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we've all discussed what we don't like about the bush years, about the loss of freedoms, toture, illegal surveilance, lieing us into an illegal war, abuse of presidential power, lieing and lawyering issues to death to conseal the truth on a miriad of issues, and on and on. So now what iw it that you want to see changed, (laws introduced, or laws done away with, (FISA surveilance for instance) separation of powers between congress, the dept of justice restored, and etc.) Do you want to see completed investigations into lawbreaking by this administration, and justice done by sentencing no-matter how far up the ladder of the administration justice may take us? Or should we just ignore it and let bygones be bygones? Myself, I would like a major review of how far this administration went in eroding our constitution, (I still believe it can be a currently valid document) I want to see the constitution validated, along with the separation of powers, and all executive orders, signing statements, and etc. that affected negatively the constitution be dissavowed by enactments of congress. I want to see a "CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT" plan reviewed and put in place by congress. (currently bush has one that he has refused to share with congressional committees who are meant to oversee the document) I want to see a total review of bush/cheney abuse of power by setting up their cohorts (haliburton/big oil corps) in business without the bidding process, the torture issues, I want all these issues reviewed and justice done to whomever, including bush/cheney, just as would happen to you or me if we did the same as they did. I want laws inacted that will prevent any other future president from doing what this one did that broke so many of our laws. I want to se our new president take a hands on person to person approach to World relations, to revive our standing in the world. I would like to see a fairly distributed tax system which is fair to all concerned, trade agreements that don't just reward the big Corps, I want to see laws inacted to break up the big media corps, so we can get the truth from our media, not missinformation bought and paid for by corps who favor washington. and on and on !!! what do you want to see happen in a new administration. ( I SINCERELY HOPE ITS EITHER OBAMA OR CLINTON) GOD HELP US IF ITS MUCKSAME !!!! LOL !!!!

simple: a total reversal of everything dub-ya has done. that should take 2 terms by a democrat (specifically clinton ii). from there we can pick up from where clinton (i) left off. 2 more terms of a democrat should equate to some real social dialogue, by which point the democrats will have fucked up as badly as the republicans have and the pendulum will swing back to the right.

Realifedad: I pretty much agree with what you'd want. I want the delete button hit to almost all of bush's initiatives. no child left behind needs to go it adds pointless bureaucracy and has done more harm than good, patriot act too. Get rid of the department of homeland security. It's a big vacuum of money that was a good idea, but costs so much and hasn't done anything to streamline the departments. bush took us out of kyoto, but we need to rejoin the world community in some effort to combat climate change. It's going to take a lot more than two terms with anyone to fix even half of what happened in the past eight years. But to be honest, I don't think hillary would be the done to do it. Frankly, some of her ideas scare me. I'm hoping for Obama. Plus, I saw his wife speak. she's amazing.

I want to see the unconstitutional gains in the executive branch reversed. But I don't delude myself that any of the present candidates will do that.

No Child Left Behind and Medicare part D should be revoked. Our entire system of education needs to be revamped. No more vouchers. Public schools wouldn't be so bad if people actually took an interest and invested, as well as paying teachers at rates that ensure we get good teachers.

Someone mentioned Homeland Security...that should go as well. The TSA needs a MAJOR overhaul.

I want to see an end to any and all corporate subsidies. And I don't mean research grants - I mean ridiculous subsidies.

All the financial industries need to be examined and brought into better regulation.

Switch to a parliamentary system would be the first step!

But seriously the President's powers are limited compared to the leaders in other political systems. I am expecting 4 years of gridlock unless the US citizens give a very strong message to their congressmen and president that they want real action.

Unfortunately there are a lot of vested interests lined up opposing change of any sort. Reform health care? Drug companies and insurance companies. Cut agriculture subsidies or the corn ethanol program? Farmers and farming state politicians. Earmarks? Too many porcine like congressmen on that one. Reign in defence spending? Congressmen from states with heavy defence industry presence not to mention Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Reform the tax code and introduce a consumption tax (common in many western countries)? Mention the word tax and many of your citizens turn a funny shade of blue, very fetching on some people though.

Let's start with the secret energy meetings of 2001 that Cheney has overtly ignored Judicial subpoenas, claiming "Executive Privelege."

Let's scrap No Child Left Behind and the nonsense in Medicare prescriptions that hurt more than help...ask AARP.

Let's return to Kyoto Protocol.

Let's investigate and punish all crooks and cronies of the Bush Administration.

Let's repeal DADT (I know it was under B.Clinton)

Let's find out who really leaked Valerie Plame's secret identity.

