time to save the American Government's finances.

[jonathankaplan]

I had intended to list the planks one by one, but first, it will make less sense, and seem less cohesively thought out, if I do it that way, so here are the main planks affecting Finance

Comments

[jonathankaplan]

I apologize, but I'll probably need a day or two of regeneration after I write this entry. The world moves too fast for me now, in so many ways. I'll get to every thought of every reply when I next have the ability, but I felt I wanted to say a few things now in direct response here.

SS should be for those too old or unable to work at any career. It is the safety net for those incapable or almost.
Welfare is the safety net between (and after) Unemployment and SS. It (and food stamps and the like) are for those capable of work, but chronically unable to find it skill-wise, or environmentally and specifically in need.
I would say there should be no Welfare at all, any welfare should be Workfare. Unless you are too old to work, or too disabled to work, but you choose to receive welfare, you should be willing to do some kind of work for the government in untrained positions. Those receiving Workfare would get to choose between the local jobs available that aid the government. If there aren't enough jobs, they can alternate with those working to lessen their load. Perhaps it isn't dramatically efficient, but any work increase is better than 0.

On National Service, I explicitly didn't call it indenture, I called it service, because our children will be able to choose from a lengthy list of different occupations in which to spend a few years. Indentured servants who came from Britain had nothing like those choices. They were almost slaves. Our kids who do US this service aren't slaves. They have many more choices. For quite a few of them this will be opportunities, not oppression. It would be such a bad thing for our kids to spend two years between HS and College doing something completely different? They are going to have great health demographics and this may be just 2% of their life as it is, in a spot where it might benefit them to boot. Remember, the burden on them already exists, I have interest in trying to find a way to lessen that, actually.
But I understand the concerns against this idea and will try to elucidate more fully later. There will be ways to opt out, as needed.
Thanks for your thoughts. Information and thought is the new gold, and I appreciate yours.