The Big Ideas Project

Let's have fair trade not free trade. If a company from any country wants to avoid import duties to another country,they must produce the product they want to sell in the country they wish to sell it. They must also use labor from that country,this would help the economy of the entire world not just a few countries.

Submitted by idea man in Economy & Jobs Dec. 15, 2014, 10:18 a.m.

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#1381

99 votes

Give tax incentives to companies (and penalize those that don't follow this model) that re-use and update existing buildings. Building on empty land where the natural vegetation is clear cut to make way for more concrete should be prohibited. Make sure businesses have enough money held in escrow to return the land back to its original state when their old buildings are no longer being used (which are usually left to rot and become eyesores).

Submitted by Pat S. in Environment Jan. 12, 2015, 5:49 p.m.

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#1381

99 votes

Transfer $25B billion per year (tied to COLA) from "Defense" to the research and development of high-capacity long distance transmission of electricity, to support the distribution of energy produced from remote solar and wind installations.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Environment Dec. 16, 2014, 1:26 p.m.

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#1381

99 votes

Eliminate government subsidies to profitable businesses, non profits and "welfare". (except medical) benefits Replace them with employee owned co ops created and funded by the government for unemployed and under employ paying wages so people can meet their needs. The co ops would produce, market and sell a product and reduce cost of support from government. They would start from an initial site and spread once sales of the .product is established. Each co op unique to each site.

Submitted by the answertothegap in Economy & Jobs Dec. 29, 2014, 10:16 a.m.

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#1381

99 votes

Someone should re-introduce FDR's Second Bill of Rights as legislation, or President Obama should use it as the subject of a major address.

Submitted by RIhara in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 1:24 p.m.

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#1385

98 votes

1. Link Congressional pay to their overall approval rating. They work for us and should be paid based on performance. 2. Why do I turn on C-SPAN and see only a handful of individuals listening to the sponsor/ cosponsor of a bill? Where's the debate? Members should be there, not fluffing political donors pillows.

Submitted by Stacy Croan from IL in Government & Elections Dec. 16, 2014, 9:23 p.m.

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#1385

98 votes

Create a federal law or amend the U.S. Constitution to stipulate a consistent way each state's electoral college votes are treated. Allowing some states a proportional distribution while other states have a winner-takes-all distribution allows a few state legislatures to control the outcome of future presidential elections. Only now has this become an issue that five large states are in the process of changing how their electoral college votes are distributed.

Submitted by david_f_knight in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 5:25 p.m.

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#1385

98 votes

Stop the censuring of elected officials. If an elected official does something illegal or shady while in office...don't just give them a "slap on the hand censuring".....they should be fired and their retirement forfeited.

Submitted by caprice in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 8:46 p.m.

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#1385

98 votes

Give the unemployed and under employed a job, not a hand out. Government should invest in creating and funding small businesses that do this. When enough of them are created and staffed, we will have a demand for labor, not a supply. Demand will raise wages. Our living standards will rise. The gap will close.

Submitted by the answertothegap in Society & Community Dec. 29, 2014, 12:28 p.m.

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#1385

98 votes

Public school funding needs to be increased. If we make it clear how much rich people spend on their own children's education, it might help to enrage ordinary Americans about the way their children are being shortchanged. I suggest tying state public school funding to the highest private school tuition in any state, then multiplying that number by a factor of 3 to cover transportation and Special Needs.

Submitted by Gtdread in Education Dec. 11, 2014, 2:11 p.m.

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#1390

97 votes

GI Bill for mothers. Women who have children need stable homes. This bill would create the structure for enabling mothers to provide stability and receive acknowledgement for their 'service' to their country.

Submitted by Linda Schreiber in Society & Community Nov. 17, 2014, 1:50 p.m.

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#1390

97 votes

End tax exemption status for churches, which have, in many cases, become big businesses. Let churches write off their charity work, but that's all.

Submitted by Chaz in Taxes & Budget Dec. 18, 2014, 10:20 p.m.

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#1390

97 votes

Contribute substantially to the international green development fund, take immediate action to cool the Arctic and drastically reduce emissions, as we are rapidly loosing the Arctic ice cap, the world's air conditioner and solar heat reflector. Ice free summers are projected in the Arctic in the next several years, which is already releasing unimaginable amounts of methane from the frozen deposits beneath the bed of the rapidly warming Arctic ocean, accelerating global warming out of control.

Submitted by Kyle P. from CA in Environment Dec. 19, 2014, 8:30 a.m.

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#1390

97 votes

Ask the Supreme Court Five and the GOP/supporters to produce all corporations Birth Certificate, Hospital name and location, attending physician info including all other attending medical staff, a copy of the original Social Security number, Photo's of the Ultrasound taken before birth, corporations relatives, childhood pics, schools, taxes payed, jobs, voters registration card, any other pertinent info that applies to humans covered in flesh & bone! If no answer sue & demand answers EVERY DAY!

Submitted by VietnamVet66-67 in Government & Elections Dec. 13, 2014, 5:28 a.m.

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#1390

97 votes

Formulate a community board of overseers to monitor police behavior within their communities. These boards should consist of residents from the communities that are being policed. And, prosecution for acts of human violations should be more severe for those hired to uphold the laws; if found guilty. Police should not be policing themselves.

Submitted by American Citizen in Society & Community Dec. 11, 2014, 5:33 p.m.

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#1390

97 votes

Flip abandoned homes in cities and provide free to low-cost homes for the homeless community. This program should be offered in coordination with case management services providing employment assistance, financial literacy classes, and access to educational and developmental opportunities. Just like everyone else in this country, the homeless should have the ability to live productive and fulfilling lives. A home and a strong foundation is the first step in reaching that goal.

Submitted by Jeremy Armiger in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 11:31 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

Let's get rid of the midterm elections altogether and only have one election every four years, not only for the President but for Congress as well. Congress is forever in 'campaign mode' because there's an election held every two years and it's why nothing gets done. Congress' duty is to properly do the will of the people who hired them and they don't. They're too busy getting ready to campaign again. It really has to stop and this would be one way to do it.

Submitted by Maria P. from CA in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 2:54 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

Unpaid family 24/7 caregivers should have their labor counted as part of the GDP. This work force should be supported by legislative action that would count years of service toward Soc.Sec.

Submitted by Fae S. from MA in Taxes & Budget Jan. 15, 2015, 2:18 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

Improved, affordable (preferably FREE) early childhood, grades K-12 and college education. Our children are America's future!

Submitted by Tigger-Too in Education Dec. 11, 2014, 4:27 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

Police should have part of their duties involve helping the community so that they see the good side of the community, develop relationships and learn valuable leads on crimes. This would humanize the community for the officers, who I believe are psychologically impacted by being exposed to the darker side of life in doing their jobs.

Submitted by civicusa in Society & Community Dec. 18, 2014, 7:50 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

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