Notebook: Outrageous proposals

EDITORIAL MUG: Larry Anderson

The interim between the Biden regime and the Trump administration offers opportunity for reflection. Much will change starting in January but permanence is doubtful. Our politics are cyclical, you see, and mercurial; therefore, the opportunity for reform is brief.

Let’s ponder a few outrageous proposals, so identified because they are unlikely to take hold but are still worthy of consideration. Improvement has to begin somewhere, and what may be dismissed now could find footing later.

I propose the government end Daylight Savings Time. It serves little purpose anymore and is a major pain in the butt. It messes with sleep patterns. The sun is in the wrong place. All that clock changing. Let’s go back to one time and stick with it.

Here’s a well-worn road worth traversing again. Let’s have term limits in Congress. Two six-year terms for senators and six two-year terms for representatives is enough. Limiting time in office would restrain power which, in my opinion, is badly needed. It would go a long way in limiting the professional politician class too.

With term limits should come an age ceiling for Congress, the presidency, and SCOTUS. Seventy-five is plenty old enough and a full decade after the standard retirement age. This coupled with term limits would sweep out a lot of deadwood clinging to power. Nancy Pelosi, 84, comes to mind.

I think it makes sense to invigorate the system, and precise reforms would keep it sensible and more focused on the people. Dominance by tenure, individual or party would be more difficult.

Limiting office by term and age is outrageous because they will only happen through an act of Congress, and it is unlikely members would want to limit their power and employment. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done; it does mean it would take a grassroots movement to shift the rock. Reform seems more likely with Republicans than Democrats so now is the time.

Joe Biden was in politics for 50 years. Look how that turned out.

I propose the government end federal income tax on all individuals who have paid in for 60 years. It seems to me if one has paid taxes for six decades, that is enough. You’ve done your duty. Now let the golden years be more so. The relief and freedom this would provide older citizens is substantial.

Trump has mentioned ending the tax on Social Security benefits and might be open to extending that to other income sources as well for our oldest citizens. That or a similar notion is worth advocating.

Instead of growing the federal government, we could try reducing its size. For instance, the Department of Education could be eliminated with states taking all responsibility for educating its kids. The Department of Education has only been in place since 1979. It could go and may under Trump’s reform agenda. Other departments could end too or be consolidated.

Here’s an outrageous proposal: Why don’t we stop spending more money than we take in? A balanced budget amendment coupled with a line item veto would go a long way in reducing waste and corruption within government. Debt and deficit would go down, but this would have to be law carefully worded and vigorously enforced. Getting the two sides to agree seems a heavy lift, but what if all of Congress is Republican along with the president?

Kamala Harris took in an outrageous one billion dollars during her campaign, but ended with a deficit. I propose capping how much a presidential campaign can collect by law at $100 million. That would curb growth within the political industry and narrow the influence of big donors.

I would limit campaign time for president and Congress to 90 days prior to the election to avoid exhaustion and overhead. I also propose a code of conduct be signed when candidates file for high office. That would reduce bickering and increase attention to issues. Violations would cause fines to the candidate’s treasury thereby encouraging compliance. Ethics should not be a fantastic concept.

I like it when candidates play nice, tell the truth, and are respectful, but politicians need guidelines too. There’s nothing wrong with new rules that aid the system, cause accountability, and modify behavior.

Larry W. Anderson is a

retired educator.