Writer's Block: Following the leader

[jdulac]

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I've thought about this -- the first 100 days. 
1. close Gitmo.
2. abolish DOMA
3. start a Manhattan Project around renewable energy, for the post-petroleum era
4. sign on to Kyoto Protocol
5. cut loose on our failed adventures in colonizing Asia (rule #1: never get involved in a land war in Asia)
6. extend medicare to the general population
7. use deficit spending the way Keynes intended

Comments

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

Seven for seven, you've got my vote!

[albreda.livejournal.com]

Someone give me a write-in ballot, QUICKLY!!!

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Remembering that the President is the head of the executive branch, many of the things most people would want to do are beyond the power granted to a President.

1, 5, maybe 7, Possibly 3 depending on how you mean it.

All the rest, I think, require legislative action.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

There's some stuff the President could do, though. For example, the ruling overturning DOMA is currently being appealed; the President could order the DOJ to stop appealing.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Looks like he was listening. ;-) (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/23/6116207-obama-admin-will-no-longer-defend-federal-marriage-act-in-court)

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Yup, came back to say that

Nadia Prupis | White House Declares Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional
Nadia Prupis, Truthout: "The Obama administration said Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and the Justice Department will no longer support it. The Defense of Marriage Act is a federal law defining marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Attorney General Eric Holder sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner stating, 'Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ... as applied to same-sex couples who are legally married under state law, violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment.'"

Progressive dreaming...

[pamelina.livejournal.com]

You bet on all counts. I'd also get two additional legislations passed:

1.) No salaried employee of any publicly traded corp. may be paid more than 10 times the salary of the lowest paid employee of that corporation, and all non-salary compensation such as stock options and bonuses must be merit-based, include claw-back provisions, and must not vest for a minimum of 5 years. No golden parachutes allowed, unless they are universal for all salaried employees. I would remove the salary cap for FICA contributions (social security/medicare.) Million dollar salaries should pay the same percentage FICA contribution as $50,000 teachers do, unlike now.

2.) Truth in reporting law: No newscast or reporter may knowingly lie or be intentionally misleading in any news program, article (written or posted on the internet) or public speech (including editorial programs.)

A good democracy depends on an educated public, which depends on access to truthful information, not popularized propaganda.

I would also change the payment method of medicare for all to be tax-based rather than the current employer-paid system. That would remove the disadvantage American Companies have now when competing against lower cost companies from countries who cover their citizen's healthcare costs. It would lower American companies costs significantly and lead directly to job growth and innovation.

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

I'd vote for you :-)