I’ve been watching some of the Democratic National Convention this week. There have been a lot of promises made, as there always are at political conventions. I thought we could hold a Without Wax convention today and here is your platform….
What is the first thing you would change as president?
I would mandate a four day work week.
Seriously, I better not say for sure. Cindy has always said, I’d be impeached after my first day.
Remind Americans to realize how much they already have and not complain about what they want
Wow, that’s a tough question.
I think I would make it easier for faith-based (read: Christian) community programs (inmate rehabilitation, young mothers’ homes, addiction assistance…) to receive government funding. Our prisons are over populated, the children in our cities are stuck in a cycle of poverty…there’s only one hope, and He’s not a politician. Policies and programs don’t change lives, Jesus changes lives.
I think there is a good reason why we are not all the president for a day, we might say what we are actually thinking and not some pre-manufactured rhetoric so people hear what they think they want to hear (is that an actual thing I would do
)
Health insurance for every person in the country.
I care less about where our money gets spent and more about how much of it gets spent. If we spend more than we bring in, all the social programs in the world will fail, fail, fail.
The first thing I would change is balance the budget.
Then, and only then, will we actually know what our country actually wants our reps to spend money on, and we will know how passionately they want it. Think about it. Our national income is a fixed resource and nothing inspires creativity and honesty like trying to adapt to a fixed resource.
But until then we’re just setting a crappy example to the American people. We are ransoming our kids sovereignty as a nation (financial independence precedes sovereignty). And we are cultivating an environment where we ignore the very real fact that our actions have consequences.
Bitching about where we spend money we don’t even have possession of to begin with is just pissing in the wind in my opinion.
(sorry for the rant)
peace|dewde
http://dewde.com
I would take a long flight on Air Force One…then the helicopter…then Camp David…And just once, get to ride in a limo around DC with traffic not being an issue…I’d probably want to take in a O’s game as well, heck, I could probably get good seats at ANY stadium!
Oh, to be president for a day…
I would make it a law that Chappaquiddick would have to be on the screen or mentioned whenever Ted Kennedy speaks.
I would also list the amount of terrible policy that Jimmy Carter enacted when he was President before he opened his idiotic mouth.
I’d end political conventions!
Force the budget to be balanced (Dewd’s comment is reflective of my reasoning for this) and hold those who are spending responsible for their actions and inactions.
Visit the needy, poor and destitute and drag all the camera crews with me in an effort to bring this topic into the mainstream conversation. Oh, and while I am there I would take off my silly suit and get down and dirty and do the work that is needed in that moment and in that place. I would ask the reporters and camera operators to do the same.
If I lead by example and can motivate those who are around em all the time to do the same, I believe I could help start a movement to actually do the work that is required to make the change happen.
Words, like our Faith, is dead without the works to back them up.
People listen sometimes, but they watch all the time.
My address because I would have to move to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The first thing that I would change.. hmm. Good question since I am assuming that I have to abide by the same checks and balances that are in place today. Which is what all these guys and ladies have forgotten as part of their promise making – they can’t act alone because their is a legislative and judicial branch that keep them from doing that.
Maybe the fun thing to do as President would be to pick up the red phone and call some of the other countries leaders and just say – “Can you believe they elected me as president – hold on boys, this is going to be a wild ride!”
Then I would get the CIA, FBI, Secret Service, NASA and whatever other groups in the room so I can find out if Elvis is still alive, who shot JFK, where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, what really is going on at area 51, why every restaurant doesn’t serve southern sweet tea, and who thought it was a good idea to make candy corn.
Once we got to the bottom of these age-old questions, I would have a fireside chat and spill the secrets.
Also, they would have to take the nuclear button away from me because I would probably accidentally set it off playing with it. You can’t give me a toy and not expect me to take it for a spin… hey, wait a minute, I could go out and throw the first pitch at a baseball game… for the Cincinnati Reds! That would be a hoot. And forget about riding in the limo… I want to drive it. I am afraid I would be like John Goodman in King Ralph.
Life is so much fun.
I would make the Gaint Idiot my running mate
@dewde, we have to balance the buget and get spending under control. If our personal budgets operated the way the national budget does we would all be bankrupt.