Let's investigate and punish those responsible for torture policies that were coerced upon John Ashcroft in the hospital and moments after waking up from major surgery.

Let's increase taxes on all who ever voted for GW Bush and double that for those who did it twice!!! After all, it will cost trillions to repair what they supported.

Well as long as it is a wish list: (boy this will be unpopular here)

Abolish income tax, capital gains, inheritance, and consumption taxes.

Pay as you go infrastructure funded by flat sales tax and industrial usage taxes (for ports, highways, airports, etc.)

Restoration of checks and balances.

Increased oversight of War Powers.

Increased oversight of intelligence activities.

Respect the Constitution.

Respect for States Rights (no the real ones not code for racism)

Balanced budget amendment.

Abolish social security.

Congressional term limits.

Entirely new approach to education.

Entirely new approach to social justice.

Entirely new approach to criminal justice.

Level playing field on health care (no redlining, universal access, national actuarial tables)

Hands off the arts.

Respect for separation of Church and State.

Realistic immigration policy - especially towards Mexico.

Strong intellectual property incentives for innovation.

National focus on continuing education.

Require licensing and education for investors in public capital markets.

Outlaw mutual funds.

I could go on through the following Presidency........

Wysiwyg60 said

1 Cut agriculture subsidies or the corn ethanol program? Farmers and farming state politicians.
2 Reform the tax code and introduce a consumption tax (common in many western countries)? Mention the word tax and many of your citizens turn a funny shade of blue, very fetching on some people though.

1. As the son of a farmer, I can tell you that very few actual farmers benefit from any government subsidies outside of the set-aside land programs. Most of the subsidies for agriculture go to Monsanto, Con Agra and other corporations.

2. Reforming the tax code would be easier if more Americans actually understood the current tax set up and weren't so averse to the IDEA of taxes. I personally want the fire truck to show up should my house catch fire and am thus quite willing to pay taxes. A flat tax on any form of income, consumption taxes, other alternatives are all nice ideas...except that most don't want to pay ANY taxes. The poor/middle income think the rich should pay more, the rich feel they pay enough even as they loophole into less, etc etc. It's the absence of a notion of 'the common good.'

I think that's an idea I'd like to see the next US President revive - the common good. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country[men].

My two biggest issues would be:

1) Repeal "don't ask don't tell" and let gays serve in the military openly and honestly without fear.

2) Repeal the ridiculous embargo against Cuba. After 47 years, I don't think there's any point to it anymore and no one can justify continuing it's enforcement.

Beyond that, I'd like to see:

- A balanced budget

- Sensible immigration policy that stops looking the other way at illegal Mexican immigrants and permits a means for anyone who might be a good U.S. citizen to get on the track to citizenship.

- Congressional term limits

ursamajor said
Require licensing and education for investors in public capital markets.

Outlaw mutual funds.

Why on earth should your average Joe investor have to be licensed to invest in the stock market? That's ludicrous. In my opinion there is too much regulation and licensing that bars many people from opportunities otherwise available to them. Licensing is a barrier to entry. Why should the growth of personal capital through investing the stock market be restricted in that way? We should be encouraging savings and growth of capital.

And why outlaw mutual funds? Mutual funds are one of the most simple and convenient means for many people to invest in the stock market and get expert management of their investments at little cost.

I am too much of a cynic and have seen more useless people in the White House than I deserve. I have no hopes for the next President; he or she will be as good/bad was all the others. He/She will have an agenda to implement that is self-engrandizing.

Government doesn't care about the people that elect them, any more than you care about the HR department where you work. They may have gotten you the job, but they aren't your boss.

But PLEASE, this time give me a President who can string a coherent sentence together and deliver it like he/she really understood it.

I didn't realize this would become a wishlist..in that case decriminalize victimless crimes, and i second doing away with the IRS.

Runinthecity said:

I think that's an idea I'd like to see the next US President revive - the common good. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country[men].

I think that sentiment started dying a long and prolonged under Reagan didn't? Government, and government programs are bad (except the Military), everybody should be able to fend for themselves and the richer you are the better you are. An exaggeration I know but you get my drift.

When I found out that Americans have six tax brackets, and also have to figure out a minimum tax, I shook my head in disbelief. Talking about making something fiendishly complicated.

UrsaMajor said:

Abolish income tax, capital gains, inheritance, and consumption taxes.

Good heavens, you are sentimental for the 19th Century Gilded Age! Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Jacob Astor are doing the jig right now reading your words.

ursa, remember when i said you were one of my rj heroes??? yeah, that still stands. i agree with you.

Tax and spend baby, tax and spend.

Seriously.

If President Bush doesn't blast Iran off the planet, I hope President McCain does.

