We’ve received a non-stop flood of emails, Twitter and Facebook messages from people like you who are “Mad as Hell.”  Here are some recent ideas to come in on how we can get started fixing our country. 

If you haven’t written in yet, we want to hear from you.  Let us know your ideas at MadAsHell@DylanRatigan.com.

 

 

Let’s just focus on three things…first, let’s invest in infrastructure, but make sure those investments are putting us on track towards a more energy efficient, resource conserving economy. We also need to make a bigger investment in educational infrastructure. I live in Austin, which adds about 30,000 people per year to its population, but the school district just recently let go a large number of teachers – that’s counter intuitive. Second, let’s cut some of the mindless spending that isn’t making our economy more sustainable. I think we could start with corporate subsidies, especially those that go to agri-business, and the fossil fuel industry. Lastly, we desperately need tax reform, now. The top 1% are taking the largest share of national income since just before the Great Depression – check with economists like Paul Krugman, or Joseph Stiglitz, or Jeffrey Sachs.
– Gary C, Austin TX

I was born in the Boston are a spent much of my childhood playing in the woods of Lexington. I was introduced to American history by living in the town where the “shot heard round the world” actually happened. My friends and I would sometimes ride our bikes to Concord and swim in Walden Pond (not really fully appreciating Thoreau at the time). So I was steeped in American history and have later been greatly influenced by environmentalism. I was quite upset when the right wing of the republican party (the guys who would have been loyal to the Crown) abducted the name “Tea Party.” I want that back so I propose the name “GREEN TEA PARTY.” In this way, we would reclaim one of the significant events in the American revolution for progressives liberals and give it a new environmental twist. We also know that making America a leader in a green technology future is the only way to stay competitive and save the planet.
– William

A little off subject, but I believe as important as money in politics. I like to read comments after a lot of stories that I read. I’m noticing that a large number of people would like to see members of Congress give up benefits, like that are taking from us. End their retirement. A lot to be saved. They also should not get paid when not in office. Term limits. The more money and power taken away, might cause them to work better (maybe). When the gravy train is taken away, I wonder how many people would really want to run for elected office. Isn’t that what public service is about?
– Ken

The only solution is to get the truth out there. Keep repeating it over and over. Perhaps attach a catchy phrase to it. It will work the same way “death panels” hurt the healthcare debate. The truth is the only weapon sane, practical, and realistic people in America have at this point. Please keep up the great work!
– Lynn, SC

I have some suggestions for some campaign finance reform…
1) Let’s have public financing for election campaigns for major offices
2) Prohibit lobbyists from soliciting and bundling big check donations from their business clients
3) Ban gifts to lawmakers by corporations and their executives
4) Prohibit privately financed junkets for legislators and their aids
5) Ban phony parties held to “honor” politicians with corporate contributions
6) Prohibit former legislators and public officials from lobbying for at least 5 years after they leave office
7) Require lobbyists to disclose all lobbying expenditures
8.) Require that all expert witnesses in legislative and regulatory hearings disclose all financial relationships with financially interested parties.
– Gary C, Austin TX

Thanks for your outspoken stance on today’s issues. Please discuss what you would consider to be a good jobs plan. In my opinion, it should be bold and experimental, audacious in scope and visionary. It should focus on the physical economy, not the speculation. It’s should emphasize repairing and rebuilding, not tax cuts and other indirect methods. Where possible it should focus on interest (debt) free investment. Public credit should used instead of expensive Wall street and IMF loans.
– Rafeek

If each citizen were to allocate 15 minutes daily toward inspiring others to join in effort to force removal of opportunity to buy our government, what type of snowball effect might be expected? Forced removal; is there any other way? What other than united targeted effort by we the many would stand even the slimmest chance of creating the change we need, and what chance have we of inspiring enough of our neighbors? What does our future look like if we don’t?
– “Senior Citizen”

What about a march, or a concert in central park, a rally, something to illuminate the fact that our wealth is being extracted from us. The way you stated that fact about our wealth being extracted from us, that our virtual life blood, the blood sweat and tears of our country being stolen, well it left me shaken. It’s an idea I don’t think your average American really understands or even thinks about. I know I certainly didn’t, but it does seem like such an easy concept to understand and we need to keep telling Americans about what’s really happening. I also think maybe a Facebook page for people who don’t want our wealth extracted, and jobs retained here, and investment made in America and Americans, would be a good thing also. It would be something we can pass on and get others involved with.
– Mick and Nancy, WI

Why don’t we call ourselves We The People? That’s who we are, and it’s about time for Washington and Wall Street to start listening to “We The People.”
– Kathi, Lexington KY

Dylan, I would like to see congress enact a blind vote in both houses. This would break up the ability of parties to coerce their members. Members vote would be anonymous and tallied by count, not name.
– Ed

I think that goal of a constitutional amendment to end private money in campaigns should be SINGLE ACTION that precedes all others. I would add constitutional amendment on balanced budget (but not the current one, take a look at the one out of Perot movement in 90s) to draw in Republican/conservative support but EACH amendment should stand alone. I think the constitutional amendment way is the way to go and should include at some point mass rallies in D.C. that make Congress STAY AT WORK until they VOTE on each constitutional amendment.
– Maggie

Dylan, why don’t we come up with a pledge for our elected officials asking them to sign it swearing not to accept ANY corporate monies for their re-election campaigns? They can go on the record whether they are on the side of middle-class Americans or on the side of big, fat and stinking rich corporations. List the names of congress who have signed it at your closing, encourage people to donate to campaigns – and the others, demand that NO ONE contribute to those who have not signed the No Corp Monies pledge.
– Inez

Watch yesterday’s CNBC’s Street Sign television show featuring former corporate CEOs. They explained the fiduciary duties of officers, directors and managers. Put simply, they are precluded from doing anything that is not in the best interest of their shareholders. The interests of corporations and “the People” who call this country home are not inherently aligned. There are no easy answers to our economic woes, but that does not mean there are no options. Yet, no one has offered a solution set that is designed to apply macroeconomic tools in ways that leverage our available resources efficiently and align interests of traditional businesses. No one has aligned the interests of shareholders, corporate officers and the People. None of the “go-to” economists or think tanks have crafted a solution set that is politically agnostic and engineered to garner broad support among diverse stakeholders. I have been researching a solution set that aligns diverse stakeholders to grow our economy. It involves re-engaging our labor, capital and intellectual property resources to solve a broad array of persistent public problems. I call it the 10-to-4 Percent Unemployment Jobs Creation Plan (the “10-to-4 Plan”). I am re-writing the “10-to-4 Plan” into a narrative that will be accessible, available and understandable to “the People” who need to realize they are “stakeholders.” I have opted to transform the plan into a easy to understand narrative because everyone needs to understand what we need to do, why we need to do it and how to deal with the obstacles along to our recovery.
– Luke, Austin TX

Having someone pay you so that you can keep your job? That is the deal our elected officials have. Someone buys them their jobs and all they have to do is agree with the one that bought their vote. After all, the customer is always right. That’s just good business. What a deal that is. I wish someone would donate money to my brother so that he could keep his job. And his job didn’t come with any power or status let alone connections for business ventures and future employment. It’s a pretty good deal if you can get it. That constitutional amendment barring private money in campaigns does sound very good. How, oh how, can we possibly get representatives in there that will vote for an amendment that would hurt their re-election business? The big donors are paying a lot to keep their people in power and we the people just can’t match their funds.
– Margaret