I'd start by "renegotiating" all trade pacts. Free trade would only exist with nations that are of similar economic status, certainly not including third-world & developing nations.
Our reliance on foreign oil would be cut. Money spent on welfare and housing for Iraqi families could be better spent constructing nuclear reactors, drilling for domestic oil & gas, exploring domestic coal reserves, building wind farms, and reconfiguring hydroelectric dams. Substantial money could also be poured into developing / mass-producing better super-capacitors and batteries. I'd also divert a sizable portion of highway funds to the development of heavy / light rail systems in the nation's metropolitan areas.
At one time, I may have been against this, but we really really need to milk all of our natural resources. Wealth is ultimately created from raw materials...and we have plenty.
I'd completely open the border with Canada (for economic & travel purposes)...and lock-down the southern border (to slow illegal immigration).
The corporate tax rate would be based upon a sliding scale that is calibrated to discourage outsourcing and select imports.
Tariffs aren't always good, but they'd have to levied on high cost and capital products like machinery, cars, certain electronics, etc. This coupled with a sliding tax scale would certainly encourage firm to keep domestic production.
Taxes would be cut for the lower & middle classes, raised on upper-class individuals, welfare would be reduced, defense spending would be reduced, and spending for higher education, infrastructure, and research would be increased.
Heavy tax incentives and credits would be given to industrial / manufacturing developments. A nation can produce greatness...it cannot consume its way to greatness.
As much as I'd like to see a clean environment, the environmental restrictions largely need to be scaled back. It's too damn hard to open shop when the EPA has a rope around your neck.
The U.S. dollar also needs to be consistently weakened, as this makes American products much more attractive. It also counters the manipulation that is taking place on foreign currencies.
That is what comes to the top of my head. The U.S. is in dire straits. Globalization does nothing bur remove domestic jobs, resulting in a net outflow of wealth. We are on a path toward being equalized with every other third-world nation where workers are pain $3 / day. If we continue, nothing will be produced in America. This process is already complete in the electronics industry and is nearing completion in others. What is next? Cars? Steel? Energy? The only benefactors are the few elite who either inherit wealth or generate it by outsourcing American prosperity.
on December 7, 2010, 11:08 pm, in reply to "