And half the middle classes' nest eggs go poof, while the politicians who voted for it (many of whom don't hold down their own jobs) need to explain that it's actually for everyone's good.

It wouldn't be a short cut. The long cut would be to change American culture to be able to make big changes like that for the good of the country.

If something like this was proposed, the House that flips the fastest would be the House of Representatives, followed by the White House.