If YOU were President of the United States of America, what major changes would you make?

I would make a marked shift back to States Rights. This is a very large and diverse nation. The point behind States Rights, within a United States of America was to allow each State to evolve culturally and legally in the way that it’s residents desired, within a very loose national framework (the Constitution).

The beauty is if the citizens of State A want their children to wait to be 18 before they get a drivers license, and State B allows children to get a license at 14, then parents living in State A who want their children to get a license sooner can move to State B. Same would hold true for gay marriage, gambling, carbon emissions standards, gun ownership, et al. Each state would, by being much closer to it’s citizenry, evolve in the way that worked best for those citizens and therefore offer varying options of freedoms/restriction.

All States would be required to honor licensing of other states, so for instance the child from State B who is under 18 would still be allowed to drive in State A while on vacation or there for any other reason but could require safety limitations such as if State A licensed you to carry a concealed weapon, but you traveled to State B that didn’t, State B would have to recognize you as a licensed gun-holder but could require you to keep the weapon revealed, or under lock & key while in State B. All States would have to stay within the framework of the Constitution. Yes this could get complicated if traveling from one State to the next, but in this day and age of International travel where the same problems arise, but everyone scopes out the details easily on the internet, “complicated�

Is not a viable excuse to forsake States Rights. States have the authority to tax income where the Federal government does not. I would put the emphasis back on State taxes and abolish Federal income tax (but not excise taxes).

I would have the States pay into the treasury of the Federal government, giving State Legislatures a voice into how much money the Federal Government gets for projects over and above the following: One of the prevailing responsibilities for Federal Representatives would be to establish the annual minimum budget to support military (including Coast Guard), infrastructure, international relations (including diplomacy and trade), postal service, CIA, FBI, SEC, Fed Reserve, EPA, FDA, NASA, Justice, Treasury/CBO/Mint, Archives, Patent/Copyright, Smithsonian, Land Management, FEMA, Army Corp of Engineers, BIA, Prisons, Census, CDC, DOC (very limited), SBA, DOT, Maritime, Railroad, State Department, VA, FAA, USDA, FCC, FTC, Fish and Wildlife, Forestry Service, Geological Service, INS, SSA, Library of Congress, Secret Service, Congress, Senate, President, Supreme Court, Capital, White House, Pentagon, National Art Gallery, JFK Center for the Performing Arts, Weather Service, and a minimalist Federal Government (max 4 aides per Representative, 5 months in session per year, and the like). States would be required to fund this minimum budget, apportioned based on population. No national debt would be allowed.

Education, Arts and all other government integrated agencies would all go back to individual State levels, or be comprised of delegates appointed by States and not a central Federal government. I would encourage States to go to a flat sales tax of say 20% (vs income tax) exempting food, clothing less than $150 per item, used goods, and the first 60% of the cost of any item. (So, if a refrigerator cost $300, 60% or $180 would not be taxable and you would pay 20% tax on the remaining $120, or $24 sales tax.

If someone wealthy wanted a Viking refrigerator that cost $3000, they would pay $240 tax.) I would have a provision for States to assist other States in the event of economic distress. I would put the USA back on the gold standard and greatly reduce the power of the Federal Reserve. No more government subsidized programs such as HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Sallie Mae or GM URL1 mandated health insurance.

Yes, I would keep Social Security. I would instill term limits for Federal elected and appointed officials, with the exception of the Supreme Court, which I would leave as is.(How long they stay seated is a wild card that affords this nation precious freedom from calculated control.) All appointments would be 2 years. Congressional terms limits would be 4 years (2 terms, with elections being in odd years), and Senate term limits would be 6 years (1 term with 1/3 being elected every 2 years).

