On a state level we have to have a balanced budget. We are not (as a state) allowed to have a deficit. We need to pay the bills and care for our people. We need to not punish one group or another. We need to not be contentious about the hard times we have right now. It is time to pull together and work hard to make things work.
On a federal level we don’t have to have a balanced budget. That is the first change I would make. Just as the individual cannot spend more than they make, our government needs to not spend more than it makes.
Here are some things to consider if the above doesn’t work to make the budget work. Let’s look at the taxes that haven’t been raised in say the last five years. If it hasn’t been raised then it is time to raise them. I know NO ONE likes to pay more in taxes, however, we aren’t going to have this luxury.
Here’s the thing – taking money away from the poor – not going to fix the problem. Why not you say? Well because they are poor and don’t have any money. Therefore, we can’t get more income from them. It doesn’t save money to stop paying for preventative care and birth control. It costs more money in the long run. Plus the poor have it hard enough. Let’s not make their lot in life worse.
We need to look at luxury items. Yes I know the corporations and the rich people are cringing. Here is the thing – if you have extra, then you need to give back. Oh don’t worry I don’t think you should give till you are poor – I just think you have the ability to pay more so you should.
We need to encourage employment here. I don’t know if we are necessarily going to be a manufacturing country anymore but we need to figure out how to keep our people employed.
We need to have a national healthcare plan so that everyone has equal access to care. This means we need to rein in the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. They make HUGE profits. This is at the cost of the individuals who have to pay for all this crap.
Education needs a revamp. Teachers who excel at their jobs need to be compensated appropriately. Those who aren’t good teachers need to be washed out. Our schools need to step away from you are in grade X and will learn this. They need to accommodate the students’ level of knowledge. If a five year old is reading at a twelve year old level – they should be taught at that level. We need to get our kids an education. Studies show that more education means less likelihood for a need to rely on aid of any kind.
The society in US is a prude. There is nothing wrong with sex or the naked body. Like everything else we need to educate our populace (starting at a young age) that sex is normal and natural. Virginity isn’t a prize to be clung to like some Victorian spinster. It is a state of being. You either have had or haven’t had sex. Therefore we need to teach our kids how to have save and protected sex. There are too many dangers in unprotected sex. Pregnancy is the least of the worries. There are all sorts of sexually transmitted diseases that will do everything from make you uncomfortable to kill you. That needs to stop. Oral sex is still sex and kids need to know that. We need to teach our kids to respect their bodies and themselves.
This leads to a woman’s right to control her own body. Every woman should have the right to say what she wants to happen to her body. No one – NO ONE – gets to say whether it is the right time for her to have a baby or not. If she is pregnant and makes the difficult and heart wrenching decision to terminate that pregnancy, that is her choice. No one – and in particular – no man gets to say she shouldn’t do that. No I’m not pro-abortion – I’m pro-CHOICE. That means that I think all the options should be available to women without recriminations for choosing one over another.
We have one planet to live on. We need to respect our planet and figure out a way to live in harmony with all the creatures here and with the environment. If we destroy our planet than where are we going to live? Cut government subsidies to the oil companies unless they are developing other types of energy. It is clearly obvious that nuclear energy is NOT the way to go. The question then becomes what is the way to go?
How are we to accomplish all of these changes and adjustments? Well here is the first steps I can think of:
1. Meet with respect and an open mind.
2. Discuss options and ideas
3. Formulate a plan of action
4. Execute that action plan
5. Evaluate that plan on a regular basis
6. Revise the plan as is needed
7. Repeat…
There you go in three pages I’ve fixed the government and our society. I know that people will read this and think – this woman is NUTS. That’s okay because I probably am. See I expect my elected representatives to actually do their job and represent ME. I expect them to listen and hear all sides of an argument before they make a decision.
Maybe I’m just idealistic in my belief that the founding fathers (there should have been mothers involved too) had it right with government for the people by the people. I think that if we all pull together and get down to brass tacks we can make our country a better place for everyone to live, work and play.
Obviously we won’t cure all the ills in one big meeting but let’s at least be open and have the discussions needed to bring our economy and lives back into a balanced place.
Now if you have managed to get to the end of this and still are reading – good for you – let me know what you think. I’d love to hear others ideas about how to fix these difficult problems.
