Radical? You bet. (1 Viewer)

[bird]

If I had my druthers…

The first thing I would do would be to eliminate the states as political units.

The second would be to eliminate the senate.

The third would be to limit terms of SCOTUS justices. Their behavior would determine their possibility for pension.

Fourth, any legislator would have to wait a minimum of 10 years before becoming a lobbyist. The reverse would also apply. The same would apply for any member of the military.

Income taxes would be radically revised. No deductions at all. Rates could go something like this

$0-$25 K - 1%
$25-$50 K - 3%
$50-$100 K - 6%
$100-$200 K - 10%
$200-$500 K - 15%
Above $500 K - 25%

Every dollar would also be subject to FICA.

Corporate taxes - rates would vary based upon number of employees. No deductions for anything. You spend money, you spends money. No amortization, depreciation etc. No interest deduction.

As banks are, by definition, insolvent they would be required to keep larger reserves on hand. In addition, bank “secrecy” laws would be eliminated. The U.S. is the largest money launderer in the world. It is time for that to stop.

Just me musing out loud…

 

[SaintRob]

The first thing I would do would be to eliminate the states as political units.

Expand on this...

The second would be to eliminate the senate.

And why?

I agree on a lot of rest of this. TL on SCOTUS, simplified tax code, lobbying, FICA - all of these or some version of this sounds like a good plan. I don't understand the rationale behind the states/senate part.

 

[bird]

Expand on this...



And why?

I agree on a lot of rest of this. TL on SCOTUS, simplified tax code, lobbying, FICA - all of these or some version of this sounds like a good plan. I don't understand the rationale behind the states/senate part.

The concept of the senate goes away with the end of states. Its current iteration gives power based simply on the existence of a “state” no matter the population. Thus power is diluted or concentrated bay virtual of the population. If elimination of the states is less than satisfactory then the senate could continue to exist with state drawn based upon population average the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and perhaps other would be merged to create a state(s) with population closer to the average of other states.

States would simply become money funnels. Funds would flow downward based upon population as well as other potential factors such as poverty rates. Any attempts by states to withhold funds based upon political beliefs or personal bias would not be tolerated.

I would also increase the number of representatives. The current number is far too unwieldy.

 

[bird]

More needed…

Resolved,

There has never been, is not now and never will be a “United” States of America. Since the creation of the colonies followed by the birth of the country the differences which were at best papered over have been lingering beneath the surface. Those differences based upon race, ethnicity, xenophobia, and, most importantly, wealth have finally burst into the open.

While there have been a scattered few times that the people have rallied together such as during WW2 the fall back has always been to hostility between peoples and states/regions. This, with the installation of Trump and the lack of restraints by the Republican Party on his actions has resulted in an untenable situation.

Therefore, the only long term solution is for the country to dissolve itself.

Yes, that is harsh. No, I do not see any alternative because the problem does not lie with the Democratic Party despite its own issues. The problem is that the Republican Party in general and its politicians in particular have abandoned any pretense of loyalty to their oath regarding the constitution or to the citizens of the country. They do not care. In point of opinion, many are afraid of the monster that they have created and many are cheering on the monster.

The constitution, like everything that a society does if the basis is democracy, hinges on belief and confidence. Those things have been irreparably damaged.

The chest-thumping over “we defeated communism” and “we defeated the Nazis” has vanished to be replaced by worship of autocracy and hatred.

We have entered the endgame.

There will be no tri-polar world. No “new American century”. No American is great again.

 

[faceman]

I can't agree on SCOTUS. Their appointment can't be limited due to current day political leanings. Their decisions should never
be based on current ideaology. our founding fathers had the right idea

 

[bird]

I can't agree on SCOTUS. Their appointment can't be limited due to current day political leanings. Their decisions should never
be based on current ideaology. our founding fathers had the right idea

Their decisions are ALWAYS based on their personal ideologies/belief structures. It doesn’t matter what decision. The constitution forbids exactly 3 things: bills of attainder, ex post facto laws and religious tests. Some amendments address a few other things. Beyond that claims that something is unconstitutional are simply the opinions of the various justices which can be reduced to they do or do not like something unless the case is something that runs contrary to previous rulings. Even then that can change as seen by Dobbs.

