老美看美國:如果我是總統!
文/羅傑 翻譯/丹奇
(2012年1月27日)
如果你擁有美國總統的權力,你會做什麼?你的政策是什麼?你會如何實施改變?你要改變什麼?
既然我們都有自己的意見,知道自己該做什麼,不該做什麼—但是,做個總統,即使只有瞬間的幻想,也能幫你理清自己的觀點同時使人們思考這個權利位置的責任是多麼的巨大。
如果我是總統,我的注意力是優先把國家從當前的泥沼中解救出來
首先,我會集中在工作上---幫助人們重新投入工作。如果可以通過行政命令,我會採取措施,重建我們破敗不堪的道路,橋樑等基礎設施。這個國家的每一個州都有成千上萬的橋樑需要維修。我們的道路和高速公路系統還有很多事情要做。
當然問題是如何來支付這筆開支?我這就要講到如何提高政府收入—也叫稅收。我要做的第一件事就是廢除布希的減稅政策,調整稅率到里根總統時代的水平。
我會採取措施徵收所有汽油銷售每加侖5美分的臨時稅。我會把我們的軍隊全部從歐洲撤出來(俄國人再也不會來了)。 我會減少我們在歐洲的駐軍基地。
對那些不需要福利和補貼的產業,我會停止所有的企業福利和補貼— 像能源產業。我會把將公司擁有的農場取消作物補貼。我為什麼要給啥也不做的人付錢呢?我會採取措施,給收入超過一百萬的個人徵收
38%的最低稅。
那麼,這部分怎麼計算呢?
作物補貼及立法---十年就是一千九百億美元
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2001/12/the-cost-of-americas-farm-subsidy-binge
取消布希稅收—後面10年便是一兆美元
回到里根年代稅收率—一兆美元
汽油稅—10年便是八百四十億http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=23&t=10
從歐洲撤銷軍事基地:10年就是一兆
http://www.thenation.com/blog/161378/around-globe-us-military-bases-generate-resentment-not-security
百萬收入者的最低稅收:
10年就是五千億。
好了。現在,我們后十年就已經有3.75兆多。但是,等等,還沒完,還有:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_federal_budget
我還要凍結政府部門工資一年,減去10%的政府各機關。10年就可以節省4.4兆美元(對,兆)
那麼,未來10年,我們就可以在預算上手上有8.16兆美元。
在最大程度上,我相信,私營部門和人民是有效地花自己錢的。政府沒有這麼做。然而,有些私營企業不會做的事情,政府可以做— 比如 建設道路和橋樑和修復基礎設施,。這是政府的範圍 — — 但私營部門獲取工作。它是由人民為人民進行的投資。但是,我們要精簡流程,以盡量減少廢物。
上述會計會減少政府,在人民口袋裡放更多的錢、 增加私人部門的支出,因此刺激經濟,提供更多就業機會,那些人會納稅又進一步增加政府收入。
外交事務
正如我剛才在這裡陳述的,我會減少海外軍隊的作用,警惕的未來潛在的戰爭或衝突 —— 例如伊拉克冒險。我不認為美國的軍事冒險主義是我們國家的利益,我不認為它使我們更加安全,並知道它降低了我們在世界上的地位,以及世界對我們的觀感。
我會更大力爭取與中國、 印度、 俄羅斯和伊朗的開放對話。我們不必永遠是"最好的朋友",但我們可以努力相處因為合作是我們大家的利益所在。
中國當然是最重要的國家。它很快將成為全球最大的經濟體,與它的 人口排名第一相配。很大程度上,我會不去干涉中國內部事務 — —我這裡有足夠的問題要改正。我的房子很髒的話,我不會抱怨別人的房子臟。
我會尋求與中國,印度和俄羅斯建立更密切的經濟關係,建立一個更具凝聚力的世界經濟。我們不可能全是 第一大 製造商,我們不可能全是最富裕的,我們不可能都是技術和創新的領導人 — 但我認為,我們全都會同意誰做什麼最好,為我們自己的人民和整個世界的繁榮集中優勢。
本國政策
我將集中討論擴大我們在替代能源上的投資。我希望利用我們自己的資源創造效益, 最引人注目的是石油和天然氣。我會進一步尋求與加拿大,墨西哥和中南美洲在能源方面的夥伴關係和技術合作。
我會繼續為所有的人爭取平等權利和公平。
我會鼓勵對學生和那些想在這兒做生意的人特別放寬政策以利於他們移民到這個國家。我會鼓勵我們的鄰居移民到南方,如墨西哥,為製造商的利益起見,實施一項中國風格體系,這樣,那些高端產業工人會長時間工作,賺取較少的工資,住在宿舍里,就像中國 的富士康一樣。這些移民工作
5 年後就可以為"綠卡持有人",並可以尋找更好的職業。
我會給攻讀硬科學 如 數學、 科學、 物理、 工程等領域高級學位的學生好處。
我會創立高端職業學校以傳授硬科學的教學技巧。
這種類型的經濟政策將把錢留在美國,在這裡 創造就業機會,提供機會,從墨西哥移民的法律機會,給他們以美元付費,他們在這裡花錢並納稅 !
有很多事情要做 — — 但這些是主要問題和關注點。
如果你是總統,你會怎麼做?
