My ideal government: first all elected and appointed state and federal employees would roll any vested pension money earned into a retirement fund immediately! No more pensions for tax-funded employees ever. No free or subsidized medical insurance for any elected or appointed officials. No government-funded travel for the same.
Secret Service will protect the president, his or her current spouse and any minor children. All exes and adult children will hire their own protection. No elected official will use taxpayer-funded transportation for any personal travel including travel to and from home or vacation destinations.
With the savings from all of this elected officials’ welfare removed,we should be able to find higher education for all on a sliding income scale, same for insurance. We do not need free insurance but all should have access to the same benefits with the people who have high income paying their fair share. Also, all elected officials’ pay raises will be irrevocably tied to the same COLA guidelines as seniors. If we cannot afford a raise for seniors to allow them to purchase food and medications, no millionaire officials get a 45 or 50 percent raise. Holding our government to the same crushing COLA they expect the working poor to get by will force them to work to improve and support the shrinking middle class.
Immigrants would be welcome to enter and work to improve their lives and children’s futures. No government-funded aid will be given to any immigrant until they have earned citizenship. This will stop families from dragging their youngest and most ill-equipped children to the border. Let them enter and work to achieve the America dream in the same way as all our ancestors did, with hard work and goals. No one should be able to enter and automatically be eligible for housing, food stamps, Medicaid and fuel assistance that the working poor ((formerly known as middle class) American citizens are unable to receive.
I believe that people gain self-confidence and value goods and services they have earned through their own efforts.
Priscilla Collins
Greenfield