If you were the Presidential nominee, what would your response and/or plan be for the economy, immigration, and the VA?

2016-04-06T09:08:44-04:00

Rules of the playground.
1. Stick to the 3
2. Keep it PROFESSIONAL
3. Keep your response's to no more than 4 sentences per topic.
4. These are YOUR thoughts and OPINIONS. No need to "sharp shoot" or tear apart responses. Discuss YES.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 9:10 AM

2016-04-06T09:10:49-04:00

The 3 topics will be:
Economy
Immigration
VA

Rules of the playground.
1. Stick to the 3
2. Keep it PROFESSIONAL
3. Keep your response's to no more than 4 sentences per topic.
4. These are YOUR thoughts and OPINIONS. No need to "sharp shoot" or tear apart responses. Discuss YES.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Apr 6 at 2016 9:19 AM

2016-04-06T09:19:04-04:00

1) Economy: I would use increase taxes in order to improve our infrastructure and quality of education much in the same way President Eisenhower did
2) Implement an amnesty/ path to citizenship program for those immigrants already in the US while aggresively combating illegal immigration
3) VA: Vastly improve the level of care for all veterans as well as use tax dollars to enlist quality medical professionals

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Apr 6 at 2016 9:26 AM

2016-04-06T09:26:42-04:00

1. Lower the corporate tax and overhaul the Tax code to spur hiring and expansion while looking at ways to cut federal spending.
2. Seal off the border to stop the bleeding and only after that is done work on a method for Illegals to become legal. That doesn't mean amnesty or even a guaranteed path to citizenship. That seems to be a reward to people for breaking the law. As much as we need to make a path to become legal we cant forget they came her illegally and cant be rewarded for that.
3. The VA. First the rule have to be changed so that when people don't do there jobs they can be fired instead of put on paid leave. Paid leave for not doing your job is BS. Who would want to work if you can get paid for fishing? The VA needs an internal overhaul. New processes that work patterned after successful private hospitals.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 9:27 AM

2016-04-06T09:27:35-04:00

I guess I should put mine on here also.
1. Economy: Flat tax bracket. 3 of them. $0.00-$55,000=15% $55,000-$175,000=18% $175,000 and up=25%. Any corporation "hiding" money in off shore accounts etc automatic penalty of 30%. 2nd and 3rd order effects. Get jobs and money back to US. Long term event will eventually boost economy.
2. Immigration. Id look at this from a "bottom up approach". Start at bottom and see where the problems are. We have policies/procedures in place for immigration. They are obviously not working so I would identify the problem at lowest level, and fix from there and work my way up.
3. VA. Same concept as Immigration. Bottom up approach. Key thing to VA is the BEUAROCRACY would go away.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Apr 6 at 2016 9:41 AM

2016-04-06T09:41:58-04:00

1. Taxes are kept at an equally manageable level for all Americans. All loopholes and exploits (if any exist) will be investigated and eliminated as needed. Minimum wage should be given to the states and not handled federally. To further this, the cost of living in each state differ and should be adjusted accordingly. A $15 minimum wage may be feasible in states such as New York and California. Wages that go above minimum wage should also be adjusted accordingly.

2. Immigrants can better and worsen our economy. Grant some limited amnesty to those who better our economy (workers, etc.). Criminals will be handled according to their crime. Generally through deportation. Moderately secure out borders.

3. Don't cut nor increase military spending. Allocate spending towards important issues. Increase in spending should only happen due to inflation reasons.

Response by SPC David S. made Apr 6 at 2016 10:04 AM

2016-04-06T10:04:13-04:00

National Debt/Immigration - Serious overhaul of SS and other entitlement programs - you're not a US citizen you can stay but must pay higher taxes until you become a us citizen as well no benefits until you are - no access to free medical, schools or other programs without being on a path to citizenship. You want to enjoy the benefits there is a cost to enter the system. Fix all the gaps that are being exploited.
Economy - Create incentives to bring manufacturing jobs to the US by reworking tax code. As well decrease the size of the government spending.
Education - As much as we spend and to be ranked outside of the top 10 is not acceptable. Create incentives to stay in school - no high school diploma no state or federal aid. No reason 3rd world countries should read and write better than we do.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 6 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-04-06T10:05:15-04:00

1) Private / Public Divide (aka the purpose of government) - I like a government that acts as a "Referee" and as an "Investor" (Infrastructure specifically). The government isn't going to make things "fair" but they can call "foul."

