Things I would do if President

I was musing recently, while shaking my head at the auto bailouts, as to what I would do if I had the relatively unenviable position of being the President of the United States. I won't presume to know all the answers to that question; Obama's about-face on foreign policy from his original statements as a candidate are a humbling proof that one can't really grasp the breadth and importance of decisions on that scale until you're landed there. But, I can think of a few things that seem reasonably simple:

1. I would abolish the position of White House Press Secretary, and instead set up a weekly open-ended press conference with the actual president. I would answer questions thoughtfully and as openly as was feasible. This would, hopefully, move toward thoughtful discussion on issues rather than reporters' trying to get a zinger in on the man that the president has thrown at them as a meat shield.

2. I would, at the beginning of my State of the Union addresses, ask the audience to restrict applause to once at the beginning and once at the end. The current culture of applauding statements one finds agreeable is one of the most divisive displays in American politics today.

3. I would iterate over federal programs that are either outside the federal government's Constitutional jurisdiction or simply programs to which the centralization gives no advantage, and pass laws abolishing them in three years' time, sending their assets proportionately to the states to either continue, alter, or discard based on the will of those states' people. I would eliminate the portion of federal taxes designed to fund said programs (which could then be instituted at the state level if necessary).

4. I would impose congressional term limits, probably of four terms in the House and a single term in the Senate.

5. I would change the minimum wage to automatically adjust for inflation, with Treasury being responsible each year for announcing the new rate for the next year.

6. I would re-institute a monetary standard (eliminated by the second President Roosevelt) in order to curb inflation and prevent the clouding of actual inflation by Treasury (as is occurring now by Treasury's selling non-trivial amounts of gold).

7. I would simplify the tax code by reducing rates but removing all exemptions. This would move our business tax rate to something that is actually internationally competitive on its face, and eliminate the need for ordinary Americans to hire a professional in order to do their taxes.

8. I would only tax businesses on income earned within the United States, ending the deferral system in place now, putting our system in line with the rest of the world's, and removing the incentive for companies to move their headquarters overseas.

9. I would reduce the percentage of Americans that are kept completely off the tax rolls. Exemption from taxation eliminates the desire by the untaxed to consider the fiscal soundness of proposed policy initiatives when voting. When that bloc becomes half the electorate (as it is now), our capacity as a country to make wise decisions is severely diminished.

10. I would leave the question regarding school vouchers to the states, rather than banning it at the federal level. The fact that charter schools produce better test results, and usually do it with less than half the money spent per student, should be an indicator that they by and large work. States could also, if they chose, privatize the schools and then set up a system whereby a student can enroll in any school for which he or she qualifies and the tuition would be paid by the state. This would force schools to compete in the eyes of parents, which can only be a good thing.

11. I would eliminate the capital gains' tax. That is income which has already been taxed once, and such a tax does nothing except discourage investment.

12. I would eliminate regulations on business for which no clear case can be made for their necessity or value (or continued value; some may have been well-founded but no longer necessary).

13. I would pas a law forbidding binding arbitration clauses in non-negotiable contracts (such as software license agreements).

14. I would pass a law allowing greater penalties, up to and including disbarment, on lawyers who bring frivolous lawsuits. The judiciary must remain a venue for Americans to air grievances, but there must be retribution for those that choose to abuse the system.

15. I would pass a resolution whereby the District of Columbia would be ceded back to Maryland. The Constitution provides for said district but does not require its existence, and giving the land back to Maryland would solve the representation problems that the district brings to the table (as Maryland would gain a representative by the population increase). Langley has already been ceded back to Virginia so there's precedent for this.

16. I would say what I mean, and mean what I say.