Assuming it does not already have a name.
One of the things that always fascinated me in my economy classes was the idea that a single dollar, on average, would get spent more than thirty times during a year - at least when I was taught that. That is an immensely powerful concept; the rate of trade for goods and services is an economic force multiplier.
This philosophy is not conservative. It gives no direct weight to things that have been done in the past, except to note where the past has succeeded or failed. It is not liberal - it is not incompatible with the idea of personal freedom, but that is not the goal. Calling it centrist misses the point, in my opinion, as it has a definition separate from simply being 'in between'.
The core idea, rather than minimizing government or ensuring guaranteed social programs, is to drive economic output - maximizing that multiplier. The more productive a society's individuals, the greater its internal trust, the easier it is for people to cooperate, and the faster trade itself flows, the more powerful that society's economy will be.
I have some premises. Obviously, this is not a complete list, nor is each item given very good treatment. I mostly want to see if these ideas interest people, and if so, they can be expanded upon.
People who do not know how to legally support themselves or their families will find other means.
This covers a great deal more than just begging, stealing, committing fraud or tax evasion to feed and shelter themselves or their family. Most readers are familiar with drug and other addictions, some on a personal level. There needs to be a path out of trouble - of all sorts of troubles - that does not involve suicide or becoming a negative input to society.
My own pet term for this is minimum social burden. No matter how libertarian you make a society, that society is going to end up paying something for the least among it.
Healthy individuals produce more than unhealthy.
This covers mental health as well as physical, and more than just the directly productive workforce - a retired grandmother may well insist on cooking for her family and performing other needs. This idea does, however, exempt people who do not or no longer have a chance at being productive - brain death or excessive unresolvable medical complications, for example.
Thus, I think that health care ought to be guaranteed at least up until such points. The exact method of financing may vary - either the state pays, the state pays a percentage based on the patient's financial capabilities, or some other method. The current system of driving even 'insured' people into bankruptcy is not particularly sound, in my mind.
Properly educated individuals are more productive than uneducated.
This is related in concept to the first point - a proper education is not necessarily a college education. It is important that our educational system focus on developing young minds to be functional and productive in society, and I do not think we are currently doing the best of jobs.
For example, if we assume that fraudsters add no real value to society, allowing people to fall victim to frauds - especially known frauds - is a net drain. It is my opinion, then, that critical thinking skills need to be taught at a young age - and with a broad scope.
Local transactions are superior.
Purchasing a chair from your neighbor involves a faster trade than purchasing it from a superstore which shipped it across an ocean. Your neighbor ends up with $20, or $20 in goods and services, relatively immediately, and all of that wealth remains in the local economy. A $20 purchase at a superstore, however, only returns $8 or so to the local economy - eventually, when wages get paid. The rest is transferred out of state and overseas.
Current tax laws tend to reward looking out of state for goods, however. Sales tax makes in-state purchases more expensive. Thus ordering goods on-line involves shipping nearly all of the money out of state, rather than just a large fraction.
I think that, instead of a sales tax, accounts that engage in interstate and international transfers should be taxed based on the amount of net money they push out of state - or out of the country.
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I believe that with refinement, these ideas and and others that continue on this train of thought could do a great deal for our nation's prosperity. I am interested in hearing what other people think.
Mock away.