The Weiner debacle has drained me. For mental health purposes, I've decided create a list of policies I would like to see implemented.
So, instead of exchanging crotch-shots, lets exchange fantasy policy lists. It'll be a good way to get back on track. And, of course, it's always fun to make lists.
Since I spend a lot of time trying to be pragmatic about politics, I thought it might be nice to get a little idealistic for once. Now, I feel obligated to reiterate my disbelief in our ability to obtain a 'perfect state', and point out that, historically, whenever any group has decided to try a moon shot for some kind of utopia, it's always ended up in piles of corpses.
Optimal states is more my bag. I don't foresee a future where there is no more murder or discrimination, or where everyone gets a fair shake and opportunity to compete; rather, I foresee a world where maybe evolution is understood and accepted by a larger portion of the public, where the human services are adequately funded, and marijuana and gay marriage are legal. That's not pie in the sky Kumbaya stuff: that's attainable.
In that vein, I thought it would be fun to talk about attainable goals that I believe would make our world just a little bit better.
Here are a few changes I'd like to see:
1) Police officers should be required to get master's degrees in social work before they are allowed to work with the general public.
2) ethics, skepticism, and logic should be taught from elementary school all the way through college.
3) kids in public schools should be expected to memorize poems.
4)Education, healthcare, and housing should all be socialized.
5) You should have to be 25 before you can choose to join the military; if you're going to decide to go risk your life in foreign countries and be cleared to carry around big, deadly guns, your frontal lobes should at least be fully developed.
6) More green spaces. Public parks and nature preserves do everyone good.
7)In addition to the other education-related items above, kids should have to objectively survey world religions from elementary school to university.
8) Tax breaks for folks who do community service.
Those are just off the top of my head. Feel free to add your own suggestions, or challenge any of mine.