11 votes
Build a Federal Mall, which would contain all agencies, along the U.S./Mexico border. From Brownsville, TX all the way to San Diego, CA.
It would create jobs in the process of being built. House Federal employees(DEA, FBI, IRS, USCIS or INS, CIA, etc.), along with the military and Border control. Creating an easier avenue of keeping our borders safe while creating jobs to improve our economy.
14 votes
$25k tops is not enough of a retirement incentive to retire as a USG senior employee. For the first half of the incentive, consider paying a certain amount of tax-free cash at upwards of $50k with $25k the floor for all eligible, and issue U.S. Government Savings Bonds at a matching dollar rate for the other half of the incentive package. Would create immediate head-space across all USG levels. Rules would include ...more »
$25k tops is not enough of a retirement incentive to retire as a USG senior employee. For the first half of the incentive, consider paying a certain amount of tax-free cash at upwards of $50k with $25k the floor for all eligible, and issue U.S. Government Savings Bonds at a matching dollar rate for the other half of the incentive package. Would create immediate head-space across all USG levels. Rules would include that retirement must occur within 1st quarter of any new FY to allow maximum recovery of salary/benefits for remainder of the FY. The agency has already received the money for a full FY…a win-win.
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84 votes
Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings. The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal ...more »
Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings.
The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal buildings.
The Gov office could set the example by assign a pilot program especially to a NEW CONTRUCTION offices and or business. This pilot can be set and studies can be used to compare conventional usage of energy versus new Wind Turbine and / or Solar Panel.
I have seemed the Corp of Engineer along with the local agency organization conducting and planning 2 or 3 years ago having the implementation of outdated R22 refrigerant (this Freon is being banded by the EPA effective 2008) versus Eco-Friendly R410a.
Additionally:
Military building can benefit from this in the long run instead of warhead expenses; by diverting some of the tomahawk and other missiles strategy cost to this Solar and Wind Turbine energy. It’ll pay back.
See other ideas.
http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Equipment-CONSOLIDATION-and-ReUTILIZATION/123337-13060
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20 votes
Get Government out of the "business of jobs" and into the business of competition.
6 votes
Let's give a laptop to every human being... It's that simple. 7 billion people, estimate, say, 300 dollars for the cheapest wireless internet recieving laptop on the market... 2.1 trillion dollars, and the entire human community enters the 21st century all at once. Everyone on the planet has every book in the public domain at their fingertips, for free. Our currency is now the standard of the world, and the world ...more »
Let's give a laptop to every human being... It's that simple. 7 billion people, estimate, say, 300 dollars for the cheapest wireless internet recieving laptop on the market... 2.1 trillion dollars, and the entire human community enters the 21st century all at once. Everyone on the planet has every book in the public domain at their fingertips, for free. Our currency is now the standard of the world, and the world has tolerated us printing that currency to fund wars, and bankrupt corporations. I think they will tolerate us printing some more to give every human being on the planet a usefull tool for gathering and sharing knowledge. When living in a faith based economy, one's economy better be doing something that actually deserves that faith. This 2 trillion dollars in inflation, will raise the value of the dollar worldwide, in the long run.
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33 votes
There should be a way for term people to convert to permanent people based on performance. If a person is fully successful in their position, and the agency wants to hire a permanent person for that position there should be a way to convert the term person. It is extremely inefficient for the government to spend time and resources processing a new job advertisement, holding interviews, processing a new candidate for the ...more »
There should be a way for term people to convert to permanent people based on performance. If a person is fully successful in their position, and the agency wants to hire a permanent person for that position there should be a way to convert the term person. It is extremely inefficient for the government to spend time and resources processing a new job advertisement, holding interviews, processing a new candidate for the position and then training a person if they already have a fully trained and successful person in the position. If the term person is selected as the candidate after the current process, then the government wasted time and money in the advertisement and interview stages. If the term person is fully successful for the position but did not qualify to interview solely because a veteran applied, then government wasted all of the resources and time it used to train the term employee to be an asset to the organization.
If term employees are doing a great job, why should the government let them go when they want a permanent person for the same position? If the term person is not fully successful in their position, then I can understand holding additional interviews. However, the way the current system is set up allows people who have proven themselves to be an asset be let go of.
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20 votes
The Fed needs to reform hiring practices for gov employees. They need to hire the most qualified candidates and remove preferences for vet/ethnicity/sex. If they continue to hire people for any other reason than those people being the most qualified, they will get what they seek. Preference for certain groups should come in the form of recruitment and application support, not additional points that may knock more qualified ...more »
The Fed needs to reform hiring practices for gov employees. They need to hire the most qualified candidates and remove preferences for vet/ethnicity/sex. If they continue to hire people for any other reason than those people being the most qualified, they will get what they seek.