 

[faceman]

Their decisions are ALWAYS based on their personal ideologies/belief structures. It doesn’t matter what decision. The constitution forbids exactly 3 things: bills of attainder, ex post facto laws and religious tests. Some amendments address a few other things. Beyond that claims that something is unconstitutional are simply the opinions of the various justices which can be reduced to they do or do not like something unless the case is something that runs contrary to previous rulings. Even then that can change as seen by Dobbs.

still disagree. I don't want any judge making decisions based on whether i'm reelected .

 

[bird]

still disagree. I don't want any judge making decisions based on whether i'm reelected .

They make them based on the own belief structures. That includes who appointed them which means WH elected the one who appointed them.

The bias is now baked in.

 

[faceman]

They make them based on the own belief structures. That includes who appointed them which means WH elected the one who appointed them.

The bias is now baked in.

no. Search Bryer appointed by Bush. ACB is a swing vote appointed by Trump. Neither should worry about being elected

 

[bird]

no. Search Bryer appointed by Bush. ACB is a swing vote appointed by Trump. Neither should worry about being elected

As opposed to Scalia, Alito, Gorsuch? ACB is not arbitrarily a swing vote. Her vote on Dobbs had no legal basis but was strictly based on her religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Federalist Society must have no input into SCOTUS justices.

 

[faceman]

As opposed to Scalia, Alito, Gorsuch? ACB is not arbitrarily a swing vote. Her vote on Dobbs had no legal basis but was strictly based on her religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Federalist Society must have no input into SCOTUS justices.

we are going to be fine. Trust this old man please

 

[faceman]

As opposed to Scalia, Alito, Gorsuch? ACB is not arbitrarily a swing vote. Her vote on Dobbs had no legal basis but was strictly based on her religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Federalist Society must have no input into SCOTUS justices.

Thomas and Alito you are correct, Gorsuch possibly. ACB with the exception of abortion is in the middle along with Roberts. We are OK man. Our constitution prevents idiots like Trump from becoming king

 

[bird]

Thomas and Alito you are correct, Gorsuch possibly. ACB with the exception of abortion is in the middle along with Roberts. We are OK man. Our constitution prevents idiots like Trump from becoming king

This older man isn’t as convinced. What prevents idiots like Trump is belief in the system. The document is a symbol. Belief in the system established by that document and the willingness to exert force upon those who do not believe in the system is, ultimately, the final bulwark. What I think we have seen so far is a complete willingness by Trump and, more importantly, by Musk to ignore the courts. In the end, as Andrew Jackson proved, the SCOTUS and other courts have no means to enforce their rulings. If the current cabal we bound the fired federal workers would be back at work and the data stolen by the infantile Children Of Elon would have been deleted from their systems.

I have stated with tongue in cheek that I operate under the theory of paranoia. The utter unwillingness of a large percentage of the electorate to use critical thinking is terrifying. It is not that electing any Republican is arbitrarily bad. It is that there are few, if any, Republicans that will stand against Trusk and Mump. How many in the House or Senate have really stood up and railed against Trusk and Mump?

 

[bird]

Btw, the courts are in the early stages of being openly attacked for failure to bend the knee.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/21/congress-judges-gop-impeachments-injunctions-026855

 

[zztop]

As opposed to Scalia, Alito, Gorsuch? ACB is not arbitrarily a swing vote. Her vote on Dobbs had no legal basis but was strictly based on her religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Federalist Society must have no input into SCOTUS justices.

Yeah, all those forkers who voted to overturn RvW forking lied about "settled law". They all lost any credibility lying about that, knowing full well what they really wanted to do. Now I'm just waiting for Alito and Thomas to retire in the next 3 years, so orange shirt can appoint new judges that will fork over this country for even more decades after he is long dead

 

[SaintRob]

Yeah, all those forkers who voted to overturn RvW forking lied about "settled law". They all lost any credibility lying about that, knowing full well what they really wanted to do. Now I'm just waiting for Alito and Thomas to retire in the next 3 years, so orange shirt can appoint new judges that will fork over this country for even more decades after he is long dead

I don't think either one (especially Thomas) will retire during Felony 47's term. They both have power and free lunch that they won't be willing to give up.