# You are US President, what single guaranteed policy do you initiate? \[Hypothetical\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079 "2019-07-14T19:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/1 "2019-07-14T19:41:29Z")
I wasn’t sure whether to put this in the Elections forum or not, not sure if it would be a proper fit but I’m kind of interested in serious rather than silly answers. For purposes of plot it is now Wednesday 20th January 2021 and you have just been sworn in as the new President of the USA. Due to a plethora of good will it has been agreed that you will be able to initiate one single policy with no opposition from any domestic quarter, it will be fully funded with pretty much a blank cheque if necessary, again with no questions asked. The policy will run unopposed _(politically at least)_ for at least the next four years, though it can be terminated by the next President. If you don’t want to be President you can initiate this policy then resign immediately and it will be followed through by your successor until the next election. Only real caveat is that whatever you choose can’t be for personal advancement. So what do you go for? A manned Mars mission?\* Massive investment in renewable energies? An invasion of Iran? (!) btw I’m not American so please give me a little leeway on this scenario. Yes its not realistic, its just to see what people think is most important to them. \*yes I’m aware this isn’t going to happen in the next four years, but you can still invest significently in NASA and other industries to get it started. ---
**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 14, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/2 "2019-07-14T20:11:11Z")
All kinds of secession and division. There would be 100 American states rather than 50 when I’m done. If that’s not doable, then massive arms sales and aid to various U.S. allies abroad, to piss off Russia, China, Turkey and Iran. Especially support for independent Kurdish statehood. Get Ukraine into NATO; kick Turkey out of NATO. Try to get Sweden and Finland into NATO as well. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/3 "2019-07-14T20:15:52Z")
Get seriously moving on climate change issues. Otherwise _nothing_ will matter. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/4 "2019-07-14T20:49:17Z")
Fully fund and implement a Manhattan Project style research program to achieve financially viable nuclear fusion. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/5 "2019-07-14T21:05:12Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Get seriously moving on climate change issues. Otherwise _nothing_ will matter. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/6 "2019-07-14T21:26:30Z")
Balance the budget thru a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, at about 2:1, so every dollar in tax increase is matched by two dollars in spending cuts. That would have to be matched with a policy of any other spending increases has to be matched with a corresponding cut somewhere else. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/7 "2019-07-14T21:39:48Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Balance the budget thru a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, at about 2:1, so every dollar in tax increase is matched by two dollars in spending cuts. That would have to be matched with a policy of any other spending increases has to be matched with a corresponding cut somewhere else. > > Regards, > Shodan Wow! I never knew you were almost a Bill Clinton fan. He was closer to 1 for 1, though. ---
**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 14, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/8 "2019-07-14T21:43:23Z")
Increase scientific R&D spending to 6-10% of GDP. Among other things, it’ll advance renewable energy tech and make it more affordable. But it will also advance all other fields of science. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/9 "2019-07-14T21:56:58Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Balance the budget thru a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, at about 2:1, so every dollar in tax increase is matched by two dollars in spending cuts. That would have to be matched with a policy of any other spending increases has to be matched with a corresponding cut somewhere else. > > Regards, > Shodan Exactly agree except that I would stipulate that at least $3 out of every 4 in spending cuts would have to be from military spending. Seconds choice would be to enact my new tax plan. Codename: “TAX YOU BASTARDS BACK INTO THE STONE AGE!” ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/10 "2019-07-14T22:11:32Z")
I would enact a policy of merging the United States of America and the Estados Unidos De Mexico into Los Estados Unidos Of America. I would include Canada but I’m not sure I could conclude the deal with three countries in four years even hypothetically. Mexico is pushing it as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/11 "2019-07-14T22:12:42Z")
I’d have to think long and hard between two alternatives: 1. A really serious effort to combat climate change including a large tax on carbon, kill all subsidies on oil, gas and coal, and big investment in infrastructure for renewables. 2. A serious wealth tax include a large inheritance tax and at least a 70% (probably not 91%) top marginal rate on incomes over $2,000,000 a year. Included in this would be ending the deductibility of donations to PACs thinly disguised as “public issues”. I think I would likely go with 1, because, once instituted, it would be harder to reverse. But I would think long and hard and ask for plenty of counsel. ---
