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Josh Senecal

User Profile Image Josh Senecal
Member since : May-22-2009 (Unsubscribed)
12 Ideas, 87 Comments, 105 Votes

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Ideas Posted

It seems a real disconnect from phase 1 and 2, no communication from Open Government Dialogue unacceptable.

It seems as if phase 2 has been dropped but it’s up and running.

I’m still confused as to why no notification was given or invite notices from this forum, unless you where paying attention to the Whitehouse website.
Here is the link you can use to find phase 2, you may judge for yourself.

Please correct me if I am missing something.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/open

It would be productive, rewarding, and skill building to have prisoners working while in jail. Jobs devoted to bettering our society that have little profitability margins are ideal.

Some states already see some such as road clean-up; but extending it to recycling plants, recycle buried dumps, possessing plants, forest recovery.

Slave labor is not intended, the idea to instill good working habits, new skills and a productive citizens when released should be the ultimate goal.

Maybe instead of years sentenced, for some it could be hours served.

In fear of escape: tagged GPS, non-violent inmates, incentives for good behavior and so on.

-revised: just grammar only.

The US is behind in the public transportation system, trains are too expensive to travel across country and we have always been an automobile country.

To rejuvenate the system, we would need to:

-Invest in quiet and efficient trains for cities and towns (no one will vote in loud trains by residents)

-High speed trains across country.

-Buses to deliver patrons out of circuit.

-One system plan for all.

The costs could be huge, but linking cities and people across the country, could be a way of reducing traffic, gasoline costs, increase tourism to major sites.

This could also create permanent jobs as business developing around train stops and bus patron needs.

The people could have a more direct approach to the expected performances of the ones elected.

A yearly or bi-yearly vote on our elected local and government officials could be a deterrent for non-performers career politicians not interested in serving the people.

this is for post Idea # 137
Its not linked to my account so I have done it this way...

http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/2600-4049


As child support stands a non-custodial parent is pays 33% net of his/her income –that is before taxes and other items.

However, once it has been paid the parent has no rights to know what the money is used for. The non-custodial parent (child supporter) must pay taxes on this money and receives no tax deductions!

With no legal means to know if the money is being used to support the child or children, and no legal tools to prevent abuse of the money. The parent is able to bring the other to court every three years and ask for an increase.

It would be fair a just have the options (by law) in support money deposited in a "child support" account and transparent to both parents and the courts.

Also, child support should be tax deductible in helping the financial sacrifice made and supporting two health and affordable homes for the children.

--For too long the child support has in times been used as a weapon of power over another and is unfairly balanced in favor of one parent -this is sexist and suggested the other is not of equal in parenting. The person paying child support has very little legal tools to monitor what is to be money for the children.

Living, food, clothing, medical are examples of what the money is rightly needed for. Beer, drugs, parents clothing, concert tickets are some examples of items that could be considered non-supportive while the other sacrifices financially.




Teach the basics of personal financing, awareness and understanding of how the credit cards and of the financing systems work in our country. This is a fundamental part of our daily lives and it seems most have never been educated in this –including myself.

This small but vital class would need to be in public education on order to touch and educate the mass, not all go to college to learn financing. This type of mandatory class could create a smarter consumer and family planner(s)
This could also help on domestic issues as well -were financial issues is a large contributor to marital problems, violence, and or divorce.

What other missing basics is missing in public schools? If we skip the basics how can we ask more of the next generation?

Strengthen Monopoly laws

Large corporations have a place in our country and always have but are not the only way. Something is to be said about the loss and satiability we had with smaller businesses. Regional diversity and unique attributes in regards to business have become indistinguishable.

This is a loss of American culture, dependences on large corporations for regional stability, unattractive to tourism, and less opportunity for the average Americans to contribute to Americas growth.

Elected officials running campaigns should not be paid for time in office.

Elected politicians running campaigns (for long periods of time) while in office for other positions are not doing the job paid for it, seems appreciate and fair that any person paid by the people should either:

-leave office to campaign.
-receive no pay while not on duty.
-serve the time lost serving.

George Washington -Warns against the party system.

