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Presidential Wish 2012

RockadelicRockadelic Out Digging 13,993 Posts
edited December 2011 in Strut Central
All rhetoric, gossip, divorces, birth certificates, religion and general bullshit aside.

If the next President could fix ONE problem in this country while every other issue stays exactly as it is today....

What would you want that ONE solved issue to be and how would you like to see it addressed?

  Comments

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    - The economy.

    - 3% tax on all internet sales.
  • HarveyCanalHarveyCanal "a distraction from my main thesis." 13,234 Posts
    Just as long as he's handsome...
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    Horseleech said:


    - 3% tax on all internet sales.

    That will never work.
  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    billbradley said:
    Horseleech said:


    - 3% tax on all internet sales.

    That will never work.

    I'd be more impressed if you had a suggestion of your own rather than naysaying somebody else's, but go ahead - why won't it work? I asked this question here before and nobody could come up with a reason.
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    billbradley said:
    Horseleech said:


    - 3% tax on all internet sales.

    That will never work.

    I'd be more impressed if you had a suggestion of your own rather than naysaying somebody else's, but go ahead - why won't it work? I asked this question here before and nobody could come up with a reason.

    Because the internet is global and not just US based. All companies would have to do is host offshore to get around taxation because the hosting country wouldn't have the same taxation laws.
  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    If the Internet tax is federal, it would work...but on a state level it would be all kinds of gummed up in technicalities like what if it is a drop ship site...does the state where the items come from get the benefit, or does the state where the site administrators reside get the benefit?...just complicated. But if it is treated like national sales tax, then I don't see how it would not work.
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    The_Hook_Up said:
    If the Internet tax is federal, it would work...but on a state level it would be all kinds of gummed up in technicalities like what if it is a drop ship site...does the state where the items come from get the benefit, or does the state where the site administrators reside get the benefit?...just complicated. But if it is treated like national sales tax, then I don't see how it would not work.

    I don't care if the law is federal or not. Other countries do not have to enforce them. Companies will use that to their benefit if the US wants to tax internet transactions.
  • RockadelicRockadelic Out Digging 13,993 Posts
    billbradley said:
    The_Hook_Up said:
    If the Internet tax is federal, it would work...but on a state level it would be all kinds of gummed up in technicalities like what if it is a drop ship site...does the state where the items come from get the benefit, or does the state where the site administrators reside get the benefit?...just complicated. But if it is treated like national sales tax, then I don't see how it would not work.

    I don't care if the law is federal or not. Other countries do not have to enforce them. Companies will use that to their benefit if the US wants to tax internet transactions.

    What if they tax the buyer rather than the seller?
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    Rockadelic said:
    billbradley said:
    The_Hook_Up said:
    If the Internet tax is federal, it would work...but on a state level it would be all kinds of gummed up in technicalities like what if it is a drop ship site...does the state where the items come from get the benefit, or does the state where the site administrators reside get the benefit?...just complicated. But if it is treated like national sales tax, then I don't see how it would not work.

    I don't care if the law is federal or not. Other countries do not have to enforce them. Companies will use that to their benefit if the US wants to tax internet transactions.

    What if they tax the buyer rather than the seller?

    How would they do that?

    BTW, I'm sorry this topic has turned into an e-commerce taxation law thread. I'm no expert on the matter. I just know that enforcing law on the internet is tough.
  • RockadelicRockadelic Out Digging 13,993 Posts
    billbradley said:

    How would they do that?

    BTW, I'm sorry this topic has turned into an e-commerce taxation law thread. I'm no expert on the matter. I just know that enforcing law on the internet is tough.

    I'm no expert either but I'm thinking if a company is in the U.S. they can enforce the tax on the seller and if the company is outside the U.S. they can collect the tax just like they collect Customs fees when you ship something to another country at the receivers end.
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    Rockadelic said:
    What would you want that ONE solved issue to be and how would you like to see it addressed?

    Issue:
    Jobs.

    Possible Solution:
    Tariff goods produced offshore to point where it would be cheaper to manufacture them in the US.
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    - The economy.

