The Big Ideas Project

A study in the Princeton Review found that we live in an oligarchy, not a democracy, that "our" gov. does not listen to/represent "us." As interesting as this Big Ideas project is and useful it should be, it is inherently democratic, which means it won't be used by oligarchy to create democracy, a healthier more distributed economy, solutions to climate change, etc. These require effectively organizing an external, irresistible democratic force that can supplant oligarchy. THAT'S the Big Idea.

Submitted by Y. Sam in Government & Elections Jan. 1, 2015, 12:43 p.m.

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#1036

152 votes

Transparency in legislation. To make it stick, this probably requires a constitutional amendment. Every piece of legislation must have a preface of no more than 1000 words, written in plain English. The meaning of this preface is what a 'reasonable person' with no special knowledge would believe it to mean after reading it carefully. Anything in the body of the legislation has no effect unless it is clearly permitted by the preface. All votes to adopt or modify a preface must be recorded votes.

Submitted by Dave Anderson in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 6:51 p.m.

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#1040

151 votes

Ovehaul our federal campaign and electoral system to reflect 21st century life. 1) Limit electoral campaign length and require publicly licensed broadcasters to provide minimum equal airtime to all candidates on the ballot for the limited time. 2) Set up an independent publicly funded "Electoral Campaign Finance Institute" to distribute funds equitably to candidates, so anyone can run for office independently. 3) Establish a uniform minimum standard for equitable drawing of cong. districts.

Submitted by Roscoe V. from CA in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 4:35 p.m.

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#1050

149 votes

Require all legislators read the total of ALL bills, including amendments, before voting on any of them.

Submitted by msgemstone in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 7:45 a.m. 1

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#1064

147 votes

The Federal government shall enact a law stating that no campaign for federal office (President, Senate, or House of Representatives) may begin advertising (print, internet, television or radio) more than 75 days prior to the election date for the office to which a candidate may seek election. The law shall be enforced by fines of the media source accepting the advertising and any candidate thus doing shall forfeit the right to be a candidate.

Submitted by CrispE4546 in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 12:54 p.m. 1

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#1069

146 votes

The elected members of both the Senate and the House can only get monetary raises if the majority of their constituents vote "yes" on the ballot. Why should our elected officials vote for their own raises? Everybody else in the real world has to meet certain standards by their boss in order to get a raise

Submitted by Lynne Rooney Katsma in Government & Elections Dec. 18, 2014, midnight

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#1087

143 votes

Limit the number of times the same issue can be voted on in Congress (regardless of minor changes or new bill numbers): no more 50+ votes to repeal Obamacare!,etc. What a hideous waste of taxpayer money from the party that swears they want to cut gov't spending! also set limits on how long federally appointed positions can be left open b/c Congress refuses to approve anyone. all the unfilled positions just clogs the system and causes the inefficiencies that some use as an excuse to not vote.

Submitted by Terri S. from OH in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 5:55 a.m.

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#1092

142 votes

Universal paper ballots and public counting

Submitted by katiebird in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 7:28 p.m.

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#1096

141 votes

Hold all primary elections, congressional elections . etc. on the same day. All states should have equal importance. West coast does not even need to vote after we know the results of the 5 or so predetermined "swing states." to do otherwise is non-democratic. In this regard, the emerging third world democratic countries are more democratic than we are!

Submitted by thecatlady in Government & Elections Jan. 6, 2015, 10:12 p.m.

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#1096

141 votes

The moment a elected official or government employee is convicted of a felony that person loses their job and/or office and immediately loses all pay, health care benefits, pension, and all other benefits. This would apply at all levels of government.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Government & Elections Dec. 20, 2014, 3:51 a.m.

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#1096

141 votes

Pass federal law to forbid candidates for federal office from accepting any contributions not documented to have originated from a voter eligible to cast a vote for that candidate. This does not limit offer of political contributions, it limits acceptance of political contributions and therefore should be deemed constitutional. This will eliminate direct campaign contributions by non-corporeal entities as well as out-of-state contributions for Senators and Congresspersons.

Submitted by Paul K. from FL in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 5:23 p.m.

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#1105

139 votes

Get raising money out of running for office altogether through public financing and free air time. Every candidate gets the same small amount of public funds and the same amount of air time to demonstrate their fitness for office and to communicate their vision to the voting public. No private or personal funding is allowed. This enables people who are truly interested in representing constituents and "doing" democracy to enter the playing field.

Submitted by Just Sayin' in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 6:01 p.m.

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#1111

138 votes

Establish a non-partisan commission on Truth in Advertising for political candidates to expose dishonesty in political advertising BEFORE elections are held.

Submitted by Lawrence Gold in Government & Elections Jan. 8, 2015, 6:23 p.m.

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#1114

137 votes

Create a governmental ethics committee that would be populated by regular, every day citizens to act as watchdogs for the misbehavior of comgressional leadership and give this committee the ability to hold both houses accountable for actions that are not appropriate for elected officials.

Submitted by Betoplata in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 4:59 p.m.

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#1114

137 votes

A person should be disqualified for political office if they insist upon making policy decisions based on religious beliefs. This is a clear violation of the establishment clause, let alone being a bad policy basis.

Submitted by bboldrini in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 5:13 p.m.

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#1127

135 votes

NO more elected "paid for" judges, be it local or Federal. New system to name judges to the bench. More judicial accountability and oversight, more lawyers held accountable for misconduct with Oversight Committees of Real Citizens, not foxes running the henhouse. Insiders must step aside to let the light shine on Corrupt Courts and Corrupt lawyers.

Submitted by Ellen O in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 6:31 p.m.

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#1127

135 votes

Limit all--repeat, all--national electoral campaign activity, including primaries, to the 180 calendar days before Election Day. No media ads, no door to door, no media "interviews," zip. This will greatly diminish the need for campaign funding, and still allow plenty of time for candidates to put their positions before the voters.

Submitted by Michael G. from FL in Government & Elections Dec. 28, 2014, 6:28 p.m.

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#1139

133 votes

end lobbying.

Submitted by lexout in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 7:36 p.m.

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#1139

133 votes

Excess profits taxes discouraged profiteering in WWII. They are Constitutional. Enact an excess profits tax on television stations and networks, designed to recapture the excess profits that they gain through exploiting our elections. Don't let them keep any more revenues than they received in recent non-election years.

Submitted by Gedanken in Government & Elections Dec. 10, 2014, 3:36 p.m.

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#1148

132 votes

ABOLISH LOBBYING.! Liquor Lobby is taking a hand at preventing Medical Marijuana use I guarantee this. Lobbying IS RUINING OUR DEMOCRACY AND PULLING CONGRESS INTO NOT VOTING , DELAYED VOTING OR NOT VOTING AT ALL. SEQUESTER CONGRESS UNTIL DECISIONS ARE MADE . NO VACATIONS OR SEASONAL BREAKS UNTIL VITAL DECISIONS ARE VOTED UPON.

Submitted by no in Government & Elections Dec. 11, 2014, 9:17 a.m.

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#1148

132 votes

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