"It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

I have come to believe no political party has the peoples interest first, its always the agenda of the party first. Would it not be best if all party's and groups were ban inside government and serve the people first?
voting day should be a national Holiday, move all voting to the same time of the year for all states. Create a Holiday to help all make time time to vote.

Shouldn't we celebrate?
All Bills should stand clean -no earmarks and non-related.

All Earmarks should be stand along Bills.

All non-related should be stand along Bills.

It seems simple and honest.
In this era of technology, it seems we are behind; the country could have one standard voting method.

Americans moving from one side of the country to the other should know, be educated in, and vote with one universal way.

Additionally, a closed networked system with both government and citizens seems possible and cheaper than 50 different standards.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 4205 Ideas

Comments Posted

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
It's not very clear or inviting is it?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/open/
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Mike B,

I think I am in the wrong, thought you were directing this comment at me. sorry.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
The problem has become the abuse of, therefore the right should be limited or removed.

How many times would you let a person dip into the cookie jar before you slap that hand?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Mike B,

Should I cut and paste it in for you? No need for a attitude.

The problem has become the abuse of, therefore the right should be limited or removed.

How many times would you let a person dip into the cookie jar before you slap that hand?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I don't have the answer to that, I would suggest it to be researched and studied...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I would agree with allowing someone who will never be set free and has been proven 100% Buddy William's suggestion.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago

jwelborn3434 -Rehabilitation is a nice idea but has never proven effective

I honestly don't have any numbers on this sort of thing but it could also be fair to say we have never chosen an effective rehabilitation program.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
sorry telling was to be talking..

jwelborn3434,

Not all that are violent deserve to die, I support case by case approach not blanket killing.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Jwelborn3434,

Are you telling about the death sentence? I didnt include it, I saw that as another topic...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I don't agree but like your last statement felkalarp!
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
So you claim forcing beliefs on one with forced beliefs and raciest comments?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
who are you talking to nh.deering?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
A common language we are all educated and fluent in is a must, but I don’t see a problem with multi-languages for informational purposes government or otherwise. i too have been outside the country many times and this is not a problem for some.

The fact is we are a moving faster than ever to a multi-cultural society and that’s not going to change.

I believe a fear factor of the unknown is gripping the Caucasians as (we) move closer to a minority or non-dominating roll -for lack of better words.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
It should be voluntary.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
We know making people do anything will amount to nothing, I would say it should be voluntary.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
witchwindy,

I agree on some points.

- I do believe hard work and new learned skills is a form of rehabilitation and not cruel punishment or slave labor. The only way to learn and grow is to do not sit.

- I do believe some wrongly accused have been prisoned but not the majority. - Absolutely the violent and nonviolent should never be mixed!
- Home arrests, sounds interesting and doable in some cases. But are we just moving the cost? police, equipment, officials, and so on will need to be added. Besides a nice comfort zone is not always the way to rehabilitate or learn what is right and wrong.
- Questionable circumstances: We need very strict penalties to stop this kind of abuse from the public and the lawyers who can use it as a tool.
- Advocates are OK, if trained and not running on personal opinions. I have run into advocates using the system to better a personal belief or organization. This is just as bad in the end and serves only one organizations ideology.

-Mistreatments in prison are awful and a fact but let’s not forget the prisoners are not always innocent, monitoring and constant outside inspections of facilities could help some.

- If we are talking about wrongly jailed because we don’t agree with the law at standing.. That’s a different topic… :)
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
jwelborn3434 and rsgallaher,

Are your MRTs well used by the public during the week? Who paid for it, was this a state or government project?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
It would be good for all to agree in the 2nd phase, that we have differences of opinions that we can share without the need to lose ourselves in emotional upraises.

If you can’t control yourself, and you have lost the ability to be civilized towards each other, how can you ask the same of our government?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
We will all be poor when that day comes.

But we all need to contribute no matter how small the amount, free is never free.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I agree, in New England we have converted rails to bike trails and the public loves it. However we can only use ours for part of the year, and most work farther then ten miles away to work. I think with we can have all with todays technology.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I think we have some really good and legitimate ideas!
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
So its come to calling people moles and using falsehood statements to claim falsehoods??

Is this the type of government dbaker007 would replace ours with?

