The Big Ideas Project

Make public defenders a very high paying job, on par with attorneys working at high profile defense firms. This is the only way to ensure all U.S. citizens have access to the kind of representation that guarantees a fair trial. Right now a fair trial is only available to those who can afford a very good lawyer.

Submitted by courtdmc in Civil Rights Dec. 19, 2014, 10:13 a.m.

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#841

199 votes

End the ability of corporations to claim as a business expense any wages that are not at or above a "living wage" rate. The corporations should not benefit when they create the need for increased federal/state/local taxes to provide safety nets.

Submitted by Bob Farrell in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 3:51 p.m.

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#841

199 votes

Reduce military spending by at least 25%. Require the Defense Department to submit to an annual audit and to present its first audit beginning immediately. The Pentagon needs to be subject to accountability on how it spends ALL funds allocated to it. This has not happened in a very long time, if ever.

Submitted by Grace Peters in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 26, 2014, 4:36 p.m.

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#841

199 votes

mount a major public relations campaign to educate the voters about the difference between supply side economics and demand side economics in language that they can understand. for example: the basic (and false) premise of supply side economics is that rich folks who own large companies think, "wow! I just got a ten million dollar tax break. I guess I'll hire 50 more people" ... rather than "more people want to buy my product, so I'll hire more workers to meet the demand". ( =demand side)

Submitted by none in Economy & Jobs Dec. 30, 2014, 7:15 a.m.

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#844

198 votes

Electric Vehicles + Solar + Wind During WW2 we retooled the major car companies to help fight and win the war. The same needs to be done now with the war on climate change. This is Cash for Clunkers Part 2 + Renewable Energy build out. Getting the major car companies to produce EVs and pairing with renewables will drastically decrease dependence on oil, reduce carbon output, increase green jobs, lower air pollution, increase public health, and slow down the rate of climate change.

Submitted by Brenton J. from GA in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 26, 2014, 12:58 p.m.

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#844

198 votes

Our cities need a LOT more housing and it needs to be affordable to minimum wage workers and fixed-income residents.

Submitted by Theresa O. from CA in Society & Community Nov. 19, 2014, 5:21 a.m.

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#844

198 votes

Set a higher minimum wage automatically in areas that have been determined to have a higher than mean (average) cost of living. Further, automatically increase the minimum wage on a set, periodic, basis to adjust for inflation.

Submitted by ronboakes_92127 in Economy & Jobs Jan. 4, 2015, 4:04 p.m.

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#844

198 votes

germany's use of solar power is now 50%. the largest use of power in our homes is our hot water heater. set a standard that all new construction be built with solar hot water heaters and offer existing homeowners a subsidy or tax credit for installing a solar hot water heater. this will help our environment and our economy.

Submitted by roxey l. from MI in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 3:20 p.m.

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#844

198 votes

Since there is such a gross disconnect between the stock market and the average citizen. There should be a small per share tax used to pay for universal healthcare. Ray, Denver

Submitted by ray in Health Dec. 9, 2014, 3:05 a.m.

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#844

198 votes

Require that all prisoners are paid minimum wage or more for work performed in prison. Allow them invest savings in low-risk mutual funds. Provide classes in small business start-up and operation...

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Civil Rights Dec. 26, 2014, 1:43 p.m.

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#844

198 votes

Reinstate higher top tax rates on earnings over 1 or 2 million no matter what type of income it is. Dropping the top tax rate in the 1980's incentivized the preditory economy of mergers and acquisitions, high executive salaries and Wall Street speculation resulting in a boom and bust economy where most of the wealth is going to those at the top. This tax increase would ripple through multiple issues.

Submitted by Connie in Taxes & Budget Dec. 20, 2014, 11:38 a.m.

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#844

198 votes

More green development. Stand up to the climate change deniers. Isn't it obvious by now? We CANNOT lose out polar ice caps or we are doomed. Promote green jobs and tax breaks for those who choose green options.

Submitted by MGG in Environment Dec. 18, 2014, 9:23 p.m.

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#852

197 votes

Apply a severance tax on all oil and gas development on public lands. Direct this FIRST towards paying off the national deficit, SEND towards paying any Social Security IOUs, then THIRD to properly equip the next generation with the skill sets required to meet future economic requirements (e.g., restore the "High" in high school.). This works well with the National Employment Recovery Act and the Bring Jobs Home Act.

Submitted by Richard N. Cox in Taxes & Budget Dec. 28, 2014, 7:13 p.m.

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#852

197 votes

Universal single-payer health care that offers generous tax deductions for changing to a vegan diet, which will save the health care economy substantial funds not spent on avoidable chronic degenerative diseases caused by an animal-based diet, a.k.a. the standard American diet. Veganism is much more fiscally conservative, not to mention its capacity to dramatically improve one's long-term quality of life.

Submitted by David L F. from MD in Health Nov. 12, 2014, 10:20 a.m.

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#854

196 votes

There is no reason for millionaire politicians, especially members of Congress, to continue receiving their salary, forever, once they leave office. Kill that rule.

Submitted by Joby McClendon in Government & Elections Dec. 19, 2014, 5:15 p.m.

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#854

196 votes

Women and our bodies are NOT commodities on the open market. We DESERVE the right and legislation that reflects this. This is 2014, and we shouldn't be fighting for the same health and reproductive rights as men. Otherwise, I say remove condoms from store shelves, and let women decide if their husbands should get prescriptions filled for ED medication. Let's see how long that would last before new legislation were passed supporting men's health care rights.

Submitted by StacyG in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:41 p.m.

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#854

196 votes

Government By the People Act: A law to establish public financing of all elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and President, and to prohibit lobbying by corporations. Only individuals and citizen groups would be allowed to lobby.

Submitted by MW in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 5:35 p.m.

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#857

195 votes

Afford Home Ownership for every class, low and middle.

Submitted by Mercedes Moore in Economy & Jobs Nov. 6, 2014, 8:29 a.m.

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#858

194 votes

Don't allow lobbies to influence our lawmakers. All discussions to be in a public forum, by private individuals, nothing behind doors.

Submitted by Arthur G. from CA in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 3:15 p.m.

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#858

194 votes

Any Corporation that sells products or services in USA should be taxed on all their management income (salary, stocks etc.) (especially CEOs and Board of Directors) taxed as if these individuals all resided in the USA.

Submitted by mekorganic in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 10:21 p.m.

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#858

194 votes

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