We spend a lot of time complaining about the problems that our nation faces, and even more time trying to figure out who's to blame. Is there anything you believe may have fallen through the cracks while the parties were debating the more sensational issues? Something they might agreeably solve together?
2007-03-29 07:56:14 · 8 answers · asked by Beardog 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Anti-Shiraz: Sure, potholes would be a place to start. Smaller than I'd hoped for, but maybe that's what it takes to get the ball rolling!
Chi Guy: I'm a little dubious about the effectiveness of our current renewable energy alternatives, but I like your thinking. Liberals would be happy for an ecological break, and Conservatives might love cutting the taxes. You could be on to something!
Pip: I'm not actually familiar with that particular program, what does it entail?
Paul B: That pushes us back towards the blaming again, but what are the "ton of problems" that you feel the President is an obstacle to? He won't be president anymore starting 1/26/09, so it's not too early to start thinking about it!
Quelisto: You might find a lot of Republicans balking at the thought of raising taxes to underfund unproven tech. Anything more bipartisan?
Mike O: LOL. Could we present it the other way around? I'd rather drive the by-products than eat them!
2007-03-29 08:31:38 · update #1
I think (this is my opinion on a topic outside of my expertise) that celunol (sometimes called cellular ethanol) is a fantastic solution to energy and food economics.
Celunol is similar to ethanol but can be made from almost any cellular biomass. That means, we can grow corn, use the grain for food, and the stalks for fuel.
The Canadian government is currently in a joint venture with BP to build a prototype plant. The university of Florida is also involved in a joint project.
Personally, I suppose that if the projects showed a lot of short term promise, they would be receiving a lot more attention. But, I love to imagine an energy industry that creates food as a by-product. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
2007-03-29 08:10:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, we can fix the impending energy crisis by actively investing in renewable energy and conservation now.
Just adding a 1 cent tax to gasoline would generate over $700 million a year that could be spent on pilot cellulosic ethanol plants, which would dramatically reduce our need for foreign sources of oil.
We could dramatically improve the amount of renewable energy on the grid by increasing the tax rebate from 1.5 cents/kWhr to 2 cents kWhr and make the tax rebate permanent. There is already a growing crescendo of wind generation being installed (about 2 GW in 2006 alone), and it would really take off if this simple incentive was in place.
We would dramatically cut air pollution in cities and reduce our need for gasoline if we invested in quality mass transportation, such as light rail, commuter rail, and buses. Everyone wins because commute times are cut way down, gas prices drop due to less demand, and air pollution is cut dramatically.
It's pretty easy to solve the energy crisis once everyone gets done bitchin' and whinin' and does something.
2007-03-29 08:05:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Education
Community School Health and School of the 21st Century programs work.. and work well in school districts... I've seen it first hand.
these programs focus on making the school a place where children can learn.. they get children healthy and make it so they want to come to school... a better child/teacher and child/nurse ration, regular screenings.. filing of medicaid for students that need it.. some even go as far as to bring the dentists to the schools to work on kids.. the belief is that if children are hungry or unhealthy then they won't learn.. and there is ample evidence to back this up... after that it has a strict policy of if you aren't in jail, you are in school.. pregnant teen? they give you in-school daycare while you are in class at the cost of you taking a parenting class... trouble at school? no suspensions.. it's all in-school discipline.. if you act up.. you don't get rewarded by being sent home for a few days...
so not only is the school a place that takes care of the childrens needs.. but it also lets the children know they aren't getting out of it so they may as well enjoy it
in the schools this has been in for more than 5 years.. the drop out rate has dropped to below 2% (most below 1%) and the crime rate in the communities has dropped as well. the test scores are still in a bell curve but the entire curve has risen in these schools.
the extra staff are paid for by grants and medicaid money.. no strain at all on the school for them.
it just works.
2007-03-29 08:00:33 · answer #3 · answered by pip 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Renewable energy/air pollution
Give tax incentives for companies to produce renewables. Give tax breaks to consumer's who buy renewable. Such as allowing them to write off the interest paid on the loan for a hybrid or electric automobile.
Education
Offer state funded tutoring programs and take away the teachers ability to strike, as public servants.
Illegal Immigration
Phased deportation of all 12 million illegals over a five year period. Prosecute employers who hire them, with jail time. Taking away the illegal job opportunities will encourage self-deportation.
2007-03-29 07:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by Chi Guy 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Your question has to be expanded to outside one country
because it is applicable to the whole world.
I would like everyone dispense with the blame game and get on with the fixing.
2007-03-29 18:54:40 · answer #5 · answered by melbournewooferblue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fix the dang potholes in the road.
2007-03-29 07:58:32 · answer #6 · answered by Darth Vader 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
We could solve a ton of problems in this country if we would just get rid of Bush!
Bush is our greatest Problem!
2007-03-29 08:00:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
BORDERS
2007-03-29 08:09:59 · answer #8 · answered by Rove is BALD n 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