I would put 100% of citizens (non-defense) welfare at the State or Local level with the exception of certain agencies such as the USDA, FDA, CDC, FEMA et al acting as clearing houses of information and research arms. I would abolish affirmative action. I would make businesses deal with each State for licensing, etc, and their headquarter State for all their international activity.(Yes, each State would have to have a department that handled the international affairs of it’s headquartered businesses, and have a delegate on the National “International Affairs�

Bureau for coordination of efforts. Might seem like a waste of State funds and better served on a National basis, but is an important safeguard against mega-corporations lobbying/corrupting D.C.If they have to lobby each State, they can only corrupt so far.) Requiring States to have one or more delegates on the International Affairs Bureau keeps everyone on the same page re State (meaning National) Affairs. In addition to Governor “conventions/commissions�

States would be required to have other key personnel meet and work to coordinate efforts with each other, ex. Top Ranking Police Chiefs, State Superintendents of Education, State Tourism Commissioners, State Secretaries and Treasurers, Chief State Supreme Court Justices, etc.Universities, Museums, Foundations et al would not be allowed to garner endowments greater than 7 year’s budgets including capital acquisition budgets. Additional funds would have to be donated to any other entity of their choice.(Pledges would not be counted toward the balance of endowments for this purpose until they are actually received.

) Exceptions are individual or family Foundations. These funds would be treated as if they were still personal assets for purposes of limitations of the size of the “endowment� (i.e.

No limit on size of the endowment as long as it was closely held by the individual or family). Ownership of media outlets would be limited to a maximum that any one individual or entity could own of 1 national television station and 24 local stations (but no more than 1 in any given viewing area), 1 movie studio and no more than 12 print publications, of which only 1 may be nationally distributed, and no person or entity may own more than 1 of the top 12 newspapers (by readership) in the nation (even if they do not own 11 other print publications).(Presently media in this nation is owned by just six entities.) No individual may serve on the board of more than one media outlet or holding company. Immigration laws would be strictly enforced and I would deport as many illegal aliens and questionable aliens as legally possible, and severely restrict opening borders to many more.(Wouldn’t close the borders, but would severely restrict new inflows of aliens.

) I would require that all Federal publications be printed in English only. I would facilitate letting the nation center itself back to it’s moral roots and if that manifests itself as essentially Christian (which I believe the nation is still predominantly Christian), then so be it (meaning there can be prayer in school, not meaning there should be restrictions on the practice, or lack of practice of any other religion ergo atheists can have a moment of quiet to think about whatever they want). I would not allow any separation of religion from government nor would I allow any government imposition on religion (yes, a one way street, religion influences government, government does not impact religion).

There are hundreds, if not thousands of things I would change, including greater funding and recognition for the Coast Guard. Alas, this answer is already long. But you get the idea.

More States Rights and more Individual Liberties while still maintaining good defense, good communication and good infrastructure with research/exploration capabilities.

Cracks knuckles* Well.... I would do a few things, and I'm sure many would despise me for it. First off, I am a very firm believer of treating pets and other animals properly. I would require more then a dollar amount to adopt a pet.

You'd have to show you were able to take care of a pet. Any previous record of pet abuse? Forget it.

Don't like it? Stop abusing animals. Secondly I would make it more strict to get onto Government funding.

If you can work, do it. Unemployment is one thing, but sitting there fighting to get on SSI, Welfare, TANIFF, GAU, GAX and so on, yeah no. If you have a kid, and need some help, there would be programs to help you that way you could work, you know your children are being taken care of and you don't have to mooch off the state.

Also, drug tests would be mandatory for those who do live off the state. Unless you have a license to smoke weed, or it becomes legal, you better quit because the state is not going to pay for your drug habits, sorry. Thirdly, pan-handling would be illegal.

Some of these people make more then you and I combined, and it's just outrageous. Get off your lazy butt and do something, seriously. If you're seen with a sign on the corner of the road, with a sign saying please help, no.

Seems harsh? Possibly. But you know what if they have a disability from the war, then look at option 2, check into getting some help, but do not become a bum.