    More specifically, an answer to the vanishing or already vanished sectors of the economy. What will replace them? How can we retrain and reemploy?

    And the deepening disparities in income and cultural capital, particularly as they travel along education levels. Also, too.
  • DORDOR Two Ron Toe 9,899 Posts
    I would say jobs. But a big part of me would like to see lobbying fixed and getting the money out of politics. Never happen... But I can imagine governance would work a million times better if you couldn't buy off people so easily.
  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    1) World Peace.
    2) End drug war.
  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    Many countries collect VAT.
    This country could too if we decided to go that route.
  • DB_CooperDB_Cooper Manhatin' 7,823 Posts
    Campaign finance reform. Most of the systemic problems in our country stem from an electoral system that favors the wealthy and candidates backed by special interests.
  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    billbradley said:
    Rockadelic said:
    What would you want that ONE solved issue to be and how would you like to see it addressed?

    Issue:
    Jobs.

    Possible Solution:
    Tariff goods produced offshore to point where it would be cheaper to manufacture them in the US.

    Now it's my turn.

    That will never work because we have a large number of trade agreements with dozens of countries (many of whom produce things we actually need) that would make this illegal. If we voided them in bad faith they would retaliate, and it would significantly lower our standing with our allies and other partners. Not to mention that we would never be able to export goods again.

    Instead we need to identify and concentrate on things that we can do better than other countries.
  • Bon VivantBon Vivant The Eye of the Storm 2,018 Posts
    billbradley said:
    Rockadelic said:
    billbradley said:
    The_Hook_Up said:
    If the Internet tax is federal, it would work...but on a state level it would be all kinds of gummed up in technicalities like what if it is a drop ship site...does the state where the items come from get the benefit, or does the state where the site administrators reside get the benefit?...just complicated. But if it is treated like national sales tax, then I don't see how it would not work.

    I don't care if the law is federal or not. Other countries do not have to enforce them. Companies will use that to their benefit if the US wants to tax internet transactions.

    What if they tax the buyer rather than the seller?

    How would they do that?

    The same way they do it at 7-11 when you buy your Four Loko. It's not that difficult. Companies that want to due business in the US would have to collect, separate and remit the tax. A simple algorithim can do that.

    I would increase the rate of income tax on everybody, not just the top tier. We can and should all pay more. Clinton era rates are OK to me, but I could be persuaded to go a percentage point lower.
  • Bon VivantBon Vivant The Eye of the Storm 2,018 Posts
    billbradley said:
    Rockadelic said:
    What would you want that ONE solved issue to be and how would you like to see it addressed?

    Issue:
    Jobs.

    Possible Solution:
    Tariff goods produced offshore to point where it would be cheaper to manufacture them in the US.

    That would cause serious WTO issues and would likely mean that other countries do the same thing to our goods.
  • BrianBrian 7,618 Posts
    DB_Cooper said:
    Campaign finance reform. Most of the systemic problems in our country stem from an electoral system that favors the wealthy and candidates backed by special interests.
    Yep. Won't fix any of our immediate problems but absolutely needed to ensure our country's survival in the long run.
  • billbradleybillbradley You want BBQ sauce? Get the fuck out of my house. 2,890 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    billbradley said:
    Rockadelic said:
    What would you want that ONE solved issue to be and how would you like to see it addressed?

    Issue:
    Jobs.

    Possible Solution:
    Tariff goods produced offshore to point where it would be cheaper to manufacture them in the US.

    Now it's my turn.

    That will never work because we have a large number of trade agreements with dozens of countries (many of whom produce things we actually need) that would make this illegal. If we voided them in bad faith they would retaliate, and it would significantly lower our standing with our allies and other partners. Not to mention that we would never be able to export goods again.

    Instead we need to identify and concentrate on things that we can do better than other countries.

