Originally Posted by pan6467

You raise tariffs to an extent that other countries have on our goods and manufacturing will have to come back for people to afford anything. Increase of a HUGE tax base.

Plus, you offer tax initiatives and incentives to re-open plants.

I would also cut any aid to countries that did not have a liveable minimum wage and that violated our worker's laws. Savings of HUGE amounts spent in the name of foreign aid.

While I did state raising minimum wage is a band-aid it would require what Nixon did in '73 when the dollar was freefalling. That is a price freeze on all utilities.

What I would recommend is a voluntary raise in minimum wage jobs to $10/hour. Those companies participating would get tax credits and would get even more if they trained the workers for higher paying jobs. Small businesses, I would implement some form of credit where the wage increases and training were not a financial problem.

Those companies that did not participate would be taxed more, however they could get credit back by donating to local schools and colleges.

I would still use a price freeze on all utilities and food goods.

However, unlike Nixon I would keep this program implemented for a period of 5 years, not just short term.

Simultaneously, I would lower all tuitions at state funded colleges that accept federal funding. I would also put a limit on the money Dean's and other school officials make. There is no reason ANY dean needs to make over $500,000 and yet there are quite a few that pay their deans that.

This wouldn't be a long term government plan just long enough to hopefully invigorate the middle class and have it grow. Therefore raising tax revenues.

I would also increase money for the infrastructure, such as roads, rebuilding of government buildings and so on, so that construction would increase dramatically thereby adding even more money into the economy, more better paid workers who will be paying more in taxes. Not more by %age but more because they make more.

And for those that shake their heads, and say what about hands off business government, very simple. Like I said they don't have to participate. They just get no federal aid such as loans, contracts etc. Yes, it is blackmail but it is what is needed to get this country on top again.

And everything I said has been implemented in one form or another in times of financial difficulties in the US and every time they worked. Especially in the late 40's and 50's.