- 05 Oct 2011 07:08
#13807705
I'll assume that the normal rules of Presidential succession are in order, and that as such I either was previously in the Cabinet, albeit in a low-profile position, or that I was somehow appointed Speaker of the House following the resignation of Obama, Biden, and Boehner.
1. Begin building influence amongst the Senators and Representatives through both positive and negative methods. I'd begin approaching the Congressmen closest to me politically and attempt to win them over to my camp. In tandem, I'd form a "dirty-tricks" team similar to Nixon's, with the orders to dig up as much damaging dirt on as as many Congressmen as possible. I'd continue these methods until I had enough political capital to push through my whole agenda.
2. Close many of the tax loopholes applying to individuals. Reorganize the tax brackets, adding a bracket that covers individuals who make $2,000,000 or more before tax at a rate of between 42 and 45%. Raise rates by 2% on all lower brackets. Reduce corporate tax rates by 3% across the board, and provide further reductions to corporations that actually create jobs in the USA.
3. Begin the process of fundamental entitlement reform. Index the age at which one can begin receiving Social Security benefits to mean life expectancy, with the goal of giving people an average of 4 years of benefits. Insert a provision that reduces payments to seniors on a sliding scale, with the amount paid reduced depending upon annual income (if any). Reduce the amount paid in Social Security disability insurance by 30%.
4. Consolidate Obamacare, Medicaid, and Medicare into one system, removing redundant agencies and cutting bureaucratic expenditures. The government would supply citizens with vouchers to purchase health insurance from any private company. The amount paid in a voucher would be reduced for people with higher incomes. Break up the regional monopolies on healthcare providers.
5. Pass tort reform, setting strict formulae for the amount of money that can be claimed in a lawsuit, capping the amount in punitive damages that a jury could award at 20% of the amount awarded as per the basic formula. Institute a "loser-pays" law if the amount contested is over a certain amount.
Immediately after this would be:
6. Quadruple funding for NASA and national scientific grant organizations. Place responsibility for allocating grant money in the hands of qualified individuals from the field in question.
7. Build a large wall along the US-Mexican border. Redeploy troops from overseas bases (primarily Afghanistan and Europe) to the border as a means of guarding it.
8 Fundamental educational reform, emphasizing aptitude testing in a variety of areas and vocational training (modeled loosely on the German system).
"Politics is the art of the possible." - Otto von Bismarck
Utopian.... 
When I was done there would not be a "ruling class".
- By FiveofSwords
- By Rancid