If possible, I would make it an offense that required an elected officials immediate explusion from congress or the white house to say anything that in any way was derogatory towards any other member of congress or the executive branch.
I would then require that every member of congress share an office with a member from the other side of the isle.
I would then take away the ability for anyone running for office to use televion or radio for campaign purposes.
I would then strike the words liberal and conservative from the English language.
“I’d paint the white house pink and never have to pay the rent, if only I were president…” well, that’s what Beth Hart and JoDee Messina would do. Personally i would rather work at Crosspoint.
Im with Rob Edwards. End them. It’s a parade…a charade..of
shade(e-ness).
HA.
the curtains, then maybe the furniture!
I would restrict myself to the (very few) duties actually given me by the Constitution.
Wow….hum….Ok, first thing that just pops in the head is shut the country down on Sunday from sales and etc. to regroup the family, which has panted for unity for such a long time (I think of the song by Mark Shultz called “Do You Even Know Me Anymore” as I just said that). What if…one day a week, the country/world was in unison?
I would empower the people again.
Then take a ride on Air Force 1 and drive the limo.
I would use as my motto Thomas Paine’s quote, “That government is best which governs least.”
@Rob, I agree with ending political conventions. I think it’s ridiculous the amount of money spent on presidential campaigns and conventions when there are so many hungry, homeless, and uninsured people in our country. I wish our political parties would stop talking about making changes and start acting.
World hunger.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that we as Americans and Europeans can sit around eating our coffee and egg mcmuffins or crumpets and tea while millions of babies starve everyday.
Absolutely RIDICULOUS!
There is no excuse for this. None. Everyday I eat I can’t understand why there is still world hunger. I don’t want to hear that it’s complicated or I don’t understand. Just feed the people already!
@patrowland, it’s great how your brain went straight to your campaign for reelection. What happened to the first VP?
I would change the policy on illegals. It’s crazy! They have to go home on our dime* and are banned for several years as a penalty for being caught here illegally. If they are trying to become a citizen, they go home on their own dime (to do paperwork) and find out in Mexico that they’re banned for having come here illegally, even if they are married to a citizen. They’ll be right back in the states as soon as their family and friends save about $1,500 to get them a guide across the border. They’re illegal either way, and there is no work in Mexico. Why not come back?
The majority of aliens I know are God fearing people who love their families and give much of themselves to others. They work very hard and study hard to learn the language. Becoming a citizen of this country is a great dream for them. I would allow these people to pay fines and go through a program to earn the right to stay here legally.
*CNN reported in Sept. ’07 that it would cost over 90 billion dollars to detain and deport all the illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Some mention of aliens:
Ex 22:21, De 10:19, Mal 3:5, Eph 2:19
I’d put Dave Ramsey in charge of the national budget.
Make all the senator’s and government officials play an ice breaker…then get down to business. If they were EVER really trying they could actually get something accomplished. Most of the reason a Pres. looks bad is because all the things he’s trying to accomplish are halted by the senate and reps. Grrrrr.
i would allow more persecution to happen to the church. weird thought i know. but i seriously think we have it too easy here as believers. we have no need for God most of the times.
Put a limit on how much you can spend durring an election. That way other partys besides Dem’s and Rep’s can have a chance. I’m not a fan of the 2 party system that we’ve created. I want more options in an election!
bring the troops home…all of them
I’d call for a national day of repentance> I’d ask different pastors and ministers to come to Washington and lead prayer (televised by all tv stations) in half hour increments for 24 hours.
“If my people which are called by name would humble themselves and pray…seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…then will they hear from heaven…and I will heal their land”
You can eat anything you want and not get fat…..
That should be as easy a promise to keep as all the others….
I would make it mandatory in all public arenas, malls, any public place ever…. to have three times as many women’s bathrooms (and bathroom stalls) as men’s.
oh yes —- and make it a law that you can’t spend ANY money campaigning. Any money you were going to spend goes to the top 3 organizations you pretend to be the voice of.
If you want to be elected, you put on a piece of paper everything you believe in and HOW those beliefs will be turned into legislation….and then send it out and then everybody votes based on those. The only expense being that every household gets 1 to 3 pieces of paper for each candidate. No T.V. appearances, no stadiums full, no speeches…. just the facts. No emotions, just your values and HOW you will accomplish the goals you wrote down.
