The Big Ideas Project

Fund research on non-destructive uses of coal (e.g., as a carbon source for producing plastics and other compounds currently produced from petroleum). Would save coal mining jobs while providing a more valuable use for coal than burning it. Could produce entirely new American industries.

Submitted by Stu from Bay Area in Environment Dec. 19, 2014, 12:29 a.m.

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#1754

61 votes

Create a higher corporate income tax, tax capital gains progressively, and create more tax brackets and a higher maximum personal tax rate.

Submitted by Sarah Fellman in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 12:11 a.m.

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#1754

61 votes

Incentivize (tax breaks, etc) various forms of Worker-Owned Businesses. WOBs are better than unions and is the "capitalist" method of reducing the flow of profits to the top. If half of all US businesses were worker-owned, the middle class would burgeon, the working poor would be almost non-existent and jobs would stay in the US. Combined with a robust minimum wage law, WOBs would shift the power away from the 1%. In WOBs, mgt answers to the workers, not the BofD or stockholders.

Submitted by RepeatingHistory in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 10:50 p.m. 1

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#1754

61 votes

Produce a standardized summary of the voting records of incumbents, including metrics on everything from agriculture to workers. Require candidates to fill out a form on how they would have voted on bills/other measures during the previous two sessions. Provide this info to every registered voter online or in print, as requested. Drastically reduce all other campaigning & financing of campaigns, except public debates w/fact-checking. 90-120 day election season.

Submitted by Y. Sam in Government & Elections Jan. 8, 2015, 12:12 p.m.

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#1754

61 votes

Since the counties handle voter registration and jury service use that to increase voter turnout by making non-voters serve jury duty first. Here’s how it’d work. If you vote in an election you go to the bottom of the list of those who get jury duty and before you get a jury summons non-voters get jury summons first and no voter gets a summons until all non-voters get ones first. You may not eliminate getting jury duty but you reduce the chances you have to go to jury duty by voting.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Civil Rights Dec. 20, 2014, 3:16 a.m.

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#1754

61 votes

Build an underground system of rail, expressways, broadband and a new/safe power grid - implement technology to scrub/clean the air within before discharging it back into the atmosphere.

Submitted by Gary H. from MI in Economy & Jobs Dec. 19, 2014, 12:57 a.m.

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#1766

60 votes

SHORT & SWEET! Fire all corrupt politicians on the spot and put them in jail!

Submitted by fixer in Government & Elections Dec. 24, 2014, 3:42 a.m.

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#1766

60 votes

People need to be severely limited in how much they can leave their heirs, the balance of their assets should return to the nation. These assests can then be redistributed as a universal head start (perhaps $25,000) to our young people upon their graduation from H.S. this money can apply to post graduation education/training expenses, down payment on a house, etc.

Submitted by Michael D. from OH in Taxes & Budget Nov. 14, 2014, 9:01 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Voting is a right and an obligation. Not voting is a vote for the status quo. A failure to vote, without a determined valid reason should subject you to a Failure to Vote Fee of $15.00, paid to the County in which you reside for K-1 to K-12.

Submitted by Robert Wedemeier in Government & Elections Jan. 3, 2015, 2:41 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Modify tax law to change the home mortgage deduction to be a housing deduction that provides equal help to renters, so that the government is not economically favoring those affluent enough to buy a home and so that the government isn't "picking winners and losers" in the question of whether a home purchase or a rental is a better economic decision.

Submitted by Kent Pitman in Taxes & Budget Dec. 26, 2014, 2:43 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Repeal the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, that fixed the number in the House of Representatives at 435. If Representatives had the same number of constituents as the Founders intended, we would have approximately 5,000 Representatives in Congress today -- and a far more democratic and accountable body.

Submitted by Stephanie T. in Government & Elections Dec. 29, 2014, 6:20 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Allow drug research and testing of medical marijuana for pain and ibogaine for heroin addiction. Make applications and studies private between institutions and the DEA and create better funding mechanisms, so no published appeal to the DEA is required, and so NIDA doesn't control resource collection. See: Ibogaine, Marijuana

Submitted by Simon R, Political Organizer in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 7:28 a.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Reinstate capital gains taxes, and avoid any loopholes, like "generation skipping."

Submitted by antonio l. from CA in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 5:22 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Public matching of small donor donations to elections.

Submitted by Rodney G. from NY in Government & Elections Nov. 17, 2014, 8:19 a.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Mandate cable companies pro-rate their billing to represent the portion of the customer used channel access. For example, Optima offers 1,000 tv channels. I view approximately 30 channels. As such, I should pay 3% of the fee charged for providing the 1,000 tv channels.

Submitted by Knowledge in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 19, 2014, 2:26 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

Raise the minimum gross income where taxes begin. I think it's extremely low now. It should be more like $20,000 a year not, 10,000 for a single person.

Submitted by JK in Taxes & Budget Dec. 18, 2014, 10:06 p.m.

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#1776

59 votes

I think it would be a good idea to impose a sin tax that would place the social cost of owning assault (and high volume fire) weapons directly where it belongs: on sales of assault weapons, compatible ammunition, and large ammunition clips. The tax rate should be capable of covering the social cost of sales of these items. It should be imposed at the source (manufacturing) rather than at the point of sale.

Submitted by Daniel E. from NJ in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 12:12 a.m.

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#1776

59 votes

Make rent for a home deductible in the same way interest on a house is deductible now.

Submitted by Terry Allen in Taxes & Budget Jan. 8, 2015, 9:22 p.m. 1

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#1776

59 votes

Congress (both houses) should pass a resolution finding that all citizens and all people have intrinsic worth, and that in the coming disemployment from automation we should be treated equitably. The ask is small -- a resolution -- but the principle is huge.

Submitted by Bruce Donnelly in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 7, 2015, 5:52 p.m.

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#1776

59 votes

Another Purple Idea: People need to have the right to choose their own health practitioners including holistic and alternative ones. Our entrenched institutions (AMA, ADA, Medical Schools, etc.) and pharmaceutical companies have been too slow to change. (and no FORCED vaccinations!)

Submitted by C B. from HI in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 4:08 a.m.

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#1776

59 votes

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