Hello Friends,
So often when politicians run for office, there's a lack of 'big ideas' - the game changing policies directly crafted to benefit the people.
Most candidates on the far Right conclude that multi-national corporations and America's big businesses should morally guide Georgia and our nation into the next century. They say the USA's Democratic government should mainly focus on building bombs and forcing rape victims to give birth. And, even after the Great Recession, these Republicans still call for "Privatization" of government responsibilities, eager to sign over our Healthcare, Education, Infrastructure and Social Security to the whims of Wall Street. Usually, these politicians are politically well-connected, wealthy and have vested interest in politics as usual (because their donors and business buddies are making money from the current situation).
As a young candidate, I ask of my Republican opponent and all local, incumbent politicians: Where is the vision for our community and Georgia? Where is the legislative creativity? Where is the heart and backbone to work for the people? What are your big ideas to benefit the people?
Here are a few of my 'Big Ideas" for Georgia:
Georgia's Campaign Finance Reform - "CSH" Program
Big money campaign donations from secret interests and PAC's commonly dominate small campaign donations from average people and small businesses. These big money donations set legislative priorities for our politicians and the will of the people becomes secondary - simply because we lack the money to make our voices matter. While thousands (maybe millions) of Georgians, even collectively, will never have the political 'buying power' of just a few corporations and PAC's, there is a way to level the playing field and, once again, as intended by our country's Founders, make the individual citizen the centerpiece of our election process.
Simply put, we can tie the use of campaign donations to community service. For example, if a Georgia candidate raises a $100 donation, the candidate must also raise 1 hour of community service to utilize that $100. I like this concept because many average Georgians can't afford political donations of $100, $500 or $1000, yet, that same Georgian, participating in just a few hours of community service a month, can, by year's end, earn his/her candidate(s) the equivalent of $4000 in campaign contributions. Similarly, huge donations from a PAC or a corporation would be unusable until the candidate convinces those holding Community Service Hours (CSH) to donate hours, thereby releasing the campaign dollars for use.
Georgia's "Made With 100% Legal Labor" Program
All products have printed on them where they are made, but Georgia can take this concept a step further and begin a program stating who makes these products. This program would be voluntary and available to any Georgia business: The State of Georgia would verify the business's legal labor status (no illegal employees) and grant permission to display "Made With 100% Legal Labor" on its product/service/business. The benefit to the business owner would be in the free market, where their product/service designated with "Made With 100% Legal Labor" would be purchased more than a similar product/service not otherwise designated.
Georgia's Electric Grid Buy-Back Program
Many states and countries around the world mandate that electricity providers selling power to customers must also buy power from customers. It sounds simple and it is. Homes, schools, businesses, government buildings, etc., could become mini power plants, utilizing solar power for example, to make money by creating electricity and selling it back to the power company. While this would be great for the average Georgian and create thousands of jobs in Georgia's alternative energy industries, the power company would hate it. So, at the bare minimum, an electricity buy-back program should be enacted for all government buildings and schools.
Georgia's S.O.L.A.R. Program
This program would be a simple tax break for home builders who choose to build homes in accordance with the S.O.L.A.R. program. The builder's home would have to utilize a South Oriented Low Angle Roof (SOLAR) which is necessary for maximum roof-top solar panel (PV) efficiency. This program would give a boost to home building in Georgia while also creating more 'solar ready' homes.
Some may call me an idealist - it is important that candidates and office holders remain grounded in legislative reality - but there's nothing wrong with a Georgia House Representative thinking out-of-the-box and creatively, crafting game-changing policies directly benefiting the people. Can 'Big Ideas' become law? It depends on who we elect.
