Mr. President: Welcome. Now work and stop those CEO's

Welcome to the White House Mr. President.

12:18 PM EST during your inauguration speech

Welcome. Now we need to get ALL CEO's to get paid NO MORE then 20 times their least paid employee (or contractors)..

Step 1:
Any new funds dispensed to or loaned to ANY company must include a clause,
saying that executive level (D level or higher ) executives may NOT get paid more then 20 times less then their lowest paid employee.

Step 2: A new CEO pay tax for those corporations who ignore this. Tax to be paid by company, no gross-ups allowed. Taxes to be earmarked directly to need based programs in our country.

Step 3: A mandatory service requirement for ALL new citizens (17-18 years old)
It's time to require that ALL citizens of our country start to love and respect our country.
I propose a three year service program for ALL newly graduated HS students or 17 year olds (whichever comes later).

1. There will be two separate service programs, a military, and a service program.
2. There will be two programs, depending on whether the graduate goes to college or trade school or not.

The important ideas about this:

1. It will not go into effect immediately, but after a period of "gentle" introduction.
2. It will emphasize why service to our country is 'good service' and a good learning experience.
3. The non military option will be focused on job training, job skills, as well as ensuring our new citizens are able to earn a living when their period of service is over.
4. For those wishing, both the military and non-military options may lead to a formal career in the applicant's chosen profession.
5. There will be no "special exemptions" for the privileged. Since there is a non-military service option, no one can claim they need to be exempt.

For more on this idea, look here:

New Start: The beginning and a restatement

Here is a starting point. (originally posted 1/7/2009, but modified on 1/19/09 and 2/6/09, and 9/2/11, and 9/01/16) 

BTW, here's a quote about Herbert Hoover, quoted in the PDF about the first 100 days is described as follows:

. President Hoover had tried to combat the Depression, but he believed in limited government (emphasis added!) and relief through private charity. Though he eventually approved credit assistance for businesses and some public construction spending, Hoover was reluctant to fund massive public works projects, provide federal relief money to the unemployed, or increase government regulation of the economy. By 1933, he was reviled and exhausted.

** 9-29-17** 

Here's an interesting tidbit.

Our current president,#45 (and the entire Republican Congress) also believes the exact same rhetoric.

Reduced government, low taxes, and screw the poor and Hispanic Americans!

SOUNDS like exactly the TEA party (9/2/11 edit)
This blog is dedicated to minimizing the effects of what I now call "The SECOND GREAT DEPRESSION"

The thoughts I discuss in this blog started over ten years ago (2007) as a realization that between the financial markets, and the problems with the Bush (43) Democracy (is that a oxymoron?), the country is/was headed for very hard times, and we needed to start to think about how to minimize these effects.

Thinking about FDR, and how he took control and helped the country got me thinking.

---

Before I post on the ideas that my 'thinking, thunk', I will review some of FDR's innovations in the first 100/200 days of FDR's first term (review time)

Some key things that happened during FDR's first 100 days... (source: The FDR library's exhibit on the first 100 days...) were:  SOURCE HERE

1. A banking holiday and more;  -- The Emergency Banking Act was used to help banks that needed federal aid.   The Act permitted the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)—an agency created under Herbert Hoover—to buy preferred stock in these banks to get them on their feet. (it sounds like THAT's already been done now too!)
2. Government Economy Act: Simple; The act proposed to balance the federal budget by cutting the salaries of government employees and reducing pensions to veterans by as much as 15 percent.
3.  No more gold standard: designed to allowed more money to be put in circulation to create a mild inflation.
4.  HOLA: Its purpose was to refinance homes to prevent foreclosure . Through its work it granted long term mortgages to over a million people facing the loss of their homes.
5.  the Glass-Stengal act was introduced, separating banks from owning other businesses.
6. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) put unemployed young men aged 17-24 to work on
7. Jobs and Relief conservation projects around the nation. Within three months, the Corps enlisted nearly 250,000 young men. Eventually, the CCC would employ nearly three million. They planted over two billion trees, fought forest fires and floods, built trails, campgrounds, and reservoirs, and aided with soil conservation programs.
8.  The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) provided states and cities with billions of dollars to finance local work projects. From 1933-1935 it completed over 235,000 projects. At its peak, it employed almost 2.5 million people.
9.  (a Flop!) The National Industrial Recovery Administration (NRA) sought to end cut-throat competition brought on by the Depression that was reducing wages and prices to disastrous levels. It encouraged businesses in hundreds of industries to create codes of “fair competition.” The codes set maximum hours and minimum wages, guaranteed union rights, and prohibited child labor. Companies adopting the codes were exempt from anti-trust laws.  Despite FDR’s hopes, the NRA proved ineffective, and was declared unconstitutional in 1935.
10.  EMERGENCY RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION ACT. Sought to improve efficiency by reorganization, etc. Reduced overlapping services, etc. Federal Coordinator of Transportation created.
11.  The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA). It sought to raise agricultural prices by limiting production. The government paid farmers to reduce their livestock herds and leave some fields unplanted. (ANOTHER flop, and the beginning of farm supports that DONT work today!)
12.  The Emergency Farm Mortgage Act was intended to help struggling farmers pay their mortgages by refinancing farm loans at lower interest rates and on easier terms.
13.  The TVA. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was the first step. It put thousands of people to work building dams and public power plants in the giant Tennessee River Valley. The TVA controlled flooding and erosion, improved agriculture, and developed the Valley’s industry. The TVA was actually quite influential in helping the "Manhattan Project", which developed the Atomic Bomb.
14.  Farm Credit Act, also helped farmers remain on their farms.
15.  Roosevelt implemented an executive order, again allowing Beer to be sold (as repeal was being passed by the states...)

