10 radical ideas for the betterment of American society

  1. Become the isolationists we once were.  When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, America had very limited military capabilities, with an isolationist policy.    FDR refused to get involved in Europe’s conflict, and would not have, if Pearl Harbor hadn’t been attacked.   However, in the decades that followed,  Americans have established bases in Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, and are now even helping bolster Australia’s defenses against possible Chinese encroachment.  We can no longer afford to do all this, even if such policies may serve as a deterrent to ruthless dictators. It is time that we let other countries defend themselves.  Countries, like people, become dependent on handouts and aid.  They come to think of help as a given.  Recently, a desperate Syrian woman got on television cameras, pleading in English, “Please, President Obama, help us!”  I feel sorry for her. But really, why Obama?  Why America?  Why not ask President Putin?  He’s closer!   The American President doesn’t have to rush to the aid of every victim of international events.

 

  2. Institute universal health care coverage for all people (citizens, and non-citizens alike).  There has been much controversy over so called “Obama Care,” but the real problem is that it doesn’t go nearly far enough.  No one should have to worry about whether they can afford to go to the hospital or see a doctor about a medical condition.   If anything is a “given” in today’s society, it is that we all should be have clothes, food, shelter and medical care.  There’s no excuse for anyone being denied.  If we can spend billions sending a roving laboratory to explore the planet Mars and billions more developing an extensive network of roads and bridges for the people of Afghanistan, we can surely provide medical care to all those who need it.

 

 

 

      Sunflowers, oil painting by Mikyong Rodgers

  3. Institute a dollar a gallon tax on gasoline.  This would not only be good for the environment by reducing the incentive to drive, but also reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Half of this tax could go to repairing, replacing and maintaining the country’s crumbling infrastructure, and the other half could  go to the funding of an extensive light rail system, comparable to the Interstate Highway system in the 1950s.  Such a rail system could connect major airports and rail and subway stations, commuter lots, concert venues, shopping malls, major tourist sites and universities,  further reducing our dependency cars and gasoline, and creating a cleaner environment in the process.

 

  4. Abolish the electoral college, requiring instead that presidents be elected by a simple majority.  The last time (but not the first time) we elected a president who lost the popular vote, we got George W. Bush.  Need I say more?   His policies set America back 100 years.  Al Gore won the 2000 election by a sizeable majority, but, in the most ironic way imaginable, in America, the bastion of free thought and the birthplace of the modern democratic movement, the majority most decidedly did not "rule."

 

  5.  Abolish the income tax in favor of a national sales tax.  The conservatives can get on board because it does not penalize the rich for being rich; the liberals can support it not only because exceptions for housing and medical care could ensure that the poor pay almost nothing, but also because the rich would not be able to find escape in the myriad of tax shelters that is currently available to them. It’s the fairest tax, because the more people buy, the more taxes they pay, and those with the least amount of money will still pay the fewest taxes.  And let's not forget the Queen of Mean herself, hotelier Leona Helmsley, who once infamously remarked that only "little people" pay taxes.  Such a move would also save us substantial sums from tax fraud, IRS agents, audits, and tax processors.

 

  6. With the abolition of the income tax, also goes the least logical of all tax breaks…the one for having children. It makes no sense to pay less money in taxes, when each child that is produced  actually costs the government money….in schools, roads, bridges, medical facilities, water treatment plants…the list goes on and on.  China actually has it right.   Contrary to what some believe, China does not have a “one child” policy. They just require additional funds be paid if a couple wishes have a second or third child.  It actually makes good economic sense.

 

  7. Eliminate the House of Representatives.   One of the problems that we’ve been experiencing in Congress lately is that constituents elect congressmen from districts, not state-wide offices.  This sometimes has the unfortunate effect of allowing radical extremists (from both sides) who otherwise would not be elected.   A two-house system is also extremely inefficient, and was only put in place because the founders could not agree on whether or not to have the people elect representatives based on population.  I’d suggest a compromise.  Get rid of the House, have only  the senate, but with smallest states getting 2 senators, the largest getting 4 and the others getting three. This would transform Congress from 425 members to roughly 150, all elected by state-wide ballots.

            click here to for free YouTube video by Steven W Rodgers

               animated musical video from the upcoming  musical soundtrack "Revolutionary Gentleman"

 

  8. Establish mandatory service to the country.  Every citizen should be required to devote one or two years to planting trees, picking up trash, helping the poor, volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes, and, yes, if they feel led, to join a branch of the military.

 

   9. Eliminate the penny, nickel, dime, and the dollar bill and reintroduce the 50 cent piece, dollar coin, $2 and $500 bills.   Inflation is such that a dollar is what a penny was 100 years ago.  It costs more to make the penny and nickel than they are even worth.  The only logical argument I’ve ever heard for keeping them is that we would lose the sayings “a penny for your thoughts.”  or  “Here’s my two cents worth.” Forget about it.  No great loss.  Get rid of it.

 

   10.  Stop wasting precious resources on pursuing perpetrators of victimless crimes.  Stop harassing those who harmlessly engage in prostitution, gambling, smoking marijuana, sodomy, using crack cocaine, euthanasia, and pornography.   Is society really best served by incarcerating those who do nothing  to harm others?  Let’s concentrate our efforts on locking up the people who cause harm, death and destruction, and stop worrying so much about what adults do in their free time behind closed doors.

Do pregnancy, illness and bereavement entitle employees to special privileges?

Every few seconds, another baby is born.  Yea!   Ok, I’ll avoid the temptation to be cynical (saying something like “What are babies good for?”  or “Why bring yet another screaming baby into this hellish world?”)    It does seem rather odd, however, that many employers offer extraordinarily generous benefits—namely, to be absent from work, with FULL PAY, for one, two or even three months!!!    Yes, you heard correctly.  You have a baby, and suddenly you are entitled to collect the same pay you would have received, had you been working????  That’s a good gig if you can get it!   

Does this not seem just a tad unfair, not just to all the men, but the single and unpregnant women in the workforce, as well ?  What is their compensation for NOT having had a baby?   And how exactly does pregnancy benefit the employer?  Some people say pregnancy is a wonderful thing, and a benefit to society. Well, that may be.  I don’t see it, but whether it is or not, how does that benefit your employer, who lets you have all that time off?  How does it benefit the workers who don’t have, don't want, or can't have children?  How are you more entitled to time off, for doing the same work? 

Don't get me wrong.  I have no problem with them getting time off.   I'm simply asking why their co-workers shouldn't have the same privileges.

For that matter, why even have sick leave?  Doesn’t that unfairly reward the lazy or dishonest people who call in sick when they are not?…. Doesn’t it likewise reward the people who may be hard working but are often indisposed to work because of frequent or chronic illnesses? 

And speaking of time off, why have bereavement leave to attend funerals of the dear departed? Are employees with a plethora of dying relatives more entitled to time off than those who have few, if any, relatives, or those who don’t care about the relatives they DO have, and wouldn’t attend one of their funerals if their favorite reality TV show was on at the same time?

Having an open ended, one-size-fits-all leave plan is more efficient, helps people be honest, and best of all, treats everyone equally, regardless of gender, health, or even how many elderly dying relatives they may have.   I would personally opt for six weeks off a year for all workers, two of it mandatory, with four weeks being accumulative.   That way, employees could all have a much-needed vacation, but could use the four weeks per year for whatever they wished:   pregnancy leave, bereavement leave, vacation time, sick leave, or just a few mental health days to prevent them from “going postal” on their co-workers.  It seems the best solution.... if treating everyone equitably is important to you.

original oil painting by Mikyong Rodgers

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