2) Appropriately Sized Government - I'm a firm believer that the government can be LARGE or SMALL, but it needs to be CORRECTLY sized. It needs to be "efficient & effective" and if we size it wrong it will be neither. I don't care what the size of the government is, if it actually functions correctly. It can be MASSIVE. But when it becomes "bloated" it becomes less efficient. It also becomes less effective when it becomes too small, so there is a fine line. Demands for a "minimized" government sound great, unless you want services that are "best" provided by a government.

3) Jettison Power. If you want something to cross my desk, get rid of something as well. Trim the books.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 10:09 AM

2016-04-06T10:09:02-04:00

1) Economy: Demand Congress implement reductions in regulations directly impacting costs of goods; chiefly liability and costs leading to outsourced labor. Target quasi-monopolies to encourage growth of smaller business. Encourage proposals for legislation aimed at establishing lending limits based on income. Federalize post-secondary education and revise syllabus to increase technical degrees, while limiting humanities...raise graduation standards for all bachelor level degrees.

2) Immigration: Employ Reserve and National Guard to secure borders, and increase penalties for employing illegal immigrants. Work with international law enforcement to verify criminal history of applicants. Reform the State Department's immigration process to be reasonable and eliminate practices leading to oversight or inexcusable delay in obtaining citizen status for qualified applicants and require citizenship for all subsidy benefits. Work with the governments of and support establishment of secure refugee areas inside of nations de-stabilized by wars/uprisings.

3) VA: Incorporate directly into DOD and utilize active duty/Reserve medical assets. Scrap failed/wasteful programs in favor of negotiating revised contracts for provision of new issue of proven platforms in greater quantities at lower cost-funnel funds directly into service member/veteran benefits. Create initiatives to ensure active forces stay through to retirement, then institute true pension for retired veterans based on current cost of living increase.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 6 at 2016 10:44 AM

2016-04-06T10:44:21-04:00

What do we do when we migrate to the card and service is lousy? It will become a blame game.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Apr 6 at 2016 10:52 AM

2016-04-06T10:52:14-04:00

Economy - FLAT TAX - everyone will pay the same....Just a random number of 10% on everything. It does several things 1.) Puts more disposable income in everyone's pocket so they spend more, i.e., boosting the economy, 2.) everybody spends money on goods and service, i.e., pimps/ho's/drug dealers/ thugs/honest people/illegals...that way you capture tax from all those folks that have been avoiding paying it or getting illegal refunds, and 3.) It will also do away with the IRS...If you aren't taxing income, you don't need the IRS.

Immigration - One year work visa where during that time you work towards your citizenship. If you can show at the end of the year you kept a job, paid taxes, paid your medical bills, and stayed out of trouble, then you can take your citizenship test. If you don't do what you need to do in that year, you get deported and there is a three year wait on you coming back. We were built on immigrants and that is what makes us great, the diversity from the various backgrounds but we have to be smart about it.

VA - Do away with the medical piece of it and use private physicians. You can still have the VA for disability claims/payments etc but do away with the hospitals and have a VA insurance plan that pays for what they would do in their hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies...just do away with the bureaucracy.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Apr 6 at 2016 11:05 AM

2016-04-06T11:05:52-04:00

1. Develop a flat tax structure that secures adequate income while doing away with the "free trade" treaty structure. "Free trade" has never happened historically; for instance, the entire US agriculture industry is subsidized and actually unfair for nations that do not [ I believe in subsidizing food production]. China subsidizes its entire manufacturing industries and is extremely unfair by making imports into its economy much more expensive for its consumers.
2. Immigrants simply must be made to go through legal procedures to get to stay here in the US. Blanket amnesty is out while proving individuals to be good potential citizens through documenting a steady work history, payment of bills, and complete lack of legal problems is good policy.
3. Privatize the VA. Do away with physical assets, including hospitals & clinics, while allowing the consumers to go to their own preferred physicians. Make fraud much more expensive through prison & steep fines.