I would beef up on foreign relations and take my dream trip to Africa to go on a Safari. I would also challenge all faith-based charities and mission organizations to a six-month focus on bringing food to the ten most hungry countries.
A 10% flat tax across the board for every person, corporation, business, and company in America. No exceptions and no loopholes – PERIOD. That would free up the capital to do incredible things on a federal level, like improve health care and social security.
i would change the lifetime benefits of those who serve in the house and senate…too much money blown…all excess funds would be used for health care costs…
i would put a cap of about $100,000.00 on campaigns…all additional monies raised would go to fund programs serving those who are starving or in need of medical treatment and not able to get it…
i would put a cap on government benefits to single mothers…i’m thinking a limit to the number of children that can be claimed…probably take a hit on that one…but young women can not just continue to have children without the fathers and them taking responsibility of the children…this is not the government’s responsibility…
The main thing I have going for me is that I know I’m not smart enough to know how to fix all our problems. So I wouldn’t put a single politian in my cabinet. It would be filled with business people I respected and intelligent minds that can fix our budget, help our citizens and instill a sense of decency and honor in our country. Kind of like the movie Dave.
I’d be the one to boost their spirits and encourage them to do good, but I’d leave the “how” to PEOPLE who have dedicated their lives to living, not politics.
sara
http://www.gitzengirl.blogspot.com
Yeah, I am with Nat up there and work on the food situations for hungry people. I would also revisit Roe V. Wade then I would pour resources into solving HIV/AIDS.
This may sound very liberal, and as a Southern Baptist minister I may catch a lot flack, but here goes…
Being a Christian President, I would remind the churches that they are the moral and spiritual radicals of this world. That they need stop acting as though the government is supposed to set the spiritual standard, and move out of their churches and begin to lead a spiritual movement, and let the government worry about things such as the economy, foreign policy, etc.
So many Christians seem to have this dream of having a Billy Graham, whom I respect dearly as an evangelist and man of God, in the White House. And it seems as though they believe that if we had such a leader, this would allow them to cop out of being the church God has commanded them to be.
Then I would remove myself from office and request that someone who knows how to govern to take my place. I know, this is not a popular approach, but one that I believe that the church needs to wake up and hear.
1 or 2 term limit for elected officials-no career politicians!
And what is wrong with candy corn??—I like it tonyyork…it’s good stuff.
(and by the way …woo hoo…love Sarah Palin!)
I would NOT do UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE…has anyone paid attention to what that is doing to people in Europe and Canada where they do have this??? It is SCARY!!!
My phone# and the locks on my door!
OK. I know that’s not what you’re looking for, but I wouldn’t know where to begin changing the country.
I would begin to debunk and expose all the lies the government has set in place. I’d stop treating the country as a business.
I would scale Government back as much as possible and empower the people to take back responsibility of their country. It is not the governments place to provide health care, to handle our retirement, to cover loss from risks in the stock market, to pay people’s mortgages, etc…
I find it troubling that people will pay hundreds of dollars for cell phones (and its bill), internet, cable, dinners out, plasma TV’s, $50 at the theater, MAC computers (because they are ridiculously expensive
), and all the other things they ‘want’ and expect others to pay for things like health care, mortgage assistance, and other items that the government has taken on its payroll through their tax dollars. People’s perspectives of what is important is distorted, and the government has helped create such an environment. Once government programs are scaled back, taxes can be reduced for ‘everyone’ because our government expenses are less.
I’m thinking of nominating several of you. No, giantidiot, is not one of them!
One more thing. Upon reading the Constitution…that really important document…everyone will see that Government’s place is not to provide all of these social programs and stuff for the people, it is to provide protection. Protection for speech, the right to protect ourselves with guns, protection from being unlawfully prosecuted, protection from taxation without representation, etc…My friend, Tom reminded me of that last night, that’s Governments purpose. BREAKING NEWS: Tom would be my campaign adviser, it was announced right here on Without Wax, first!
NCarnes for president.
I totally believe that we expect the government to pick up where we as the church have failed miserably. When did that happen? Did we fail first as the body? Or did people just start moving away from the church so the government got power?
