T Bill suggested some of the following and I'll elaborate on them to make them work:
Cutting of the Police Force: The fear in this is an increase in crime due to no police presence. So, for 3 month impose a zero tolerance judicial system where anyone that is arrested for any criminal activity (being illegal in the country to killing someone) will be subjected to a 30 minutes trial. In 30 minutes, the defendant would need to present a very clear justification for his or her crime, if not convincive in 30 minutes, death penalty is imposed. Also, print a daily list on all the papers of the names of people in death row. Watch the crime rate drop to near zero. Then, after scaring the hell out of the population, you can cut the Police force a bit.
Your elaboration in this instance is NOT acceptable by any stretch of the imagination!!
Don't you think a better solution would be to select an educated, intelligent and dedicated group of men and women to form a cadre to be trained in an appropriate academy? Then upon successful graduation, have them return, purge the existing PF and form a competent, reliable force capable of policing the various cities and communities? Texas Bill
Cutting the Armed Forces: This is good. What ever Armed Forces are left should be reasign to watch the border region for illegal immigration and other activities. Each guard should sign a contract stating that if he or she are not doing their job correctly, they will receive expulsion from the country or death penalty. That would ensure that they stop the people that need to be stoped and not let illegals into the country.
Again, you mis-state the mission of a National Military Establishment. Remove the Military from ALL Civilian Law Enforcement Duties, train them in strictly Military functions. Reduce the bloated overhead of high ranking officers to ONE Brigadier and make the remaining officer corps responsible for leading their men in the conuct of strictly Military duties! Establish a "militia" within communities and provinces as reserve forces to be called in emergencies only. TB
In addition to all of that, I would also support a legalization of the following:
Brothel prostitution: Excellent tax revenue source and a good way of keeping a slight control on Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Won't work! Mexico, Turkey and others have such a system and they are fraught with severe health problems! In addition, I'm not sure they would bring in very much revenue. You're relying far too much on the tourist industry for support.
Taxation of Religious Organizations: If the church feels that they do have a say in Dominican Politics, than Dominican politics do have a say in taxing the church. Besides, the church is a multi-million dollar organization, all that money can't be left untampered with in a poor country. Sorry God, but what has to be done has to be done!
I have to agree with this one 100%!! TB
Absentee Corporate Taxes: Since large multi-national corporations have huge interest in Dominican Republic, they will be required to do the following. First, Deposit their profits in a Dominican bank. Before the deposit, the profits will be taxed as profits. The money must stay in a Dominican bank interest earning account for at least 12 months. The interest will also be taxed. Then, afte 12 months, the company can take out of the country half of the bank accounts money. That half will be taxed twice, once for taking the money out of the bank and another for taking the money out of the country. The rest of the money will remain in the bank for 6 months and then the company can take it out. The double taxation deal applies again. Also, all of this happens after the company signs a deal to operate in the DR for the life of the contract (10 years) with the first two years absolutely tax free. The contract will renew itself every 10 years unless the company gives a written cancelation request. The cancelation will cost the company 10% of the money in the bank and then the money will be double taxed after it's taken out.
You have just assured that NO multinational corporations will EVER have any basis to establish a business in the DR. They'd laugh in your face and roll on the floor, then take their business to Haiti or some other country. TB
Illicit Drugs Deal: Inspite of the Drugs being illegal for consumption within the Republic, it will be ok for Drugs to be in transit as long that the destination is not within the DR. Due to the transit status, there will be a tax on that. Also, in addition, there will be a Safety Fee (Drugs have habit of sparking violence), a Risk Fee (incase the U.S. charges the DR with harboring Drug Dealers). Also, there should be a fee for drug landing strips, a fee for vessels docking in port. If a drug package is found to be missing or is opened, a heavy fee will be imposed as well. Foreign countries agaisnt this trade will be allowed to come into Dominican water and Airspace only in persue of these drug dealers (they are not Dominican responsibility and the Drug Dealers safety is in their own hands as long that they are not touching dominican soil), all of that for a fee also. Of course, we could agree to not persue such deals with Drug Dealers if the U.S. request us not to do so, but only if the Debt is forgiven. Otherwise, it's business as usual.
This suggestion stinks! If the country can't, at present control the transition of drugs within and through the country at present, how would they enforce such a scenario as that?? It would be virtually impossible. In addition, if implimented, the DR would become a part of the world drug traffiking organizations and violate every treaty it was signatory to in that regard. The suggestion is full of holes!!
Good try, tho'...
