A few ideas for presidential candidates

Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute puts out a daily e-mail newsletter to help journalists come up with fresh story ideas -- something all of us need from time to time.

But a recent offering included a list of ideas for journalists to put to the presidential candidates.

We don't agree with all of them, but think many of them are worth a public debate. We're sharing the list here, along with our interpretations of some of the issues.

Let us know what you think:

* Five-day-a-week postal delivery. Checks can be delivered by direct deposit, and if you really need an item, other, private services are available. England will probably stop delivering mail on Saturdays in 2011.

* A Manhattan Project for energy. If national security depends on energy independence, it's worth the investment.

* Year-round school. We've promoted this idea in this space before as well. Kids are no longer needed on the farm, and lose too much learning while they're out of school. Vacations could be taken year-round, perhaps during the hottest or coldest month of the year in a particular location.

* Drought-resistant landscaping plants. It makes no sense to dump scarce, expensive, treated water out on the dirt. For Nebraska, that may mean promoting buffalo grass or xeriscaping, which many of us have already done.

* Provide tax credit for blood and organ donations. Many people already want to do the right thing, but many more seem to need an added incentive.

* All federally elected officials should hold a news conference at least once per month.

* Scrap the electoral system. Replace it with a system that people understand.

* Open all courtrooms to cameras. Start with the Supreme Court and appeals courts.

* Stop allowing the federal flood insurance program to sell policies to new construction in the worst flood-prone areas. Stop the "flood-rebuild-repeat" cycle.

* Stop penalizing workers between 62 and 65 for earning more than $13,560 a year. Give people a reason to stay productive and keep contributing to society for as long as they can.

* End special congressional health care coverage. Every member of Congress should be covered by a private health care plan just like the rest of us. Members of the house pay $300 a month and Senators about $600 a month for their own pharmacy, nurses and doctors, and can get a physical, x-ray or electrocardiogram without ever missing work. Taxpayers contribute about $2 million toward the congressional health-care system. Still wonder why we can't get health care reform?

Agree with any of these ideas? Find any of them outrageous? Respond to the editorial online at http://mccookgazette.com, e-mail us at editor@mccookgazette.com or write: Open Forum, McCook Daily Gazette, P.O. Box 1268, McCook NE 69001.