Preference for certain groups should come in the form of recruitment and application support, not additional points that may knock more qualified candidates out of the running for a position.
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15 votes
The way we should be trying to handle Health Care Issues. Insurance Companies pay out so much in over charges from Hospitals, Doctors and Pharmacy's. We need to regulated and police the claims that are submited to Insurance companies. To insure they are not fattened with procedures, medicine's, and other things that were not givin to the insured patient. Insurance companies usually just pay the bills without checking ...more »
The way we should be trying to handle Health Care Issues. Insurance Companies pay out so much in over charges from Hospitals, Doctors and Pharmacy's. We need to regulated and police the claims that are submited to Insurance companies. To insure they are not fattened with procedures, medicine's, and other things that were not givin to the insured patient. Insurance companies usually just pay the bills without checking if what is being billed is correct. For example, I use to be an insurance agent many years ago, I had a client who spent 2 days in the hospital. She called me when she started receiving bills from the hospital. I went over to her house to get the bills to process her claims. She was charged for 6 days in the hospital, and many numerous things she had not received. She was elderly, and her policy was a supplement to cover what medicare didn't pay. That Hospital new or thought, she has a great policy lets fatten this up. I called that hospital and they said were sorry for the mistake and took it off her bill saving my insurance company over $20,000. That was $20,000 on one person years ago, since then who has watched over the rest of the world and these hospitals, doctors, and pharmacy's from bilking the insurance companies, so the premiums have to go up and up and up, until it's just not affordable to people with low income. or even middle income families. Stop the over charging, make the insurance companies bring down the cost of insurance to make it affordable. If we regulate what is being charging by the hospital's, insurance companies would have more money in the POOL of people and would be able to bring down the cost of insurance nationwide.
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14 votes
When the federal government is forced to furlough federal employees because of lack of funding, each employee either goes home and is essentially laid off, while the other federal employees are actually considered useful and necessary and simply continue to work, regardless of the fact that they are not going to get paid. I can understand why when all is said and done, the people who are required to work during a furlough ...more »
When the federal government is forced to furlough federal employees because of lack of funding, each employee either goes home and is essentially laid off, while the other federal employees are actually considered useful and necessary and simply continue to work, regardless of the fact that they are not going to get paid. I can understand why when all is said and done, the people who are required to work during a furlough eventually get paid backpay, but why do they pay the people that stay home? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? If you furlough federal workers, don't pay the ones that don't work! Duh!
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58 votes
The $1 bill cost more than a dollar to produce. It is time we replace it with coins like they have done in Europe. They last longer and are cheaper to make.
12 votes
Criminalization of the sale of narcotics has not reduced the supply of narcotics in the US. In fact, we have a larger hard drug addiction problem than almost any other first world nation, despite rigorous almost violent anti drug legislation. Why? Criminalization increases profits. Criminalization creates the illusion that drug dealing is the easiest and fastest way out of poverty, because of those insane profits. ...more »
Criminalization of the sale of narcotics has not reduced the supply of narcotics in the US. In fact, we have a larger hard drug addiction problem than almost any other first world nation, despite rigorous almost violent anti drug legislation. Why?
Criminalization increases profits. Criminalization creates the illusion that drug dealing is the easiest and fastest way out of poverty, because of those insane profits. Criminalization exports profits to the worst run, and most violent, unruly dictatorships on the planet. And, finally, criminalization turns desperate and often mentally ill people in need of treatment, against the government, and against the police, making it impossible for them to find help. I suggest we legallize the sale of all narcotic substances, no matter how dangerous, provided they are properly labeled, and sold for a profit of no more than minimum wage, 60 hours a week. This will make drug dealing the worst way out of poverty, and make culture see drug dealers for what they really are, the poorest, laziest, and most desperate unskilled labor in the country. Eliminate the DEA, and use the savings to hire thousands of forensic accountants for the IRS. Enforce the salary cap as a tax issue, and seize assets rather than imprisoning civilians. Tax narcotic sales, and use that money to invest in free treatment for anyone who wants help. Save money, save lives, and ensure that a good baker, or good construction worker is always seen as more valuable than a good drug dealer.
