TZ757300 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2839 posts, RR: 7 Posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1372 times:
what would you do differently? What would you change? Forget about the Congress, President, R vs D, etc affecting your changes, just say what you would like done
Cadet57 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 9081 posts, RR: 34 Reply 2, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1364 times:
Delta767300ER From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2559 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1335 times:
Quote: 28 hour work week
Your the bomb!
Quote: 6-8 week vacations
Fuck yeah!
Quote: National health care
I could go with that.
Quote: Legalized marijuana
Hmmmmmmmmm. It would make my job a lot easier.
Quote: More holidays
Hell yes.
Quote: Lift the embargo against Cuba
Thats questionable IMO. I have a lot of Cuban friends and I love the Cuban people. My Cuban friends also hate the Cuban Government and state thats the reason why they are here. We can discuss this further if ya want.
Quote: Pass the E.R.A.
Environmental Relief Act?
Overall, When you running for Prez? You got my vote, especially if you ban Mitsubishi's from the roads!
Texan From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 4206 posts, RR: 53 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1331 times:
Kill lots of birds with one bill:
* Increased federal penalties for sexual assaults against children
* Free healthcare for all children age 18 and under
* Immediate reduction in pollution from industrial facilities, transportation vehicles, power plants, etc
* Immediate cessation of "use it or lose it" money to federal programs. Operate federal programs more efficiently and trim overhead costs
* Increase school funding, especially special education funding (which is severely underfunded), but have strict accountability measures installed for department of education to ensure funds are properly administered and directed
* Strengthen the clean water and clean air acts
There were some other parts to it, but I forget what they are. Anyway, if a bill like this was presented it would have a decent chance of passing. After all, if you do not vote for this bill you want to have lessened penalties on child molesters.
Texan
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
SmithAir747 From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1604 posts, RR: 32 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1332 times:
For the last couple of years, for some reason, this peculiar question has been running through my mind:
What would it be like if I were the President of the United States?
When I went home to the US from London over Christmas this year, Mom asked me a question one day. While she and I were working in the kitchen, we were listening to an NPR program about the 2006 elections. Out of the blue, she asked (half jokingly?): "Francis, are you going to run for President?"
Initially, I laughed it off, with reasons regarding the possibility of having to use nukes, having to be guarded 24/7, having to plan my state funeral just in case, etc.
Plus it would require a break in my future career as a craniofacial deformities research doctor!
But later that day, I began to really think that I could not just rule that out! So many great opportunities have happened to me here in London, England (where I am studying to become a craniofacial-deformities research doctor) that I could never have dreamed of just a few years ago--for example, doing research in craniofacial embryology, having my first scientific paper just accepted for publication over Christmas, etc! A few years ago, I never even dreamed of going to England to study in this field!
So I could not absolutely rule out making a run for the Oval Office someday--although not very likely, it could still happen, if I had the opportunity to do so and enough of my family and friends asked me to consider doing so.
What would a Smith Administration be like? (I have a few years to think about this before I reach age 35 in 2010, so the earliest I could run is in 2012 or 2016). Some protocol-related questions came to mind: Since I am not married (and do not plan to do so for a long time), I would have no "First Lady". Could my mother (whom I love dearly) play a similar role? She is so significant in my life--having given me a home at age 3 when my original parents did not want me due to my craniofacial problems. Would my Presidential Library be in my hometown, Fort Wayne, IN? Would my home suddenly become a national landmark, like other presidential childhood homes?
What would be the American people's reaction be to a presidential candidate who has lived through craniofacial deformities and made the most of life despite these? There have been previous Presidents with hearing disabilities (eg, Reagan) and other physical disabilities (eg, FDR), so I don't think it would be that much of a big deal, would it?
What would I do as President (if in the rare possibility I do run) for our country? Some ideas:
1) My life with facial differences would be an example for the American people, and I would speak out for the rights of those with facial and other challenges.
2) I belive strongly in traditional family values, having grown up in a large family, all adopted by special, dedicated, loving parents.
3) I would bring my Hoosier hometown values (and Indiana cooking, too) to the White House, not forgetting my Hoosier roots.
4) Travel throughout the nation, getting to know the American people on a closer level and their thoughts on issues.
5) Have a bipartisan approach to dealing with Congress, trying to work with both parties on common ground.
6) My foreign policy would be one in which I would try to find common ground with other nations and yet help keep the world safe without being the world's policeman. How thorny!
However, there would be thorny issues: How to deal with the possibility that I might have to authorise the use of nuclear weapons; how to deal with the Iraq war (if it still continued by then) and work with the Iraqi government the best I could (without resorting to a long, grinding Vietnam-style war like the one that is going on now).