Response by SFC Randy Purham made Apr 6 at 2016 11:32 AM

2016-04-06T11:32:52-04:00

I love this question as I have addressed this in other forums.
1.) Economy and Taxes are two-fold: I would eliminate the Federal Pay-roll tax and Income Tax for employees. Impose an import tax on Companies shipping back into the US - that are US based. Remove the mandate for Federal oversight of healthcare - State responsibility and create a escrow/savings plan for families to contribute to their own healthcare. ( I have details...)
2.) Immigration Offices would be established along the border states. Undocumented immigrants will have 90-days to make themselves known. If they are caught after this grace period. They will be detained (unspecified amount of time) and sent out of the country. Patrols by the military/guard will be utilized to monitor the boarders for further illegal immigrants.
3.) I would have all VA centers go 24-hrs. Reduce the wages of top executives or replace them all together. Incorporate Veterans as staff for the additional hours. Incorporate the choice of doctors and other specialty physicians. All Workers would move to a pay plan similar to the military pay structure.

I have more definitive explanations, but you get the gist from that little bit.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 6 at 2016 11:43 AM

2016-04-06T11:43:50-04:00

1. For the economy: There's little a President can do directly. However, I'd use the "Bully Pulpit" to inspire the people to prevail on Congress to pass legislation cutting the size of government back to its constitutional limits and the budget back to a level we can afford (commensurate with tax revenues).

2. On immigration: I would enforce the sovereign borders of the U.S. by whatever means needed. This is at present the most basic defense need of the nation. Legal immigrants would be processed expeditiously and welcomed whole heartedly. Illegal aliens would be located and legally processed.

3. VA: They appear to be handling education and housing benefits well enough. Focus on medical care. First, military personnel should not be discharged until they are made whole again. Thus, utilize military medical facilities to provide care for service connected injuries/diseases/disabilities. May subcontract to private medical facilities as needed (such as when there are no military medical facilities in the service member's hometown). Retired personnel to have paid private health insurance and medicare when qualified.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Apr 6 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-04-06T12:27:03-04:00

Economy - Attempt to get Congress to either A) pass a tax plan that, based upon COLA as applied by the Federal government for Federal employees, establishes a base subsistence income level, to be multiplied by the number of people in the household, and tax ALL income above that at a low, flat rate with no exceptions or exemptions and reduce corporate income, capital gains and dividend tax rates to at LEAST the G20 average or B) preferably eliminate the personal and corporate income taxes, capital gains, dividends and estate tax and replace them with a consumption tax. Attempt to get Congress to repeal Obamacare, eliminate the Departments of Education, Energy, HUD, and go through our regulatory system with an aim at making regulatory compliance less onerous. Legalize drugs, end the Farm Bill and push for a balanced budget amendment binding except in time of declared war. Privatize Fannie, Freddie, Sallie Mae and get Federal government out of the lending business.

Immigration - First, secure the border using a rotational call-up of the National Guard until a wall of some sort, either physical or surveillance based, was established. Request more funding for vigorous tracking of visa entrants and deportation of overstays. End ALL Federal funding for sanctuary cities and consider withholding funds to states that don't follow suit with state funding.

VA - I'd commission a study into the viability of replacing the VA with a Cadillac insurance plan coupled with vigorous fraud monitoring.

Response by PO1 Robert Fast made Apr 6 at 2016 1:44 PM

2016-04-06T13:44:57-04:00

Economy: Eliminate the payroll tax, implement across the board sales tax of 15%, eliminate tax exemptions, reform and tighten trade laws and enforce them.
Immigration: Reform and tighten requirements for entry and use the security services to vet ALL immigrants and disallow ANY questionable evidence.
VA: Find a model, Pensacola Florida VA is a good start, make them all follow suit, punish the failures and fire them, and hire talent, our veterans are not only promised this but worth it!

