What are your top (3) items of importance for the next POTUS to tackle?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:15:19 -0400

What are your top (3) items of importance for the next POTUS to tackle?

Here are mine:

1. Overhaul or reorganize the Department of Veterans Affairs (specifically healthcare for veterans) -use some of the ideas that the Dream Team here on RallyPoint is recommending Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, and LTC John Shaw. Also, hire Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM to be the head of Patient Advocacy for all veterans through the new VA

2. Appeal Obamacare and overhaul America's healthcare from top to bottom including the insurance companies.

3. Set into motion a Strategic Military Modernization Program for all the military service branches.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 30 at 2015 6:24 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:24:50 -0400

1) Rebuild our military strength.
2) Rebuild our economy (lower taxes and repeal excessive regulations).
3) Expand our energy sector and remove export restrictions. This enable us to do 1) and 2).

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 30 at 2015 6:32 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:32:19 -0400

1. Fix the education system.
2. Fix the education system.
3. Fix the education system.

If this isn't done, we have no future, and any other actions are moot. This is the only priority. All our problems stem from this one issue...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2015 6:34 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:34:25 -0400

1. Development of alternative energy sources needs to be a priority. Our dependence on oil weakens the U.S. by constraining our foreign policy. This will also help address the issue of climate change.

2. Security - the biggest threat to the U.S. is a nuclear 9/11 posed by terrorist gaining or developing nuclear capabilities

3. Moderate the coming recession.

Response by CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner made Aug 30 at 2015 8:11 PM

CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:11:02 -0400

1. Repeal Obummer care
B. Secure the border
III. Strengthen the military

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2015 8:28 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:28:12 -0400

Close the Border/Fix Immigration
National Defense
Repeal Obamacare

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 30 at 2015 8:31 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:31:27 -0400

1) "Hasta la vista baby" to all the illegals.
2) Restore America and its CITIZENS to its former glory, status and way of life.
3) Make "Made in America" mean exactly what it says once again.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2015 8:38 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:38:26 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs,
1. Continue to fix the economy.
2. Totally revamp the VA system for our Veterans.
3. Reevaluate the downsizing of the Armed Forces.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 30 at 2015 8:59 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:59:14 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs here are some of the things I picked (not necessarily in order of precedence).
1. Stop the Iran Nuclear agreement.
2. Repeal Obamacare
3. Secure the border
4. Stop giving money to other countries that do nothing for us.
5. Invest in rebuilding our infrastructure.
6. Fix the welfare state that we have become.
7. Get rid of the illegal aliens.
I really wouldn't mind the VA getting rolled into DoD. It would be some work at first but I think they might have a better chance at fixing that monstrous money pit as it is now.

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Aug 30 at 2015 9:54 PM

PFC Robert Falk — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 21:54:15 -0400

I would say a COLA increase to match Congress.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2015 10:13 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 22:13:39 -0400

!. Rebuild the military.
2. Eliminate O'Bonzocare.
3. Eliminate or invalidate the majority of Executive Orders signed by #44.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2015 10:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 22:25:38 -0400

1. Balance the Budget. We as a country need to get our Debt under control in order to restore our strength within the global economy. Most don’t like this part but we are going to have to increase taxes back to pre-Ronald Reagan. Something I watched a while back and have seen a couple more times since is a Documentary call “Inequality for All”. I found it very informative and neutral in its explanation of the state of affairs. But it talks also about making the hard rights necessary to get our country back on track. Check it out if you get the opportunity.
2. Fix the Education system. If you look back on our education. You will see that education went down when we diverted money away from it as part of tax cuts. Education improves the long term stability of this country.
3. Develop and build industry here. Bring real Jobs back to America. You want to make this country strong again. It has to become an industry leader again.

Thats my thoughts.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Aug 30 at 2015 11:58 PM

PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 23:58:39 -0400

1) Immigration must be brought under control. Illegal entry must stop.

2) The VA must be completely reformed. I mean everyone in a management or supervisor role should be replaced. Requirements need to be evaluated and changed. Wait times for getting seen should only be three days. If it becomes longer than three days, SOP must be in place to get Veterans seen at other clinics or hospitals. This would require an agreement in place with ALL clinics and hospitals every to see any Veteran without having to worry about insurance or who is going to pay. There should be a claim form for them to file with the VA to be reimbursed the cost of caring for that Veteran. IT SHOULD BE A FEDERAL CRIME FOR ANY CLINIC OR HOSPITAL TO REFUSE CARE TO ANY VETERAN.

3) Any politician caught accepting donations from any kind of lobbyist will be immediately removed from all committees and will be removed from office based on the outcome of a formal investigation.

