# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/21 "2014-07-17T17:58:24Z")
“And to all those lonely people out there, and there’s sure a lot of them who listen to the radio, uh, pair up!” - Bruce McCulloch ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/22 "2014-07-17T18:13:38Z")
Kill everyone. No people, no problems. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > **Israel/Palestine:** clear out a chunk of land on the North Dakota/Canada border, relocate Israel to there. That works until Canadians start suicide bombing Neo-Israel to reclaim their homeland. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/23 "2014-07-17T18:17:15Z")
I’ve got some ideas I think are pretty good, but I have a feeling that wouldn’t be a consensus around here. Maybe I’ll just keep em to myself. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/24 "2014-07-17T18:17:59Z")
> [@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 Once again, I’m hunting for the “Like” button. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/25 "2014-07-17T19:39:04Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Abortion: Sterilize everyone. > > Racism: Eugenics. Force breed everyone together until there is only one race. Er, how are we going to cure racism if we’re all sterilized? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/26 "2014-07-17T19:58:45Z")
The Israelis and the Palestinians have shown they do not deserve to live where they do. They need to be seperated, but not by walls; by space. All the Palestinians can come to Detroit, where there are not enough residents but plenty of infrastructure. There is a large middle-eastern community already there. The Israelis can go occupy a few of those ghost cities in China. Everyone wins and these two peoples cannot fight any more. Jordan gets what is now Israel and the territories. Forget letting Walmart sell drugs. Legalize pot and a few others and then let the government sell directly to consumers at the local Post Office (which are struggling for relevance). Prices far below the street - the drug dealers wont be able to compete, and the govt makes a profit. Let the tobacco companies lead the way with domestic growing and processing - throw them a bone and maybe create a few jobs. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/27 "2014-07-17T20:02:42Z")
US Tax code: 1. How much did you earn last year? 2. Multiply line 1 by 0.15. 3. Send it in. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/28 "2014-07-17T20:03:58Z")
Take 1 billion people out of China and India (500 million apiece) and relocate them to Siberia, Canada and Australia. Instant solution to much of the world’s overcrowding / unequal population distribution problem. ---
**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, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/29 "2014-07-17T20:09:41Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Er, how are we going to cure racism if we’re all sterilized? 🆒 It’s just busy work to keep everyone occupied until humanity dies out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/30 "2014-07-17T20:11:57Z")
If you’re Christian, no fornication. Period. Your diety, bible and pastor says so. End of discussion, no cafeteria-Christianity will be tolerated. I’ll bet Judaism and Islam have similar restrictions. Gets rid of overpopulation on a global scale and many expensive social services on a local scale. Welfare is drastically reduced. Abortion no longer a big issue. ---
**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, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/31 "2014-07-17T20:19:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Take 1 billion people out of China and India (500 million apiece) and relocate them to Siberia, Canada and Australia. > Instant solution to much of the world’s overcrowding / unequal population distribution problem. There are quite a few countries that are poorer and more densely populated than China, including Bangladesh, Rwanda, Haiti, Burundi, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Trinidad, Jamaica, Pakistan, Nigeria, Nepal, Gambia, El Salvador, Guatemala. It would actually address the unequal distribution problem better to move people from those countries TO China. If there is an overcrowding problem, but in fact there is not. There is enough surplus wealth in the USA alone to live every abjectly poor person in the world out of true poverty, but I bet you don’t think that would be a good way to address unequal distribution, do you? Instead blame China and destroy their national identity. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/32 "2014-07-17T20:59:35Z")
To end deadlock in congress, the politicians from both parties just need to get together and choose the best ideas from each side. I can remember seeing something just like this seriously proposed, once. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/33 "2014-07-17T21:47:12Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > To end deadlock in congress, the politicians from both parties just need to get together and choose the best ideas from each side. > > I can remember seeing something just like this seriously proposed, once. How about selecting 5 representatives from each party, select an issue, and then lock them in a room without food or water. They can get out once they come up with a solution to which both sides will support. They can have access to phones and computers to research data and ask for information, but no media, no posturing to the boob-tube, no think tanks, no influencing from PACs. Force them to do their jobs, compromise, and develop solutions. