How would you "fix" how the US is run?

This is probably the wrong forum for this, but I'd still like to see what people think.  If you could completely restructure the US' political system into something you thought was ideal, or at least better, what would it be?  I'm leaving this open to whatever serious conjecture or ludicrous Ronald Reagan resurrection wet dreams you guys might be having.    
  
I feel like our checks and balances do more harm than good, because it halts progress in all directions.  The system is seemingly designed to be very difficult to get anything done.  I kind of like the British parliament system, all members of parliament are more or less equal (in my understanding) and one party assumes almost total control.  It sounds dangerous allowing one political ideology control of the whole country, radical changes could take place from one regime to the next.  Despite that I'd still rather see things attempted and fail than see nothing ever get off the ground due to bickering.  

But checks and balances also makes sure one branch doesn't gain too much power. It's not a perfect system, but it's the best we got.
 
If I was given the ability to "fix" our government, I don't think I would. It's probably way too complicated for someone like me to completely understand.

Monarchy all the way.

I would repeal the 17th Amendment.

There is no perfect political system.  No matter how one might try to fix the flaws found, new flaws will always become evident.

Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit.

No clue. 

1) Put your pointing finger between your lips.
2) Make sound with your throat and exhale.
3) Move finger up and down between lips.
 
Pretty much summarizes politics for me.

" There is no perfect political system.  No matter how one might try to fix the flaws found, new flaws will always become evident. "

Declare myself president for the next 30 years, and when people finally start to get mad, tell them I wasn't planning on running in the next election anyway. 
 
Oh wait...

"Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit. "

I would have Anonymous make every governmental decision. 
 
Then I would sit back and see how Anonymous' political leanings are just as ass backwards as those currently in power.

" Monarchy all the way. "

No Ronald Reagan resurrection, eh? Would you accept some type of Robo-Reagan?

" @Make_Me_Mad said:

"Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit. "

Because Congressmen/Senators aren't usually independently wealthy long before they get elected, right?  How much do you think they get paid, anyway?  Their annual salary is about $150k, which is well above the US average but it's hardly boats & hos money. "

The answer is very simple: Reduce the power of politicians (especially the President)  and make them be held more accountable. US citizens have slowly given away all of their power over the entire history of this country. Meanwhile, Congress (the people's voice in the government) has given more and more power to the President. Also, today's politician has to do something purely evil to ever be held accountable, which means they never are. No one publicizes the lobby money these people recieve, and there are always secret deals and conversations. The American public has a right to know everything their representatives are doing, and the details of their backdoor dealings. Over all, it seems politicians have forgotten they represent the populace, and only see the public as stupid sheep who are only good for votes and giving them tax dollars.

" @nemt said:

" @Make_Me_Mad said:

"Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit. "

Because Congressmen/Senators aren't usually independently wealthy long before they get elected, right?  How much do you think they get paid, anyway?  Their annual salary is about $150k, which is well above the US average but it's hardly boats & hos money. "

I also feel like there should be campaign spending caps again, politics is the only line of work you can literally buy your position. "

The only thing I can think of is to get rid of lobbying. It seems too shady, like there's nothing but bribes and favors being exchanged.

" @Arkasai said:

" @nemt said:

" @Make_Me_Mad said:

"Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit. "

Because Congressmen/Senators aren't usually independently wealthy long before they get elected, right?  How much do you think they get paid, anyway?  Their annual salary is about $150k, which is well above the US average but it's hardly boats & hos money. "

I also feel like there should be campaign spending caps again, politics is the only line of work you can literally buy your position. "

SPOILERS: There are all kinds of campaign fundraising laws and restrictions, including ones related to just bankrolling yourself. "

Strip the whole system down and start again. Of course, this is neither practical nor probable. Even if we were to begin again, though, no government is perfect, so the new system would still have plenty of flaws.

Fun fact: Thought Obamacare being struck down was bad? Iraq and Afghanistan both have universal health-care in their constitutions after being taken over and rebooted by the US, and your tax-payer money goes there.
 
..so I think nothing can be done. No matter what happens, senators will still have their votes purchased. Senators and governors and judges will still be driven by personal private opinions and brainwashing. Elsewhere similar discussions to this are going on, people are looking to Egypt for inspiration.
 
We'll take care of you if you decide to move to Europe guys, we enjoy your accents and think you're fun to be around because you're all exotic to us.

Make me President. I'll show ya how it's done.

" I would have Anonymous make every governmental decision.  Then I would sit back and see how Anonymous' political leanings are just as ass backwards as those currently in power. "

Prevent corporations from having the same rights as people also cap donations.

While there are some very compelling arguments to the contrary, I fully support term limits for our wonderful Congressmen.