Response by LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD made Apr 6 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-04-06T14:39:49-04:00

Economy: Put everyone that is able to work! Cut out the fat, meaning those who take advantage of free programs must work if they can and no illicit drug use to apply. Return power to the States and have non-violent criminals be part of the structural fix for the country. Currently, the costs for each state to house, feed, and keep prisoners is around $20-$25k. Rewire the system to offer training and job security for stabilized criminals and do the same for the immigration challenge. Also, institute program so that high school students who do not, or can not, work a 2 year job working for their communities or military. They are having difficulty getting job experience which can lead to further insecurity.
Immigration: Tied into part of explanation above. If immigrants wanting to come to the U.S. would work on roads, highways, bridges, with oversight for 2 years they might bypass some costs for the immigration process and likewise save taxpayer dollars due to oversight of those programs. It would save immigrants too. I have been told that it costs close to $25k to get through the process and a lot of time. Ok, make that process a win-win, but still use the vetting piece.
VA: The VA is a multi-faceted challenge. The challenges include: medical personnel, facilities, training, customer service, identification of vets, and proper oversight of each. Getting through the system is one thing, getting timely service is another. Outside peripheral services can be contracted once on board, but connectivity to the systems from phone to follow-up is still weak. Start with improving each sub-section and then tying them together to form a seamless organization. Yes, it can be done - but not overnight. As a process/reprocess business consultant, I know that for a fact. I would love to have that headache, because I love vets...and that is also a fact!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 2:48 PM

2016-04-06T14:48:11-04:00

1. Economy: Streamline the federal government by downsizing, eliminate the IRS and go to a "fair tax" or “flat tax” where everyone pays 15% (max) and Corporate pays 25% (max).
2. Immigration: Secure the borders and enforce existing immigration laws. The visa system has to be re-looked and enforced for everyone.
3. VA: Dissolve ALL VA hospitals and issue a veteran’s medical card so we can go to civilian medical practice and receive treatment with those they can trust. The dollars spent on overhead alone with the VA facilities and uncontrolled salaries of those who manage the VA system need to removed and charged with criminal activity all the way to the highest levels.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 2:59 PM

2016-04-06T14:59:59-04:00

Economy:
I would simplify the tax code. It would remain a progressive scale, but I would add a 45% rate on income over $250,000 and I would eliminate dividend and capital gains rates and roll that money into standard income. This would vastly increase the revenue stream and only hit those who could afford it.

Immigration:
I would bring back a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act known as 245(i), which was a means that someone who entered the United States illegally BUT IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE TO ADJUST STATUS could pay a fine in lieu of returning to their country. That fine was $1,000 until the law expired in 2001, and I would adjust it to $2,500 or $5,000. This would eliminate the 10-year forced family separation as part of the normal immigration process. I would also define "qualifying relative" for waivers of immigration violations as any parent, spouse or child who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident and eliminate the 21-year age to "age out" of eligibility for applications, qualifying relative status or immigration benefits.

VA:
For the VA I would implement a strict 30 day maximum appointment time and any appointments that cannot be scheduled with a military or VA facility would move automatically to a civilian provider in the TriCare network. In places where VA facilities are more than 100 miles away I would authorize use of TriCare network providers to VA beneficiaries.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 9:20 PM

2016-04-06T21:20:56-04:00

1.) Flat tax on money spent (this way everyone pays when they spend money...personal and business) and close the IRS. Allow all companies a short window to bring all their money back from overseas with a very low tax rate as long as a percentage is used to update their facilities or add to their work force.
2.) Build the wall and then stream line immigration reform so it can be done in a few months without tens of thousands of dollars for lawyers.
3.) Close down most of the VA hospitals and allow veterans to see local doctors.

Response by SGT Nathan Huff made Apr 7 at 2016 1:33 AM

2016-04-07T01:33:57-04:00

Immigration: comprehensive route to legal status at the cost of the immigrant and not the tax payers.

Economy: add work standards for imported goods that if they do not meet American work standards they get hit with heavy fines while also cutting corporate tax to 10% like Canada has it. cut corporate welfare and only make it available for returning factories, job, and primarily small business. make it cheaper to have your business in the states then importing. (basics)

VA: do a complete revamp of the entire administration system from senior employees to policies. End running it like a business and add more funds to the VA. turn choice into an insurance card so it is truly a choice.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 9:18 AM

2016-04-07T09:18:39-04:00

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