John43620 saidIf President Bush doesn't blast Iran off the planet, I hope President McCain does.

Why you want Iran off the planet?

What do I want out of our next president? How about CONSTITUTIONAL use of power and CONSTITUTIONAL government policy?. How does that that sound? How about a non-interventionist foreign policy - you know, NOT policing the world.

How about a sound currency? How about allowing congressional audits of the IRS and the Federal Reserve (The Federal Reserve and the IRS are both immune from any audits, their reports are supposed to be good enough for us). We're printing so much money that the value of the dollar is virtually worthless, that's the primary reason for inflation - but you'll never hear that on FOX, CNN or MSN.

I'm so sick of all this big government, this bureaucracy, this pomp and circumstance bullshit. There is no transparency in government, the people cannot access their government, and judicial bureaucracy and red tape have virtually eliminated fair processes on the Supreme Court level. I want LESS government, LESS control, LESS parenting.

Our forefathers created our government with the intent for it to only have very basic responsibilities - not to creep into every pore of our lives. The military commissions act and the "patriot" act have GOT TO GO.

I have learned more in the past year about our government, and it's dirty laundry than I can mention in a week of nonstop writing. Your rights are being eroded people, slowly and tactfully dismantled.

hockeynick79 saidWhat do I want out of our next president? How about CONSTITUTIONAL use of power and CONSTITUTIONAL government policy?. How does that that sound? How about a non-interventionist foreign policy - you know, NOT policing the world.

How about a sound currency? How about allowing congressional audits of the IRS and the Federal Reserve (The Federal Reserve and the IRS are both immune from any audits, their reports are supposed to be good enough for us). We're printing so much money that the value of the dollar is virtually worthless, that's the primary reason for inflation - but you'll never hear that on FOX, CNN or MSN.

I'm so sick of all this big government, this bureaucracy, this pomp and circumstance bullshit. There is no transparency in government, the people cannot access their government, and judicial bureaucracy and red tape have virtually eliminated fair processes on the Supreme Court level. I want LESS government, LESS control, LESS parenting.

Our forefathers created our government with the intent for it to only have very basic responsibilities - not to creep into every pore of our lives. The military commissions act and the "patriot" act have GOT TO GO.

I have learned more in the past year about our government, and it's dirty laundry than I can mention in a week of nonstop writing. Your rights are being eroded people, slowly and tactfully dismantled.

mmmm preach it I don't like the idea of our monetary policy being decided behind closed doors. especially since it sucks. lol

If President Obama does anything, he should first of all pick a strong cabinet, not one that is full of his buddies or people that are "loyal" to him.

It would be nice if he could continue mending fences with the USA's allies and start distancing the USA from countries that are not consistent with their values but are needed to provide oil (e.g. Saudi Arabia). Matter of fact an energy policy that prepares the USA for the next 20-30 years when oil hits 200 dollars a barrel and gas prices go through the roof would be useful.

A reform of the tax system would also be useful. Remove the ability to deduct mortgage interest from income would perhaps encourage people to pay down their mortgages faster, as well as increase tax revenue. Increase consumption taxes, decrease the number of tax brackets, close tax loopholes, decrease income taxes on the middle-class, I could go on for hours.

As for the US $ that would require a reduction in the trade deficit and an increase in the Feds prime rate. I don't see that happening quickly.

Reduce U.S. global military dominance.

Reduce corporate control of government as well as corporate welfare.

More government accountability and transparency.

Make federal taxation more efficient and make sure those taxes are going where they should.

Investigate Bush Administration crimes.

Endorse and advocate non-government controlled worker owned businesses.

Advocate more citizen control and interest in government.


(I would also like less government, but not more corporate dominance)

PhxAriz08 said[quote][cite]John43620 said[/cite]If President Bush doesn't blast Iran off the planet, I hope President McCain does.

Why you want Iran off the planet?[/quote] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PhnxAriz------- Sometimes our friend John43620 either doesn't think before he writes such hateful statements, or must just write such things for they're shock value. I don't think we should take take him seriously. Such statements don't deserve the ink it takes to print them.

realifedad, I think very clearly ole buddy. The Cold War had one advantage that kept us from nuclear destruction, rational actors. Religious nuts aren't rational actors. They employ terrorist tactics and if they had the bomb they would definitely use them. Iran is developing nuclear weapons and the reality is, if they get them they will use them, on us.


All your lofty desires for the future of America and the world would never come to fruition if that happened.

Luckily, Kim Jong il is somewhat rational but there is nothing rational about the theocracy of Iran. I suggest you research Mohammed al Mahdi (the 12th Imam).
They think they will bring about some kind of muslim paradise on earth but first have to prepare the way by total destruction. I vote for limiting the total destruction to Iran.

