The world population is growing. The US has a huge surplus of land which is now not under cultivation because the no water. The US has a huge surplus of water which can be piped using alternative power to the dry areas during flood season. Vast areas could be opened for conservation habitat that are now almost dead – new wetlands can be created on Federal Land. There is a vast amount of corporate money that is now languishing in banks at low interest. Offer a tax holiday on all funds that are offshore that are invested in direct growth of the interstate seasonal waterway and related water storage areas.
Population growth is an unlimited resource. Complete plans available on request.

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

If anything is to balance out trade with other countries like China it seems to me that the field needs to be more balanced. To do that I propose a Federal law requiring all parts or items manufactured for the USA be done so with our standards. Those being OSHA and EPA. We already have done something similar with certain woods we import. We require documentation and we inspect where that wood comes from for ourselves as well so there is a precedent. While I’m not an economist, I’m sure 3 things would happen. 1. There would be more protection for workers in other countries.
2. The cost of our imported goods would go up. However, considering we have become a throw away society it would slow down our consumption and bring back an aspect of our country that’s been forgotten, repair instead of replace.
3.It would make outsourcing jobs to other countries less attractive and keep jobs here or reverse that trend to some degree.
I have been told by some that China adjusts it’s currency to suit it’s own needs. So I’ll go out on a limb and hypothetically suggest that one main Federal law be implemented and be focused on one industry at a time, like the auto industry, and once that is settled, add a rider for electronics and so on.
I’m the first on to say that economics, politics are best left to smarter people than me, but hey, who knows what the perfect answer is in an imperfect world?

Location: NJ, USA

Mr.President, my name is ernest,and i have a suggestion,that may help save our jobs at the postal sevice.i know this is not a permanent solution but maybe it will give you three or four years to find a permanent solution.i got this idea from a “quote” that a great man like yourself once said to us,he said “ask not what your country can do for but what u can do for your country”. although i do not work directly for the u.s.p.s., i am a contract driver for tx.mail severice out of dallas,tx. i believe that if all of us work together we can make it work.my suggestion is that if all of us that are employed or contracted by the u.s.p.s. would voluteer to pitch in 20 cents an hour from our pay, we could raise enough revenue so we can all keep our jobs,at 20 cents an hour in a 40 hour pay period, thats $8.00 a week ,lets say there are a million employees that would be 8 million a wk.or 32 million a mo.if this would work we would not see anymore postal worker in the unemployment office or losing our homes.i hope you can adress this issue before the may deadline where i heard that they will shut down more postal offices and cut more postal routes.i have talked to 60 postal employees, and they would all be willing to pitch in the 20 cents as long as we could all keep our jobs. this revenue would olny be used for u.s.p.s. use only and only for 3 or 4 years to find a solution.this would not be for giving big raises to the top our ranking postal officals or for bailing out banks, mortgage companies,or any other uses.no matter what you decide you still have my vote and hopefully from many other postal employees. my wife and i really believe in you and we really need you to be our president for another four years.thank you for your time and attention to this matter.God bless you and your family.

ernest

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Location: corpus christi,tx.

CAPITAL GAINS, AMERICAN JOBS & THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

I have long been a believer that capital gains should not be taxed at a lesser rate than income earned from working hard. However, this idea doesn’t appeal to the millions of people in our country who take advantage of the capital gains 15% tax rate (myself included).

I also am quite concerned about the need to create jobs in our country that can bring down the unemployment rate and re-establish the middle class.

Here is a suggestion that could help:

Tax capital gains income at the same level as earned income. However, allow a person to avoid paying that added tax amount by purchasing products manufactured/assembled in the US equal to the difference. For example; if I had capital gains in 2011 of $50,000 and a 30% tax level on earned income, I could avoid paying the 30% rate on capital gains by purchasing American made or assembled products equal to $7,500. Food and fuel would not be included.

The government would develop a listing of companies whose products would qualify. All American manufacturing or assembling companies would apply to be placed on the listing. The value of a product must exceed $10. Automobiles manufactured or assembled in the country would qualify. Used products would not. Homes, boats,
tools, clothes, bedding, are some qualifying examples.

An individual, to qualify for this feature would be required to keep proof of purchase in the same manner as one who keeps proof of contributions to charitable organizations.

Location: 2199 E. CANYON CRT. GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81507

Watching the news this morning about the proposed $3000 assistance to refinance homes, it struck me that this might be going in the wrong direction.
Suppose instead:
The government (White House & Congress) go the the lending people (most likely part of the 1% group) and have them remove the massive restrictions and expenses on refinancing, other than the 580 credit score.
This would allow even more people to investigate this option.
This would be a Second Chance Program.
This would not cost $5 – $10 BILLION.

Maybe the government could guarantee some amount for ONLY those that defaulted and went to foreclosure the 2nd time.
I would think that the vast majority of refinanced mortgages would be maintained until paid off, minimizing what payouts would be necessary.

It seems like the end result would be that additional homes would be saved from foreclosure AND the $5 -$10 BILLION would NOT need to be paid out of the treasury NOW, but a fraction of that at some later date.

Location: Mesa, Arizona

Why don’t you introduce some sort of employment stimulas plan for sole proprietors … using a theme of “Sole Proprietors Are People” … not Corporations.

Location: Arkansas

Consider this example: a company has a patent in the US; it produces the invention covered by the patent abroad, and imports the invention. With the US patent, this company can prevent any other company from producing the invention in the US. There is something wrong with that!
I think Congress needs to change how compensations for patent infringement are calculated. The compensations must be based on how much money an entity based in the US is loosing because of the infringement. If there is no entity based in the US that produces the invention, there is no compensation, even if the patent is infringed. That should help keeping jobs in America.

Location: Houston, Texas

In order to keep jobs here, there should be a large penatlty or at least a large tarrif to be imposed at the time of merchandise essembled in other countries arriving United States. That way we keep jobs here and keep large corporations and manufacturers from benefiting cheap labor and contributing to the economy of other countries instead of their own.

Location: Fresno, California

This act will allow prisoners that are facing several years to reduce a determine number of years off of their sentence if they elect to be on a donor list. If some required a healthy kidney or a blood transfusion etc.. They will not only save lives it will reduce medical cost nationally. This act will allow a national donor registry from our over crowded prisons. I strongly believe that prisoners will have a higher incentive to donate for two reasons. 1. Term reduction 2. Some will want to do it out of remorse and good will for the wrong that they have done to society. This will help our economy turn around and save lives. Thank you President Obama and God bless you and America!! From Creative Thinker – Rickie Norman

Location: (e.g. Washington, D.C.

There is a great article on types of capitalism. Here’s the link:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/opinion/lind-romney-bain/index.html

I believe that President Obama believes in stakeholder capitalism and should let the US know this.

Location: Chicago IL