-Deeply unsettling,
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I vote on the best person for the job not a party. Some states including mine have a "one ticket" check for a party. This is shows how fascist in nature political parties and some organizations are becoming -very dangerous.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
How can any? If some claims abuse the man will be slapped with a restraint faster then you can wash the shampoo out of your hair.

To counter some of the abuse, I would suggest very stiff penalties for abuse of the system like this. but still, what can you do, you got protect people from difficult and dangerous situations.

At least something of this kind would make a lawyer think twice before suggesting this quick fix and power tool in a divorce.

Have you noticed how many cases of kidnapping are the parent? I wonder what else is going one? I believe the natural instinct of any parent is to be with the children and when removed, forced, wrongly it can create an even more unstable situation -all in the name of getting the upper hand.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Good definitions means it's no longer am earmark and less bribes for votes.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I agree, deadbeats are not good. My experence has told me abuse is on both sides including lawyers, I'd like to see more equality over all for the children.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
This is where the labels don't belong, were it's a country of people not a country of parties.

We continue to go done the road of labels and differences: it is a tool used to divide the people not unit.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
And your way of life more the right way to live... because? Your job is less crummy because why? Who are you to point your finger and judge so quickly the life of others? It has made all your points invalid.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I thought it said on the front page this was the last day? may 21st to the 28th.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
To reach the mass that don't gravitate online and youtube politicians use that ole' thing called TV and radio...

I was thinking of the people who can afford or don't know how to use cameras, software, and other equipment who want to run for an office.

But your right, most wouldn't bother to check it out.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
if it was nothing more then an empty studio free for the public and paid for with taxes?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
LOL! We don't have that already?

customers under very restricted conditions may be ok by probably wouldn't happen. Although rehabilitation into the general public isn't a bad idea at release time.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Maybe the answer is a government TV and radio station(s) for the all to freely campaign on?

It would have to be available to all new runners as well.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
If this is strictly for reclassification based on the definition, then it appears the government slowly let its guard down and you have a window for your case...good luck.

However, as good as the government is at having hidden agendas, I would caution even if your personal beliefs don't -most organizations do.

If you had it reclassified, would it be over? for this topic?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I'm not sure, I was hoping for others to have more insight.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Sure I agree to a point and is a basic freedom, just keep it outside when its time to serve the country and not the party... the country wasn't founded by two partys
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
jfsabl,

-husbands would vote for the wives? I know we have small and more traditional areas but I didn't think this was something still going on.

-and the unions or the bosses would vote for the workers. That is a union gone too far!

Would that be considered a violation of a persons right to vote?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I get why it's wrongly classified and agree it is not the same as the others.

Even if its changed to a lesser offense its still unlawful to have and will still carry a penalty for traffickers and users...

what do you feel will happen if its reclassified? Cops pat the user on the head and hand out a tickets then sending them home?

Is this the first step to try and legalize it?

Why not go for something killing people like cigarettes and have that first added to schedule 1? It's more addictive from what I'm reading, even as hard to kick as cocaine?




Josh Senecal 9 months ago
It would be for individuals

Normally one is not downgraded pay, only given a percent increase based on performance of work.

Interesting! Almost bidding for a salary to do the work?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
jfsabl,

My experience has been good when needing a few hours to go vote, has yours been different?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
As we all get a raise by percentages, I would say thats how you vote on a yes or no question to an increase. I think base salary is another topic.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Bryan,

I see your going down my line of ideas. lol

we do nothing but encourage a political party's, Vague? I think George Washington's says it all.

Add something more then, its a brainstorm...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Bryan,

If you were elected to do a job and you have a paid and sworn duty to the people to do your best for that position?

Are you not turning your back on the position, the people who voted for you and put time in your campaign to get you in?

If your concentration is for another job, another title, and you are actively enrolled in getting that -I would say you have not lived up to the oath taken or dedicated oneself to the task given.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Just so you know, this will mean the government will decide the conditions and rules to all prisons. I'm ok with this.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I think unless you changed the time we vote it would have to be thrown into the local voting dates.

