Solve unemployment? Draft 'em

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Friday August 19, 2011 · 5:08 PM PDT

2011/08/19 · 17:08

Number of unemployed Americans: 13.9 million
Median American salary: $44,389
Cost of a program to hire every unemployed American and pay them for a full year? 617 billion
US defense budget: $664 billion

So, Obama announces that America just isn't prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. We don't have enough Americans trained to respond in the event of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, terrorist attacks, etc. etc. Too few Americans know CPR and the heimlich maneuver.

And our troops at home and abroad have been pushed to their breaking point.

We need to double the defense budget and re-institute the draft. And the draftees will be the unemployed.

Now, we're not sending 14 million unemployed---many of whom aren't physically capable of military service---overseas.

But the participants will go through a rigorous series of courses. Teaching skills that will help them aid their community in times of trouble and basic skills that will aid them in the work place.

And after the education portion, those capable will participate in the re-building and renovation of America.

We're not coddling anyone. It's going to be intense. But for a solid year, every two weeks, in lieu of an unemployment check, they'll see more than $1500.

Yes, the Republicans will scream about Socialism. That's tough. This program will radically transform crumbling infrastructure, including the infrastructure of the military. It will provide thousands of support staff that could help our troops as they come back from war.

It's a program that will transform America for the better. It will build up the middle class by preparing the unemployed to re-enter it.

It's not free money. But it's real money.

Declare war on stagnant money

Jonathan4Dean

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Friday August 12, 2011 · 6:38 PM PDT

2011/08/12 · 18:38

I've thrown some posts up with some half-serious thoughts and suggestions, always with the intent of starting a conversation. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

But I want to present you with some thoughts on a topic that I truly believe in.

Class warfare.

Jonathan4Dean

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Wednesday August 10, 2011 · 6:31 PM PDT

2011/08/10 · 18:31

We don't have a "spending problem" or a "revenue problem" in America. We have a "spending outpacing revenue" problem.

Think of it like a household budget. If you find yourself in an avalanche of debt, what do you do?

Sure, you can cut back on unnecessary spending. But that only takes you so far.
You ask your boss for a raise, you work some OT, you take a second job.

You increase revenue.

Jonathan4Dean

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Saturday August 06, 2011 · 9:30 PM PDT

2011/08/06 · 21:30

OK, I'm short on time, so I'll make this diary simple and sweet. I'm being a little tongue-in-cheek but I think I have a kernel of a good strategy here.

Most of us agree that more stimulus is necessary. Republicans won't pass it. What do we do?

We pro-rate 5 years worth of "tax cuts" (basically a lump sum) to small businesses that are actually creating jobs on the condition that they keep expanding their workforce.

So, let's say the "tax cut" represents $2,000 a year. The government refunds you that amount x 5. That's 10K in the pockets immediately in the pockets of small businesses

What's stimulus to a tax-paying company if not a tax cut by another name? The difference is really that "stimulus" is tied to some tangible benefit to the society as a whole.

Reagan/Bush tax cuts blindly hope you invest in America. Our stimulative "tax cuts" should ALWAYS be tied to results.

Jonathan4Dean

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Monday July 11, 2011 · 3:58 PM PDT

2011/07/11 · 15:58

Long political discussion yesterday with a couple of libertarian-leaning wedding-goers, and I think I hit upon something that would probably never pass, but it would confound Republicans and move voters our way.

First, the short version of the problem that faces us:

There are literally trillions of dollars that investors and businesses are sitting on. They're not jumping into this economy. Dems would say that we need stimulus and investment to get the ball rolling and taxing the rich would accomplish that. Tea Party nuts say the government is crowding out investment with threats of tax increases and regulations.

Jonathan4Dean

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Monday June 06, 2011 · 6:39 PM PDT

2011/06/06 · 18:39

The people have spoken. Deficits matter. Foreign wars matter. Education matters. But jobs trump everything else.

I'm conflicted about the role of the stimulus package (ARRA) in our recent recession/recovery. When my Republican friends promised me that the Bush tax cuts would "spur furious growth that we haven't seen in decades" they were incredibly wrong. Unrepentant, but wrong.

The non-partisan CBO seems to indicate ARRA was a great thing:
http://cboblog.cbo.gov/...

But there are still 14 million unemployed Americans.......

Poll

19 votes Show Results

Are you on board?

19 votes Vote Now!

Are you on board?

Yes

10 votes

6 votes

I have a better idea (please explain in your response!)

3 votes

I'd vote for a Republican...

