Toward Improving our Nation

Terrorists would never have flown a hang glider into a toolshed on September 11th.
That may sound a bit silly but it illustrates the point that big is not always better. In fact big may often be the worst possible state. Enron was big. Lehman Brothers was big. AIG is big. There is a long list of big organizations, institutions and government agencies that make my point.
I would suggest that smaller, more personal, more diversified is better. To that end and to the goal of a government that is more representative, flexible and responsive to citizens, I urge the following:

• Small government - our current government is too large and self-protective. We need a government that is small, people-protective and does no more than it was designed to do.
  
• Small businesses - Every American should be able to go into business very easily.
  
• Term limits for all elected officials - from local dogcatchers to national representatives. Will Rogers said that babies and elected officials need to be changed regularly and for pretty much the same reason.
  
• Ballots must always contain the option of "none of the above" for all seats and issues indicated on them - why should citizens get stuck with representatives or legal issues they don't want?
  
• A professional education system – teachers should be private contractors not government employees - a teacher should be related to a school the same way a doctor is to a hospital or a lawyer is to a court. A win/win/win situation. It would lower the costs to operate a school district, increase teacher pay and functionality and provide a better education for our children.
  
• A criminal law system focused on rehabilitation instead of punishment - when an individual completes a prison term he or she should be a better citizen not a punished ex-con.
  
• A civil law system that disallows contingency fees and requires the loser of a suit to pay all legal fees - we need to get away from the fear of a lawsuit around every corner.
  
• Replace all income taxes and property taxes with a sales tax. Sales tax rates different for each retailer and based on volume of sales – greater volume, higher sales tax rate - that way little businesses could compete more effectively with big ones.
  
• Simplify laws for very small businesses so anyone wishing could easily start and operate a business.
  
• Tax and labor laws should encourage very small businesses.
  
• Re-establish communities by re-establishing neighborhood schools, libraries, police, fire departments, etc.
  
• Automobiles divided into two classes: highway and urban. Urban vehicles designed to operate on city streets at 40mph or less – Highway vehicles designed to operate on roads and highways above 40mph. Highway vehicles operating under urban conditions are inefficient and clumsy.
  
• Encourage development of alternative automobile engines – e.g. Sterling, compressed air, etc.
  
• Encourage development of low power, high efficiency household appliances - ideally low enough power to be off "the grid".
  
• Encourage development of very high efficiency homes and business buildings - hobbit houses might be an example.
  
• Reassess all US. agreements with foreign countries to ensure they account to the citizens of the United States
  

The above proposed changes would reduce dependence of foreign oil, reduce pollution, reduce taxes, reduce size of government and allow small business to compete with large ones.

Improve our lives by improving education, reducing law suits, reducing crime, re-establishing communities, reducing commuting to work, reducing costs of health care, eliminating professional politicians and reducing the need for government welfare and bailout programs.

Above all, the proposed changes should always put the welfare and concerns of citizens ahead of government and business.