Have you thought of anything radical, out of the box, that you think would be good for our society?

[waltzingparrot]

I have two:

1. Britain should be 'No Smoking'. I don't just mean no smoking in public areas, I mean we don't sell them . A chance to eradicate smoking. Good for individual health, good for NHS. Govt will have to tax something else.

2. on the announcement of a general election, we should have a media blackout on the subject apart from

Each party can :
drop their manifesto/ leaflet through your door
Make an election broadcast ( can be repeated)
Compulsory weekly attendance on national TV to be interviewed by Andrew Neil, Question Time etc.
And a daily round up of facts on the nine o'clock news only. No speculation.
Keep it limited and contained.

I've always thought that politics would benefit from being anonymised in some way.

Similar to how big orchestras conduct blind auditions of musicians where they play behind screens. It removes any bias, conscious or otherwise, and the focus is solely on the talent.

I want something like that for politics.

National Nit Day.

Same idea as your non-smoking crackdown.

I have just been watching the episode of The Crown which covers the first moon landing. Compulsory training and a trip into space for every world citizen - like a sort of national service. Make everyone look at the earth as a small blue ball in the vast blackness of space. That's our home. There is nowhere else to go, no second chance. If we fuck it up that's it.

They should make all new housing developments have proper facilities. They should all have cycle paths, good public transport, at least 1 local small supermarket if there isn't one near by, access to a park and the required amount of new school places and doctor surgeries.

There currently is a trend of just dumping people in new homes without any facilities which just helps noone and makes things worse for everyone living nearby.

Means tests co payments for public services. Why should tax payers pay for a millionaire to visit GP? Just think about how much more funding could be found for NHS, schools, etc.

My current soapbox rant is that the school day should be longer and incorporate at least an hour of sport/activity each day as part of this. In my ideal, money no object world, cookery classes and healthy breakfast and lunches should be provided to all school children as well yes yes I know this will never happen
It won't be the only solution to the health/Obesity issues within society, but if it becomes the norm at an early age to exercise daily, this may start a shift at a generational level.
I am sure it would be impossible to fund, and I don't even think it's that radical, but I don't think current policy is working.

OP, if you are interested in this kind of topic I'd recommend a really interesting book called 'Utopia for Realists' by Rutger Bregman.

When gcses are finished, spend the last couple of weeks of term giving every young person the chance to take food hygiene, first aid and lifesaving qualifications, write a cv and practice interview skills, and cover personal financial knowledge such as tax and NI, interest on loans, credit cards, mortgages, rental deposit law etc.

@Kpo58 totally agree. my job sees me visit these estates and it is appalling how isolating they can be. Particularly for those who may not have the luxury of transport.

But Velveteen - a millionaire has presumably paid tax and is entitled therefore to use the NHS which they have helped to fund. If you prevent access to services because someone is “too wealthy” then why should they pay for general services?

Child benefit only to be paid out to the first 2 DCs .

Some kind of test to prove you are capable of looking after any pets.

Refresher driving lessons every 5 years .

Getting rid of the national lottery, as it redistributes wealth from the poorest groups and concentrates it in a small number of people, the owners of camelot, and “good causes” which don’t necessarily benefit the people who play it.

Where do I start

Universal income no benefits

Multi government - the local rep you stand for speaks in government

Generous generous tax relief for charity giving and time given

Where do I start

Universal income no benefits

Multi government - the local rep you stand for speaks in government

Generous generous tax relief for charity giving and time given

10% extra tax at age 40 to pay for home care

Limiting the number of children anyone can have, men and women, to 2.

Decriminalise and legalise all 'drugs' - tax and regulate them the way we do alcohol and tobacco. People have been using them since they figured out how to use or create them, they are not going to stop now.

There are some great ideas legalise drugs and tax them

" 19:48RaininSummer

When gcses are finished, spend the last couple of weeks of term giving every young person the chance to take food hygiene, first aid and lifesaving qualifications, write a cv and practice interview skills, and cover personal financial knowledge such as tax and NI, interest on loans, credit cards, mortgages, rental deposit law etc."
Brilliant idea

The Scandinavian countries do two years of nations service after school (or they did) sweeping the streets, army, child or elderly care - what a brilliant way to make society come together

'BlackSwanGreen' Thank you for the book recommendation.

Amazing how many of these ideas are just common sense.

Can we just vote on all the important things directly and not have any elected representatives?

@RaininSummer you know you can teach your kids / enroll them onto these courses yourself.

I think young people should have to do a years national service in one of emergency services (medical, fire, police, armed services) etc when they finish college and before university. And in that year work abroad for several months within their chosen emergency service. Skills for life, a wide branch of experience and a broader view of the world before they decide what they want to do next.

There is too much industry concentrated in London, which makes it very expensive, and means many other areas of the country are left behind. Very few people benefit from this imbalance. Business incentives to start/ move businesses elsewhere in the country and I'd move civil service departments outside of London.

Yifa it would take too long and be paralysed with decisions

@littlebillie snap!