The Big Ideas Project

We need a solar powered charger for laptop batteries in our vehicles

Submitted by Joey Stevenson in Environment Dec. 27, 2014, 2:34 p.m.

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#1961

44 votes

End homelessness by building homes, quickly. The government should establish a homebuilding agency that will build new housing until there are no more homeless people. This newly built housing should be sold not only to nonprofits, but to housed, middle class people as well, because as long as the overall number of houses increases, prices decrease, and fewer people will become homeless. This is a basic market intervention.

Submitted by wg2001 in Society & Community Jan. 5, 2015, 2:13 a.m. 1

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#1961

44 votes

Provide public facilities in metropolitan areas that enable homeless, unemployed, and under-employed people to generate energy using exercise equipment. Provide and automatically credit accounts for a portion of the value of the energy created.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 26, 2014, 2:10 p.m.

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#1961

44 votes

No executive should receive total compensation (all forms) greater than $250K per $50M in gross corp. revenue. -25% if the company produces a loss and/or pays no federal income tax. After $1B in revenue: $250K per $200M.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Taxes & Budget Dec. 16, 2014, 12:45 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Take the power of clemency away from partisan state governors and grant that task to a federal review board. They should review for clemency all nonviolent and low level felony convictions such as 4th degree crimes for clemency. Criteria should include that it is a first and only felony conviction, it has been 10 years since that conviction, and the ex-felon should show proof of redemption or recommendations from employers, parole officers, and professors, as well as any diplomas earned.

Submitted by Brendan C. from VA in Civil Rights Jan. 5, 2015, 1:20 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Each state shall hold a primary open to all voters that shall be open to all (or pre-chosen*) candidates for each office. Anyone receiving more than 50 percent of the vote shall be the winner. If there is no winner, then on election day, the candidates in order of percentage of vote whose combined votes total over 50% of the votes cast shall compete against each other. (*If prior to the primary, political parties wish to conduct their own primary at their expense, that shall be allowed.).

Submitted by Russ Z in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 3:07 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Mandate compulsory on-line publication by the federal government of where/how our tax money is spent (by category, with successive levels of detail available).

Submitted by Lawrence Gold in Government & Elections Jan. 8, 2015, 6:14 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Every taxable entity pays a percentage of their income equal to the percent of health care in the GNP. Dental and vision would also be covered.

Submitted by David in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:30 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

30 hour work week. A 25% cut in the labor supply would cause unemployment to drop and wages to rise.

Submitted by wg2001 in Economy & Jobs Jan. 5, 2015, 1:51 a.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Stop government subsidizing of population growth. Limit the tax deduction for child dependents to two. Grandfather current deductions, and make exceptions for adoptions.

Submitted by Dwight R. from WA in Environment Jan. 10, 2015, 4:35 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Institute new laws and treaties mandating a 120% carbon offset on all combustible fuels produced or consumed within the United States and Canada, before point of sale. And there would be favored nation trading points for other countries following suite.

Submitted by Aaron Agassi in Environment Dec. 17, 2014, 9:06 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Political districts ought to be defined by zip codes, voting to be done by mail. No political interests should be allowed to interfere with voting laws and an independent body needs to oversee voting.

Submitted by CitizenUSA in Government & Elections Dec. 17, 2014, 2:33 a.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Replace All Entitlements with A Basic Income Guarantee and Healthcare.

Submitted by Aria Littlhous in Economy & Jobs Jan. 4, 2015, 1:21 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Much if not most of executive compensation is coming in the form of stock and/or stock options these days. For public companies, this means the executive can sell the stock the next year, pay a capital gains tax of 15-20% rather than income tax of 39.6%, encouraging them to focus on short-term value of the stock while allowing them to avoid income taxes for...income. Require all compensatory stock and options to the top 5% earners in the company to vest only AFTER three years.

Submitted by Y. Sam in Economy & Jobs Jan. 10, 2015, 12:31 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Start a public works project to drill for geothermal power and give out free electricity once the infrastructure is in place

Submitted by Chyle in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 12, 2014, 7:59 a.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Provide environment for life-long learning of skills or knowledge that will increase one's human capital.

Submitted by antonio l. from CA in Education Jan. 4, 2015, 5:10 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Now that gasoline prices are at 5-year lows...it's time to RAISE the federal fuel tax...maybe 20 cents per gallon immediately and an additional 5 cents per gallon per year for the next 3 or 4 years. These are user fees, they should fund not only road, bridge and runway repairs, but capital projects like high-speed rail and Amtrak expansion.

Submitted by Chuck S. from NM in Taxes & Budget Jan. 15, 2015, 5:37 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Allow a one time 5% flat tax on the removal of up to $300,000.00 from tax sheltered funds (401K, 403B). This would take the money from Wall Street and put it back into Main Street. The result would be job and economic growth.

Submitted by Ben A. from CA in Economy & Jobs Dec. 11, 2014, 1:12 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Create and support a Contract For Americans, which voters would endorse and Candidates would pledge to try to pass. Include things ordinary citizens want and special interests oppose, such as increased minimum wages, student debt relief, equal pay for equal work, equal justice under the law, and tax changes so the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share. This is how we can keep Big Money from buying elections and elected officials. Please check it out at ContractForAmericans.org. Thanks!

Submitted by John U. from CA in Government & Elections Jan. 12, 2015, 4:50 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

Place a ban on war with other nations for the next 10 years to rebuild the economy.

Submitted by Deja G. from AR in Foreign Policy & Military Dec. 11, 2014, 12:08 p.m.

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#1964

43 votes

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