不斷發展是生活規律,如果一個人總是試圖維持他的教條以顯示一致性,將把自己驅動到一個錯誤的位置---聖雄甘地
(原文)
IF I WERE THE
PRESIDENT
What if you had the power of the Presidency of the United States.
What would you do? What would your policies be? How would you implement change
and what would you change?
While all of us have opinions and what we would do or not do
– but to be President, even if for just a brief moment of fantasy, can help
clarify your own views as well as make one think of how enormous of a
responsibility that powerful position must be.
If I were the President my focus would be prioritizing how
to get the country out of the rut it is in.
First I would concentrate on jobs – getting people back to
work. If I could by executive order I would institute a jobs program to begin
rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure of roads and bridges. In every state of
this country there are hundreds and sometimes thousands of bridges that need
repair. There is also much work to be done on our road and highway system.
The question of course is how to pay for it, which now
brings me to the point of increasing government revenues – also known as taxes.
The first thing I would do is to repeal the Bush tax cuts for now and adjust
the tax rates back to what they were under President Reagan.
I would institute a 5cent per gallon temporary tax on all
gasoline sales. I would pull all of our troops out of Europe
( the Russians aren』t coming any more ). I would reduce our military bases in Europe.
I would stop all corporate welfare and subsidies to industries
that don』t need them – like energy. I would end crop subsidies to corporate
owned farms. Why should I pay someone not to do anything? I would institute a
minimum tax on individuals of 38% whose income is greater than $1million.
Now, how does this part all add up?
Crop subsidies and legislation - $190billion over 10 years
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2001/12/the-cost-of-americas-farm-subsidy-binge
Bush tax cuts - $1 trillion over the next 10 years
Return to Reagan era taxes - $1trillion
Gasoline tax - $84billion over 10 years http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=23&t=10
Pull military bases out of Europe
- $1 trillion over 10 years
http://www.thenation.com/blog/161378/around-globe-us-military-bases-generate-resentment-not-security
Minimum tax on million dollar plus incomes - $500 billion
over 10 years
Ok, so now we』ve pulled in a little more than $3.75 trillion
over the next 10 years. But wait – not done yet.
I would institute a freeze on all government salaries for 1
year. I would reduce the size of government by 10% in all bureaucracies.
Estimated savings over 10 years - $4.4 trillion ( yes, trillion )… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_federal_budget
Now, over the next 10 years we 「accounted」 for $8.15
TRILLION in this budget.
For the most part I believe that the private sector and
people spend their money efficiently. The government does not. However, there
are things the government can do that private businesses won』t do – build roads
and bridges and repair infrastructure. That is the domain of government – but
the private sector gets the work. It』s an investment by the people for the
people. But, we have to streamline processes so as to minimize waste.
The above accounting would reduce government, put more money
in peoples pockets, increase private sector spending and hence boost the
economy which would produce more jobs and those people would pay taxes further
increasing government revenues.
Foreign Affairs.
As I stated earlier here I would reduce the role of the
military overseas and be wary of future potential wars or conflicts – such as
the Iraq
adventure. I don』t think U.S.
military adventurism is in our national interest, I don』t think it makes us
more secure, and I do know that it reduces our stature in the world and the way
the rest of the world sees us.
I would pursue vigorously more open dialogue with China, India,
Russia and Iran. We don』t
have to be 「best friends forever」 here but we can endeavor to get along where
cooperation is in all of our own best interests.
China
of course is the most important country to deal with. It soon will be the
largest economy in the world – matching it』s #1 ranking in population. For the
most part I would stay out of the internal affairs of China – I have
enough problems here to correct. I won』t complain about someone else』s dirty
house if mine is dirty as well.
I would seek even closer ties economically with China, and India
and Russia,
to make a more cohesive world economically. We can』t all be the #1
manufacturer, we can』t all be the richest, we can』t all be the technology and
innovation leaders – but, we can all , I think, agree who does what best and
focus on our strengths to the betterment of our own people and the world at
large.
Domestic Policy.
I would focus on expanding our investment in alternative
energy. I would look to capitalize on our own resources , most notably oil and
gas. I would seek further partnerships with Canada
and Mexico and Central and South America for energy partnerships and technology
cooperation.
I would continue to pursue equal rights for all and
fairness.
I would encourage immigration to this country with special
relaxed programs for students and those who wish to open a business here. I
would encourage immigration from our neighbor to the south, Mexico, for the benefit of manufacturers and
implement a 『CHINA STYLE』 system of high end industrial workers who work long
days, for less pay and live in dormitories, just like in China with
Foxxconn. Those immigrants who did the work for 5 years would then have the
ability to become 「green card holders」 and search for better employment.
I would give students benefits to study for advanced degrees
in the hard sciences – math, science, physics, engineering, etc.
I would create high end vocational schools for the hard
sciences for teaching skills.
This type of economic policy would keep money in the USA, create jobs here, give opportunity, legal
opportunity to immigrants from Mexico,
and pay them in dollars that they spend here and also pay taxes on !
There is so much more to do – but these would be main
concerns and focus points.
What would you do if you were President ?
Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries
to maintain his dogmas
in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position. --Mahatma
Gandhi