?

Submitted by MDSWVGUY25526 in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 11, 2014, 3:04 a.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Justice Reform for the 99% Governors appoint independent Ombuds "Actual Innocence" Offices in every state (& 1 for federal cases) which WILL fully & fairly investigate cases of Prosecutorial Misconduct;the poor who are actually innocent can present exculpatory evidence to clear their Good names & reputations fully for the Record + prosecutors who'd violated their rights are brought to look them in the eye at a Desmond Tutu-style "Truth & Reconciliation Commission" Hearing for sentencing.

Submitted by Actual Innocence Project in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 4:59 p.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Get out of all our current wars -- Iraq III (or is it IV) -- Syria, Afghanistan (I mean REALLY get out), Pakistan, all the actions in the Middle East, Africa, the provocations and government overthrow in Ukraine, the meddling in Russia, Europe, Scotland, the drug war in Mexico, Latin America ... And sign a treaty with Iran. Our country is being run, and ruined, by the International corporations and banks, the CIA and NSA, the empire crowd. Stop pushing the Empire.

Submitted by American in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 5, 2015, 10:14 a.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Use goats to eat away rampant brush growth in high fire areas to reduce fire risks in wildland-urban interface zones. You might even get a sweater, cheap dogfood, and feta cheese out of the deal, Not to mention lower fire insurance rates.

Submitted by John P. from AZ in Environment Jan. 4, 2015, 2:56 p.m. 1

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#1069

146 votes

The Mental Health Inpatient provision of Medicare that restricts "...Inpatient MH Hospitalization to 190 LIFETIME DAYS...." needs to be updated. The Mental Health provision should be as any other "Disease" related issue, UNLIMITED MH INPATIENT DAYS! MEDICARE should also CEASE the "...rental provisions of certain 'medically necessary home use devices' such as CPAP & NEBULIZER Equipment." The outright purchase of this equipment is far less costly than Rental! Rent is 3x's higher!

Submitted by Trams in Health Dec. 18, 2014, 8:46 p.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Pass a Presidential Decree that any and all Killing of the American public by any Law Enforcement Dept. be it Local, State or Federal be reported to the Dept. of Justice. Each and Every year ! We the American Public need to know the total extent of this Terrible Problem. There has to be a Transparent and Independent Special Prosecutor and Grand Jury for All Levels of Law Enforcement. Ran by the Dept. Of Justice.

Submitted by Justice4All in Civil Rights Dec. 11, 2014, 1:02 a.m.

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#1069

146 votes

The Federal government shall enact a law stating that no campaign for federal office (President, Senate, or House of Representatives) may begin advertising (print, internet, television or radio) more than 75 days prior to the election date for the office to which a candidate may seek election. The law shall be enforced by fines of the media source accepting the advertising and any candidate thus doing shall forfeit the right to be a candidate.

Submitted by CrispE4546 in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 12:54 p.m. 1

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#1069

146 votes

Seek a swift end to the occupation of Palestine. Begin by joining the call to end the siege on Gaza.

Submitted by joelwool in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 5, 2015, 10:21 a.m.

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#1077

145 votes

Create a state-based incentive where individuals can invest and profit from renewable and sustainable energy sources by personal investment, municipal bonds or tax earmarking and to promote the design, manufacturing, transportation and installation of solar, wind, tidal, geo thermal power within their state (I'm in California, so the impact of our change could be huge...) Goal: To diversify energy profits and level the corrupt, tax evading energy sector.

Submitted by Dee in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 1:50 a.m.

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#1077

145 votes

The 14th amendment to the Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to be secure in their papers. This right is withheld from adoptees who are issued falsified birth certificates. Adoptees in most states are not entitled to their heritage, their true and original documents are locked away in state capitals , rarely seeing the light of day. This is discriminatory on many levels and adoptees have been fighting for the truth for decades. It is time to make us equal to everybody else.

Submitted by Joanne D. from CO in Civil Rights Jan. 9, 2015, 9:20 a.m.

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#1077

145 votes

As long as corporations have unlimited lifetimes, they must be limited in size by measure of global assets or their internal economies. Standard oil was not broken up into 2 companies, but 20. Today's corporations dwarf what Standard Oil was. This not only serves competition in the marketplace, but also creates new jobs.

Submitted by Jennifer H in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 4:04 p.m.

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#1077

145 votes

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