The Big Ideas Project

Voters frequently do not know the important issues or how candidates stand on those issues. Many issues are never mentioned leaving voters to vote a party line or simply who they think sounds like a friendly person. Solution: After candidates have filed for office, publicize locations for voters to obtain candidate information. A good site is the Vote Smart website, one of the best sources of unbiased information on candidate positions, funders, and group ratings. Knowledge is power!

Submitted by Melvin Mackey in Government & Elections Dec. 22, 2014, 10:46 p.m.

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#1396

96 votes

Repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) provisions of the tax code that penalize educators and other public service employees who participate in a government pension program.

Submitted by Chuck Isner in Education Jan. 3, 2015, 7:25 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Strengthen character education programs in the schools systems.

Submitted by Stephen Crilly in Education Nov. 16, 2014, 5:34 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

We need big ideas to move us out of the morass we are in. These include government paid voter ID cards, mandatory voting, changing voting day to weekend or make Election Day a holiday.

Submitted by Larry in Government & Elections Jan. 16, 2015, 9:07 a.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Pass a law that says Congress can appropriate no money for a defense related program or item unless the Pentagon agrees that the expenditure is justified

Submitted by Stuart in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 12:06 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

I.Q. and psychological testing for candidates running for election. I do not need to be represented by people who are not intelligent or sociopaths just because they are 'popular.'

Submitted by chas in Government & Elections Jan. 4, 2015, 4:36 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Freeze the pentagon budget until the federal budget is balanced.

Submitted by Rohit K. from VA in Foreign Policy & Military Jan. 4, 2015, 11:57 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Protect our Right to Life. Prioritize and promote Sustainability. End Profit over Planet.

Submitted by FirF in Environment Dec. 11, 2014, 10:21 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Force a vote on military action in the Middle East. We need to prohibit ground troops in Syria and put time limitations on the use of force requiring reauthorizations.

Submitted by MC in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 19, 2014, 1:06 a.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Provide every prison with energy producing exercise equipment so that prisoners can produce energy and earn money, Automatically credit savings accounts for energy they produce. Allow them to invest in CDs and low-risk mutual funds, Provide them with personal finance and small business education. Prepare them for better outcomes when they leave prison.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Economy & Jobs Dec. 26, 2014, 2:56 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Replace our walkways, parking lots, roads, and any other surfaces we can with glass solar panels. The technology already exists that is capable of heating these surfaces as well as generating power and are LED ready to provide lines, arrows, or any other regularity symbols. This could power up everything and in colder areas will not require salting as we presently do for slippery conditions.

Submitted by Randy B. from WI in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 3, 2015, 10:30 p.m.

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#1402

95 votes

Compulsory voting. It increased turnout from 67% to 91% in Australia and drastically lowered turnout inequity in which the wealthy voted more than the poor, a phenomenon we see today in America.

Submitted by Sarah Fellman in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 12:04 a.m.

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#1412

94 votes

Path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, permanent freeze on deportations, freeze to extend to undocumented immigrants who have been here fewer than five years.

Submitted by amy in Civil Rights Dec. 10, 2014, 10:16 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

More government funded research into causes and cures of cancers

Submitted by lefty in Health Jan. 5, 2015, 6:42 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

Stop forcing unions to represent nondues paying members. Make Right to Work illegal, no one should be forced to perform a function for free.

Submitted by bruce s. from IN in Economy & Jobs Dec. 19, 2014, 12:32 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

Elected officials and candidates should not be allowed to KEEP unused campaign funds after they lose an election or retire. These funds should go into escrow. If they do not run in an election, any escrowed amount should go to the new candidate for that office (who wins the primary, if any). Donors' campaign contributions MUST go to campaigns...

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Government & Elections Dec. 20, 2014, 3:19 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

Women in the work force are paid less than men throughout their employment years: after retirement or disability, that disadvantage follows women into retirement. Social Security should be increased for women at the same percentage that women were cheated out of during their working years.

Submitted by Anti-GOP in Economy & Jobs Jan. 15, 2015, 11:49 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

All corporate charters in the United States, or for companies doing business in the United states, should be deemed to specify that corporate obligation is to the public, it's customers, its employees and its stockholders, IN THAT ORDER.

Submitted by Michael J. from OR in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 8:21 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

A bill of rights for cell phone users that protects us from crappy service, being unable to hold these providers accountable when service becomes untenable, and pro rata deductions over time in the disconnect fee or have none at all.

Submitted by Mary M. from MN in Infrastructure & Technology Nov. 17, 2014, 11:59 a.m.

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#1412

94 votes

Civics education for citizens. Our democracy depends upon citizen knowledge of how government works and what our individual responsibilities are, but too many people nationwide know too little and many don't care enough. Develop civics programs in innovative ways using internet, games, tv, any and everything to help people learn and become involved.

Submitted by Elizabeth W. from TX in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 10:42 p.m.

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#1412

94 votes

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