Jonathan4Dean

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Monday May 09, 2011 · 9:08 PM PDT

2011/05/09 · 21:08

in a primary, that is.

I like the idea of flooding the Republican Party with liberals. We "help" them nominate Olympia Snowe and then watch as the Tea Party tears her apart like the next iteration of the "Saw" franchise.

Completely unrelated thoughts about Republicans below...............................

Jonathan4Dean

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday February 27, 2011 · 8:03 AM PST

2011/02/27 · 08:03

Republicans love to complain about entitlements. Of course, they have no problem taking advantage of government programs.

A co-worker of mine is one of those types. Y'know, the kind that says subtlely racist things about the President and forwards you all those awful e-mails that are 5% fact and 95% fiction. And he HATES government intervention in his life and he bitches, non-stop, about overspending. But he won't marry his girlfriend because she'd lose low-income assistance.

Poll

4 votes Show Results

Do you agree?

4 votes Vote Now!

Do you agree?

Yes

3 votes

1 vote

Vote by Phone?

Jonathan4Dean

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Monday February 14, 2011 · 7:03 PM PST

2011/02/14 · 19:03

OK, so my wife is normally very politically aware and VERY intelligent when it comes to politics. But the issue of a "quorum" came up and she said, "WHAT? You don't need everyone in Congress present to pass major legislation?" Nope. You just need a majority of the members duly elected and sworn.

Which spun off another conversation on voting by phone or online.

1. Why can't Americans vote by phone? We can bank by phone, but we can't enter our social security number and a 10-digit pin and just vote? "PUSH ONE FOR GORE, PUSH 2 FOR BUSH. YOU SELECTED GORE, IS THAT CORRECT? PUSH ONE FOR YES." The same goes for voting online. I don't even have to show photo ID at the voting booth now...why should they ask anything more on an encrypted, password protected site?

2. Why can't Congressmen vote on legislation from the road? Too often Congresspeople hide from big votes. If the world is under attack, I need the President to be able to move quickly, which means the Congress should have to move quickly. You should be able to establish a quorum by skype and vote from anywhere in the United States.

Poll

8 votes Show Results

Do you agree?

8 votes Vote Now!

Do you agree?

Yes

3 votes

4 votes

Only partially

1 vote

Egypt: We stand with the people, not dictators

Jonathan4Dean

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Saturday February 05, 2011 · 3:55 PM PST

2011/02/05 · 15:55

I believe in American exceptionalism...that we've been granted an opportunity, through our economic success, military dominance and charitable spirit, to help others.

There's a right way to do that and a wrong way. George W. showed us that the neo-conservative approach is not only wrong, it worsens things.

Before him? Decades of supporting thugs, dictators, and terrorists. We send them aid which they use against their own people. No wonder they resent us.

Obama MUST say the following:

Jonathan4Dean

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Thursday January 20, 2011 · 5:04 PM PST

2011/01/20 · 17:04

I love Republicans. I mean, they create a fictional narrative and they pound away at it until people really start to believe it.

They've created an image in the minds of voters---mostly less educated, less engaged voters---that they are warriors against pork spending, big government, gun control, the radical secular liberal agenda, abortion rights.

My favorite of these is probably tax cuts. We can't raise taxes in good times (2000). No, no, give the money back to the people and things will get even better. We can't raise taxes in bad times (2010). No, no, that kills jobs.

Jonathan4Dean

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Tuesday November 30, 2010 · 6:37 PM PST

2010/11/30 · 18:37

Right now Bernie Sanders is on Rachel Maddow is making a passionate case for returning to the Clinton tax rates for the wealthiest Americans.

If the final bill extends those tax cuts, we MUST threaten to filibuster the whole damn thing.

Either we govern as economic progressives until the moment the clock runs out, or we've lost our soul.

Poll

78 votes Show Results

If you were the lone Senator willing, would you?

78 votes Vote Now!

If you were the lone Senator willing, would you?

Yes, despite the political consequences

70 votes

No, it would ruin the future of the party

2 votes

No, it would ruin the future of the country

6 votes

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RSS

Solve unemployment? Draft 'em

Declare war on stagnant money

Variable tax rates

Two clever ideas to stimulate the economy & pwn the GOP

A different way to "split the difference" with Republicans

I can create 10mil new jobs

I'd vote for a Republican...

You don't like spending? Opt out

Vote by Phone?

Egypt: We stand with the people, not dictators

Cutting Spending Kills Jobs

PLEASE Filibuster the Bush Tax Cuts