Now if I Were in Charge

We all know how to fix the economy, but, unfortunately, our legislators don’t have the political will. Representative democracy in America went bye-bye a long time ago; it was hi-jacked by an oligarchy of large companies in the financial, healthcare, energy, military-aerospace and manufacturing industries. Our representatives may pay lip service to the voters who elected them, but they follow the orders of the organizations which fund their campaigns. (It costs a lot of money to run those attack ads.)

We’ve watched this phenomenon as Obama’s initiatives to get rid of oil and farm subsidies disappear in congress while healthcare “reform” ends up being just another program to further enrich insurance companies and Big Pharma.

Now here’s my plan to rescue America. (I think the first part may be the most difficult).

We’ll start by having me proclaimed as Dictator-For-As-Long-As-I-Want. As dictator, I can bypass the legislative process and quickly get those things done that will benefit the vast majority of Americans—not just the rich and connected.

I’d start with the economy.

Living Wage Legislation:  Create a living wage law. People who work full time should not live in poverty. This is exactly what Roosevelt did with the passage of the first minimum wage law in 1935, during the Great Depression. This is not, as the chamber of commence claims, a “job killer.” There are dozens of studies that prove increasing wages does not slow down employment.

And I would level the playing field between unions and employers and allow workers to organize without harassment and fear of reprisal.

Living wages helps everyone. Higher wages means higher disposable income; pouring money into the consumer sector of the economy, decreasing welfare and social service costs, and increasing the tax base.

Healthcare Reform: It really isn’t news that we have both the worst and most expensive healthcare system of any developed country. And we know how to fix it, single payer. We already have a system in place, Medicare. I’ll call it “Medicare for All.” No, it’s not socialized medicine; private, for profit healthcare providers and institutions will be available. Actually, healthcare consumers will have a wider choice of providers. How much will it save? With lower administrative costs, no inflated salaries, no profits, streamlined paperwork, and lower prescriptions (because drug companies will actually have to compete for business) we’ll save trillions of dollars. Getting rid of insurance companies and their focus on profits will transform America. Our manufacturing sector (think cars) will be more competitive with lower employee healthcare costs. This will also eliminate a major cause of personal bankruptcy. Plus lower premiums will put more money into the economy. And we’ll be healthier and more productive!

Stop subsidizing special interests: Payments to agribusiness and energy companies siphon billions from our budget with no ascertainable benefit (other than the campaign contributions taken by legislators).

Now let’s fix our democracy

Regulate the financial services section: Treat banks and brokerage houses like public utilities with a federal commission to set rates, fees, and business practices.

Lobbyists: Do away with ‘em. It’s inherently unfair to individual voters because lobbyists only work for organizations. Common folk never have a seat at the table; there’s no one to speak for them. Make it a federal crime for legislators to meet with paid lobbyist or accept any gift that would represent a conflict of interest.

Elections: Make all elections, at all levels, 100% publicly financed. Sure it’s expensive, but what is it costing us now to have our elected officials catering to the needs of special interests rather than to you and me?

After I’ve finished fixing the country I’ll return America back to the people with, I hope, enough safeguards to make it difficult to go back to the bad old days.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to take over the country in a bloodless coup.