Most of us get a continuous increase be performance at work –work hard and be rewarded by the people you serve.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I think it best to be fully open, although some of the harassment is annoying if some doesn't like your comment or vote.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
maybe require a search on topic fist.

It seems not only are we over posting, we are too interested our own ideas and not collectively using this as a think tank approach.

I do wonder if some of the groups posting are on an attack mode for agenda pushing.

If we had a 2nd phase where the top topics were listed for fleshing out it may be more productive in the end.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
A blanket statement, I agree with Bryan Rosanders comment.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
When I travel, I find I don’t miss my car. It’s a change in life style to use a public trans system and many already do in our country –it here but not coherent and up-to-date.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Not really.

If a Politician says I want to be president I think that very obvious he or she isn’t doing the job that was hired and paid for.

How would your boss feel if you said you’ll be in and out for a year or two while interviewing -but you’ll get your work done... I don't think it would fly and you would be fired.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I believe the law was created at a time were generally men were walking away from the family.

I believe it was a backlash to punish and assume the father was the less responsible figure.

This is not the case today where the trend has reversed and more women are opting out of the marriage then men.

The heavy burden of child support is a factor (but a need) in what is called “deadbeat dad or mom” I believe some (not all) people run away because they can’t feed themselves with such a heavy burden and with no insight to the lives of the children -where is the will to want to stick a round?

I do agree with the need for child support.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I like the idea but not anonymous, why should people hide in the dark? its just as bad, we have become to fearful to state our names with opinions.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I don't think it was well announced to the public.

I would be into a periodic or a bi-annual brainstorming.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
We all need to contribute, nothing is free.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
panther_dave,

Do you really want a group of unwilling fighters next to you in a battle?

Have you ever seen how many people look on or walk off when a pedestrian is hit on the street?

I think the unwilling are better on the sideline then hoping your bacon is backed up...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I like the Idea of an affordable public transportation system; I would use a system that allows me to get to most parts of the country hoping on and off trains and buses.

However I don’t want a free system and this is way. We all know free is not the case with anything, but more importantly to have personal responsibility and ownership in the system.

Collectively, there is no reason this country couldn't have a uniform and efficient transportation system that is not confusing and is affordable and safe across the country.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
nippon_nights,

-Having cannabis in schedule 1 is probably the most ludicrous mistake of this drug war.
Well I have to say that is not so at all, considering lives have been lost. I don’t remember all the details but the US at times did supply deforestation chemicals to South America in efforts of destroying crops –at the same time the open spraying was used on the people living next to the crops and farms. Resulting in the slow death and or sickness of children and adults.
With this loosely stated fact but true by my recollection, plus many other acts of good and bad that have cost us all dearly in family, money, and lives.
I would say the fight for changing this is mostly a selfish one, if so much energy was focused on a topic that had a larger benefit to country and us all I wonder what the results would be.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I would like to see it if you can find it.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I am not taking you seriously about a French-style revolution, but more a romantic jest to wake up the people :) -to stop the “ooze coming out the TV set”? But here we are on the modern tube…
Also, remember to force your own opinion on another is no better –the next generation will just look at you and do the same, and here I am forcing my opinion… see the madness?

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Hasn't the media(s) always been private companies?

Updating the monopoly laws could fix this, it one of the things I meant to say in Idea 681.

No need for constitutional amendments.

http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/3302-4049
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I went a little off topic, I wasn't talking about the pres serving 2 just all Americans in general.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
wfudeman,

Should a law state you need to finish your term and services before campaigns for another government job?

After all, the people voted for that person to do that job not another desired carrier.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
taxes.guide,

But the stress of tax filing? I spend days on mine and its not a complicated one.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
malikai0976,

thank you.

I't seems we all have a disorder to med now, I hope you kid just out grows it... true people may not jump to try but we know kids jump to try when the drinking age comes around.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
D. Swartzwelder,

I think the assumption of a disgruntled ex-spouse is not always the case. Is the money not to help provide for the children?

Is it not appropriate for both parents to know the children are being treated and fed correctly?

The monitored funds would be not of his or her personal account and therefore not an invasion of personal privacy. Only a guarantee the money handed to provide for children is used as stated in accordance to the law and keep all accountable for the agreements made in court.