None of these will happen, there are too many vested intrests, but it is my dream. This is in order of preference:

1) End the madness that is the Electoral College.
2) Education Reform- more focus on developing individual talent, rather than standardised testing.
3) Nationalize healthcare. There are only two counties in the wealhiest 50% of nations that do not have national healthcare. The United States and South Africa, beacuse when other countries were developing thier sysetms it would have meant the Whites providing for Blacks.
4) Civil Unions at minimum, recognized by the Federal government. (You knew this was coming.)
5) Make it illegal for the government to run a deficit, and require that 1% of the current deficit be paid off during each budget cycle.
6) Out of Iraq. Why so low you ask? Think of it this way. If the adult comes in and trashes the kids room because the kid was missbehaving and then it turns out the kid wasn't missbehaving, that adult damn well clean up the room before they walk out.
7) No more "government jobs". Make promotions and pay raises contingent on performance.

I know I live in a fantasy world, but maybe one of two of these will come to pass. 4 and 6 seem the most likely.

Government running a deficit in bad times is actually a good thing. If the Hoover administration had done that the Great Depression might have been a bad recession. I agree though that running a deficit year in and year out is a bad thing.

Since I work for the government I agree with the last statement. In Ontario there is pay for performance but it is very difficult to judge someone's performance when delivering government programs. Managers have limited flexibility in carrying out their mandate.

I would outsource more government jobs to the private sector though, as well as reform the collective agreements and pension plans.

Unfortunately the reason why there are so many government jobs is that politicians like to have their butts covered. Anytime they get raked over the coals in the press for something that went wrong their reaction is to create more processes to stop it from happening again.

More processes means more bureaucrats, and low valued work. I have always felt you could reduce the size of government and have it function better if you could breed politicians and senior bureaucrats with strong spines. Has not happened yet.

I would like to see the next President of the USA keep his nose out of other countries business and make America what it used to be !

TurkishDelight saidI would like to see the next President of the USA keep his nose out of other countries business and make America what it used to be !

America used to be MUCH MORE involved in "other countries'" business than we are today: WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, the "Cold War," etc. U.S. intervention in world affairs is not new.

I would like to see a President whom doesn't make use only of the people kiss his ars, and whom doesn't expect U.S. citizens to agree with him simply because he's the the Commander in Chief. I want a President whose morals and ethics can't be easily bought out by special interest groups uninterested in the welfare of the rest of the nation. I want a President who takes Pride in his work, the same a small business owner takes pride in cleaning their shop, planting their crops, and serving their customers. I want someone in the White House whom doesn't think it's his destiny to be some wonderful holier than christ badass, but whom feels it's an honor and a priviledge.

... but that's just what I think an acting President should be like, more or less, but not too much less.

Increase U.S. global military dominance. If we don't have the military then what would stop some other country to try and take back what our fathers and grandfathers fought for....


Reduce federal tax for ever one. Have a flat 5% of everyones income
.
No state income tax like Florida, just tax on food and other things to support the state...


Investigate all Presidental Administration crimes.

Reduce the buying of votes..

End fossil fuels for good..

Must and this is a big Must ... prosecute and put the people responsible and it's not just Bush and Cheney behind bars where they belong

This is the only way to end this National nightmare we call an administration and leave it behind us

Global_Citizen said Congressional term limits

Congressional term limits are really a terrible idea.

We already have "term limits". You limit your representative's term by voting his/her ass out of office.

But if a district deems it desirable to have the same representative for 30 years, it is emphatically not the business of someone who lives 1500 miles away to deny them that right.

Term limits are a method of denying OTHER people the right to the representation they choose, and that stinks. You already have the term-limit power in your OWN district.

John43620 saidReligious nuts aren't rational actors.

And its just that that put bush into office for a second term. The bible thumping christians who want to take the white house back. There are religious nuts in most every religion. There are more then just muslim terrorist as well. We have eco terrorists that are getting violent. Hell I remember being forced to fire house PETA members handcuffing them and in some cases beating them because their protest became violent near a base I was stationed at.

I also dont believe Iran is full of nothing but terrorist, granted they dont have any respect for the US but what country does? The US is failing its people, has a failing economy (except for corporations that get tons of government subsidies) and has lost more in the last 8 years then it gained since its creation. Fall of Rome anyone?

I now have a bumper sticker that reads "Support our troops its not their fault we have an idiot for president"

I lost all respect for our government. A government that doesnt abide by its own rules, regulations and constitution does not deserve my respect or patriotism.