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/34 "2014-07-17T22:11:47Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > 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! I prefer the ‘bioengineer a virus that makes guys gay - and save the vaccine for myself’ option. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/35 "2014-07-17T22:45:07Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Nah, give the Holy Land to the Japanese to run as an amusement park. Everyone can visit, but they can’t own it. No, no. We give it to the Dalai Lama. Tibetans get their own home land where the Chinese can’t bother them and the rest of us get a break from the bullshit. Meanwhile, we have to make sure that the Palestinians and the Israelis don’t share any borders. We’ll put one of them in Kansas and the other in Saskatchewan. The Basques can have Nebraska if they want it. We’re not really using it for anything. Then we trade Florida to the Mexicans in exchange for Baja California and then give that to the Indians. I mean, we could just give them Florida, but really, haven’t they suffered enough? ---
**Author:** ![MrsTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@MrsTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsTime)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/36 "2014-07-18T18:46:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Health care and pension costs spiraling out of cintrol: ritual suicide at 70. I can’t have any solutions because I have been dead for 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/37 "2014-07-18T18:56:17Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Then we trade Florida to the Mexicans in exchange for Baja California and then give that to the Indians. I mean, we could just give them Florida, but really, haven’t they suffered enough? +1 ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@Uncle\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Bob)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/38 "2014-07-18T19:45:15Z")
I just take the position that everything is just fine the way it is and therefore no solutions are required…that was easy. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/39 "2014-07-18T20:14:49Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > How about selecting 5 representatives from each party, select an issue, and then lock them in a room without food or water. They can get out once they come up with a solution to which both sides will support. I’m picturing representatives gorging on food and water before heading into this thirst-and-starvation negotiation room. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357/40 "2014-07-18T21:01:48Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > How about selecting 5 representatives from each party, select an issue, and then lock them in a room without food or water. They can get out once they come up with a solution to which both sides will support. They can have access to phones and computers to research data and ask for information, but no media, no posturing to the boob-tube, no think tanks, no influencing from PACs. Force them to do their jobs, compromise, and develop solutions. Isn’t that more or less what they used to do to Cardinals during a papal election? Though it went down to “bread and water”, not “nothing”. > [@](#): > > To resolve prolonged deadlocks in the earlier years of papal elections, local authorities often resorted to the forced seclusion of the cardinal electors, such as that first adopted by the city of Rome in 1241, and possibly before that by Perugia in 1216.[55] In 1269, when the forced seclusion of the cardinals alone failed to produce a pope, the city of Viterbo refused to send in any materials except bread and water. When even this failed to produce a result, the townspeople removed the roof of the Palazzo dei Papi in their attempt to speed up the election.[56] > > In an attempt to avoid future lengthy elections, Gregory X introduced stringent rules with the promulgation of Ubi periculum. Cardinals were to be secluded in a closed area and not accorded individual rooms. No cardinal was allowed, unless ill, to be attended by more than two servants. Food was supplied through a window to avoid outside contact.[57] After three days of the conclave, the cardinals were to receive only one dish a day; after another five days, they were to receive just bread and water. During the conclave, no cardinal was to receive any ecclesiastical revenue.[12] > **[Papal conclave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_conclave#Historical_development)** > > A papal conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a bishop of Rome, also known as the pope. Catholics consider the pope to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and the earthly head of the Catholic Church. > Concerns around political interference led to reforms after the interregnum of 1268–1271 and Pope Gregory X's decree during the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 that the cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion cum clave (Latin for "with a key") and not ... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solve-extremely-complicated-world-and-political-issues-with-very-simple-solutions/693357.md?page=3)