In "Agrarian Justice," Paine indicated his general acceptance of the Physiocratic call for the public capture of the rent of land. Turgot, a leading Physiocrat, argued that rent, being societally-created, was an "impot unique" and, if captured, would eliminate the need for actual taxation. This became the message of Henry George in the late 19th century. For the last forty plus years, I have worked alongside others in the U.S. and elsewhere to educate the public on the wisdom of this systemic reform. In practical terms, this battle has been fought at the local level to convince governments and school districts to adopt a two-rate form of real estate taxation that can eventually collect public revenue from the value of land only.
The prospect of eliminating all taxation but that on the potential rental value of land and other natural assets is, sadly, quite low. Therefore, I support a progressive tax on incomes, based on the fact that most income at the highest levels is DERIVED from rent-seeking privileges under law rather than EARNED producing goods or needed services. The structure I propose combines simplification with the capture of rent-derived income. All income from whatever source is reported. Individual incomes up to the national median to be exempt. No other exemptions or deductions permitted. Above the exempt level, an increasing rate of taxation to be applied to higher ranges of income.
1) I think you wrote about dual citizenship and I agree. People need to choose...either be an American or be something else but not both.
2) Put an end to or require rigorous prerequisites on large mergers and acquisitions. Most of the large ones (e.g. Albertson's trying to acquire Kroger) do not make good on their promises of lower costs. They eliminate competition and profiteer. Same goes with banks. We don't even have a community bank option in our area any longer.
3) Reestablish usury laws. The interest rates charged on credit cards or payday loans are horribly high. Obviously the industry cannot regulate itself.
4)Privacy: Too much data is collected and sold without our specific agreement. This includes social media, ordinary things like email, clicks, etc. California's privacy law is a good start (modeled from the EU's GDPR. Case in point: One of my Banks (AAA Bank) sent me a notice that a 3rd party supplier to them (MoveIT) had been breached and that both my wife's and my personal information was compromised (the whole motherload) and then offered credit monitoring services free for 1-2 years (the perps know how to sell and preserve this ID information after the "monitoring period" ends at which time I will get the offer to purchase the service. I get several of these each year. Companies need to pay the full cost of their malfeasance whether or not a 3rd party can be blamed.
5) Term limits. When I saw the young gymnasts testifying at Senate hearings a few years ago I was disturbed by the number of octogenarians questioning them. I felt bad for the girls having to sit through the questions of these geezers (many of them unable to form compete sentences without reading them.
Some are against term limits because of the intricacies of house and senate rules and norms. It's a decent point but these guys seem to be ensconced in their positions and incapable of change. e.g. I wrote my US Senator pleading for an end to the senate rules on filibuster. I had done my homework and argued that it is likely unconstitutional. I received a history lesson in return together with no commitment to propose changes
6) Privacy. Too manyy breaches with no opt out option. A key element is "the right to be forgotten". Companies should not be able to retain your personal information once you are no longer a customer. With banks, there may be some retention requirement but these laws need to be changed. GLB failed miserably on this score. We need something similar to Europe's GDPR (CA has sucha law)
Addendum: The $1Million confiscatory inheritance tax on 95% is way too aggressive, Perhaps on estates over say $50M would make more sense. $1M doesn't buy much anymore in populous areas.
I agree with most of what you propose but would like to suggest some modifications to gain more acceptance without losing support. I also have a few additions to suggest.
Modifications suggestions:
1) Compulsory service could include a national endowment payout. According Thomas Piketty (Capital in the 21st century Capital and Ideology), a large part of the inequality problem is as you suggest, tied to wealth. But the money ought to be redistributed in the form of an endowment given to every person who completes the mandatory service (in addition to the free public education thru grad school if qualified)
2) I'm not too sure about private banking vs public but I certainly think banking ought to be not-for-profit. Seems like it should be more of a cooperative similar to credit union.
3) Executive orders should be limited to the administrative responsibilities of the executive branch but be controlled by needs separate oversight. This will require much discussion. e.g. the USPS is still lead by DeJoy.
4) Unfortunately, I don't think elimination of overseas war is practical. DO you intend this to be only deployment of troops? Perhaps a rescinded AUMF would eliminate most. We definitely need an act of Congress for a major commitment but I think we need an senior military command officer's advice. Hoping one will chime in.