4) Throw away the current Tax Code and go to a simple flat rate tax that will be a percentage based on how much you make with the maximum tax being 15%. No deductions would be allowed. The current punishments for things like tax evasion, and failing to file an income tax return would remain in place. For example if you make $30,000 to $50,000 your tax rate would be 3%. $50,000 to $100,000, would be 5%. $100,000 to $500,000 would be 10%. And anything over $500,000 would be 15%. This is just a rough example of what it could be.

5) Term limits and current net worth limits. Meaning if you are worth more than $5 million, you are not allowed to run. Once in office you get to run again until you have served 12 years. So if you are elected for your first term and hold office for 4 years you have 8 more that you can hold office for.

6) I would make it so that Executive Orders are illegal. No more of a President just signing an executive order to make something legal or happen. There will be no more doing things without Congress approving. So those 600 some executive orders Obama signed would all be void and no President would be able to sign another one.

7) I would repeal the Affordable Care Act. It has done nothing but put money into the pockets of insurance companies. It makes it so that if you don't have insurance you pay a penalty. If you go through ObamaCare and get insurance through one of those exchanges, you are given a credit that is more than the policy you are getting. Which in turn makes it so that you received a credit higher than you should and you are now having to pay the difference back to the government. For example, if you go through ObamaCare to get coverage. And lets say your policy costs $2500. But the government approves and provides $4,000 for insurance. Keep in mind you do not actually receive this money. When you file your income tax return, you have to pay back the extra amount of $1,500 to the IRS now. So the insurance you couldn't afford to get in the first place has now cost you $1,500 to the government because they gave the insurance company $4,000. These numbers are for the purpose of showing you how this actually works. And if you really don't believe me, I am a CTEC Registered Tax Return Preparer and I had a client go through this. However, their numbers where different. So...Anyone who thinks ObamaCare is good, is just plan ignorant and missinformed.

Response by SSG James Arlington made Aug 31 at 2015 12:09 AM

SSG James Arlington — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 00:09:03 -0400

Get rid of all socialism, including government pensions (which includes military ones) The socialist VA, Social Security, Medicare, and let all, inuding veterans survive in the free market system.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2015 3:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 03:21:22 -0400

1. Dismantle the Federal Reserve Bank.
2. End lobbying, re-enact Citizens United.
3. Enact Term limits for all members of Congress.

After that I'm pretty sure the rest will sort itself out in short time.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 31 at 2015 7:44 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 07:44:12 -0400

Well Sir - I can definitely relate to the 2 seemingly biased ones :-) - but I think the POTUS should tackle issues that affect the most people first, so I'd move your #2 to the top of the list, then
#2 - squash the subcultural ideals to kill cops, black lives matter, rioting is OK, etc by getting the community leaders that "get it" to promote the right ideals in those communities
#3 - reduce the debt & reform welfare thereby reducing the dependency of so many on government support - people WILL work if you expected them too and won't if you continue to pay them for not working.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 31 at 2015 7:46 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 07:46:52 -0400

1. Protect the borders
2. Fix the economy
3. Attack terrorism head on. Take no prisoners.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 31 at 2015 10:37 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 10:37:32 -0400

1. Infrastructure reform. We're the largest economy in the world, yet our infrastructure is crumbling from the roads to the waterways. We cannot expect to stay on top when the simple things that keep America running are crumbling. We're using water pipes in DC that were originally installed when the city was developed. Does anyone see a problem with that? Our need for fossil fuels is destroying our land. We're having earthquakes in areas that never had them before (Dallas TX?). Our need for electricity is bigger than the supply leading to brown and power outages. We have nuclear plants that aren't producing or are able to produce more, but are held back. And we're stuck with the nuclear fuel left over. We could go to Thorium reactors to make the same amount of power and not have the same type of leftover waste. There's more in this section, but it would be a book lol

2. Unification of America. We are a nation on the fringe again. Race relations are bad, and it's not helped when those in office from the state to federal are engaging in acts that disparage all (regardless of skin color). We need a no nonsense approach to laws that don't favor one over another (the crack laws were harder on blacks who used crack than the whites who were seen as cocaine users). We need to have future lawmakers realize that they truly represent ALL of US and not those with massive bank accounts. No more of singling out, no more higher and lower, but a non political stance that we're all in this together, will deal with it together, and enjoy the fruits of our work together.

