The Big Ideas Project

Cuban embargo, a shameful relic of cold war, has just ended. Yet "economic sanctions" are widely used as political weapon against anyone who dares to challenge US dictate (Russia, Iran, Venezuela). US should stop wielding this cudgel, and its interventionist policies worldwide that bring ever more disasters - from Afghanistan to Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and on.

Submitted by David_LG in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 17, 2014, 9:32 p.m.

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#1640

70 votes

Build Peace: Most unrest in the world is due to economic problems. Well designed sustainable communities connected by smart transportation can solve these economic problems. The US can direct its foreign aid and UN partners to build such prototype living systems in areas such as Palestine and North Korea. Economic problems will be solved, peace will be achieved while establishing a template for sustainable development for the rest of the world.

Submitted by Robert H. from CA in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 5, 2015, 1:58 p.m. 1

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#1658

68 votes

Stop all foreign aid. If we can't afford to help our own citizens who are in need, or to rebuild our infrastructure...we can no longer afford to give millions away in foreign aid.

Submitted by caprice in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 8:43 p.m.

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#1658

68 votes

Withdraw all overseas military personnel and use the money saved in other areas such as education.

Submitted by Dan in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 6:22 p.m.

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#1681

66 votes

Recognizing that our governments' surveillance and covert/overt military actions around the globe are undertaken to support our lifestyles, We The People need to step up. Require a publicly transparent investigation into exactly what the impact of removing troops, spies and surveillance from each country would be, and exactly what the cost to each of us would be given the current economic structure. Then we can begin a serious discourse about the costs of peace, and vote on that.

Submitted by Kay M in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 7:15 p.m.

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#1694

65 votes

Support the nations in Africa that share our values and DON'T support the nations that don't share our values. Countries that strive to help their citizens and respect their rights should get great financial help. But countries like Swaziland or Zimbabwe that refuse to allow freedoms for their citizens should not receive the financial gifts they receive today.

Submitted by MattA in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 10:01 p.m.

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#1724

63 votes

can anyone or any group REALLY oversee what the military are up to? How do the people regain any degree of control over the military budget, over military engagements, etc. I also think we should pay our soldiers decent salaries instead of hiring mercenaries (private companies). Thank you. Denise Forant, Oakland, CA.

Submitted by dforant in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 9:40 p.m.

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#1788

58 votes

Remove all military bases in foreign countries. Put soldiers to work serving America in a constructive way by rebuilding our infrastructure.

Submitted by Patrick D. from CA in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 17, 2014, 2:34 p.m.

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#1802

57 votes

create a Cabinet level department of Peacebuilding that utilizes the new and beginning to be used conflict resolution energies in schools,communities, prisons, and extend them to our Foreign Policy interface with other countries needing them. And with $10,000,000,000, of ours and others money, establish 5 permanent sites around the world dedicated solely to disarmament until that goal is achieved. we deserve no less.

Submitted by oebm b. from FL in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 19, 2014, 12:26 p.m.

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#1817

56 votes

Defense contractors help ensure the funding of military procurements, needed or not by distributing the contracting and sub-contracting of defense contracts over hundreds of Congressional Districts. This creates pressure on members of Congress to vote for funding irrespective of authentic military value. One way to mitigate this distortion would be to limit the contracting and sub-contracting of defense procurement contracts to no more than 100 Congressional Districts per contract.

Submitted by Donald Wallace in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 13, 2014, 9:59 p.m.

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#1831

55 votes

Increase the number of unskilled/low-skilled immigration visas to 100,000/yr. (It is currently 5,000/year for ALL countries combined, which makes legal entry completely unfeasible for most of those who are willing to come here for the jobs few others want, fails to satisfy US labor demands, and creates a more easily exploitable group of workers). Stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars to keep out workers who benefit our economy.

Submitted by Ray Ables in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 4, 2015, 4:38 p.m.

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#1841

54 votes

The United States Navy should be building smaller aircraft carriers like the French, Charles de Gaulle, or 45,000 ton aircraft carriers. With the advent of the F-35B fighter aircraft, the Navy doesn't really need to build 100,000 ton Nimitz class aircraft carriers; or have the need for having catapults. The F-35B just needs a small flight deck to operate from . Thus reducing the size of the aircraft carriers even further.

Submitted by TIGERPAW in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 19, 2014, 2:28 p.m.

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#1841

54 votes

All the money we spend on the military for war could be spent showing the world we are a peaceful people. Send multiple traveling groups to dance and sing peace. Stop making movies of war and make movies around the world showing our desire for peace. Invite other countries to share the idea.

Submitted by Kris-Progressive in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 17, 2014, 4:27 p.m.

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#1863

52 votes

Investigate all significant "terrorist" events for ties to domestic armed insurgency or governmental false flag operations. Prosecute and jail ALL those found to be participants in such activities.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 16, 2014, 1:02 p.m.

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#1897

49 votes

Require all government expenditures to be made to USA businesses. American tax money should be spent at home.

Submitted by dasSchramm in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 6, 2015, 6:17 p.m.

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#1897

49 votes

The cost of US diplomatic operations needs to be trimmed. The effectiveness of officers needs to be increased. More regional embassies or regional offices within embassies is a viable way to cut costs. Two year stints of embassy personnel prevents the attainment of true regional or country specific expertise. This endless transferring is costly. Expertise is at best a gloss. As our recent history has shown, our lack of in-depth understanding of cultures has led us to costly blunders

Submitted by jon g. from IL in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 11, 2014, 3:05 p.m.

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#1897

49 votes

LARGEST FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO LOWEST-CARBON NATIONS: The U.S. and other wealthy nations should contribute their greatest foreign assistance in money and in kind to the lowest-carbon-footprint nations, e.g. Cuba, North Korea, and most African countries, as a matter of "carbon justice" and to materially improve their people's standard of living while enabling them to preserve the rainforests and biodiversity essential to keeping the earth climate-stable and environmentally healthy.

Submitted by Gregory Wright, ADA So Cal Board Member in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 2, 2015, 9:59 a.m. 1

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#1909

48 votes

Bring back the draft with the standards being used at the end of the Vietnam era, where even status as a college student could not be used as deferment criteria.

Submitted by denton.murphy in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 17, 2014, 12:30 a.m.

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#1923

47 votes

Get ALEC and Israel out of our government!! Our legislature is not a mule for special interests and sick agendas.

Submitted by Tevj in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 15, 2015, 6:29 p.m.

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#1923

47 votes

Occupation by the U.S. and other western countries in the Middle East has encouraged terrorism. Military retaliation for terrorist acts foments more violence. Organize an international summit of nations including Middle Eastern countries to work on peaceful solutions.

Submitted by Jean C. from NJ in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 12, 2015, 2:24 p.m.

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#1946

45 votes

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