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13 votes
Create an accredited K through Doctorate internet University of the United States of America, on which all citizens can learn and recieve credit for testing on any subject they like, at any time, for free. Over the next few years, offer traditional classroom teachers a bonus for recording all lecture material and posting it to this website until every subject has 1000's of hours of detailed video, created by accredited ...more »
Create an accredited K through Doctorate internet University of the United States of America, on which all citizens can learn and recieve credit for testing on any subject they like, at any time, for free. Over the next few years, offer traditional classroom teachers a bonus for recording all lecture material and posting it to this website until every subject has 1000's of hours of detailed video, created by accredited professors, with students ranking the best content. Credit gained through passing online tests at this University should be accepted as equivalent, to any other university, but will continue to have a large social stigma for generations, as people will still favor more "prestigious" or "traditional" degrees. It should cost two to three times as much to build as a traditional university, but handle a virtually infinite number of students, lowering the total cost of education substantially, while providing much more flexibillity, and up to date (patched) information for students. If we can't compete in the international marketplace with a tool like this... We don't deserve to compete.
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16 votes
All jobs posted on USAJOBS should be open to every single United States citizens. Never should it be open only to Agency employees only. This is a HUGE waste of time and taxpayer money. No one should be excluded from applying for a job simply because they are not with that agency. This practice needs to stop so that all have a fair chance of applying for a job.
13 votes
The Patent office does a good job, but it can be expensive to patent an idea. Many people have good ideas, but don't follow through with them because of the expense. The Patent office should allow each inventor to have their first patent done free. This way new ideas would be able to come to fruition and this would lead to new products being developed and ultimately more jobs being developed.
35 votes
Repeal the current tax code(s) and replace with the fair tax. It will "instantly" enrichen everyone including the US Government - we need drastic action to deal with this global economic meltdown. Fair tax will fix it all - almost overnight. All one really has to do is ask one's self- how is the current system working for you? Answer = we're bankrupt. Does 1 trillion dollars really exist? http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main ...more »
Repeal the current tax code(s) and replace with the fair tax. It will "instantly" enrichen everyone including the US Government - we need drastic action to deal with this global economic meltdown. Fair tax will fix it all - almost overnight.
All one really has to do is ask one's self- how is the current system working for you?
Answer = we're bankrupt.
Does 1 trillion dollars really exist?
http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main
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72 votes
1. Saves energy in America.
2. Saves roads / extends their life
3. Less energy consumed in office space
4. Focus for projects
5. Improved morale
6. More agile workforce able to work offsite during contingencies
90 votes
My building in the military had one that powered the HVAC and the hot water. We were always very comfortable and it was not at the expense of taxpayers beyond installation. What made this good was that we were a 24/7 function. We need more of these where it pays to add them and they should be made in America!
41 votes
For decades we have focused on free trade. This is not a bad thing but Americans must hear from the top that buying American is a good thing to do. If we buy more then prices go down.
I looked at the American Living line in JC Penney and it is made in the usual suspects. They charge more and you would think it would be AMERICAN made!
19 votes
One of the greatest detriments to our competitiveness worldwide, is our inabillity to compete with much lower labor rates overseas. I suggest that we enforce our existing minimum wage laws (adjusted for the exchange rate), on all products sold here in the United States, ignoring their country of origin. Slowly, but surely, domestic employment will rise, and "international corporations" will choose to manufacture overseas, ...more »
One of the greatest detriments to our competitiveness worldwide, is our inabillity to compete with much lower labor rates overseas. I suggest that we enforce our existing minimum wage laws (adjusted for the exchange rate), on all products sold here in the United States, ignoring their country of origin. Slowly, but surely, domestic employment will rise, and "international corporations" will choose to manufacture overseas, only when there is a demand for their products overseas, rather than exporting our demand to a labor force that is paid a sub living wage.
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20 votes
Each Federal position should have an Employee Development Plan attached to it. This plan would consist of education, experiential training, and other tasks and goals designed to help the employee become more proficient at their current job, and also prepare them for promotion to higher-level positions. This would make government more efficent in three ways: agencies would have a viable, powerful tool for succession ...more »
Each Federal position should have an Employee Development Plan attached to it. This plan would consist of education, experiential training, and other tasks and goals designed to help the employee become more proficient at their current job, and also prepare them for promotion to higher-level positions.
This would make government more efficent in three ways: agencies would have a viable, powerful tool for succession planning; employees would be encouraged and rewarded for high acheivement; and burnt-out or unsuccessful employees could be replaced with higher-performing ones.
Succession planning in many agencies is limited at best, and training dollars are often the first to be cut from a program's budget. However, there are shortages of talent for many necessary Federal positions. If each employee has training and development written into their position, agencies could be better prepared for the future, and more likely to make an investment in their staff. Agencies would be actively developing their future leadership, and employees would see clear opportunities for an ambitious career path in the Federal government.