This might be an entirely disastrous change. The constitutional amendment process is convoluted precisely to prevent disastrous changes from collapsing the whole system. It's probably why we don't have a marriage amendment (among a bunch of other frivolous and/or dangerous amendments), and if we had a constitutional convention like some other places, we may very well now have one.  
 
The people wanting to start from scratch really do not understand what an accomplishment the American system actually is. It's a worthwhile institution! I promise!

" Prevent corporations from having the same rights as people also cap donations. "

But for serious, America is full of people who are positive they could run America better. So the best, easiest thing to do would be to abolish Representative Democracy and uphold your oldschool Athens style Direct Democracy. Then when something stupid gets voted in, you can't point at some dinosaur in the Senate. Your vote made this happen now live with it. If its based on individuals and not on states and precincts, then the dense populations where over half of America lives will get their say, and they lean left, and internet knowitalls are fans of the left, right? So a direct democracy would fix things, assuming you agree with progressive policies and assuming as many individuals lean that way as you think, and they're not too busy to vote on a weekly basis. We can raise the deficit cieling every month, it'll be fun. We can watch federal mandates slide away as individual interests take center stage. Its hard to argue against a direct democracy unless you still think the peasants aren't smart enough to allocate their own interests, like the founding fathers did. Literacy is slightly higher now, maybe we're ready.

" Monarchy all the way. "

Follow Jeff's route that he was taking in Tropico 3. Seemed pretty good to me. 

The biggest problem with the American political system right now is the lobbyists from huge corporations. The best thing for the country would be to get rid of those, but it would be a difficult and delicate process, I don't really know how you could go about changing it, probably no one does, which is why it still exists.

" @Video_Game_King said:

" Monarchy all the way. "

Of course you would say that!  You are a monarch yourself! "

Representatives would have to earn their place through gladiatorial combat.

" The biggest problem with the American political system right now is the lobbyists from huge corporations. The best thing for the country would be to get rid of those, but it would be a difficult and delicate process, I don't really know how you could go about changing it, probably no one does, which is why it still exists. "

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure

Legalize da purp brah. 
 
No but seriously I have no idea what to do. If it counts for anything I like what Ryanwho said.

Make an Egyptian president. 
 

I don't know the logistics of doing a direct democracy on a country this big (population wise). If a medium size country could volunteer to try it out first, that'd be cool. Canada, you game? Brazil, help a bro out. 
Most people have cell phones or iPads or whatever, seems like modern technology makes direct democracy feesable in larger countries basically for the first time ever. If nothing else, it kind of eliminates the lobbying aspect in its current incarnation. Its a bit harder to buy a whole city.

" This is probably the wrong forum for this, but I'd still like to see what people think.  If you could completely restructure the US' political system into something you thought was ideal, or at least better, what would it be?  I'm leaving this open to whatever serious conjecture or ludicrous Ronald Reagan resurrection wet dreams you guys might be having.      I feel like our checks and balances do more harm than good, because it halts progress in all directions.  The system is seemingly designed to be very difficult to get anything done.  I kind of like the British parliament system, all members of parliament are more or less equal (in my understanding) and one party assumes almost total control.  It sounds dangerous allowing one political ideology control of the whole country, radical changes could take place from one regime to the next.  Despite that I'd still rather see things attempted and fail than see nothing ever get off the ground due to bickering.   "

" This is probably the wrong forum for this "

I've always thought that our voting system should give everyone two ways to vote regarding political candidates: for or against. Everyone still gets one vote, but you could vote for someone (like we already do now), or you could vote against someone. A vote against actually would nullify someones vote for that candidate. Then whoever has the most positive, non-nullified votes at the end would win. This would allow third party candidates to be viable, since no one is going to vote against third parties, and the two main parties would likely garner quite a few votes against. That system would also help with the whole voting for x because you can't stand y. Now you could simply vote against y rather than for x. 
 
This wouldn't directly fix how things are run, but I think it would cause a lot more churn in the system. If part of the problem is stagnation, then churn is the solution.

" @Arkasai said:

" This is probably the wrong forum for this "

Then why did you post it here. "

Buy every Rage Against The Machine album and force all your friends to listen to them, and then have them have there friends and so on and so forth until the entire country is loving RATM. next thing you know we overthrow the capitalist pigs in D.C. and the people have the power.

replace it with anarchy...the purest form of democracy and expression of individual freedom.  
 
*runs from topic never to return*

" Lower the pay in Congress, make the only reason anyone would want to work there to actually get something important done.  Make sure taking a bribe will get you in some serious shit. "

Kill it!  Kill it with fire!