# Solve extremely complicated world and political issues with very simple solutions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 17, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357 "2014-07-17T13:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/1 "2014-07-17T13:03:00Z")
It’s easy. I’ll start with Israel/Palestine. Palestinians renounce violence and protest peacefully. This moves Israel to also renounce violence and to tear down the settlements. Palestinian statehood is declared at approximately the '67 borders. Problem solved. You’re welcome, world. What’s the next issue? Abortion? Racism? Income inequality? The drug trade? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/2 "2014-07-17T13:28:11Z")
All the problems of the US can be solved if we simply raise taxes on the rich, increase social spending, ban guns, and shut down FoxNews. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/3 "2014-07-17T13:32:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > All the problems of the US can be solved if we simply raise taxes on the rich, increase social spending, ban guns, and shut down FoxNews. > > Regards, > Shodan From your lips… ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/4 "2014-07-17T13:35:41Z")
Already posted mine [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17553483&postcount=15). ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/5 "2014-07-17T13:41:13Z")
**Criminals** Democrats: Give them a second chance. Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. **The poor** Democrats: Give them some food. Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. **Endangered species** Democrats: Give them protection. Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. **Dictators** Democrats: Give them a way out. Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. **The uninsured** Democrats: Give them health care. Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. **The cost** Democrats: $9,000,000,000,000,000,000 Republicans: $29.95 (cost of one sword) ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/6 "2014-07-17T13:43:22Z")
And then Congress blocks the $29.95 increase in spending to get the sword. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/7 "2014-07-17T13:48:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s easy. I’ll start with Israel/Palestine. > > Palestinians renounce violence and protest peacefully. This moves Israel to also renounce violence and to tear down the settlements. Palestinian statehood is declared at approximately the '67 borders. > > Problem solved. You’re welcome, world. Gaza is a narrow strip and isn’t occupied. It is besieged, Israel controls the borders … The people of Gaza don’t want Israel squashing them into the little strip. and they don’t like being besieged. However the aim may be to force Israel to leave the West Bank, but that would also require Israel to give up Jerusalem and so many settlements. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/8 "2014-07-17T13:49:28Z")
Health care and pension costs spiraling out of cintrol: ritual suicide at 70. Global warming: mandate total global public and private investment in renewable energy must equal 1% of global gdp, about $700 billion. This is triple current spending. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/9 "2014-07-17T13:52:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > **Criminals** > Democrats: Give them a second chance. > Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. > > **The poor** > Democrats: Give them some food. > Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. > > **Endangered species** > Democrats: Give them protection. > Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. > > **Dictators** > Democrats: Give them a way out. > Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. > > **The uninsured** > Democrats: Give them health care. > Republicans: Give them the swift sword of death. > > **The cost** > Democrats: $9,000,000,000,000,000,000 > Republicans: $29.95 (cost of one sword) I love everything about this. So I stole my brilliant idea from NPR this morning. Want technology to innovate faster? Boom, get ride of patents, people will take your ideas and improve upon them. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/10 "2014-07-17T13:55:14Z")
Guys, are you having trouble getting a girlfriend? Just execute all the other dudes that are better looking, more athletic, or wealthier than you. You’ll be drowning in dates in no time! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/11 "2014-07-17T13:55:39Z")
Abortion: Sterilize everyone. Racism: Eugenics. Force breed everyone together until there is only one race. Income equality: Cap inheritance at $1 million. Redistribute the remainder amongst everyone. The drug trade: Make unauthorized possession of controlled substances punishable by immediate execution. Once all users are reformed or dead, the trade will disappear on its own. Hey, he said simple solutions, not _good_ ones! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/12 "2014-07-17T14:00:38Z")
There is no problem in the world that cannot be solved through the judicious and liberal application of common sense and high explosives. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/13 "2014-07-17T14:05:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s easy. I’ll start with Israel/Palestine. > > Palestinians renounce violence and protest peacefully. This moves Israel to also renounce violence and to tear down the settlements. Palestinian statehood is declared at approximately the '67 borders. > > Problem solved. You’re welcome, world. > > What’s the next issue? Abortion? Racism? Income inequality? The drug trade? Nah, give the Holy Land to the Japanese to run as an amusement park. Everyone can visit, but they can’t own it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/14 "2014-07-17T14:07:13Z")
I would allow the first $50k of capital gains realized by individuals and households every year to be tax-free, and double that if used for qualifying reasons (health care, education, homebuying (maybe), etc.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/15 "2014-07-17T14:44:08Z")
\*\*The economy, unemployment, and the increasingly sorry state of our infrastructure: \*\*government borrows money to put people to work repairing our roads, water and sewer systems, etc., unemployment drops, people have more money to spend, tax receipts go up, etc. Not that this one’s original with me. **Climate change:** cap and trade. Duh. **Gaming the stock market:** Tax capital gains at the higher of regular income and (99 - # days an asset has been held)%. (E.g. if you sell a stock 3 days after you buy it, your gain is taxed at 99 - 3 = 96%.) For same-day trading, tax at (99.99 - 0.04\*(number of hours held))%. (E.g. if you sell a stock that you’ve held for 3 hours, your gain is taxed at 99.99 - 0.12 = 99.87%.) More facetiously: **Israel/Palestine:** clear out a chunk of land on the North Dakota/Canada border, relocate Israel to there. > [@Shodan](#): > > All the problems of the US can be solved if we simply raise taxes on the rich, increase social spending, ban guns, and shut down FoxNews. > > Regards, > Shodan It wouldn’t solve them all, but it would certainly constitute a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/16 "2014-07-17T15:13:32Z")
A basic wage shall be paid to every US citizen, whether or not they are willing/able to work. Taxes will be levied against investment income and churches to pay for this. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/17 "2014-07-17T15:20:37Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > And then Congress blocks the $29.95 increase in spending to get the sword. Military spending? Pfft. The Pentagon would be all “Hey, we have enough swords already” and Congress would be all [“Sorry, but we’re going to allocate $5,000,000,000 on sword production because jobs”.](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/28/army-says-no-to-more-tanks-but-congress-insists/) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/18 "2014-07-17T15:33:46Z")
Cure the sick and infirm, eliminate all diseases, prevent all injuries. Umm – resulting in the elimination of 1/6 of our total GDP now generated by health care, and sending us into a depression of unimaginable depth. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/19 "2014-07-17T15:59:20Z")
The Drug Trade: Legalize marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and LSD. Let’s see illegal drug barons try to compete with Walmart! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/20 "2014-07-17T16:11:19Z")
Cap all public pensions, mayors to presidents at $100,000. Enough money saved to fund education and healthcare for all. There is an appeal process though, so it’s not overly harsh! You make your case for more, before a panel of nine people who live on less than 100,000$ Annul income!😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357.md?page=2)