Budget for America

Some good points made in your listing of the "Budget for America" but look at it from this point of view:

Health Care-Let's cover the 8% of the population without health care rather than redifine the entire system and replace it with one that will not drive new drug development and advance treatment but will ration care and decide who lives or dies or gets treatment.

Paid parental leave-Does exist but should it be mandated?  Make it a benefit and offset this option by lower wages.  There have to be tradeoffs.  I know plenty of people who opt out but still spend on other things. 

Preventative health care-To age 18 this is good and if basic could be afforded.

Preventative dental care-Low cost offering to parents would be great and could be funded.

Substance abuse treatment-Only works if there is a will to do it.  Rehab is a glaring failure.

Effective mental health treatment-We had that in state hospitals until patient rights took charge and turned them onto the streets...hence...the homeless.

Care for the elderly-That exists and in most cases, long term care is available if you have no assets. 

Care for the disabled-That exists and there are countless government programs that provide less funds to the disabled as compared to the administrators.

EDUCATION

Focus on quality-I totally agree and it is average at best at this time.  More money, however, does not necessarily translate into better education.

Use of proven methods or creativity-Sounds like these would be oxymorons in your analysis.  Proven methods now being used often are pure theory.  Creativity by educators makes all of the difference.

Compensation of teachers-Agreed but only for those who are outstanding.  We need a way to measure teachers absent of the NEA and tenure.  There have to be standards set and expected results that need to be measured.  Standardized knowledge tests are the only way to do this.

Dismantling segregation-You are off base here as there is no segregation but it has gone too far the other way.  Segregation only exists on the opposite side of education where it is a women's college or black college.

Aid for college and continuing education-Already exists and investment by individuals in their education is critical or we will wind up with lazy, over educated book wonks who have not had to put themselves out there with either loans or employment.  Hard work and providing a portion of their funding makes them appreciate the opportunity and study harder.  They have a vested interest.

AS FAR AS WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET

Prison growth-Yes it is because the family has broken down over the past 30 years.  70% of the prison population in most states is African American and throwing money at these communities has not helped.  There has to be a will to do the right things and accept education and want to learn and not repeat the mistakes of the past and others.

Wars on whatever ails us-I guess that probably refers to drugs, etc.  Well, without a war on drugs, more people would be in substance abuse programs.  One perpetuates the other.  I would agree that the 'war on poverty' has been a dismal failure as it has not helped those who need it, once again more is going to administrate programs by unqualified bureaucrats.

Intolerance-Great buzz word and can be used by anyone who perceives another does not think or feel the way that they do.  I could say that liberals are intolerant of pro life people.

Money for shareholders and executives-Shareholders are like you and I and they take their hard earned money and invest it.  Executives do often have extreme salaries in some cases but compare them to union bosses, etc.  That point is more about class envy.  What has made this country great is the effort of those who can excel to do so for the good of mankind.

Protections for corporations-Good thing there is or all of the so called 'victims' would choke the courts for years in frivilous lawsuits.

Protection for the super rich-The top 10% of the popultion pay most of the taxes (now over 57%).  Do we want someone saying:  "You are worth, $12 million, let's see, I think you can spare $9 million".. What if they worked 80 hours per week and risked for that.  Well, once again this is class envy.

War in Iraq-We need to be there or all that you are concerned about will be destroyed by terrorists.  However, I agree that if we have spent all that we already have, if there was not a war, why could'nt we spend that at home on other things.

Torture and constitutional rights-This is a point of view issue.  People using innuendo and second hand stories have blown this one way out of whack.. Nothing our soldiers or the government have done comes close to what a third world or even a socialist dicator would do.  Plus, we don't have the facts.

As far as constitutional rights-Well, there are two sides to that one.  It depends on whose ox is being gored.  Just as many on the left are trying to stop the right to bear arms and practice religion as there are on the right perceived as abusing the constitution.

As a side note:  Al Gore took the position of:  "no ruling legal authority".  Bill Clinton was guilty of perjury.  Bernie Sanders revealed state secrets.  It is not viewed the same when it is politically expedient.

Many of your points are valid but it is not that easy to change things and radical change is dangerous.  I appreciate your passion but your thoughts are idealistic.  Thanks!