5) SCOTUS has become dysfunctional, but I would prefer to minimize the risks of political decisions getting masked as constitutional issues and the "wink and nod" given on these issues. Citizens United is an abomination as is Heller. I have seen proposals that could make the it easier to 'rotate' an(U of PA ) by assigning a kind of Emeritus status after service 18 years. This giving each President a chce to appoint 2. I would prefer more of a lottery system with the temporary assignment of Appellate Judges to hear constitutional cases.
Thinks to add:
1) The Insurrection Act of 1807 needs to be repealed. It gives the President far too much leeway to declare an insurrection and renew it. A would-be dictator could use it to curtail most civil rights.
2) The right to vote should be made constitutional via amendment. All voting in federal elections need to be uniform. Same rules, same hours of voting same poll density etc. Enough of the Jim Crow shenanigans.
3) Eliminate the electoral college. The President should be a national popular vote. Too much cost and far too much suspense and opportunity for fraudulent manipulation. The laws that each state uses to decide electors need to be the same across the board at a very minimum.
4) Eliminate gerrymandering. e.g. I live in a district that has a narrow swatch that reached me. The reason was so that a solid district could absorb voters who might vote for another candidate and defeat the candidate who was less solid. But of course, now my US Rep has little appreciation for the needs of my area and effectively my vote does not matter to her.
5) 2 Senators for each State is also ridiculous. (I know this will be a tough one). But the idea that a state with one representative can have 2 senators. Perhaps these states need at least 5 reps befor they get a 2nd senator.
6) US Senate should not get to make rules that prevent a vote on a bill after ample time to debate. Much good legislation dies because the Senate has decided that they can "debate" forever whn they really do nothing... cloture should only be necessary withing a mandatory debate window of 2 weeks. Nor should "blue slips" be honored to table candidates fro appointment.
Perhaps I’m wrong but in other words our elections in large part are a sham. We don’t elect our governing positions, the wealthy place who they need/want in position of power - I don’t find that at all encouraging for voting. Then when “we” find that isn’t enough power, we infiltrate other countries with our wars, places we really have no place being.
In "Agrarian Justice," Paine indicated his general acceptance of the Physiocratic call for the public capture of the rent of land. Turgot, a leading Physiocrat, argued that rent, being societally-created, was an "impot unique" and, if captured, would eliminate the need for actual taxation. This became the message of Henry George in the late 19th century. For the last forty plus years, I have worked alongside others in the U.S. and elsewhere to educate the public on the wisdom of this systemic reform. In practical terms, this battle has been fought at the local level to convince governments and school districts to adopt a two-rate form of real estate taxation that can eventually collect public revenue from the value of land only.
The prospect of eliminating all taxation but that on the potential rental value of land and other natural assets is, sadly, quite low. Therefore, I support a progressive tax on incomes, based on the fact that most income at the highest levels is DERIVED from rent-seeking privileges under law rather than EARNED producing goods or needed services. The structure I propose combines simplification with the capture of rent-derived income. All income from whatever source is reported. Individual incomes up to the national median to be exempt. No other exemptions or deductions permitted. Above the exempt level, an increasing rate of taxation to be applied to higher ranges of income.
A few more items:
1) I think you wrote about dual citizenship and I agree. People need to choose...either be an American or be something else but not both.
2) Put an end to or require rigorous prerequisites on large mergers and acquisitions. Most of the large ones (e.g. Albertson's trying to acquire Kroger) do not make good on their promises of lower costs. They eliminate competition and profiteer. Same goes with banks. We don't even have a community bank option in our area any longer.
3) Reestablish usury laws. The interest rates charged on credit cards or payday loans are horribly high. Obviously the industry cannot regulate itself.
4)Privacy: Too much data is collected and sold without our specific agreement. This includes social media, ordinary things like email, clicks, etc. California's privacy law is a good start (modeled from the EU's GDPR. Case in point: One of my Banks (AAA Bank) sent me a notice that a 3rd party supplier to them (MoveIT) had been breached and that both my wife's and my personal information was compromised (the whole motherload) and then offered credit monitoring services free for 1-2 years (the perps know how to sell and preserve this ID information after the "monitoring period" ends at which time I will get the offer to purchase the service. I get several of these each year. Companies need to pay the full cost of their malfeasance whether or not a 3rd party can be blamed.