@Gina
My teeth and stomach hurt just thinking about Candy Corn. Plus its so hard to butter and doesn’t taste good with salt.
Put prayer back in schools…
I w/ Gina. Term limits are the only way to give it back to the people.
First I would have to agree with several above regarding the budget. Dave Ramsey often uses the government as a (bad) example.
Next it would be educational reform. It is so unfair that so many children don’t have access to a decent education simply because of where they live. How do we expect them to become successful adults if we don’t invest in them?
ps: the education part was totally inspired by my recent participation in Leadership Summit where we heard from Wendy Kopp of Teach For America.
I would change the Electoral College Process- eliminate it. Allow the vote of all the people to stand and elect our officials.
Second, I would push for a system that did not allow any votes from states to be revealed in the Primary Process or General Election until ALL votes from all states had been compiled and were ready to release. This would allow all contenders a fair shot in the primary elections and also a fair voting system in the general election.
I figured I could go with this since all the other candidates above hit on the issues of the people:)
@Scott, I’m calling the SBC right now. They’ll be on you like white on rice.
@pwilson // Last time I checked I am not the one who does not pay for their food.
@Giant Idiot, That was low and I can’t believe my accountability partner shared that private information.
@pwilson if we are talking politics and you besmirch my name than expect retaliation.
First, I would make adoptions easier. There is no reason for a child to be w/o a parent. Even though God promises to be a father to the fatherless, we have a responsibilty. Second, I would end world hunger!
If I were president?
I would make national service mandatory for all high school dropouts and make enrollment into a GED program part of the package.
I would give a college credit rebate for those who are continuing their education of 200% of the actual cost as an incentive to continue learning.
As president I would make changing the culture a priority back to education and away from out sourcing our greatest asset the people of our country.
Day 1, drive individual accountability. It’s starts with me and it starts with you. You choose not to be responsible, you pay for it. You don’t take care of your health? Why should I or any other hard working citizen be expected to pay for it through universal healthcare? Health insurance needs some work, but not as much as we need to understand wellness behavior and how to contribute to the global solution (not just vote for more tax dollars to pay for people that choose not to be responsible). Why do we have so many people that think that is the government’s responsibility? When was the last time you though about the junk you put in your body that is driving national epidemics of obesity, diabetes, cancer, etc? You lie on your loan applications and can’t afford the house note you signed, the new car payments, the credit cards and household bills? Should the government house and feed you too? Yes, there are people that need and deserve help with healthcare, housing and food. But, not everyone standing in line with their hands out should be handed these things. We don’t have a blank check and I would fire the people that couldn’t get a grip on how to help our country be strong enough to help end world hunger some of the other atrocities we know exist. Day 2, I would go after the two party system and build a system based on values and ability make the tough choices for the right reasons, not your party affiliation and “who do you know?”
i would immediately step down…that’s just a crazy thought…i would not make a good president…..not at all…….ever…
@gofocus….I think you could be my long lost twin…..I have had that rant a few times
@gack24, Thanks for the honesty dude. I got a feeling most of would be better off stepping down.
I would put the Paralympics on Television.
Find a solution for keeping our jobs here in the U.S. instead of outsourcing to other countries…It seems awful silly for an American made jean…Levis…to be made in China…
One more thought…does it seem a little ridiculous the extremeism of the Republicans and Democrats….I can’t help but think of United we stand and divided we fall…there is too much division, complaints, accusations, finger pointing, lack of respect…I could go on but I won’t
@Joseph it truly is a rant, but seriously! Thanks for the support bro.
I would impeace the GIANT Idiot and make Vince president and Scott V.P.
I think it is funny that I would be impeaced. Hey Jeff, if you are going to try and make a statement how about learning how to spell the word first and then writing it. If you spell it wrong it loses its punch.
I would appoint Giant Idiot as President for life!! He has been my hero ever since I started reading Pastor Pete’s daily treats. I live for his input…..he always makes me laugh out loud!!
I was impeaced once… never been the same since.
I like the ideas about putting Dave Ramsey in charge of the national budget, but as my first act, I would do something to put a serious spotlight on the finances and actions of ALL elected officials.
