No Shit

It occurs to me that so far my 'original ideas' are hardly setting the world alight. Aside from VAT free waterproofs I haven't suggested anything that isn't already in the public conscious.

So instead of trying to link my ideas together in a manefesto-like approach, here are some of my more original ideas* in no particular order:

Green vehicle licenses - Nothing to do with the environment, a slower moving vehicle or vehicle driven by a retired person would be made road tax exempt provided it remained off the road at peak times. It would have green license plates to give it this distinction. This way tractors, lawn mowers, plant equipment etc could operate on the road at lower cost but not inconvenience motorists that need to get to work. Likewise OAPs would be able to get out and about at a lower cost provided they use the roads when they are less congested.

Missed appointment fines - If you have an NHS appointment and you fail to show or leave sufficient notice of cancellation then you will be fined and barred from making a further appointment until the fine has been paid.

Child benefit caps - We live in a free society (at least we used to) so you can have as many children as you want. However the state ceases to pick up the tab after you have had a determined number of children/births. E.g. If you have two children already you will only receive benefits for the next birth, if you have twins or triplets you will still get full benefits for each of them. You would not be entitled to any benefits for subsequent children. The current system actively encourages those at the bottom of society to have more children and those in the middle to have fewer. (Those at the top are less effected as they have enough money for it not to matter).

Structured prison sentances - A first offender would have 60% punishment (monotonous tasks such as sorting recyclable materials, stripping mobile phone handsets, stripping car tyres etc.), 30% rehabilitation (education, vocational training etc) and 10% adjustment (Day release, external community service etc.). A repeat offender would have 90% punishment and 10% adjustment - they would not be rehabilitated twice. Those who win appeals/re-trials would be offered the 10% adjustment period if they have become sufficiently institutionalised but it would not be compulsory.
Good behaviour would result in a shorter or less unpleasant punishment, bad behaviour would result in a longer (and less pleasant) one.

Hung verdicts for rape - The reality of a rape trial is that it is the accused versus the victim - it should be the accused versus the state. Why not formalise it. If a hung verdict is reached then it would count against someone in court in future. Serial rapists would be put away eventually as would vindictive accusers.

That'll do for now, I have more but I struggle to get them all out of my brain at the same time - the little voices stop me.

*Although I believe these ideas are original, that doesn't rule out the possibility that someone else hasn't publically suggested them before. The odds of having a truly original thought are 6 billion to 1 against.