There are many other questions that have gone through my mind, as it replays all the possible scenarios concerning how I would end up in the Oval Office and what a Smith White House would be.
SmithAir747
[Edited 2007-01-09 23:34:49]
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
Johnboy79 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1293 times:
Free ice cream for everyone!!!
Oh, and give everyone a $300 check. That will make everyone love me!
Cadet57 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 9081 posts, RR: 34 Reply 10, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1291 times:
!
Quoting Johnboy79 (Reply 9): Oh, and give everyone a $300 check. That will make everyone love me
Seemed to work for Dubya..
Doors open, right hand side, next stop is Springfield.
Ice cream and a $300 does nothing to improve quality of life, strengthen families and less stressful work enviornment. That is as shortsighted as a taxcut for the rich.
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10568 posts, RR: 53 Reply 12, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1284 times:
If I ran the country, the BCS would be a playoff system.
Kmh1956 From Bermuda, joined Jun 2005, 3324 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1260 times:
Abolish the "slap on the wrist" type of punishments that seem to be handed out for serious crimes.
Increase police presence; especially on the streets. (Try to see a cop on the beat...I dare you!)
Reduce government spending for frivolous activities like our current government does.
Strengthen our ties with the UK, instead of pushing for independence. Bermuda's just not ready.
Negotiate to get more flights into Bermuda daily from gateways not already served, and try to negotiate for more reasonable air fares in and out of here.
Try to re-energize our flagging tourist economy....better hotel prices, local entertainment etc.
These are not in order of importance....just in order as I thought of them.
'Somebody tell me why I'm on my own if there's a soulmate for everyone' :Natasha Bedingfield
Pump as much money as possible into funding for alternative energy.
Lower work week to 4 6 hour days with 1 hr lunch days.
Get out of the UN.
Increase funding to education.
Fix social security, ASAP.
JRadier From Netherlands, joined Sep 2004, 4599 posts, RR: 51 Reply 15, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1257 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 11):
Ice cream and a $300 does nothing to improve quality of life, strengthen families and less stressful work enviornment. That is as shortsighted as a taxcut for the rich. duck
a 28-hr workweek is good for the economy........
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and ther
Thanks for asking! A craniofacial deformity is a deformity of part or all of the face and cranium. "Craniofacial" refers to the facial and cranial structures of the head. These deformities most commonly occur due to genetic mutations that lead to poor development of the face during embryonic development. Thus these are birth defects of the face. I have craniofacial deformities myself, in the form of a rare syndrome.
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 17, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1243 times:
Quoting JRadier (Reply 15): a 28-hr workweek is good for the economy........
..and that's the problem right there. Too many are focused on what's best for big business and not considering the human account.
There was once a time in America where people worked 72 hours a week and Sundays were only off to go to Church. Guess what side big business was on when we went to a 40 hour week?
Today people live much further away from there jobs and there is more people today. Not everyone has the luxury to be able to walk to work anymore. People spend up to 4 hours a day commuting.
A shorter work schedule gives people more time to spend with there children, spouse or do what ever.
That is real family vaules pal.
JRadier From Netherlands, joined Sep 2004, 4599 posts, RR: 51 Reply 18, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1237 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 17): That is real family vaules pal. yes
Great, you go work 28hrs a week! Of course, you want to earn the same in the end, so your pay-per-hour goes up. But the work remains the same, but because you work less more people are needed for the same job. They too want the higher pay, so overall it costs more to do the job. Prices for everything go up, while your paycheck remains the same.
Want to talk to you again about family values when you don't have any money to spend next to the bare necessities, and maybe not even them. That will definitely improve your way of life!
I'm still shortsided and only in it for the money?
[Edited 2007-01-10 01:15:57]
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and ther
Speedbird747BA From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1225 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 16): Thanks for asking! A craniofacial deformity is a deformity of part or all of the face and cranium. "Craniofacial" refers to the facial and cranial structures of the head. These deformities most commonly occur due to genetic mutations that lead to poor development of the face during embryonic development. Thus these are birth defects of the face. I have craniofacial deformities myself, in the form of a rare syndrome.
is it like a disease? I mean, can it kill you? What happens to the face? is it misaligned, or is there extra bone, or not enough?
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 20, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1198 times:
Since I have dual citizenship, let's see about both countries.