3. Reassessment of American foreign policy and treaties. We're stretching the military to no end in the name of furthering American reach and influence. In this I think we're failing our allies and ourselves in the process. I think the future POTUS should look at the real need vs. perceived need. Are they really a threat to the continental US, or is it a threat to big business? If it's the latter, do we really need to commit lives for the sake of a dollar? Can we properly use sanctions instead? With treaties, has the Geneva convention served it's purpose? We're fighting enemies that weren't around when this was enacted and the threats we're facing are not bound by this and it hampers the military. Maybe we should tweak it to fit the needs of the current battles rather than the past. If we do this, everyone wins.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Aug 31 at 2015 10:47 AM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 10:47:33 -0400

This is hard since Obama has screwed things up so much. He calls a treaty an agreement so he doesn't have to worry about Congress. His executive orders on immigration has made it so no one in congress can fix it. We are so tangled in the web of Obama care that we can not get free of it. And the EPA and IRS have become Obamas enforcers. Obama does not stand up for religious liberty. I can go on. I'm amazed that anyone wants the job.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Aug 31 at 2015 11:24 AM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 11:24:12 -0400

Geesshhhh! Only three things.
1. Repeal everything Obama has done in the past eight years
2. Send them all home and close the borders and make the borders super secure....while implementing harsher laws/sentencing
3. Fix the VA issue and get jobs for VETS! with better pay!...and build up the military again...stronger Military.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 31 at 2015 11:30 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 11:30:56 -0400

1. Fix the budget issues
2. Grow the Economy
3. National Defense

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 31 at 2015 12:27 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 12:27:44 -0400

1. Create an environment that results in job creation. many other issues will take care of themselves if this can be done.
2. Create a State Department that realizes the job 1 is defending the United States of America, not build a legacy/resume. Same results as above.
3. Eliminate the Department of Ed, AG, Interior, for a start, decrease the power taken by the EPA and permit only what is in the best interest of the USA, not the globe which we have minimum impact on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2015 2:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:42:53 -0400

Top 3!
1. ISIS/ISIL
2. Amnesty
3. The economy

Anyway, that's what I think... COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Aug 31 at 2015 3:04 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 15:04:31 -0400

Fix our broken elected officials by setting and enforcing term limits
Fix our broken government entities by allowing the termination of employees who are not working to standards
Fix Obamacare by making it truly affordable and that in turn takes on the insurance companies who raised premiums before even rolling out the plans.

These are very general but its a start.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 31 at 2015 3:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 15:34:12 -0400

1. The wars 2. Be inclusive and not divisive. 3. Immigration

Response by SPC George Long made Aug 31 at 2015 11:38 PM

SPC George Long — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:38:39 -0400

Close the VA and let ue free commercial health care. I'm 100 % service connected but the health care my wife has with Champ VA is light-years ahead. Establish reasonable active duty levels. Who we gonna beat now/the Smurfs. Fire and or put in jail those people in the VA system who need to go there.
Remember Honor is not given. IT IS EARNED!

Response by 1SG Kenneth Talkington Sr made Sep 1 at 2015 8:11 PM

1SG Kenneth Talkington Sr — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:11:06 -0400

I have been pondering over this question since it was posted. There are so many things that need to be fixed in our country. I don't think there is enough time to list them all. But my top three would have to be:
1. Rebuild our infrastructure.
2. Secure our borders and repair the immigration system. Stop allowing illegals to live on taxpayer funds.
3. Teach American History in our school. Clean the socialist and communist educators out of the education system. Do away with race relations and start teaching that we are all US Citizens regardless of race, color or country of origin. Give every US Citizen the opportunity to get a good education. But do not pamper or waste time on those who do not want to learn.

Well, enough of my rambling. Those are my three but I think this question should be revisited.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Sep 2 at 2015 9:29 AM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 09:29:48 -0400

I don't think I could ever narrow it down to 3. There are so many issues that I want addressed and most of them have already been included in the responses.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2015 12:21 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:21:23 -0400

1: Income tax reform. I like Trump's brackets, but not Trump. I think the best way to stimulate the economy is by putting more money into the hands of the consumer.
2: Overhaul the ACA and the VA to a true single-payer system.
3: Cap government-guaranteed student loans.

Response by SSG John Gillespie made Sep 24 at 2015 1:34 PM

SSG John Gillespie — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:34:12 -0400

Here are mine.

1. End legalized bribery in the Federal Government. Permanently. This one issue impedes the resolution of every other issue. This used to be a crime.

2. Solidly address global warming with rational energy policies which fast track movement away from large scale commercial and industrial fossil fuel use. We still have a limited window of opportunity to get this done. To hell with multi-billionaires wanting to profit at the expense of everyone for as long as possible. I want this world to remain habitable for human life well into the next millennium.

3. Simplify the Tax code to close all loopholes and require corporate entities to pay income tax as required by the U.S. Constitution. Provide heavy civil and criminal penalties for individuals colluding in corporate tax evasion, to include offshore tax shelter strategies.