The Big Ideas Project

I look out my window and see nothing but clear cut foresting which in turn leads to landslides some of which devastate communities. Reform logging practices to responsible levels. Reform the Wildlife Administration as well. They are allowing the unnecessary slaughter of wildlife, especially predators. We need them for eco-balance. Ban all trapping and baiting practices as well.

Submitted by MGG in Environment Dec. 18, 2014, 9:20 p.m.

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#1156

131 votes

Re-evaluate US Middle East policy. Israel receives the largest portion of our foreign aid program. Are we getting sufficient benefit from this largesse? In the process of re-evaluation, consider Israeli violations of international law and UN resolutions, especially as they relate to West Bank settlements. Review more seriously the Israeli attack on the SS Libert.

Submitted by rwm in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 21, 2014, 10:15 p.m.

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#1156

131 votes

Legalize marijuana for medicinal and industrial use nationally.

Submitted by Deja G. from AR in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 12:07 p.m.

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#1163

130 votes

Install solar PV arrays on the Interstate medians ways, first in several pilot programs, then over 5-10 years connect them nationally. Such a project would create many jobs in numerous sectors of the economy (engineering, manufacturing, construction, etc.) while improving our crumbling infrastructure and also creating conditions that put negative economic pressure on fossil fueled energy producers to rethink their business model. This would lead to an American Renaissance of a booming economy.

Submitted by Kevin D. from VT in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 18, 2014, 8:39 a.m.

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#1163

130 votes

Random drug testing for all members of congress and the senate. Their decisions affect all of us.

Submitted by badack in Government & Elections Jan. 8, 2015, 7:02 p.m.

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#1163

130 votes

Companies that outsource assert that the U.S. labor pool does not have the skills they need. Really they want to pay lower wages & no training costs. Companies that want to outsource must prove they cannot find the skills. Agencies must have the opportunity to disprove the claim. If training is needed, public & private sector can split the cost. Heavily regulate outsourcing & imports to eliminate the exploitation at home & abroad in our currently destructive, manufactured race to the bottom.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Economy & Jobs Dec. 19, 2014, 1 p.m.

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#1163

130 votes

all members of congress shall submit to monthly drug tests

Submitted by lexout in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 3:49 p.m.

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#1167

129 votes

Efforts to raise Minimum wage Law is commendable, however stronger Labor laws are needed and soon. The foot soldiers of the working class are disappearing. RTW laws are destroying Unions. That lowers the bar for all.

Submitted by D. Greising in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 5:19 p.m.

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#1167

129 votes

Restore bankruptcy protection rights for student loan borrowers. Student loans should be treated no different than medical expenses. Total discharge with NO possibility of reinstatement at a later date.

Submitted by Lincoln98 in Education Dec. 18, 2014, 9:03 a.m.

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#1167

129 votes

Anywhere you happen to be standing on the earth 30,000 feet below your shoes there is an effectively unlimited supply of heat. The oil industry routinely drills to 20,000 feet. The ambient temperature at that depth is around 700 degrees, you can run a closed system ge generator (average price of three quarters of a million dollars used) that produces 6 megawatts off that forever. In addition Geothermal energy acts as a price stabilizer that offsets U.S. dependence upon highly volatile fossil fue

Submitted by Myles in Environment Jan. 6, 2015, 1:55 p.m.

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#1167

129 votes

Looks like Republicans are going to get Keystone passed. Now, try to collect $1 for every barrel sent through the pipeline to pay for the de-construction of it when its life is over. That's: 50 years x 365 days/year x 500,000 barrels/day == $9.125 billion (+ interest) to cleanly de-commision the pipeline.

Submitted by MrBIIIG in Environment Jan. 9, 2015, 3:42 a.m.

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#1167

129 votes

Funnel more funds into teacher education - both initial education and on going inservice.

Submitted by Margaret C. from CA in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 3:33 p.m.

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#1167

129 votes

National Pension Plan for all workers

Submitted by frou44 in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 3:05 p.m.

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#1173

128 votes

Equal rights amendment (all peoples of our planet)

Submitted by jhggins1963 in Civil Rights Dec. 18, 2014, 8:49 p.m.

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#1173

128 votes

Live up to international obligations under nuclear disarmament treaties by refusing to build new and/or updating old nuclear weapons. Work to make a world that is nuclear free by setting a positive example and by working with other countries to eliminate their nuclear weapons.

Submitted by Amrita B. from MO in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 10, 2014, 9:29 p.m.

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#1173

128 votes

Our education system should be free and nationally uniform. A student moving from one state to another should be as informed on all subjects as the students in the school he/she is moving to. Finland, albeit a much smaller country, has a uniform school system with exceptionally trained teachers in all schools, and far less administrators. They have almost no dropouts, and students actually enjoy school.

Submitted by Marsha S. from FL in Education Dec. 11, 2014, 12:18 a.m.

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#1173

128 votes

The American budget can not only balanced, but the deficit eliminated and social programs paid for all at the same time simply by cutting military spending in half. America currently spends more on the military than the next 13 countries COMBINED. Even cutting the military spending in half, America would still outspend each and every other nation on Earth. The Pentagon should be forced to work within its budget without any overruns allowed.

Submitted by ACE910046SCA1 in Taxes & Budget Jan. 5, 2015, 12:42 a.m.

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#1173

128 votes

The Big Idea encompasses all the offered categories--Climate Restabilization--and can proceed using most if not all of the 273 (so far) suggested steps. Naomi Klein's This Changes Everything lays it out. I would add an emphasis on soil remediation using biochar.

Submitted by Ruth L. in Environment Dec. 9, 2014, 9:30 a.m.

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#1173

128 votes

Criminal justice reform including sentencing guidelines, drug scheduling & Youth PROMISE Act. Reschedule ALL drugs by a new set of criteria that better reflects their actual dangers, not propaganda for a failed war on drugs. Tax and regulate recreational/medical marijuana nationwide. Ramp up the American hemp industry for food, textiles, oil, wax, resin, rope, cloth, pulp, paper, and fuel.

Submitted by Boberto in Society & Community Jan. 4, 2015, 1:17 a.m.

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#1173

128 votes

No child should be tried as an adult. No child should be sent to prison. Children should be counseled not imprisoned.

Submitted by Robert King in Society & Community Dec. 26, 2014, 1:08 p.m.

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#1173

128 votes

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