The First Thing You'd Do if You Were President

[scaeagles]

I'd lower taxes, as historically that actually increases government revenue due to increased economic activity.

I'd get a national education voucher passed to allow poor families with inner city children to go to private schools where they can actually get an education.

I would utilize imminent domain to purchase all property along the US Mexico border (and perhaps along the Canadian border, but I don't know how much of a problem illegal immigration is up north) so that I could build a wall and put up high tech monitoring equipment along with tripling the number of border patrol agents so that I could stop the influx of illegal immigrants.

I'd allow the average US taxpayer to opt out of Social Security, just as members of the House and Senate can do. It would have to be on a gradual basis, of course, to fulfill the commitments to those who have paid in.

I'd get drilling in ANWR pushed through. The fact of the matter is our dependence on foreign oil is only increasing and we must utilize what we know we have, as there is no other source of viable energy to replace it.

I'd build nuclear power plants. It's ridiculous that we haven't built any since the 70s.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. I'm sure if I thought about it I'd be able to think of more.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

The fact of the matter is our dependence on foreign oil is only increasing and we must utilize what we know we have, as there is no other source of viable energy to replace it.

You speak as though there is no way of decreasing our dependence. This is not so. I get 33 mi/gallon in my little car. When the Metro orange line is put into place by September, I will hardly be using my car at all.

And you state outright that there is no other option for fuel. But what about hybrids? Wind power? Vegetable oil? Mr. Fusion? Why won't they increase funding for such research? The technology exists. Somebody up the ladder is squashing it, and it seems to me like it'd be somebody with their fortune tied up in oil. Hmm. Who do I know who has his fortune tied up in oil?

Meanwhile, scientists have come out and bloody well said that this planet won't be long for this world. It simply cannot support life at this rate for years to come. Our children, and our children's children, are going to suffer. And it will all be our fault.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

You speak as though there is no way of decreasing our dependence. This is not so. I get 33 mi/gallon in my little car. When the Metro orange line is put into place by September, I will hardly be using my car at all.

And you state outright that there is no other option for fuel. But what about hybrids? Wind power? Vegetable oil? Mr. Fusion? Why won't they increase funding for such research? The technology exists. Somebody up the ladder is squashing it, and it seems to me like it'd be somebody with their fortune tied up in oil. Hmm. Who do I know who has his fortune tied up in oil?

Meanwhile, scientists have come out and bloody well said that this planet won't be long for this world. It simply cannot support life at this rate for years to come. Our children, and our children's children, are going to suffer. And it will all be our fault.

I hardly drive at all. I have a home office. My wife teaches school less than two miles from our home and our kids go there.

I said there is no other viable option, yes. I am speaking of at present. Hybrids still burn gas, though less of it. Without gas, they don't work.

In a capitalistic society, when the technology exists it will be exploited for profit. As sad as that may be, that is what will drive new sources of energy moving to prominence. Why aren't there more wind farms? I would suspect, though I have not researched it, that there isn't enough profit in it. When there is enough profit in it, it will be done. It has nothing to do with the person you are implicating suppressing it. I believe that wind power and vegetable oil were around prior to his Presidency and yet somehow were still not developed into something that could replace oil comsumption. There was a propsed wind farm off of Martha's Vineyard. "What!?!?!" cried the elite living there. "I don't want MY view spoiled!!!".

Scientists in the 70s were saying we were experiencing global cooling and that we weren't going to be able to grow crops because of it. Now, with global warming, the Kyoto garbage even admits the restrictions proposed will only make a difference of something like on tenth of a degree over the next 50 years. There are also scientists who do not spout doom and gloom regarding the condition of the environment.

There are ways of decreasin our dependence on foreign oil. How about drilling for our own?

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I'd allow the average US taxpayer to opt out of Social Security, just as members of the House and Senate can do.

Could you please cite a source to back up this opinion.

It is my understanding that Congress cannot opt out of the Social Security program. They pay FICA just like every other working (don't get me started!) American. There was a period of about 20 years that municipalities could opt out of social security, but that loophole was closed in 1983. They do, however, have retirement security options not available to all Americans, like the Thrift Savings Plan which is similar to 401K plans offered by larger employers.