Opportunities for education, promotion, and personal development would attract many high-performing and ambitious workers. A continuous focus on high acheivement, rather that taking the safe route and doing "good enough", would encourage staff to bring new ideas forward and seek out ways to make their agencies perform better.
Requiring employees to stay active in their own development, and having Progress Reviews every 3-5 years, would allow managers to make performance-based decisions to reward high achievers, and release workers who are stagnant or unsatisfactory. Concrete, objective standards would give employees clear goals to work towards.
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24 votes
Create a National Building Code that mandates the use of solar panels in new construction in areas of the country where the sun shines 200 days of the year or more. Each building would be required to have a percentage of the roof covered with solar panels that feed into the grid. For water, mandate the use of low flush toilets and other water saving devices. As well, mandate that at least 75% of all materials be manufactured ...more »
Create a National Building Code that mandates the use of solar panels in new construction in areas of the country where the sun shines 200 days of the year or more. Each building would be required to have a percentage of the roof covered with solar panels that feed into the grid.
For water, mandate the use of low flush toilets and other water saving devices.
As well, mandate that at least 75% of all materials be manufactured in the U.S.
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13 votes
FPI is a self-funded entity, not requiring tax-payer dollars. Right now, the criticism is that it competes with domestic jobs. Congress has already recognized that if FPI were to produce only goods that aren't made in the USA, it could bring those industries and jobs back to America. I would like to expand on that idea. Current fears are that if the FPI would become very successful, it would become a profiting industry, ...more »
FPI is a self-funded entity, not requiring tax-payer dollars. Right now, the criticism is that it competes with domestic jobs. Congress has already recognized that if FPI were to produce only goods that aren't made in the USA, it could bring those industries and jobs back to America. I would like to expand on that idea. Current fears are that if the FPI would become very successful, it would become a profiting industry, and require more "workers", which would cause an increased need for inmates to be incarcerated. So to counter that, mandate that program to be entirely voluntary for inmates. Statistics show that inmates actively learning or practicing a valuable trade are less violent, and are less likely to commit crimes when released. This could indirectly contribute to inmate good-time credit, reducing over-crowding in federal prisons. The goods could then be sold in the USA cheaper than if bought overseas, and would return industry sectors that have been lost overseas. Those goods would use raw materials bought in the US, further contributing to economic growth domestically. Finally, any American corporation using other countries for cheaper labor would move back to the US to counter the cheaper goods being produced domestically, bringing additional job opportunities with them. Once the corporation relocates back in the US, FPI would switch to a different product to avoid competing with those American companies.
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13 votes
Encourage US manufacturers to protect their intellectual property internationally. Establish tough import taxes and laws on international bodies which fail to enforce or respect intellectual property. Foreign producers can only undersell domestic manufacturers because they have learned to produce goods the same way modern countries do. If we agressively enforce intellectual property rights we, as a society, can protect ...more »
Encourage US manufacturers to protect their intellectual property internationally. Establish tough import taxes and laws on international bodies which fail to enforce or respect intellectual property.
Foreign producers can only undersell domestic manufacturers because they have learned to produce goods the same way modern countries do.
If we agressively enforce intellectual property rights we, as a society, can protect the advantages we have a legitimate right to.
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36 votes
Many positions can be automated. Examples such as the timekeeper or a multiple security guards. Add man traps and other features. If the private sector is doing it to be more efficient so should the govt!
30 votes
The high speed rail projects that were proposed were in the wrong states. We need to redirect those funds to a maglev from Washington D.C to New York City. We need to connect our leadership capital with our financial capital. Agencies would be able tl locate up the corridor and have cheaper travel. Since this will take a load off roads then it can be built with government funds and leased to a commercial operator ...more »
The high speed rail projects that were proposed were in the wrong states. We need to redirect those funds to a maglev from Washington D.C to New York City. We need to connect our leadership capital with our financial capital. Agencies would be able tl locate up the corridor and have cheaper travel. Since this will take a load off roads then it can be built with government funds and leased to a commercial operator to use and maintain and earn a profit. Since the infrastructure is leased the deal must place caps on rate increases - they must be based on increasing cost and not increasing profitability.
This would help Amtrak not need govt funds and you could get from DC to New York in 1 hour. The existing Accela rail lines in the corridor can be worked with the local commuter rails that are operated by Amtrak so that the additional tracks planned won't need to be added!
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