What would you do as President/Prime Minister?

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-- What would you do as President/Prime Minister?
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Posted by jerZ07002 on Aug-06-2008 02:05:

Posted by Krypton on Aug-06-2008 04:38:

1. Education policy

I give all freedom of school choice to the parent. That means the parent would decide what school to send the child, and not the school district. Each parent would be given a voucher for the amount of money assigned for each student's education, and that parent would give the voucher to the school of their choice. Schools which don't perform would lose money by virtue of losing students. Schools which perform well would gain money by virtue of higher student enrollment. I would make part of the core curriculum personal finance because most of the country doesn't know jack squat about balancing their checkbook..

2. Economic Policy

Any company which required a bail out because of a systemic risk of collapse on their part would be taken over by the government, and sold off to the highest bidder. Those companies which survive the bailout period could still be allowed to operate, but the capital coming from the government would be repaid as an equity stake in the company. I would eliminate all taxes except for a consumption sales tax. I would drastically reduce the amount of military bases around the world, withdraw from Iraq, and thus save this country trillions of dollars. This money could then be used to pay down the national debt and improve the federal balance sheet.

3. Energy Policy

I'de set up a state oil company which would own all oil commodity drilled from the ground by private drilling/exploration companies. This would provide a government incentive to keep oil prices at a manageable level using a mixed system of free market and government mechanics. Substantial tax breaks for all alternative energy companies, and new consumers of alternative energy. The goal of any energy policy would be to set the course to eventually get off using carbon emitting hydrocarbons completely.

4. Environmental Policy

I'de set the stage for the trading of carbon credits, and give an entire tax-free year to any company, person, or family whose buildings or homes were completely modified to run on alternative energy.

5. Foreign Policy

I'de withdraw from Iraq completely. Not a single soldier left there. The only contingent I'de leave is a military unit to protect the US embassy, and a special forces group to make quick strikes at any resurgent terrorist groups. I would also withdraw completely from Afghanistan. The Taliban did not attack us on September 11th nor played any part in planning the terrorist operation. I'de close down military bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and Dubai. I'de substantially curtail military and economic aid to Israel, and treat the Israelis just like any other country with which we are friendly too. Our primary goal would be to maintain the order of nations through United Nations jurisdiction and increase our trade with all countries of the world, regardless of what form their government may take, unless there are instances of revolution, civil war, genocide, or systematic violent subjugation of a civilian populace.

6. Health Policy

I would set up a state health insurance company with which any person unable to afford private health insurance could be covered. A certain percentage of each enrolled person's income would be charged as a premium for their coverage. 49% of the company's equity would be traded on the open market. Drastic measures would be taken to lower the cost of health care. The principle behind this policy is that health is a basic human right and is represented in the ideal of a right to life.

7. Monetary Policy

Government would no longer be allowed to inflate the currency in order to pay for expenditures in excess of the tax revenue unless in a time of war in which our country's sovereignty is under threat.

8. Public Policy in Law

I would end the "War on Drugs" and decriminalize all forms of drug use. Marijuana would be legalized on both the buy and sell side of the market but with heavy regulations. All other narcotics such as prescription drugs, cocaine, methamphetamine would remain illegal to sell, but not use. Gay marriage would be recognized by the state. Prostitution would be legalized and heavily regulated. All incarcerated non-violent drug offenders would be released, and their offenses expunged from the public record.

10. Urban Policy

Suburban sprawl would be drastically curtailed and urban development drastically revamped. Increased investment in mass transit, urban redevelopment, and encouragement of people living in downtown areas of the city.

Posted by Krypton on Aug-06-2008 04:44:

quote:
Originally posted by LatinLover
Better yet Krypton wants to draw the line on how much you can earn.

You're delusional. I never said anything of the sort. Do you know what LEVERAGE is? Let.........me...........talk............slowly.......for.............you.........

Leverage is what you can borrow against what you have. 1:50 leverage is getting a loan that is 50x your collateral. One reason why the sub-prime market exploded. Get it?

Posted by Krypton on Aug-06-2008 04:53:

quote:
Originally posted by jerZ07002
how would the government dilute the value of the security? if the process is too easy noone would buy the security.

Each dilution would be announced ahead of time and only in certain rare situations.

quote:
day traders aren't the type of traders i was talking about. there aren't many goldman traders that will buy 100 million on the company's acccount based on simply newsreal. people spend their lives valuing companies based on cash flow, asset values, etc...

I don't know why they couldn't do the same for the state oil company.

quote:
teh treasury doesn't spend more than it collects either. congress appropriates more than the treasury collects.

The point is, government expenditures are highers than government income.

quote:
being required to sell to the government is taking a property right from land owners. one of the rights that comes with land is the right to sell to whomever the owner wishes. when you are required to sell to a mineral right to the government you really have no right. this is the same as eminent domain. correct me if i'm wrong, aren't you against eminent domain?

If the property owner is justly compensated, I don't particularly oppose imminent domain. Additionally, the assumption behind my policy is that crude oil, the current energy of the nation, should be owned by the nation, and not by private corporations or individuals. The commodity is too important to the nation.

Posted by Krypton on Aug-06-2008 04:59:

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
Prices of oil are already going down. THE MARKET IS WORKING. When gas hit $4, consumers froze up...They really began to tighten their belts and limit travel to save on gas. The higher price led to decreased demand and a big increase in oil inventories. As a result, the price of oil has crashed $25 from it's high over the past week. Gasoline is already below $4 and should be going lower over the next few days as the price drop filters through the economy.

The idea of government getting more involved in the market is frightening to me.. It can only make things worse. Just RELAX, don't panic.. Let prices rise and fall with supply and demand, and the market will eventually reach a healthy equilibrium. If you really want to lower energy prices, the best way to do so is to eliminate government barriers to production. Lift the bans on drilling, and stop threatening the oil companies with horrible policies like nationalization or "windfall profits" taxes. Let them do their job and bring more supply on the market. It's as simple as that.

I don't believe government should nationalize any industry. But I believe when it comes to energy supply of the nation, we can't afford to allow price speculation to drive up gas prices. It is far too detrimental. I believe in strong regulation, but I still want to allow the commodity to be traded freely on the market.

quote:
i remember krypt and I were having this very same discussion a while ago about the markets taking time to work.

Krypt - do you still think the price of oil is largely speculation and other factors as opposed to supply/demand?

I believe the threat of oncoming government regulation and the very real possibility of an Obama presidency has burst the speculator's bubble and they are either moving on the next sector, or biding their time..

Let me make this clear. I don't believe there will ever be any policy like the one I just theorized. It's just an idea, and all your objections and questions are just making me think of how I can improve upon the theory. So thanks for the mental stimulation..

Posted by jerZ07002 on Aug-06-2008 14:32:

quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
Let me make this clear. I don't believe there will ever be any policy like the one I just theorized. It's just an idea, and all your objections and questions are just making me think of how I can improve upon the theory. So thanks for the mental stimulation..

no prob - it exercises my brain as well.

EDIT: these topics/conversations make for great policy and finance thesis papers. I wish i had these discussions on this board with someone when i was in business school.

Posted by mndeg on Aug-06-2008 14:33:

Wait until oil inventories today reports soon

edit: 10:35am
Crude supplies rise 1.6M barrels. Gas down 4.3M barrels. Distillates up 2.8M barrels.

Posted by jerZ07002 on Aug-06-2008 14:33:

quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
The commodity is too important to the nation.

fair point, i can't really argue with you about one of your fundamental beliefs.

Posted by Dj Smitty20 on Aug-06-2008 19:10:

make a serious attempt to disclose information on UFOs and Other Worldly Beings.

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