If I was German Chancellor, I would:
- Legalise marihuana
- Reform the school system, so we can pass that damn Pisa Study
- Maintain Abortion laws the same
- Introduce physical castration as a punishment for rapists and child molestors
- Abolish current rules on opening times for shops and allow shops to be open on sundays
- Ban all the ultranationalist and neonazi parties
- Get Germany to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council
- Press France to join the UK, Spain and Germany in privatising EADS and Airbus SAS
Not much to do in Germany, other than some things. On the other hand, if I was the Costa Rican President, I would:
- Legalise marihuana
- Reform the school system, so it can be competitive with the system in Europe and the US, and so kids don't have to learn things by heart but rather know about them and understand them
- Legalise abortion only for the first trimester of the pregnancy, like in Germany
- Improve sex education
- Continue the fight against child sex
- Introduce physical castration as a punishment for rapists and child molestors
- Privatise more state institutions
- Open markets such as telecommunications and get rid of those last monopolies
- Have CAFTA passed and signed into law
- Get rid of the constitutional ban on the country having a military and re-instating the Army (trust me, there are lots of people in this country who surely need to spend some time in an Army to get straightened out)
- ANCFlyer would run the new army with a generous paycheck
- Re-instate my grandfather into the Army and have him retire a general (so he can have those bragging right and so he doesn't have to send my grandmother to us, crying for more money with the generous retirement money he would get)
- Introduce the Euro as the country's main currency
- Build a new major airport
- Simplify more things so this country isn't stuck like it is right now
Quoting Texan (Reply 6):
* Increased federal penalties for sexual assaults against children
Life without parole . . .
Quoting Texan (Reply 6): * Increase school funding, especially special education funding (which is severely underfunded), but have strict accountability measures installed for department of education to ensure funds are properly administered and directed
Quoting Kmh1956 (Reply 13): Abolish the "slap on the wrist" type of punishments that seem to be handed out for serious crimes.
And for some of mine:
Increase the size of the US Military - all branches - to circa 1990 size and scope, pay them accordingly, procure and distribute top of the line gear. Cabella's has better gear in it's catalog than we give our troops. I wanna see a 15 Division Army, a 600 Ship Navy, a 5 Division Marine Corps, a Twelve Flying Wing Air Force . . .
Integrate the US Coast Guard into the DoD with all the priviledges apertaining thereto. A Seat on the JCS included.
Decrease - immediately and drastically - all fund sent to ALL other countries until the schools, bridges, roads, railroads, water systems, sewer systems, (infrastructure) in the US is repaired and sustainable.
All children age 0-18 would have free National Health Care.
All Elders age 65-XXX would have free National Heath Care.
Eliminate the inheritance tax.
Eliminate the IRS, institute a flat tax, 16-18% ought to do it. Install maximum limits per purchase.
Develop and construct high speed rail in various location throughout the country.
Eliminate the useless, waste of time TSA - replace with a viable organization designed to actually FIND the assholes, not worry about a pair of scissors or Momma's breast milk.
Become RUTHLESS on illegal immigration. Absolutely, totally, definitely RUTHLESS. The fence is a waste, but a properly manned southern border a must . . . those caught go hom tomorrow - not in 30 days, not next week, tomorrow. By bus, truck, canoe, starship transporter, whatever means. Adios asshole, you're outta here.
Eliminate the passport requirement for Alaskans visiting/shopping in Canada, since they've been doing it for a hundred years.
Enough for now.
Quoting LTU932 (Reply 20): ANCFlyer would run the new army with a generous paycheck
Boeing744 From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1774 posts, RR: 25 Reply 22, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1177 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 21): Eliminate the passport requirement for Alaskans visiting/shopping in Canada, since they've been doing it for a hundred years.
Not to mention everyone in the rest of your country, and for Canadians visiting the US. I believe the only country us Canadians can go to now without a passport is Mexico!
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 23, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1173 times:
Those of you running for US Prez, how about reforming the TSA and allowing those of us who are just transiting to stay in transit lounges and not having to go through immigration even if we're just transiting?
Aerofan From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1515 posts, RR: 2 Reply 24, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1156 times:
imprisonment for screaming cell fone users
excution of screaming cell phone users if imprisonment does not work
imprisonment for people spitting in public
execution for people not cleaning up after their dogs
christmas period would be for the full 12 days. anyone caught throwing out their tree before - well execution will result
workers would receive mandatory 4 weeks minimu vacation
ceos will receive only 2 weeks vacation. anyone breaking this law - what can i say the penalty will be imprisonment then execution
lawyers bringing frivilous law suits would be disbarred.
there would be no smoking in public
abolishment of personal income tax
open skies with every country
anyone caught sneaking across my country's borders would be shot on sight
minimu wage would be $15.00 and hour
just some of the things ...
