The Big Ideas Project

Trustworthy voting procedures. Require that all hardware, software, and other items used in counting votes be easily available for inspection by anyone at little or no cost. This includes all design documentation, etc. Further require that, for the six months before an election, no changes of any sort (no matter how minor) may be made except for carefully audited bug fixes.

Submitted by Dave Anderson in Government & Elections Jan. 5, 2015, 4:51 p.m.

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#1197

125 votes

Pass the New Columbia Admission Act establishing the State of New Columbia to grant the residents of Washington, DC statehood. This bill (already introduced in Congress) would separate the residential neighborhoods and commercial areas of Washington, DC from the federal government (which would remain an independent federal territory as defined in the Constitution). Decades of struggle show that this is the only viable way to provide DC residents their full citizenship.

Submitted by Jesse in Civil Rights Jan. 15, 2015, 9:24 a.m.

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#1202

124 votes

A Common Sense Housing Investment Act would realign the mortgage interest deduction to better benefit families who need it most by converting the deduction to a 15% flat rate tax credit on mortgages up to $500,000. The bill strengthens the tax benefits for homeowners, while giving working families better access to rental homes.

Submitted by Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5) in Taxes & Budget Jan. 10, 2015, 11 a.m. 1

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#1202

124 votes

Take the right to shout down the Government away from Congress. They are Boldly Abusing power. Hold the Republican Party responsible and accountable by Having to pay the Government $24 Billion for the last shout down. No more Shout Downs.

Submitted by Carroll N. from PA in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 1:41 p.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Create for profit co ops for anyone who cannot pay his or her bills. Give ex cons and people in the lower class of our society the chance to live with dignity.

Submitted by disgusted with "experts" in Civil Rights Jan. 3, 2015, 11:41 a.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Flow all Income Tax on Social Security benefits back into the Social Security Fund instead of the US General Fund to help extend Social Security solvency. The US government general operations should not lean on Social Security for its funding.

Submitted by Walt Weber in Taxes & Budget Jan. 16, 2015, 12:53 a.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Stop letting corporations send jobs overseas, without industry and a strong labor force our country will never be great again.

Submitted by joey in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 6:07 p.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Make national service mandatory after high school or age 20 whichever comes first for two years. The obligation can be discharged through the military, Peace Corps, teaching assistant in the underserved areas, national park system. Participants will receive a stipend equivalent to E-2 in the military. This will rebuild shared experiences and a true sense of involvement with all others in building and maintaining a country.

Submitted by Doug M in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 2:43 p.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Instead of placing revenues (taxes and fees) on deposit in Wall Street banks (and then borrowing money back at interest), State and County/City Treasurers should simply create their own banks and place the money there. The low cost credit can be used to fund infrastructure projects, which is EXACTLY what the Bank of North Dakota does.

Submitted by Commonomics in Economy & Jobs Dec. 11, 2014, 7:10 a.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Shorten the election [process. This time was needed in the days before instant communication. 4 months ought to be enough time for the whole process. I month to campaign for primaries. All states hold primaries on the same day. Conventions 2 weeks later. Balance to campaign. we waste money on the whole process and most voters tune out either for the first bit or for the elections.

Submitted by quiltercb in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 5:31 p.m.

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#1202

124 votes

Apply the same 15% income tax rate to teachers and their salaries that we apply to hedge fund managers and carried interest ... teachers after all increase the value of human capital ... and that's of far more social benefit than Wall Street gambling ...

Submitted by Brian G. from CA in Education Jan. 12, 2015, 4:43 p.m.

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#1211

123 votes

Pass a bill that would start infrastructure rebuilding too be paid for by closing tax loopholes for corporations

Submitted by Robert M. from MD in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 5:59 p.m.

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#1211

123 votes

Tax all the income of people who have assets over $300,000. This includes making mandatory reporting of wages outside of our country. If money is made there and taxed there, it should be TAXED AGAIN in the United States! Those who do do not report it should have 5 year mandatory prison sentences without chance of parole.

Submitted by the answertothegap in Taxes & Budget Dec. 29, 2014, 11:38 a.m.

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#1211

123 votes

Massive program to shut-down 100% of coal power plants over the next 20 years, with 5% shut down each year. Until we do these, electric vehicles (and other measures to switch from fossil fuel use) will not be truly effective, since coal-generated electricity still produces CO2, even if the cars don't. To do this, we must shut down coal plants, replace with renewables, use carbon sequestration, increase energy efficiency, and reduce energy use... Um, NOW!

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Environment Jan. 13, 2015, 11:49 a.m.

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#1211

123 votes

The US must join every country on earth in mandating a national standard for paid holiday, vacation and sick leave that totals at least 25 days. No exclusions for part-time employment that would incentivize employers to cut worker hours, or for temporary/contingent workers. Benefits include increased worker productivity, health indicators, family and community life, decreased transmission of illness in the workplace and expanded employment for unemployed/underemployed workers.

Submitted by Howard in Economy & Jobs Dec. 19, 2014, 1:07 a.m.

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#1211

123 votes

spend more money on clean energy and battery r&d

Submitted by Daws A. from WA in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 27, 2014, 1:39 a.m.

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#1216

122 votes

Make public colleges and universities show how they spend the tuition money they receive from students. These reports should be given to prospective students each year and should show how much tuition money goes to professor salaries, teaching supplies, and the football/basketball team.

Submitted by MattA in Education Dec. 10, 2014, 9:55 p.m.

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#1216

122 votes

Eliminate all campaign donations and ads and provide Government financing of all campaigns. Schedule a series of debates to be broadcast on all media as the only advertising allowable to candidates. By eliminating bribery we can have elections based on the merits of the cansdidates ideas.

Submitted by capprich in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 5:50 p.m.

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#1216

122 votes

Regulate Telecom. They are wholly un-prepared to deal with anything. The CFO's keep cutting jobs for all the major carriers and service, especially in what I have to deal with on a weekly basis is unacceptable. They should be forced to staff their organizations properly so service is restored in a timely manner. Take a look at the fines that they absorb every year and they could hire hundreds of employees and actually supply their technical staff with proper test equipment and vehicles.

Submitted by Joseph B. from CT in Infrastructure & Technology Nov. 17, 2014, 8:12 a.m.

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#1216

122 votes

Expand early voting.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Government & Elections Dec. 20, 2014, 3:44 a.m.

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#1220

121 votes

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