More often then we like to admit, the money given for children is not used in the way it was intended. But we ask a huge burden on the provider with a blind eye.

Of course all things can be modified to individual cases as is every divorce case.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
oh god no! I get it at home from the wife. LOL

I know recognition is very important, I just don't need it for this.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
space is very large and we have planets we will never use. would it be wrong to use a dead planet as our space dump?
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Is this about the individual needs or the country's need? I don't need credit.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
panther_dave,

sorry, we would miss out on very good Americans by doing this. I would not be apposed to a mandatory 2 year service for all Americans. lots to be done, and the military isn't all war related. engineers, technology, nurse, humanitarian is happening now, and much much more.

besides, it would be a good well rounding/mixing of the people.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
just replace with the motion sensors for security
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
dbaker007,

I don’t disagree with all you say, but I also don't read all you are posting. To state "now, now" makes me feel it’s a push of ideology. We may have some of the same ideas or even all but you won’t reach me with this approach. You may not mean it this way but it has come across.

Fredrick Douglas was a great man; he didn’t receive his freedom overnight and with a blinding –now, now-. But that approach made him state that Lincoln was "the white man's president" I’m sure his haste moment today would not slip by with the media and could have dampened his other works.

Lets about talk today and not quote hundreds of quotes… just put one you live by.

Oh, the –now,now- is how Bush operated and I don’t support that.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I think it's going too far; this form was to be Ideas to better -not knock down our standing government.
All that would happen is a replacement of chaos and start the process all over again. Plus who do you think would be in the new order? Human beings...so you won’t wipe out the greed and corruption no matter how much ranting is done.
I think it would better to be productive and work to better what we have then push us back a few hundred years of progress.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
mtimmins,

rereading: I do agree its wrongly classified. I think the Government started to determine what is acceptable treatment when we created what was a doctors note (list) into a required prescription. I don't know if thats right or wrong just stating it.

My friend didn't use it in any legal means and what did she care, she wasn't long for this world. I would say she shouldn't have had to sneak around to find something to ease here suffering if she wanted to continue to use it.

On the flip side we don't need people jumping to use it because of hay-fever either. We are already a pill popping culture for every problem we think we have...

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I agree 100%.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Personally, I don't even like to be called Independent. I don't want to declare anything more politically then the fact that I'm an American when I vote.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
People are not responsible with drinking or smoking, I don’t think we can with Marijuana.

I knew someone who a non-smoker who died from lung cancer and used it as a medically -it was effective to numb the pain but she didn't like the high you get and stopped using it.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I agree with a flat tax formula, seems to work for Colorado.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Sorry, my comment was to the comment made by Robert David STEELE.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I voted neg for the reason I don't like the sounds of hate in the writing, it put questions to mind of your real motives. I don't work for the government...

would or do you expect retaliation for my optioning Robert? I do.

Josh Senecal 9 months ago
It's only open until the 28th, This is what we have. so point as many as you can to this topic!
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
But limiting pages could effect law that are more complex then others to have more loop holes.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I disagree, and in someways is off topic.

I'm talking about the financial aspect and transparency, not how active either parent is.

You could be two active parents in the same house and not know what the other is doing with a child -we see that all the time in the news...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
More methods of getting people to vote can be applied, I'm talking about one standard ballot.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
I agree with Jonathan, no one should use earmarks.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
thurst1985,

I would be scared not to have our own American made voting/security/system. its our voting system not others, it's not about fear, it's about responsibility.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
charliebernstein,

Information in more then one language is good, I think educating in many languages leads to group-segregation were still young on acceptance of all.

"You haven't given us enough information."

That's where you come in, I don't have all the answers...
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
Mark,

My thinking on the tax deductible: If transparency and required accounting existed I would say the deductions may not be needed.

However it's not 2 parents living in the same home. This means it costs more to have the same foods for the children if not doubled in some cases -so the person paying child support pays for the same food twice, plus rent, plus utilities the children use.

So as much as we like to say it is the same, the fact is its not when you start looking at the numbers and how much the supporter must pay to meet basic needs.
Josh Senecal 9 months ago
This is not linked to my account for some reason.