Simple ideas for getting America back on track

I was recently asked by a former client, what I might do to solve America's unemployment problem. I told them that I had several ideas which have not been tried. The first solution is a unique one based upon the fact that Republicans don't want to continue paying for Unemployment benefits ($$$) for the unemployed, especially the people on unemployment benefits for 99 weeks or more. And Democrats want to just help them by giving them extended benefits.

My solution is to require work from the unemployed to receive benefits. For example, many schools need painting, windows repaired or replaced, security improvements like video cams around the grounds, Teachers helpers, installing air conditioners, etc., etc., etc. I believe this would help those unemployed for so long start to feel better about themselves, have some resources to pay their bills and prevent foreclosure of their homes. We could even pay them more than the benefits might provide and we would still be ahead of the game, as this would increase some consumer spending and raise taxes somewhat in local communities that have a Sales tax.

Getting something back from giving extended benefits would help take the sting out of giving perceived handouts.

The next idea I had was to change our Educational system, by having school go year round. I would provide students a week or two vacation, but not the whole summer off. I would have them get air conditioning for schools and installed by those working above. I would then change teachers salary to reflect a full time job. We could have all teachers making $100,000 and above a year but we would be attracting more teachers with this salary level from many different backgrounds.

We need to think outside the box in tackling our issues. But it starts with a willingness to put some ideas out there and see if anyone picks them up and improves on them. I have, so where's your's?

What's wrong with our Nation's Educational system

Would you like to be a teacher? Do you think we get the best people in the teaching profession? Why aren't you willing to consider being a teacher? Does it have anything to do with the Salary teachers make? What would it take to get you to consider becoming a teacher? If you have answered these questions for yourself, here's some interesting data. How much would it cost us to really make a change in the teaching profession and once again be the best-educated citizens on the planet?

There are 2,997,748 teachers in Public schools. Their average base salary is $39,857 although some can make double that after many years in the job but it is rare.

Total Funding for Public Schools is broken down as follows:
The Federal Government pays about 7.3% of all the costs.
Your State pays 49.7% and your Local government pays about 43.1% through Property taxes.

Now here's how to change the system. If the Federal government picked up the costs to double the base salary for teachers from $40,000/year to $80,000/year as a base salary, the costs would be an additional $240 Billion dollars. If at the same time teaching became a year round job, with generous vacations but still not as much as they get now, we would attract a very capable and motivated work force where the standards for the teaching profession could garner the best possible people teaching. To put these costs into perspective, the cost of the Iraq war is $415 Billion dollars so far, not including related costs due 25,000 Iraq Veterans because of sustained serious injuries and understandable mental illnesses, as a direct result of the Iraq war. Where are our priorities? What do you think?

For more data on teaching and the source of the data above click here.