**Overview : **
Save the United States billions each year by requiring all US person collecting federal or state aid whether through food stamps, federal or financial aid to commit to civil service projects. These civil service projects must fall into the categories of government expense, including by not limited to infrastructure (roads, highways, cutting trees, laying pipes, electrical lines, etc), tourism support initiatives (acting as information guides in major cities, organizing community engagement events, and assisting the elderly or disabled as a public service), city revitalization projects (power cleaning sidewalks, removing grafitti, suburban farming initiatives, river and park clean up events, etc), and more…
All activities would be overseen by qualified/certified government contract mentors.
Through this approach, those who receive federal or state assistance, will be more involved in their community, learn valuable skills, take greater pride in their city/jurisdiction, reduce government spending, and ultimately discourage “lifers” (people who stay on federal aid for life and refuse to work or pretend to apply for jobs) and “birthers” (people who have game federal aid by having children but refuse to work) on the state/federal aid system.
There are 3 major things, every man, woman, and child need as much as air to live a fulfilling life.
- Purpose
- Community / Social Life
- Money / Freedom and the ability to pursue one’s thoughts and ambitions
This program, provides purpose through providing for the community, provides a social life by encouraging social interaction through community service, and provides the temporary financial assistance needed by those on state/federal aid - all while reducing government expense on common infrastructure and civil services.
DISABILITY : This program does NOT exempt those on disability from participation except those who are medically exempt. Specific civil service options will be customized for those with physical disabilities, such as tourism information desks, communications, community support, etc. No one should be left behind or be invisible.
**ENFORCEMENT ON HOMELESS POPULATIONS : ** Those who are homeless, must be enrolled into the program, given shelter, and enlisted into the same requirements as all others. Additional requirements for rehabilitation for those recovering from drug addiction or mental illness re-integrate into society.
**OATH OF OFFICE : ** To combat the “out of touch” complaint of civil servants and elected officials. All civil policy makers / elected officials who take the oath of office to serve the public at the state or federal funded level, must ALSO partake in civil service projects, to how to better serve their respective community. Failure to meet a minimum number of civil service hours (20 per month), would forfeit the right of office/service of the policy maker / elected official. No special status, powers, or position must be to granted to said policy makers / elected officials during civil service projects.
IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE I of III - DEFINE THE PROBLEM :
To implement the Think Forward Program, first an audit on government spending and feasibility of duty must be done to quantify the cost, savings, and options for civil service duties.
A core focus on non-technical infrastructure projects such as laying roads, were done by Roman slaves and military service men that lasted for hundreds of years, currently cost the United States billions each year to build and maintain. This is one of many examples of “jobs” of civil service that should be made available.
Tracks requiring hard physical labor, should result in an increase in pay and 4 day work weeks.
PHASE II of III - TRANSITION TO BOARD OF MENTEES :
Currently all government services such as infrastructure, electrical, sewage, even K9 training for federal law enforcement is managed by the government bid and contractor platform. This is a main source of income for many small to major corporations around the United States. To prevent the collapse of these government contractors, instead government contractors shall instead transition to contract educators, mentees, and supervisors presiding over civil service projects.
This includes infrastructure, city revitalization efforts, and any technical crafts such as laying electrical or fiber optic lines, sewage, operating machinery, city planning, etc.
The goal of this mentorship transition is to train valuable skills to the unemployed and underemployed, increase competition for government contracts (thus lowering federal expenses), and accelerate US infrastructure plans and commerce.
PHASE III of III - REALLOCATION OF FUNDS :
The United States spends over $200,000,000,000 / $200B (billion) dollars EACH year on infrastructure programs, through this civil service approach, this one expense could be slashed by several orders of magnitude. Additionally, the aversion created through the required enlistment of civil service by federal and state aid recipients would naturally reduce the number of enrollees, further resulting in additional savings, and a net surplus. Not to mention, additional savings in the form of a reduction of federal grant applicants into trade schools for trade skills taught through the Think Forward Program.
This surplus of US tax dollars can thus be allocated towards other higher education, manufacturing, agricultural, social security/medicare, and other initiatives.
SUGGESTION FOR REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR - RAPID US ADVANCEMENT :
A suggestion that should be implemented is a mandatory one (1) year international travel subsidy to all US citizens turning 18 year olds of $2,000 per month (adjusted for global inflation bi-annually) to encourage the cross pollination of ideas, exposure to cultures, and problems abroad. Through this initiative we can inspire a new generation of leaders, and increase net export opportunities as our citizens explore overseas and come back to the US to innovate, and build solutions that can be exported overseas or implemented domestically to further optimize the systems of government and quality of life in the United States.
In every business, leadership, psychology, and even books on art - the best education mentioned is that of travel. Enforcing this as a mandatory requirement to travel outside of the US to bring the best ideas back into the United States, would fundamentally address not only social economic issues such as racism (since traveling exposes you to different people, cultures, and ways of thinking), but also eliminates the income disparity gap as it is proven those who travel out of the country at least once have a higher chance of breaking out of poverty into a higher income bracket.
Note: A little under 50% of individuals earning under $30,000 a year in the US have never or never will travel outside of the country, this percentage is disproportionately made up of African Americans, Native Americans, and Latin Americans, under 25 or over 65.
To fiscally offset this one (1) year abroad program, it should be followed up by a one (1) year community service initiative. Educating them on trade skills, cultural differences, multiple economic and religious practices globally, fiscal responsibility, and other essential life skills to reduce the likelihood of future state or federal dependence later in life.
Shifting the initial college starting age to 20 years old, and exposing youth to the world both domestic and abroad before presenting the opportunity of higher education, and the potential debt associated with higher education tuition, again reducing the US debt burden caused by default as a percentage is likely to seek out higher education better aligned with their worldly interests and/or alternative education.
This is the general 40,000ft overview of the Think Forward Program.