We have overspent, beyond our revenues and there will have to be shared responsibility for each person. While more taxes could offset deficits, we must also keep incentives to be good or at least adequate, as we don't want people to have less drive and we don't want companies to move overseas.
Note that these principles reduce costs dramatically and increase people's incentives.
Education increases productivity and responsibility
We shall enable and assure that this happens.
Those who benefit, pay.
In the past, congress has received a huge pool of money and then divvied it out per their values and compromises, often to items that were of vastly lower priority than feeding the people and other high values (see Spending Priorities).
Now we would have people pay for the benefits they receive directly. See Loan Account below.
Now we would introduce a personal loan account where payback was at the rate of 10% of earnings per year.
Responsibility, not entitlement
No one is "entitled" if they do not pay for an entitlement.
Self-Reliance, not dependency
"Enabling" people to be dependent is extremely harmful to themselves and to society.
While a safety net makes sense where one cannot care for oneself, citizens need to produce their own benefits and be strong contributors as citizens. (This needs to be taught in schools, of course.)
Safety nets are in the public interest and part of the responsibility of government
But only for those who cannot care for themselves. Most of the moneys should be paid back. See Master Loan Account.
Loan accounts with the government, instead of entitlement where possible
Now we would introduce a personal loan account where payback was at the rate of 10% of earnings per year.
Lives are priceless
And the government should operate from this point of view, to the extent practical. It may have to attribute, for operating purposes, an arbitrary value, such as $2,000,000, prorated to present value for remaining actuarial lifetimes (or something like that).
Not allow illegal entry at the borders
Through whatever electronic or other surveillance is needed, the entry of an illegal, especially a terrorist. Anyone intending harm to the citizens must be kept out.
Not impose on other groups any values of specific groups and/or religions.
We do not have the right to impose religious values on those who believe otherwise nor to take money away from others for the causes others believe in.
Win-Win progressive orientation
Each major "entitlement" program is fully funded
It makes no sense to continue the out-of-integrity methods of accounting for and funding the unbreakable commitments. We must not, of course, overly burden future generations, as we are now.
Effective use of incentives and disincentives
Where the bad effect is extremely high, there must be extreme penalties that are so high they virtually cut off the viability of doing the extreme bad. This would apply to employers using illegal aliens, drunk drivers, those using guns for crime, etc.
Fairness in law suits
The loser pays the winner's court costs, other costs, and legal fees. That will be what anyone suing will have to include in their potential costs of suing. The government will not be exempt from this provision.
Illegals do not get benefits, except for humanitarian
All are shipped back to their country immediately unless their lives are in danger.
Follow the law of the land
Insure the illegal entry is disincentivized
Raise the penalty for employers of illegals until it is prohibitively costly and such employment is eradicated.
Punishment is not the objective
Obviously deterrence is something we must do and people must pay for what they caused, including court costs and any damages. But they also must remain productive and holding them in a cell is costly and unproductive, so it would be limited to where there is no alternative. In a sense, paying adequate fines and costs is a punishment but I regard it just as a payment by agreement, for the crime.
Use of leverage to increase results
Where we can design things better in a central operation and where we can use technology for getting to more people, we do so. This increases the quality and it also reduces the cost but increase the effectiveness.
Use of private, incentivized entities for greater efficiency and accountability
Any function that can be done by non-government entities would be assigned to such.
The government is not a guaranteed place to keep a job
Pay for brains and special expertise where needed
Each operation in government must have a greater benefit than its cost
Where regulations are on areas of minor impact, they will be eliminated. Many bureaus would be eliminated, or consolidated. Each operation must be justified, as in zero based budgeting. Businessmen and effective analysts would be used.
