There are certain things that can be done within the existing system that will make things better in many ways ... A few ideas ...
1. Change the tax brackets. Start by making the standard deduction 50,000 for all Americans. That will cover the cost of basic living tax free. Limit the Dividend and Interest income one can take at 15% to say the first 50,000. That closes a huge loophole used by the Mitt Romneys of the World. There is at least 200 Billion a year that can be cut from deductions, subsidies, and Credits. We can start with the ability to deduct interest on a second home. It is a luxury.
2. Fix Social Security. Raise the Ceiling from 115,000 per year to around 180,000. Eliminate the paltry Death Benefit. Get rid of reduced benefit retirement at age 62.
3. Fix Medicare. Hike the employer/employee tax from the 1.45% to 2%. Retirement plans allocate around 4% for health care benefits. Implement Fee for Service, and get as many people as possible getting their yearly checkups.
4. In One Bill ... Cut the top corporate tax level 10 to 15% and force all companies to base their taxes on standard GAP accounting principles. In the Same Bill, Raise the Minimim Wage to around 10.50 an hour, and index it for inflation.
5. Bring our troops home from all these military entanglements around the world, and close around 30% of the 900+ military bases globally. This will save 300-500 Billion a year on Military/Miltary related spending. We need to be extremely well prepared to address imminent threats on the U.S States and Commonwealths.
6. Eliminate all Corporate donations to partisan political complains. Limit all contributions to people who file a U.S. Tax return, and cap it at 5,000 per individual indexed for inflation. This will probably require a constitutional amendment. I would throw in Term Limits also.
This is a good start in my opinion.
Shermann