5) Term limits. When I saw the young gymnasts testifying at Senate hearings a few years ago I was disturbed by the number of octogenarians questioning them. I felt bad for the girls having to sit through the questions of these geezers (many of them unable to form compete sentences without reading them.
Some are against term limits because of the intricacies of house and senate rules and norms. It's a decent point but these guys seem to be ensconced in their positions and incapable of change. e.g. I wrote my US Senator pleading for an end to the senate rules on filibuster. I had done my homework and argued that it is likely unconstitutional. I received a history lesson in return together with no commitment to propose changes
6) Privacy. Too manyy breaches with no opt out option. A key element is "the right to be forgotten". Companies should not be able to retain your personal information once you are no longer a customer. With banks, there may be some retention requirement but these laws need to be changed. GLB failed miserably on this score. We need something similar to Europe's GDPR (CA has sucha law)
Addendum: The $1Million confiscatory inheritance tax on 95% is way too aggressive, Perhaps on estates over say $50M would make more sense. $1M doesn't buy much anymore in populous areas.
I agree with most of what you propose but would like to suggest some modifications to gain more acceptance without losing support. I also have a few additions to suggest.
Modifications suggestions:
1) Compulsory service could include a national endowment payout. According Thomas Piketty (Capital in the 21st century Capital and Ideology), a large part of the inequality problem is as you suggest, tied to wealth. But the money ought to be redistributed in the form of an endowment given to every person who completes the mandatory service (in addition to the free public education thru grad school if qualified)
2) I'm not too sure about private banking vs public but I certainly think banking ought to be not-for-profit. Seems like it should be more of a cooperative similar to credit union.
3) Executive orders should be limited to the administrative responsibilities of the executive branch but be controlled by needs separate oversight. This will require much discussion. e.g. the USPS is still lead by DeJoy.
4) Unfortunately, I don't think elimination of overseas war is practical. DO you intend this to be only deployment of troops? Perhaps a rescinded AUMF would eliminate most. We definitely need an act of Congress for a major commitment but I think we need an senior military command officer's advice. Hoping one will chime in.
5) SCOTUS has become dysfunctional, but I would prefer to minimize the risks of political decisions getting masked as constitutional issues and the "wink and nod" given on these issues. Citizens United is an abomination as is Heller. I have seen proposals that could make the it easier to 'rotate' an(U of PA ) by assigning a kind of Emeritus status after service 18 years. This giving each President a chce to appoint 2. I would prefer more of a lottery system with the temporary assignment of Appellate Judges to hear constitutional cases.
Thinks to add:
1) The Insurrection Act of 1807 needs to be repealed. It gives the President far too much leeway to declare an insurrection and renew it. A would-be dictator could use it to curtail most civil rights.
2) The right to vote should be made constitutional via amendment. All voting in federal elections need to be uniform. Same rules, same hours of voting same poll density etc. Enough of the Jim Crow shenanigans.
3) Eliminate the electoral college. The President should be a national popular vote. Too much cost and far too much suspense and opportunity for fraudulent manipulation. The laws that each state uses to decide electors need to be the same across the board at a very minimum.
4) Eliminate gerrymandering. e.g. I live in a district that has a narrow swatch that reached me. The reason was so that a solid district could absorb voters who might vote for another candidate and defeat the candidate who was less solid. But of course, now my US Rep has little appreciation for the needs of my area and effectively my vote does not matter to her.
5) 2 Senators for each State is also ridiculous. (I know this will be a tough one). But the idea that a state with one representative can have 2 senators. Perhaps these states need at least 5 reps befor they get a 2nd senator.
6) US Senate should not get to make rules that prevent a vote on a bill after ample time to debate. Much good legislation dies because the Senate has decided that they can "debate" forever whn they really do nothing... cloture should only be necessary withing a mandatory debate window of 2 weeks. Nor should "blue slips" be honored to table candidates fro appointment.
Perhaps I’m wrong but in other words our elections in large part are a sham. We don’t elect our governing positions, the wealthy place who they need/want in position of power - I don’t find that at all encouraging for voting. Then when “we” find that isn’t enough power, we infiltrate other countries with our wars, places we really have no place being.