Lastly, this one may seem random, but if you go somewhere for example the hospital and don't pay your bill, and it goes to collections. Forget getting a call, you're going to jail. You get notifications on needing to pay, if you are cheating the system to get what you want, tough, game over.

If you have financial issues, and have a job but just can't afford it, then there will be options for you, programs for you, if you are already disabled then you'd be covered. Don't cheat the system, that's my main pet peeve here, those who work hard every day barely get anything, yet those who don't do a damn thing get everything....don't think so. Not if I was president.

Not trying to offend anyone, but that's how I feel and I'm not afraid to say it! Fun question, can't wait to see what others say.

1. Withdrawn of US army from all foreign nations. 2.

Increase the US defense four fold. 3. Deduct all public taxes by 50%.4.

Provide job for all US citizen. 5. Monthly 15 days holiday.

Joke answer: I would make Glen Beck & Keith Olberman fight to the death like in a movie. Real answer: First: Setup a system that gives major tax breaks to companies that invest in manufacturing here and eliminate tax breaks for companies that outsource. America became great because we made stuff, good stuff.

Real economic value occurs at the level where natural resources are converted into something. If you doubt that trickle down economics works just ask a chinese factory worker. Second: Balanced budget.

Third: Government aid is contingent on meeting conditions. For example to collect welfare you must go to classes to gain a skill to get a job to get off welfare. Fourth: Shorten the election season to 3 months total.

Open campaigning 3 months before the election and primaries are 30 days before the election. I believe that this would increase primary turnout and improve the quality the candidates in the general election. Too many smart candidates get eliminated in the primaries because they didn't say crazy things to get the extremest excited.

Fifth: Legalize, regulate and tax things like pot and prostitution. I am not pro either of these things but the reality is people are doing it and it isn't going to stop. They can be made safer and simultaneously put pimps & cartels out of business while boosting revenues.

Sixth: Functional not morality based sex education. Condoms stop abortions. If you are pro life you should be pro condoms.

The lesser of two evils is pretty obvious. The triple net bottom line is my presidency would be about results ahead of ideology.

I would increase taxes to 200% of any and/or all income, gains, or value of any kind (with IRS agent, enlisted military personnel and self exception) and make all tax payments due immediately, enforcement from Armed Services, and then put everyone in prison for the newly enacted life sentences for failure to or inability to pay immediate due taxes, seizing and liquidating all assets. Then I would let all inmates currently serving prison or county jail time for any other reason out with an immediate release proclamation. Then turning my back on everyone.. I would... ....then invite the entire world and now free correctional system inmates to come visit and "acquire" anything they like and can get their hands on in any way with the largest land/property give away in all of history.. a total free for all."Grab bag America".

Then I would sit back and watch ...from China.

I would take all the money away and we would have the barter system. If someone needed a place to stay the whole community would come together and fix an abandon house for the person. If there were no abandon houses the we would build a house from the ground up on a vaccant lot.

America has a lot of resources and we would use them.

The first major change that I will make after being the President of the United States is that USA will never poke nose to any other country's affairs.

Secure some beach property and move away from those strange people in the beltway. Offer Hugh Heffner a cabinet post to head my social relations. Have Carroll Shelby build me a streetcar.

Have Delorean build everyone else a streetcar. Try to get Wendelin Wiedeking as head of the treasury. Work towards a more equitable distribution of wealth for everyone.

See that people have more rights than corporations. Reward people for being healthy instead of sick. Encourage a four-day week.

Appoint a Native American to an important post with power. Find out what is going to happen in the future. Disperse population centers.

Colonize Mars.

Increase the Presidents base pay to $25,000,000.00 per year. This would likely attract some private sector talent to the table. Jeff Robinson cookee.biz.

Require all registered gun owners to immediately turn in their automatic weapons. - Make it a requirement for all gun owners to know basic CPR and require them to have a cellphone on them at all times. Dramatically broaden the current work release programs for current NON violent inmates.

Cut taxes across the board in every single department.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.