The Big Ideas Project

No more off-shore tax havens. No more corporate tax dodging. No more outsourcing to India and making a fortune off of poor people while not paying any taxes. How is it that G.E. and other companies like them paid less taxes than I did last year, and I only made $40K.

Submitted by Sabine Jordan from CA in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 8:23 p.m.

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#241

988 votes

Plant and maintain fruit and nut trees in public parks, especially in urban areas, and allow harvesting by private citizens to increase local food resilience. Many fruit and nut trees are also beneficial for wildlife and offer the same benefits to air quality, carbon sequestration, urban heat island mitigation, etc. as any other tree. Existing examples include Seattle's Beacon Food Forest and Asheville's Dr. George Washington Carver Edible Park.

Submitted by Kerry in Environment Dec. 31, 2014, 12:43 p.m.

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#242

985 votes

Two things ----- Massive Global Reforestation would help with removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and also help cool the planet. Also, Serious R&D should go into finding a cost effective solution of Desalinating Ocean water in massive quantities. This would solve a lot of problems of water shortages all over the our planet.

Submitted by Jan T. from MD in Environment Nov. 11, 2014, 4:04 p.m.

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#243

979 votes

Converting fully to wind, solar, geothermal, and renewable energy sources immediately, w ith an end to subsidies and other life support systems for the fossil fuel industry that is killing us.

Submitted by Margaret Nagel in Environment Nov. 18, 2014, 1:12 p.m.

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#244

977 votes

Add a 1% sales tax, in addition to current sales taxes, on real estate transactions greater than $500,000. Use the funds to provide housing (homes) to the homeless. Salt Lake City has proven this to be more cost effective than leaving them on the streets. It also leads to far better outcomes for the homeless, which means even less assistance in the future... See Jon Stewart's Daily Show's recent piece on this program. It kills on this topic.

Submitted by Y. Sam in Society & Community Jan. 10, 2015, 12:19 p.m.

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#245

973 votes

Repeal the National Security Act of 1947 and the Patriot Act. Both of these created agencies free to violate the Constitution with no oversight and criminalize those who object to their illegal practices.

Submitted by Bruce in Civil Rights Dec. 9, 2014, 10:24 p.m.

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#246

962 votes

Each high school student in America in their junior or senior year of school should be taught a course in basic logic, and a course in media literacy. Because they lack fundamental critical thinking skills, many millions of Americans remain ignorant, naive and gullible, continually falling victim to the coarsest kinds of political demagoguery, lies, scams and media manipulations. It has reached the tipping point of national crisis, and threatens the very foundation of our democracy.

Submitted by Mystic Michael in Education Dec. 19, 2014, 1:29 a.m.

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#247

960 votes

The Federal Government should be involved in all cases involving Civil Rights. It is of the utmost importance as, it should never fall on the locality where the incidents occur and often never gets to the proper agency and is dropped before it is properly investigated. Key people in major positions cause this, especially in the Jim Crow states. It should be treated like all cases of Bullying or use of force and coercion.

Submitted by Zacheriah in Civil Rights Jan. 4, 2015, 4:16 p.m.

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#247

960 votes

No more private access to politicians. All lobbying must be done in a room with cameras rolling and aired on a publicly paid for television station nation wide!

Submitted by mike bates in Government & Elections Jan. 15, 2015, 10:17 a.m.

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#249

951 votes

Any student that qualifies to be in the top ten percent of an agreed upon national entrance exam, such as the SATs, gets a free education to any university they are accepted. The money for this can be raised from a tax that only applies to people and corporations making more than $10 million a year. If this country gave you such great opportunities, shouldn't you be expected to help the next generation achieve those same opportunities? These kids will have earned the right to a fair chance.

Submitted by Cenk Uygur, Host of The Young Turks in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 1:41 a.m. 1

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#250

947 votes

Tax all campaign contributions in excess of $1,000 X 25%. Tax all dark money contributions 50%. Use proceeds to develop a permanent endowment to provide public financing for all elections in the near future.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Government & Elections Dec. 29, 2014, 2:20 p.m.

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#251

946 votes

We need to fix the VA, bring our troops home and make sure they have housing, jobs, & healthcare for themselves and their families when they do get home. If we can stop the wars, then we CAN do EVERYTHING else on the above list.

Submitted by Lorna F. from CA in Foreign Policy & Military Nov. 16, 2014, 3:58 p.m.

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#252

944 votes

Truth in political advertising, just like we have for products.

Submitted by Gary Peniston in Society & Community Dec. 9, 2014, 1:35 a.m.

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#253

927 votes

A law requiring Congress to raise taxes whenever they authorize military action to pay for it and for future veterans benefits.

Submitted by Robert D. from CT in Foreign Policy & Military Nov. 16, 2014, 3:55 p.m.

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#253

927 votes

Establish ANY kind of federal oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations. Ex: Make agribusiness accountable for the untreated animal wastes that contaminate surrounding communities. Establish some sort of limit on the size of "factory farms" to reduce the overcrowding of animals, curtailing the overuse of antibiotics. Provide at least minimal regulation of conditions on these farms and prevent the passage of unconstitutional "ag-gag" bills.

Submitted by shawcat in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 3:14 p.m.

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#255

907 votes

Pass campaign reform such that only citizens eligible to cast a vote for a candidate are permitted to donate to that candidate. No foreign, corporate or union money allowed! Force the media to provide equal amounts of FREE time on the air to candidates from at least 4 parties. This must be part of their FCC requirements.

Submitted by Vinced in Government & Elections Jan. 4, 2015, 4:50 p.m.

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#256

902 votes

Legalize same sex marriage nationally and provide same benefits.

Submitted by Deja G. from AR in Civil Rights Dec. 11, 2014, 12:08 p.m. 1

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#257

900 votes

Without the earth surviving, there is no reason for the rest of the choices! Get on it! Reduce greenhouse gasses, curtail the use of plastic containers, cut the use of GMO, stop the use of lethal herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, use wind power and solar for energy! It's all doable!

Submitted by cwoodyard in Environment Jan. 4, 2015, 4:08 p.m.

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#257

900 votes

Public financing of elections. Get private money out of politics. Require broadcasters to devote a certain amount of time covering elections and debates as part of their licenses, beginning no earlier than 6 months prior to the election.

Submitted by Andrew F. from WA in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:44 p.m.

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#259

892 votes

Private organizations are able to buy student debt at pennies on the dollar and then turn around and force the loan holder to pay back the full amount of the debt. Allow those with student debt access to those same deals to drastically lower their debt. On top of that student debt should not be placed in a special category where it cannot be dispensed with in bankruptcy. There is no reason it should be some special form of debt.

Submitted by Ryan K. from NE in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 4:35 p.m. 1

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#259

892 votes

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