25 Superfly: Yep. That is the same argument used against FDR and his New Deal policies before they wre enacted. Nice try though. I'll give you a C+ for your effor
26 ANCFlyer: Unions suck, they are going to be downfall of the empoyee rather then the savior as they once were. Yeah, so? If they don't get paid for the overtime
27 Superfly: Bull. You are working in the wrong state. Here in California, anything over 8 hours a day is overtime. Even it you just work one day a week. That iss
28 ANCFlyer: I did NOT say I wasn't making over time. I said my shifts are 12 hours a day. After 8 hours its time and half, after 12 its double time. ALL holidays
29 HAWK21M: Get rid of Corruption.Thats the only drawback. regds MEL
30 ZKSUJ: -Tougher sentences and terms for offenders -Tougher laws and penalties (i.e fines) for some minor offences -Raise the legal age to buy alcohol -Scrap
31 JRadier: So you just shot my argument with what? Why don't you back up why a 28hr work week does work?
32 Bwest: Clean up Brussels, and get some Paris-like boulevards Less paperwork for the Police, so they can concentrate on their jobs and tougher laws on crime R
33 BCAL: Off my head, here are some of the things I would do immediatelyPull-out from Iraq and introduce an immediate non-interference policy in the affairs of
34 CraigW: for South Africa re-instate the death penalty with immediate effect punishment to fit the crime especially wrt, armed robberies, sexual crimes e.g rap
35 Aloges: Lol... quite the potential dictators in here! OK, my turn: - I'd push, and strongly, for free and fair trade. Nothing has screwed up our world more th
36 SmithAir747: My craniofacial condition, like many others, is a syndrome. It is not quite a disease, rather, it is a genetic condition where my facial bones did no
37 Kmh1956: I do...I arrive early, work late, rarely take more than 15 minutes for lunch, do a lot of the gruntwork that belongs to other people and in almost 5
38 Frequentflyer: I would implement some kind of evaluation for people aiming for higher executive political office before they can get elected... kind of tired to see
39 YOWza: Bring Canada's taxations system in line with the US, effectively lowering taxes and allowing more flexibility in tax write-offs. Give citizens the rig
40 AC773: Well, the first thing I would do as President would be to work on campaign finance reform. None of my policies will ever get passed as long as certain
41 JRadier: Damn, you are seriously trying to kill the US economy!
42 AC773: No, just bringing the US up to par with other western civilized countries. And about the rest of my policies, they could be implemented far more easi
43 Lewis: * Make the government able to fire civil servants if they are not good at their job ( already in plan but will never happen). * Change the educational
44 SlamClick: I really like the spirit of those of you advocating "free" health care for children or fossils like me. (in a few years) But there ain't no FREE. Are
45 GSM763: My turn -Stay in Iraq. We should never have gone in but now we're there we need to try and keep the place stable. - Enter the Schengen -Join the €ur
46 JRadier: There is a differences between prices, no doubt about it. But if you effectively double the gas prices everything will get a lot more expensive (same
47 CPH813: I had hoped for a better comeback as 28 work hours a week would be nice, but I have to agree with JRadier. It wouldn't be good for anyone in the end
48 LTU932: Could you also make German the main language in Belgium? While you're at it, please also get rid of the Numberus Clausus. Sometimes, those who have t
49 Jamesbaldwyn: Remove all speed cameras and police men/women with an iq less than 70!
50 Cosec59: Put 777236ER in charge of the Diplomatic Corps
51 Palladium: you guys forget something.... eliminate TSA......
52 TedTAce: It was passed and ratified by many states, unfortunately not enough. I would go with executive orders... Yes, but make it a rational system devoid of
53 GQfluffy: Now now...you'd be threating him...and he'd have to make comments about your situation again, being the prick that he is...
54 Af773atmsp: Stop the war. Start telling people to buy electric or efficient cars. Alcohol would be illegal. More soccer!
55 LTU932: HELL NO! Signed, Sabena332, Gkirk, LHMARK and LOT767-300ER
56 AC773: Actually, I could agree with that. Especially if the military is the space program, a la "Stargate SG-1". The logistics of deporting every undocument
57 Bill142: So your suggesting we forget about any constitutional issues and treat it as if it was something we owned?
58 Kmh1956: Or presidential speechwriter...does he know any words that don't end in 'uck'? Lots of luck. That's already being done...it's called advertising. Are
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From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2839 posts, 
From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, 
But I think we have had this debate before so I will leave it at that.
From Netherlands, joined Sep 2004, 4599 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 4206 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1604 posts, 
From Bermuda, joined Jun 2005, 3324 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, 
Why? Most people don't 'work' 40 hours a week now, what with breaks, lunch, union mandated bullshit, more breaks . . . . 
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