How to fix the economy in 3 easy steps

[Bob Hubbard]

Step 1 - limit all government employees to a fair and reasonable income level no grater than $75k/yr including all perks and benefits.
Step 2 - limit elected officials to no more than 10 years, or 2 terms whichever is smaller.
Step 3 - Remove lobbyists from government, and forbid officials or candidates from accepting contributions from lobby organizations, corporations, et all.
Step 4 - Mandate that all bills be passed individually, no riders, no add ons, no tit-for-tat.
Step 5 - Mandate that all elected officials voting on a bill, must read it fully prior to voting.
Step 6 - Remove the idea of "bailout", "subsidy" and "government investment" from consideration.
Step 7 - Hold people accountable for their actions.
Step 8 Any motion that puts the population in general debt, or liability, must be voted on by the population.

ok, back to fantasy land.

 

[Sukerkin]

Bob Hubbard for President : ovation:

{Whispers}Gawd Emperor can come later when stupid voters with goldfish memories have forgotten Step 2 :Mutley laugh:{/whispers}

Darn it! Left the mike on !

 

[arnisador]

Step 1 - limit all government employees to a fair and reasonable income level no grater than $75k/yr including all perks and benefits.

Good luck keeping physicians in the V.A., scientists in the govt. research labs., language instructors at DLI, civilian profs. at the academies, lawyers in virtually any position, etc. Remember that benefits are a large part of compensation in ost decent jobs (20%-30%) so you're limiting the compensation to about that of an Army captain now.

Step 2 - limit elected officials to no more than 10 years, or 2 terms whichever is smaller.

But then the lobbyists and staffers will run the govt. even more than they do now. As with salary above, experience matters in many jobs!

Step 3 - Remove lobbyists from government, and forbid officials or candidates from accepting contributions from lobby organizations, corporations, et all.

If that can be done, I'm for it.

Step 4 - Mandate that all bills be passed individually, no riders, no add ons, no tit-for-tat.

I'd like to agree with this, but those riders are a check-and-balance for the minority party. Need a few Republican votes to pass something? Give a few Republicans what they want. A line item veto is a better approach here.

Step 5 - Mandate that all elected officials voting on a bill, must read it fully prior to voting.
Step 6 - Remove the idea of "bailout", "subsidy" and "government investment" from consideration.

Unenforceable feel-good legislation. A bailout could be given in hidden form as a tax perk.

Step 7 - Hold people accountable for their actions.

Agreed! Civil service is overly-tenured.

Step 8 Any motion that puts the population in general debt, or liability, must be voted on by the population.

Well, we elect representatives to use their best judgement on our behalf...in theory. In practice, they're selling out the next generation to gain votes.

 

[Empty Hands]

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken

 

[Xue Sheng]

Step 1 - limit all government employees to a fair and reasonable income level no grater than $75k/yr including all perks and benefits.

Good luck keeping physicians in the V.A., scientists in the govt. research labs., language instructors at DLI, civilian profs. at the academies, lawyers in virtually any position, etc. Remember that benefits are a large part of compensation in ost decent jobs (20%-30%) so you're limiting the compensation to about that of an Army captain now.

Agreed, it is hard to get and keep talented people in government in the Computer business now since even with salaries over $75K a year they are no where near their private sector counterparts. I have seen salaries for heads of IT departments that were quite impressive (>75k) and still the private sector matching title is making 2 to 3 times more.

This of course would also become a discussion about what is fair and reasonable. Is it fair to expect a Head of IT, Network security admins, web admins or a network admins to stop earning additional money once they top out at $75k if they have 10 years left to retire and is it reasonable to expect them to stay in that job with a private sector offer comes in at 2 to 3 times that?

what about OT for people like State Police, would they then stop earning any money after they reached the $75k mark?

I have got to tell you the Governor of our state; you know the one that just gave all his staff raises so they now make greater than $100,000 per year, would love to hear that. Since there is a world of difference between a civil servant and his "appointed staff" it would just mean more money for his staff and the legislature, assembly and their staff. Oh and of course them as well. You want to save money in government you need to look from the top down not the bottom up.

It is just not that cut and dried Bob

 

[arnisador]

A friend quit working for the NSA and went to work for a contractor...which put him directly back in his old job (exactly the same position) but at twice the salary plus better benefits. It's a false economy for the govt.

 

[Xue Sheng]

A friend quit working for the NSA and went to work for a contractor...which put him directly back in his old job (exactly the same position) but at twice the salary plus better benefits. It's a false economy for the govt.

I've seen similar things in NYS. I have known at least 3 people that retired because he could come back as a consultant at 2 and 3 times the salary and STILL get their retirement pension on top of that. Or lay off workers and replace them with contractors which cost the state more. Nothing against contractors but if you are seriously looking to save money in the state that is not the way to go. And one of my favorites, the appointee that worked for no salary because he didn’t need money…. But he got several expense accounts (that total out at much greater than even a high paid workers salary) a few offices and other…well…. Perks (car, driver. etc.)

Many commissioners have a great salary too but they have expense accounts to cover just about ever aspect of life so the salary is clear and free. You want to cut costs….. top down

 

[Makalakumu]

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken

Yeah, like quoting a satirist when you need an economist! LOL!

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Just give me $200,000, and I'll start a business that employs 5+.

This comes back to my point that as a business owner I employ several people and literally fuel the economy. I also pay way more than my fair share in taxes. (way more

) If you have small business growth it has been proven time and time again that the economy will grow.

 

[Sukerkin]

Quite so.

As part of my Economic studies, as well as Japanese economic history I also specialised in Russian economic history. Even in the darkest depths of Centralised Totalinarianism (dressed up as Communism) the USSR realised this. A hugely disproportionate amount of agricultural production came from 'private' actvity that was largely given no 'official' attention at all because it was so necessary.

Small businesses are the real hub upon which a countries economic survival turns. They are the ones that contribute to society rather than the corporate gaints whose only role is to suck money out of the pockets of everyone and lock it away in the coffers of the already super wealthy.

 

[CoryKS]

Small businesses are the real hub upon which a countries economic survival turns. They are the ones that contribute to society rather than the corporate gaints whose only role is to suck money out of the pockets of everyone and lock it away in the coffers of the already super wealthy.

I think what makes me the most angry is when they go to their money bin and swim in it. The diving board is particularly insulting.

 

[elder999]

I think what makes me the most angry is when they go to their money bin and swim in it. The diving board is particularly insulting.

A daily swim in the money bin is a closely held longevity regimen.....of course, it must have the proper amount of gold coins.

I'm pretty sure that it's keeping Ted Kennedy alive.

 

[Xue Sheng]

you mean like this

 

[elder999]

you mean like this

Well, exactly. Scrooge has been around since 1947, and he hardly looks like he's aged a day......other examples include Jack Benny, who made it to 80, and George Burns, who nearly made it to 100.

Hell, Warren Buffett looks damn good for 79 as well......:lfao: