The Big Ideas Project

Retire the penny. The half cent was retired and we no longer need the penny. Round to the nearest five cents on cash transactions. Cents and partial cents are of course still possible with electronic transactions. A lot of mining, pollution and expense to create a coin that is no longer worth picking up.

Submitted by Lance in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 4:03 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1370

100 votes

Institute Progressive Social Security Payroll Tax $0 to $30,000.... 1% $30,000 to $80,000.... 10% $80,000 to $500,000...12% Above $500,000...15% ►All brackets fully indexed to inflation or increases in CEO compensation whichever is higher. ►Tax rates on 1st three brackets capped, not subject to future rate increases under any circumstances. ►Tax to be split evenly between employer & employee, same as current law. ►If additional revenue is needed, broaden the tax base.

Submitted by Sam H in Taxes & Budget Dec. 19, 2014, 3:54 a.m.

Tweet Share

#1370

100 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.

Tweet Share

#1390

97 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.

Tweet Share

#1396

96 votes

Pass a law that says Congress can appropriate no money for a defense related program or item unless the Pentagon agrees that the expenditure is justified

Submitted by Stuart in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 12:06 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1402

95 votes

Tax investment income at the exact same rate as "earned" income. Originally it was lower to encourage investment in American industry. It is no longer anything of the kind. If all income from any source was taxed equally, taxes could be lower!

Submitted by rmccullough in Taxes & Budget Dec. 19, 2014, 9:36 a.m.

Tweet Share

#1438

92 votes

Go through the entire government economic incentive system (things such as giving corporations tax breaks to move jobs over seas) and replace as many government breaks and incentives for fat cats with government breaks and incentives for middle class people.

Submitted by John J. from MI in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 7:25 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1447

91 votes

Limit cost overruns on any govt project to a maximum of 10% of the bid. This will require them to make realistic bids and not count on the taxpayer to pick up the tab on bids they should have known they could not meet.

Submitted by Chuck Isner in Taxes & Budget Jan. 3, 2015, 7:16 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1472

88 votes

Begin reducing funding in the federal budget for the Military Industrial Complex and move some of those savings to NASA and other technology sectors. every defense contractor can be incentivised to move investments and human resources to those endeavors. Call it the "Swords to plowshares Initiative " !

Submitted by Greg K in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 7:16 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1476

87 votes

Increase tax rates for those earning $400,000 and above, starting at 50% and gradually increasing to 90% for the wealthiest earners- $10 million and up. Maintain these rates until the National Debt is paid off. Make the rate of taxation for investment income equal to the personal income tax rate. Eliminate all tax exceptions for large corporations and for the Upper 1% of earners.

Submitted by Richard G. from PA in Taxes & Budget Jan. 5, 2015, 5:58 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1476

87 votes

Cut military spending 5% per year for at least the next 10 years. Redirect a portion of remaining military spending to worldwide disaster relief planning & deployment. Budget savings should be allocated to international conflict resolution, infrastructure- including the electric grid, high-speed rail, fiber optic networks, roads & bridges-, basic scientific & medical research, public health, mental health etc., improving the well-being of American citizens and creating many new good jobs.

Submitted by Michael Wherley in Taxes & Budget Jan. 11, 2015, 9:35 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1486

86 votes

Alternate corporate minimum tax; if its good enough for us real people, why not one for the corporate people. Based on gross sales, so no accounting monkey business.

Submitted by max in Taxes & Budget Dec. 19, 2014, 10:14 a.m.

Tweet Share

#1493

85 votes

In exchange for big bailouts and pretty loose regulations, have wall street finance public works/ social projects. DO NOT bail out any American company ever again without some sort of legal commitment to a large public works project in the future. You cannot get bailed out on the taxpayer's dime for free.

Submitted by courtdmc in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 5:02 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1493

85 votes

Allow penalty free and tax free withdrawals from a 401K if the funds are used to pay off debt for yourself or a family member..

Submitted by Janek in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 4:15 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1504

83 votes

1. Fair taxing for all based on gross income without loophole. 2. Eliminate tax incentives for corporations. 3. For those Corporations who ship American jobs overseas, Add an additional tax of 50% of all income from those jobs. 3. Eliminate all college tuition for every Americans. 4.

Submitted by Barbara K. from FL in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 12:03 a.m.

Tweet Share

#1516

82 votes

Tax the rich and corporations more fairly. Overhaul the current system.

Submitted by Deja G. from AR in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 12:10 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1528

80 votes

Create a truly progressive tax. Every dollar a person earns is taxed slightly more than the previous dollar. No brackets. For example: the first dollar you earn is taxed a small fraction of a penny, while the 50 millionth dollar is taxed closer to 99 cents.This way every dollar you earn is at least a little more money in your pocket AND more money for social programs. This preserves the incentive of earn more money while putting more tax burden on those who are getting the most from society

Submitted by Daniel W. from MA in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 5:01 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1549

78 votes

return fuel and food to the formula calculating inflation rates

Submitted by Robert D. from WA in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 7:35 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1558

77 votes

TAX Churches UNLESS they feed or physically help the poor and homeless in "soup kitchens". NO free rides tax wise.

Submitted by no in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 8:47 a.m.

Tweet Share

#1558

77 votes

Leverage the drop in oil prices to implement a carbon tax that funds alternative energy primarily in the form of 1.wind 2. PV solar 3. battery storage 4. R&D 5.Grid infrastructure 6. EV's 7. other

Submitted by Jennifer H in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 3:53 p.m.

Tweet Share

#1558

77 votes

Who’s voting?

Thanks for voting on your favorite ideas!