What if there were strict rules on gun purchases and gun ownership? And what if automatic weapons were banned? What if you had to be 21 to buy a gun and then only after an extensive background check that peeked into your medical (read: mental) history and whether you had a criminal record? What if you had to pass a test to own gun, like people have to to drive a car? What if you couldn't buy guns at gun shows or online? What if there were more restrictions put into place regarding where you could be in possession of a gun? What if there were limits on how many guns you could own and how much ammunition you could have? What if the NRA was labeled a terrorist organization and disbanded? If these things happened then wouldn't there be a significant drop in deaths caused by guns, particularly of the mass shooting variety?
What if there were less tax loopholes for big businesses, corporations and mega rich individuals to take advantage of? What if the recent tax cuts to the wealthy were taken away and that they instead got a tax increase while the middle and lower classes got a tax break? What if the military budget was slashed by 25%? Wouldn't that help reduce the deficit and allow for more spending on education, social programs and the infrastructure?
What if the United States got as serious about alternative energies and combatting global warming as the rest of the world? Wouldn't that help save, not the planet, but the people and animals living on the planet?
What if Citizens United was tossed away and a concerted efforts were made to take money out of politics and the influence of lobbyists was reduced? Wouldn't that reduce the influence that the rich have on our political process? Wouldn't then government really be for "the people?"
What if instead of continually arresting homeless people and moving them from place to place, we started building housing for them and tried to give them a leg up? What if we helped the ones with mental problems and drug addictions? Wouldn't that save us money in the long run and perhaps make them more productive members of society?
What if we took seriously the fact that Russians meddled in our last presidential election and are certainly planning similar disruptions in the future? What if we did everything short of war to prevent this from happening again? Wouldn't that mean future elections would be fair and honest and that other countries would know not to mess with our democratic process?
What if we could find a way to stop Russian bots from bombarding twitter and other forms of social media? Wouldn't that make for more meaningful, representative dialogue?
What if we had leaders who forcefully denounced all racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic groups, speech and propaganda? Wouldn't that drive bigots back under the rocks where they belong?
What if we raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide with provisions to further increase in in the future as inflation necessitates? Wouldn't that pull a lot of working people out of poverty?
What if we drastically reduced the cost of higher education to what it cost (adjusted for inflation) in the 1960s and '70s? Wouldn't that make it more accessible to all Americans and mean that graduates didn't start their careers with crippling debt?
What if we sent less troops and less bombs into countries and sent more teachers, carpenters and doctors? What if instead of destroying and killing and maiming we built and healed? Wouldn't that make us more popular and hurt the cause of terrorists?
What if the federal government as well as all state and local governments guaranteed that gay and transgender people had the exact same rights as straight people? Wouldn't that mean we had a truly equitable society?
What if the dream act was maintained and we started to value those who want to live and work in the US and not try to send the home or build walls? Wouldn't we be a better country for it?
What if fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy food were cheaper and more accessible (particularly in low income areas) than fast food restaurants? What if school lunches were healthy like they are in many other countries? Wouldn't the obesity rate go down? Wouldn't there be less diabetes and heart failure?
What if prisons actually tried to reform inmates? What if sentencing were fairer? What if private prisons were abolished? What if sentences for victimless crimes were minuscule? Wouldn't our society be safer?
What if professional athletes and professional sports team owners all made 15% less money and the saved money would result in lower ticket prices? Wouldn't more people be able to afford to go to sports events?
What if we had single payer health insurance and prescription drugs were free? Wouldn't more people be healthy and free of debt?
What if banks and business were more heavily regulated? Wouldn't we have less gouging of the middle class and less risk of recession and depression?
What if wages went up for middle income families and CEOs stopped making millions a year? Wouldn't that lead to a healthier economy and more equity?
What if more people were better informed and took the time to vote? What if elections were held on a Sunday and we made it easier rather than more difficult for people to vote? Wouldn't that make for a more representative democracy?
What if marijuana was legal throughout the country? What if we released everyone from prison convicted of selling or buying marijuana? Wouldn't that make more sense?
Just asking.
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