**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 14, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/12 "2019-07-14T22:20:38Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > All kinds of secession and division. There would be 100 American states rather than 50 when I’m done. I like this. Have a few years to prepare, too! So obviously it has to be something which can be accomplished in 4 years, so “grab an asteroid and mine it” is out. Honestly? Single Payer. Or the above - I’d give every city which has the population of the median State 2 seats in the Senate and two EV’s. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/13 "2019-07-14T22:39:06Z")
Doable might be health care reform. I have great health care, but it’s still freaking ridiculous. The big problem would be how many people in the health care billing industry would lose their jobs. That with great health care, I still receive bills from a year ago is stupid. And I have to chase it down. The answer from them is “Sorry, I guess you really don’t owe that” It’s just fucking numbers. Get it straight. This has happened twice in the last few months. I really think that they just hope you will just cut them a check to get them off your back. The above is doable, Climate change is also huge. Or perhaps the biggest thing. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/14 "2019-07-15T00:54:34Z")
Most programs won’t make much of a difference if they end up getting cancelled in just four years. So I’m choosing to ignore that part. I’m going to push for a “Right to Vote” Amendment. I don’t have the exact text in mind but I would want something that would prohibit the abuses we’ve seen getting worse in the last few decades. It would also have the President and Vice President elected by direct election. And it would overturn Buckley v Valeo and legalize the regulation of campaign financing. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/15 "2019-07-15T02:06:40Z")
Kill all mandatory entitlement spending. Medicare, Medicaid, SS, AFDC, income security, crop insurance, student loans: you name it, it’s gone. In its space have any legislative and regulatory action to allow private industry or charity to take up whatever voids and needs they see fit to fill. But they’ll do it without dime 1 from the Federal Government. Pay down the debt. See what happens. There’d be more, but I was told I could do one thing. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/16 "2019-07-15T04:08:12Z")
Universal free migration. Everyone from any country is permitted to move to the United States just as freely as U.S. Citizens are free to move from state to state. The only catch is that each country must reciprocate and allow U.S. citizens the same liberty. I’d start by implementing it between first world countries, and then add more and more until people the world over are no longer constrained by national boundaries at all. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/17 "2019-07-15T04:52:09Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Exactly agree except that I would stipulate that at least $3 out of every 4 in spending cuts would have to be from military spending. Considering that (A) the deficit is about $665 billion; (B) the entire Defense budget is $590 billion; and (C) the “mandatory” spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid combined is about $1.9 TRILLION – I’d say that you’re looking for fiscal salvation in the wrong place. > **[The Federal Budget in 2017: An Infographic | Congressional Budget Office](https://www.cbo.gov/publication/53624)** > > The federal deficit in 2017 was $665 billion, equal to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/18 "2019-07-15T11:20:06Z")
Universal free education. Not just free college tuition, but beginning with kindergarten, or earlier. And all schools must meet standards of excellence, affording all students the best education possible, regardless of their zip code or their parents’ finances. And this includes Continuing Education for adults. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/19 "2019-07-15T11:53:28Z")
[del]Abortions for some, miniature American flags for everyone else![/del] A massive overhaul of the electoral system including chucking out the Electoral College, requiring independent redistricting to combat gerrymandering, major campaign funding reform, and implementing robust oversight and security measures. I know that this infringes on both the Constitution and states’ rights but I thought I’d go big. Let’s get democracy working properly. If we still elect idiots, it will be nobody’s fault but our own. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079/20 "2019-07-15T12:43:00Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Considering that (A) the deficit is about $665 billion; (B) the entire Defense budget is $590 billion; and (C) the “mandatory” spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid combined is about $1.9 TRILLION – > I’d say that you’re looking for fiscal salvation in the wrong place. > > [https://www.cbo.gov/publication/53624](https://www.cbo.gov/publication/53624) I don’t know if the magical hypothetical in the OP extends all the way to “nobody will do anything when we eliminate the entire defense budget”. As I have mentioned in the past, if we want to cut spending, we need two pieces of paper. On the first, you make a list of all the spending that are really necessary and that we really cannot cut. On the second, everything else - all other programs. Then throw the second piece of paper away. All cuts have to come from the programs on the first piece. Because that’s where we spend all the significant money. Which is why the OP is a magical hypothetical. Regards, Shodan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-us-president-what-single-guaranteed-policy-do-you-initiate-hypothetical/837079.md?page=2)