Not mentioned on this chart (after first 100 days):

a) Social Security was born (1935).
b) A great number of people were employed (think work projects administration) (also in 1935).

Note: the Works Project Administration both built THINGS, and DID (documented) THINGS.
(i.e., Writers WROTE, photographers Photographed, Builders BUILT things...)

---

Now, the stuff I came up with (all inter-related, and dependent on each other):

In reviewing the past, and looking where we are today, I surmise that today, we need the following:

1. A Massive Reconstruction (infrastructure) rebuilding project to repair the "Eisenhower Highway" system (and also make it TRANSIT and FREIGHT Friendly). See Green transit here.
2. A Massive Job Training Program to ensure full employment and the ability for workers to work for an honest dollar, and learn a trade that will keep them employed.
3. A new, "Living Wage", not to be confused with today's minimum wage (which should be renamed as an "introductory" or "entry level" wage.
4. A new federally paid system of day care starting at six months, to make our nation more competitive by enhancing education as well as making our society more competitive.  This day care would  be federally paid, but locally run (think Churches).  It would also have aspects of head start, to help overcome social problems.
   
5. Ensure EVERY American has Health Insurance that is NOT tied to an employer. Phase in over 20 years (to over-ride opposition from the insurance lobby). Eventually becomes a 2-3 plan duopoly, overseen by the government.
6. Just like the "Manhattan Project" that built the Atomic bomb, we need a new, massive ENERGY project (as our New president) stated that will eliminate our country's dependence on OIL within 10 years.
7. Tax reform. Let's Start Here: I call this the Millionaire's Minimum Tax. (or the MMT) Make over 1 million in GROSS income last year (individuals OR corporations!) You pay a MINIMUM of 1%.
   
8. Mandatory Job Training/Conscription/Community Service (whatever we call it EVERYONE will do it, either in Military or NON-Military options!  This would phase in over about 10-15 years, starting at the kindergarden level.
9. Lobbying Reform. Need to eliminate pay to play.
10. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover fraud, lies, and dishonesty in our society.  It would also be a great forum to help us overcome our history of Slavery and abuse.
    

This is most of it. Some things like education go across project lines.
Education starts at pre-school, and will continue through to high school, and an introduction to the new national training/conscription programs. These programs will be designed to help with job training in someone's chosen field.

We (citizens) ABSOLUTELY need to understand why we need these massive programs.

cheers.

Note: this post edited and updated 9-28-17 for minor edits.

Mandatory Draft SERVICE : Pro and Con (Topic of week)

Mandatory Draft:
Pros:

1. Desperately needed to undo the Cheney/Rumsfield Private Army (estimated this past week to have cost the US of A. over 100Billion Dollars PER YEAR, since the START of the IRAQ WAR!
2. Manpower will be needed to replace the 180,000 contractors (not counted in our troop-count) in IRAQ.
3. Forcing a new mandatory service conscription will be good for our current generation of TV/Video-game Addicted youth. It will teach them valuable skills needed for success in "REAL LIFE"
4. Mandatory Service will become the 'norm', as opposed to something rarely done. The "What can YOU do for YOUR country", spirit will be continued.
5. The Mandatory draft as structured, will allow for non-combat recruits to take part in the "US Service Corps", (similar to Peace Corps, but ALL inside of USA.
6. Mandatory Service Corps Participants (as well as military participants) will be encouraged to sign up to learn detailed life skills. Both military and Service Corps will have life-long career paths for lifetime employment.
   