For the past couple of years, there has been a massive public corruption scandal where businesspeople, elected officials, and other influential people have been indicted of bribes and other criminal activity.
Also, our city council voted to allow themselves to use their cell phones and email while in the middle of city council meetings. Hrmm …something not kosher about that to me.
So to recap – I would make it so that there would be a ridiculous amount of scrutiny placed on our elected officials, requiring them to be transparent with their finances and actions.
No more behind closed doors or bribes; no more public corruption! In a perfect world …I know. =)
I would eliminate little dudes who drive big trucks. It kills me to see lil guys wanting to be big guys. Big guys don’t care. ha!
I’d paint the outside of the “White House.” That’d shake things up!
relieve myself and my peers of power…super, super, super small govt.
I would immediately lift the ban on prayer in schools..yes I know that the president can’t actually change that himself…but IF he could. Did you know that most of the huge revivals in this country were started by the youth…including in large part the Great Awakening. We need revival….more than banishing world hunger, a balanced budget or health care! Our country needs a touch from Jesus and what better way to start it than prayer! Especially with our youth!
I would have members of the Senate and Congress from both parties over to the White House from time to time, just to hang out on the front porch. I am not really sure if the White House has anything like a front porch, but if not I would build one.
Once I had the Senate and Congress over to the house, I would have a large array of pitchers of sweet tea and glasses for us all.
The conversation could get into favorite movies, music, simple things. Then I would gradually start the discussion about our families-kids, grandkids, etc. I would talk about what I used to dream of as a kid, and the future I wanted for my kids. I would ask them questions relating to thier own families.
The point of this would to be to show how regardless of all party lines and titles, we are all very similar and want the same things.. we just have to find common ground to make it happen.
I would have these conversations over tea on the porch as opposed to a stuffy office because I think people are more relaxed in these types of settings, and more honest.
Some of the worlds best thinkers have been porch thinkers.
@ Lance–If your goal is education you need to change the system before you force folks to suffer through it. Right now our system mostly ignores how people learn in favor of trying to turn everyone into a cookie cutter student. I’m also not interested in paying for everyone else to be college educated one time let alone twice (200%).
As for what I would do…First I would work hard to help Americans realize how blessed we are. I agree with the commentor who said it is the federal governments job to protect not hand out. At the same time our foreign policy is out of order. We need to quite basing everything we do on our need for oil. Bad guys make bad bedfellows and we need to change our priorities. NEVER again should America be responsible for helping someone like Saddam Hussein get into power. I agree with Senator Obama that we must always be willing to talk but our talk must bare good results that include deadlines and plans for action (consequences). Second, third, and fourth generation welfare recipients should tell us that the system is broken and not really helping anyone. Before we can change the entitlement mentality we need to understand what part the system played in creating it. The middleclass is carrying too big a portion of the burden while the wealthy are finding loopholes via investments that only make them wealthier. And, while some suggest a flat tax, a flat tax once again lets the wealthy bare the least amount of the burden. (Example: I make 30,000 a year. Take 10% out in taxes and I must try to live on 27,000. Another person makes 100,000 is taxed the same and must live on 90,000. A third person makes 1,000,000 is taxed the same and must live on 900,000. Whose lifesyle is impacted and whose life is impacted?) Granted the wealthy put the most into the coffers but they also have the most left to spend as they see fit. At the same time for those who have less than 2 dollars a day to live on this discussion would seem rediculous so another thing I would work toward as president is to shift our world view from “the American Dream” to a global God vision. We who are blessed are responsible to be a blessing.
@minnowspeaks Thank you for your feedback. You posted some good points.
I suppose if miraculously i’d fallen into the position of the president…First of all, I’d take a few billion from nuclear testing which some how gets billions of dollars every year to test weapons of mass destruction, yet we have people suffering with illness’s being denied any medical help. Dental should be included as well. I would finish this war in a matter of weeks, bringing home troops to steady jobs as guarding our borders, and protecting what we call home. Sending every illegal immigrant back home and denied return. We as the United State have a due process system, it should be inforced. Forget all the work release visa’s blah blah..end that crap. You shouldn’t be able to step on our soil till you can speak english, and have a legal name/number…so the law can find you……sorry late night rant on ambein