The Big Ideas Project

Preserve self-government by passing a law to regulate out-of-district money in elections. More than two-thirds of money for congressional campaigns comes from outside of the district, and the majority of that money comes from seven zip codes. This means that campaigns and candidates have less and less to do with the place they represent, and more and more to do with national elites. This has undermined new people with new ideas coming into politics.

Submitted by David Fontana, Associate Professor of Law at George Washington University School of Law in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 2:29 a.m.

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#61

2996 votes

Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. The bill would place restrictions and transparency measures on the DOD Program that transfers military equipment to state and local law enforcement. The “1033” Program permits military equipment from war zones to be transferred to police departments free of charge. This bill would prevent transfers of equipment inappropriate for policing, end incentives to use the equipment, and require that recipients certify that they can account for all equipment.

Submitted by Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 2:20 a.m. 1

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#62

2949 votes

Background checks for all gun buyers and stricter gun laws. If you are afraid of a background check, you probably shouldn't have access to a gun.

Submitted by Phyllis M. from CT in Civil Rights Nov. 11, 2014, 4:09 p.m.

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#63

2944 votes

Remove the annual maximum cap on the social security deduction so that everyone pays a percentage of total earnings. After that, since businesses are now considered to be a person, they should pay social security on their earnings. The budget will be balanced in a few years!

Submitted by RumpledRich in Taxes & Budget Jan. 7, 2015, 2:44 p.m.

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#64

2916 votes

Merged Idea

Bring back the Fairness Doctrine, repealed during the Reagan area, to bring parity and responsible reporting back to our airwaves so that we have a better-informed citizenry casting better-informed votes.

Submitted by Laura in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:44 p.m. 1

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#65

2910 votes

Remove tax advantages for churches that promote candidates, specific parties and platforms.

Submitted by Marilyn Nyborg in Government & Elections Jan. 4, 2015, 4:26 p.m.

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#66

2892 votes

Reverse Reaganomics, reform the banking sector, and strongly enforce, broaden and modernize our nation's anti-trust and anti-monopoly laws! Give America back to the people and legitimate businesses. Let's rebuild America, starting with infrastructure, Public Education, All outsourced jobs back home! We are the most productive people in the world. Let Americans once again enjoy the fruits of their labor, and NEVER return to Rule by Aristocracy.

Submitted by America Held Hostage in Economy & Jobs Jan. 4, 2015, 8:06 p.m. 1

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#67

2876 votes

Any bill that is introduced cannot be written by a lobbyist and can only be written by the bill's sponsor. The bill sponsor cannot take contributions from any corporation or entity that will be affected by the bill.

Submitted by JohnC in Government & Elections Dec. 17, 2014, 3:39 p.m. 3

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#68

2869 votes

Merged Idea

Reign in the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FDA works for the drug companies and the USDA works for Monsanto. Appointing corporate insiders and industry friendly politicians to these agencies is leading to the destruction of the health of the nation. Its no different than appointing Wall street insiders to manage the people's money. The revolving door between industry and government must be closed in these two agencies so they can be reformed.

Submitted by charles m. from NC in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 5:17 p.m.

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#68

2869 votes

Merged Idea

Let's scale up career and technical education (CTE) programs that provide multiple pathways to high school graduation, higher education, advanced training and certification, and careers in everything from healthcare and robotics. We need more pathways to access well-paying jobs that will help restore the middle class in this country. To kickstart a CTE renaissance, Congress must reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act with full funding.

Submitted by American Federation of Teachers in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 1:50 a.m.

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#70

2819 votes

Merged Idea

Pass a federal minimum wage law for $15.00 and tie in automatic annual COLAs.

Submitted by Sandycoast in Economy & Jobs Dec. 29, 2014, 7:20 p.m.

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#71

2783 votes

Anyone who has served a full sentence for a felony or a reduced sentence plus a probation of a year or more should be eligible to vote, nationwide.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Civil Rights Dec. 16, 2014, 3:53 p.m. 1

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#72

2762 votes

Limit the amount of money politicians can spend on elections. The incredible amounts spent now could feed the poor, house the homeless, allow people to get the dental and mental health assistance they need, etc. Instead of being greedy, they need to think of the people who can't live the way they do and work harder and take pay cuts.

Submitted by Nancy Y. from ME in Government & Elections Jan. 4, 2015, 4:17 p.m.

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#73

2756 votes

Merged Idea

Require Labeling of GMO foods, so people are informed about what they are eating, and can make intelligent choices. "Those that try to keep things secret, do so to control others."

Submitted by Brian Z. in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:32 p.m.

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#74

2734 votes

Merged Idea

Nationalize all of our resources including water, fossil fuels and minerals. Why should international corporations generate record profits using our resources while saddling the public with externalized costs such as pollution and the destruction of our wildlife and environment? If we are going to allow industry to profit off of our commons then we the people should share in the profits at the very least. Better yet this would de-incentivize many of these destructive practices.

Submitted by buckskin7777 in Environment Dec. 17, 2014, 2:51 p.m. 1

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#75

2721 votes

Joint support of Post Office and Amtrak to allow Amtrak to move the mail again. Congress removed the authority for Amtrak to serve mail or express business with rail transport of mail. This impacts the Post Office that it can not take advantage of the lower cost of rail movement of mail. This restriction was put in place to insure that airlines, private mail and express firms would face no competition and could charge any price for their service. 1 RR mail car carries more than 5 big trucks.

Submitted by WALTER O. from FL in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 10, 2014, 6:34 p.m. 1

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#76

2708 votes

Merged Idea

The Federal government should fund all elections. Major networks would provide equal broadcast time to all serious candidates. No person or organization would be allowed to donate or buy airtime for political reasons.

Submitted by richrunk in Government & Elections Dec. 9, 2014, 2:20 p.m.

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#77

2699 votes

In the case of a government shut down, congressional members responsible for shutting down the government should NOT receive any pay during the period that the government remains shut down. They should also pay a fine for each day the government remains shut down.

Submitted by Dona B. from CO in Government & Elections Dec. 9, 2014, 8:37 p.m. 1

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#78

2671 votes

Merged Idea

End Trans Pacific Partnership. It is fundamentally flawed by undermining U.S. laws and costing U.S. jobs. Prohibit any trade agreement that would allow a corporation to override federal or state laws. Put a hold on all multinational trade agreements. Prohibit fast track on all trade agreements. Require public comment before adoption. Consumer, environmental, and worker safety protections are at risk to foreign corporations' challenges.

Submitted by lloyd d. from CA in Society & Community Jan. 8, 2015, 8:42 p.m.

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#79

2659 votes

Merged Idea

Electronic hacking of computerized vote tabulation is an immanent threat to Democracy. We need to revert to manual voting where the actual vote can be verified. Karl Rove has already mastered the art of electronic voter fraud even though no one in the media wants to admit it.

Submitted by Chris C. from TN in Civil Rights Dec. 17, 2014, 12:44 p.m. 1

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#79

2659 votes

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