The Big Ideas Project

Stop Corporate Socialism. Require all businesses of 100 employees or more to pay for the public assistance and income tax credits their employees are forced to use because of a non-living wage. Walmart and other large corporations make tens of billions profit each year while the communities their stores are located in are forced to support their imployees with public assistance.

Submitted by Robert E. Sojka in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 2:37 p.m. 3

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#121

1847 votes

No law should be passed by states which make it illegal for people in their state to record or take pictures of police and government officials The law in ILL is taking Democracy and Freedom of speech away which is against the Constitution. The local police since 9/11 has become very militant . "no accountability" we are at their mercy of public officials . . A militant country has been born. Prison population should be lowered. No private prisons allowed in US No prisoner for profit.

Submitted by Joanne do not have professional experience in the field in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 6:02 p.m.

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#122

1843 votes

Merged Idea

Reform federal farm subsidies so that crops are supported in proportion to the government dietary recommendations. This means that fruit and vegetable production will receive about 50% of all subsidies (rather than the 2% they currently receive), making them more affordable and increasing their production.

Submitted by mikekurokawa in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:31 p.m.

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#123

1834 votes

Paid maternity/paternity leave for new parents (similar to Canada and European countries). It's a disgrace that the United States is one of only three of 85 industrialized nations who doesn't have paid maternity leave (even Pakistan has 12 weeks). New moms are NOT ready to leave their newborns after 2 weeks (vacation) or 6 weeks (short term disability if they are lucky) and it's not good for the baby either. How about one of the parties actually supporting family friendly policies?

Submitted by Tammy V. from FL in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:41 p.m.

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#124

1814 votes

Merged Idea

Remove the federal prohibition on cannabis -marijuana and cannabis-hemp. Colorado and Washington State have created thousands of jobs and generated millions in personal income as well as tax revenue. Crime has dropped as legalization pulls the rug out from criminal bankers as well as gangs. Cannabis-hemp has thousands of industrial applications to further expand personal revenue as well as industrial enterprise.

Submitted by Al T. from IA in Economy & Jobs Dec. 30, 2014, 11:32 a.m.

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#125

1812 votes

Prohibit companies with more than 100 employees who pay less than a living wage from accepting public benefits. It shouldn't be possible for a company to pay its' employees so badly that they wind up needing WIC and food stamps, then turn around and make money accepting those benefits. It's wrong and a major expense to the taxpayer.

Submitted by Janalyn Glover in Economy & Jobs Nov. 11, 2014, 6:09 p.m.

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#126

1803 votes

The Federal Reserve should be allowed to make long-term loans directly to cities, states, school districts, and other public agencies so taxpayers can get low-interest rates and avoid predatory Wall Street fees. Currently, banks borrow money at near zero interest from the Fed while public entities are forced to pay billions in fees and interest each year. If the Fed lent directly to cities and states at low interest it would free up taxpayer money for services like education and infrastructure.

Submitted by Saqib Bhatti, Roosevelt Institute Fellow and Director of the ReFund America Project in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:27 a.m.

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#127

1796 votes

No Justice, No Money Act. This bill responds to the public outcry over the failure to indict police officers that kill citizens. It provides incentives to end the secret grand jury process that has proven to be biased towards police officers and it encourages the use of special prosecutors in these cases.

Submitted by Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 2:23 a.m. 1

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#128

1783 votes

Raise the Min Wage to $15/hr

Submitted by Roger M. from NY in Civil Rights Dec. 30, 2014, 3:07 p.m.

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#129

1777 votes

Reform or end the many tax loopholes and exceptions that allow the wealthiest individuals and corporations to escape the "nominal" tax rates they do not now pay.

Submitted by Darrell N. from NY in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 5:05 p.m.

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#130

1768 votes

STOP privatizing government services. These become profits, not services, once for-profits get their hands on them. i.e. LEAVE the USPS alone; fund it rather than privatize. AT THE VERY LEAST require any private entity doing business representing the USPS hire only union workers at union wages with union benefits!

Submitted by GayleM in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 6:23 a.m.

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#131

1750 votes

Ban torture. Period. No weasel-wording to allow some forms of torture.

Submitted by jdmorris in Civil Rights Jan. 5, 2015, 9:19 a.m.

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#132

1736 votes

Standardize the voting machines to make them impossible to recalibrate to steal the elections.

Submitted by Gail A. from NC in Government & Elections Nov. 26, 2014, 6:11 p.m.

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#133

1713 votes

Readily affordable and available birth control including abortion. Women must have absolute control of their reproductive lives if we are to move forward with a progressive agenda. Unplanned pregnancy hurts our economy.

Submitted by Ruth R. from CO in Health Nov. 11, 2014, 12:07 p.m. 1

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#134

1711 votes

We need universal preschool and high quality daycare. Daycare should be subsidized like it is in Europe, so everyone can afford it.

Submitted by Kay McChesney in Education Nov. 15, 2014, 9:51 a.m. 1

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#135

1706 votes

Immediately ban all neo-nicotinoid poisons; they are killing precious pollinators. Ban herbicides like roundup; glyphosates are causing an astonishing array of diseases without any benefit to farming. A quick search for "adverse affects of glyphosates & neonics" shows the many scientific research evidence, yet we still allow public consumption of these deadly toxins.

Submitted by Gemma in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 2:42 p.m.

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#136

1702 votes

Clean up the trash in the oceans.

Submitted by Kris-Progressive in Environment Dec. 17, 2014, 3:21 p.m. 1

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#137

1666 votes

End Prison Recidivism rate by not only offering drug rehab, job training and paid apprentice ship programs to help them acclimate back into society but also offer prison rehab that aids in helping them to adjust mentally and emotionally of how society operates outside of prison.

Submitted by Roger M. from NY in Civil Rights Dec. 30, 2014, 4:16 p.m.

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#138

1656 votes

Modernize the national electric grid, so wind power from the Midwest can power the cities on the coasts. This will help in 3 areas: slowing global warming, making energy affordable as world oil supplies dwindle, and creating jobs.

Submitted by Patti B. from MA in Infrastructure & Technology Nov. 16, 2014, 9:21 p.m.

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#139

1652 votes

It is absurd the US is the only industrialized country that does not provide healthcare insurance to every one of its citizens. It is long past time we had a comprehensive uniform national healthcare insurance program under the federal government. All other insurance would be eliminated. Everyone would be required to have it and employers only should be given the option to contribute. Existing insurance companies would be contracted to administer the program under uniform federal standards.

Submitted by Stuart in Health Jan. 4, 2015, 12:32 p.m.

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#140

1646 votes

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