7. Social training. A great number of social failures (interpersonal, failed communications, etc) occur during the late teen years. This program will also allow for 'gentle' training of the new recruits.
8. Three or four year term of service will allow detailed training (in Job Corp.)
9. Training for those attending Higher Education will be by school, area, and will occur during summer and other breaks.
10. Training for those not attending Higher Educational (or other schools/training programs), will consist of continuous service.
    
11. First six months of service will be 'support' type services, (Kitchen/Laundry), and will occur just after 'basic training' is completed.
12. Conscripts opting to go for advanced training (similar to West Point/Annapolis, same kind of term commitments) will go to leadership school, and train in engineering, science, math, etc fields.
13. Preparation for Mandatory Draft will allow those currently 15 or older optional opt-out. Those below 15 will have 2-10 years to be trained and readied for new requirements.
14. Initially High School Freshman (about age 14) will begin first training sessions, starting with one day visits/discussions about volunteer work, and off-site visits to military bases. If a Jr. ROTC program exists in the school, this will be the first and key method to start discussion programs.
1. Current HS Freshman/Sophomores will be presumed to have this program apply to them, so most details and planning will start here initially. Starting with basic overviews of existing volunteer work (Habitat for Humanity, etc) will introduce topics. Initial training implementation (for first 2-3 years) will not specifically target military, but will emphasize the volunteer/paid/training status of this service.
15. Training and introductory sessions will move down from High School to Middle School, and eventually a basic introductory lower school volunteer program will exist.
1. As program progresses, HS will focus on military options, careers, service, conscription vs. career options (for both service and Military options), while lower grades will introduce/start fostering volunteerism, concepts, as well as careers, and training options.

Cons:

1. Mandatory Draft goes against EVERYTHING the current generation attempted to achieve in Vietnam era.
2. Mandatory Draft will create Havoc with Higher Educational institutions.
3. Mandatory Draft will create antagonism within current generation.
4. A new mandatory draft to undo the Cheney/Rumsfield Private contractor army is too expensive.

your ideas?
comments?

Introduction -- Save Our Society (A new "NEW DEAL"

Please forgive me in advance.

I am just a visionary, with many many ideas that wants our society to improve, and not get worse.

This blog is a place to discuss and expand on points on how we can recover our society from the places it has fallen to.


I feel that some of the problems in the USA include (but aren't limited to)

*Corporate Greed
*Lack of National Health Insurance
*The "Dumbing" down of our Society (EDUCATION)
*The Welfare State Mentality
*The poor and Middle Class (Just WHAT IS middle class today?) being over-taxed.
*A lack of caring
*A lack of respect
*A lack of ethics.

Now.
What I propose:

• Nationalized Single Payer Health Insurance for ALL, phased in over 20 years so the Insurance industry will buy into the plan, instead of stopping it.

• A LIVING Wage, and eliminating or relabeling the "minimum wage"

• A Mandatory three (four) year draft (Military or "USA-only" Service program)

• Federally supported day care, starting at six months of age.

• Six month (initially) guaranteed federally paid maternity/Paternity leave.

• A National Works projects administration, envisioned as a training tool to teach skills, and closely linked with the service corps.

• A new "Manhattan Plan" for the Research, Creation, Design, and production of alternative fuels and power sources for many different energy.

• Establishment of various new "Service Academies" similar to Annapolis and West Point.

• TAX Reform: Mandatory Taxes for the two-thirds of ALL USA corporations that PAID ZERO tax in 2006.

• TAX Reform: Mandatory Taxes for the top 20,000 taxpayers in this country. (guessing that will be 20 million dollars or up in income...sorry charlie!)

• Political Reform: Lobbyists run our country, let's run them OUT of the country for a change!

• Political Reform: A (South Africa-like)"Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Like South Africa, those coming forward to confess 'dirty tricks, on the take, etc, will be given Amnesty, but others will BE CHARGED.

More details WILL FOLLOW in other messages.


Each of these topics can be supported, and we can talk about this ONE topic at a time.
Thanks for coming, and happy reading!

Mark brown @ excite dot com