    Probably so, but we still export A LOT less than we import. For example, take a look at the numbers with China. The numbers are hugely disproportionate.

    http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html

    Edit:
    I also forgot to mention that I think that those trade agreements (NAFTA) are part of the problem.
  • dukeofdelridgedukeofdelridge urgent.monkey.mice 2,453 Posts
    Is this for Obama's next term, or the dude after Obama?

    I'm going to go with ending the drug war.

    I don't even do drugs, but I just think that if the martians showed up tomorrow and we had to explain how all this stuff works down here, our policies towards drugs would make us look stupid. The martians might decide to go on, and help out the next country. Or planet. Our drug war is silly enough to be a deal-breaker. Stopping the crazed drug war would show me that the dudes in charge are logical and willing to admit mistakes. Able to look at the numbers and adapt. I'd just like to believe there are smart people in charge, and they're doing the best they can. I don't believe that right now.

    And:
    Health care, gimme health care. Gimme gimme gimme!
    Start busting bankers. Throw 1000 evil bankers in jail. In prison. I don't even care if they did it. Fucking railroad them on some "drug kingpin" cocaine laws if you have to, lock them up forever.
    Lion or tiger as First Dog. Bo is weak.

    Unfortunately, I think any or all of these are impossible under the current setup. It's just broken. And I think it's irreparable. I guess we could bring in some campaign finance laws, but they'd just find a way around them.
  • tripledoubletripledouble 7,636 Posts
    Brian said:
    DB_Cooper said:
    Campaign finance reform. Most of the systemic problems in our country stem from an electoral system that favors the wealthy and candidates backed by special interests.
    Yep. Won't fix any of our immediate problems but absolutely needed to ensure our country's survival in the long run.

    that was my first thought too. far fetched at this point but it would be huge

    im with dukeofEl!!! tiger as first dog!!!

    and i would love to see the what waves legalizing weed would make. that would be one of my favorite Marvel What If... issues.
  • The_NonThe_Non 5,691 Posts
    dukeofdelridge said:


    I'm going to go with ending the drug war.

    I don't even do drugs, but I just think that if the martians showed up tomorrow and we had to explain how all this stuff works down here, our policies towards drugs would make us look stupid. The martians might decide to go on, and help out the next country. Or planet. Our drug war is silly enough to be a deal-breaker. Stopping the crazed drug war would show me that the dudes in charge are logical and willing to admit mistakes. Able to look at the numbers and adapt. I'd just like to believe there are smart people in charge, and they're doing the best they can. I don't believe that right now.
    -Vanderbilt Univ.'s Hospital in Nashville, TN gives out $200 million of gratis healthcare to crystal meth related illness/injury/death. You can't just "legalize all drugs."
    -Even legalizing marijuana comes with its costs and benefits.
    Benefit: Would take an enormous amt of money away from Mexican cartels.
    Cost: Would create a bootleg market (that already exists) that law enforcement would have to handle and turn their attention/focus to, just like moonshining in (primarily) the South. Except the bootleg weed growers would be all over the U.S., and would put a sizable dent in "tax revenue."
    -Life is a Zero Sum game. Read Lester Thurow's-The Zero Sum Society. Pesci had it right in Casino, it's always about the fucking dollars, but I would add to that that there's always a cost to an action which is initially seen to be "great."
    -My vote is for campaign finance reform and extending the terms in the HOR. As soon as these fools get elected, they're not handling their biz in Congress, they're out campaigning for re-election. The House of Reps is a farce. If they were held accountable to 4 yr terms, they wouldn't be like "Yo! I was just getting warmed up and my term was up!" Bullshit, get the fuck in there and do your goddamn job.
  • ReynaldoReynaldo 6,054 Posts
    Put Americans to work building a 2000-mile-long solar and wind powered prison along our boarder with Mexico.

    Use the military to take over and run the international drug trade and distribute the profits directly to the US taxpayers/shareholders.
  • RockadelicRockadelic Out Digging 13,993 Posts
    LaserWolf said:
    1) World Peace.
    .

    This right here is why we are fucked.

    I hope it was a joke......or dude is practicing for the Miss Universe Pageant.
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