How to fix Congress and the Senate

[svxcess]

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS AND SENATE!!!!!

A friend sent this along to me. I can't think of a reason to disagree.


I am sending this to virtually everybody on my e-mail list and that includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends.. My friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010". It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I know many of you will say, "this is impossible". Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.

We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American hero's..




Congressional Reform Act of 2010


1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

....A. Two Six year Senate terms
....B. Six Two year House terms
....C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



2. No Tenure / No Pension:

...A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

...All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.


4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.


...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

...Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.



8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 01/01/2011.

......The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.



.

[ensteele]

Another one should be if they have broken the law, they will go to jail like the rest of the citizens. If they don't pay their taxes, then they suffer the same concequense as the rest of us. I agree, they should not be any different than us. :o

[Zandar]

Some of those are good things, some are superfluous, and #1 I flat out disagree with (and, for the record, I think "career Congressman" ought to be a contradiction in terms).

2-6 are all good ideas; reasonable and proper.

7 is already in effect. The fact that Congressmen (and various other officials, such as several Presidential appointees) often skirt the laws is a failure of the Executive branch; not the Legislative (and, to an extent, a failure of the Judicial branch). It's like pro football players or celebrities being let off the hook by a local cop or judge with stars in their eyes; it's not a failing of the law, but of law enforcement and penal assessment.

8 is a tough nut to crack. Ending all contracts in a blanket way might do harm and good. Besides, they could still make a deal that would enact a contract after their tenure, or to a company in which they have interest, etc. It's a token law at best.

1. Here we get to the real issue at hand. We already have term limits on each and every elected office in this nation: it's called the Ballot Box! Term limits are the lazy voter's way of handling corruption in government. It doesn't do anything at all to end corruption, but it feels like it does and, further, it doesn't require you to research and know the people on the ballot.

In States where they have term limits, the following often occur:
-Legislator apathy (they're only wanting to get to the next big job)
-Higher cost for campaigns (this pushes out any independent or third party candidates; in fact, it pushes out anyone with no business/union/etc. backing)
-Less accountability to voters
-People taking the job just to secure a future position or wealth (usually done via getting elected and making sweetheart deals with companies for contracts and such)

Some of these happen without term limits, obviously; but they are exacerbated conditions with term limits.

The solution is not to attempt to legislate away the problem and then go back to sleep as a consumer. the solution is people being informed and involved with their elected representatives. This is the only way to keep our Republic as a nation run of, by, and for the people. It's just a lot harder to do than simply saying, "term limits!"

[LarryIII]

Item 7 is already in effect. It is also known as the 28th ammendment to the constitution. Congress and the Executive and Judicial branches are now in violation of the 28th ammendment with the new health care law.

[BoxerFanatic]

Item 7 is already in effect. It is also known as the 28th ammendment to the constitution. Congress and the Executive and Judicial branches are now in violation of the 28th ammendment with the new health care law.

And the 9th and 10th amendments, and the articles of the Constitution that define the branches of government.

And they have abrogated the Declaration of Independence.

They have pretty much torn asunder the Oath of Office that they all swore to uphold. To me, that might present grounds for impeachment... but nobody else seems to make that statement in public, even if some of us think it.

Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama both quoted the founding documents when they signed this bill into law. It made me sick, and extremely angry that they quote it to serve their purposes to destroy those very documents. Those document elucidate the ideals that Americans have given their lives for. People don't give their lives for the ability to pay high taxes to provide government health insurance. They give their lives for the principles of FREEDOM and LIBERTY.

In the past, they have given their lives FIGHTING JUST THIS SORT OF TYRANNY. Fascism, Nationalized Socialism, and Communism, and conquering totalitarian Empiricism.

The Republic is burning, and people 'in charge' lit it on fire to burn it down, and replace it with their new authoritarianism in it's place. They are already building the scaffolding while the original structure burns.

[Lookin4SVX]

Want to fix congress, then handle it like jury duty.
Just pick people at random to serve in the house.
Have them take a simple test to insure they understand their role as defined by the constitution.
We would be better off with Joe six pack running things than we are with all these lawyers and career politicians.

[ensteele]

It is finally the time that citizens of the US are starting to take note of what is being done in our government. Most don't even know who their leaders are. I usually refer to them as sheepeople - they just go about their daily lives and don't take not of anything outside of their own lives. :(

[lhopp77]

John G. Is 63 years old and owns a small business. He's a life-long Republican and sees his dream of retiring next year has all but evaporated. With the stock market crashing and new taxes coming his way, John assumes now that he will work to his dying day.John has a granddaughter. Ashley is a recent college grad. She drives a flashy hybrid car, wears all the latest fashions, and loves to go out to nightclubs and restaurants. Ashley campaigned hard for Barack Obama. After the election she made sure her grandfather (and all other Republican family members) received a big I told-you-so earful on how the world is going to be a much better place now that Obama and her party is taking over.


Having lost both roommates, Ashley recently ran short of cash and cannot pay the rent (again) on her 3 bedroom townhouse.. Like she has done many times in the past, she e-mailed her grandfather asking for some financial help.


Here is his reply:

Sweetheart, I received your request for assistance. Ashley, you know I love you dearly and I 'am sympathetic to your financial plight. Unfortunately, times have changed. With the election of President Obama, your grandmother and I have had to set forth a bold new economic plan of our own..."The Ashley Economic Empowerment Plan." Let me explain.


Your grandmother and I are life-long, wage-earning tax payers. We have lived a comfortable life, as you know, but we have never had the fancier things like European vacations, luxury cars, etc.. We have worked hard and were looking forward to retiring soon. But the plan has changed. Your president is raising our personal and business taxes significantly. He says it is so he can give our hard earned money to other people. Do you know what this means, Ashley? It means less for us, and we must cut back on many business and personal expenses.

You know the wonderful receptionist who worked in my office for more than 23 years? The one who always gave you candy when you came over to visit? I had to let her go last week. I can't afford to pay her salary and all of the government mandated taxes that go with having employees. Your grandmother will now work 4 days a week to answer phones, take orders and handle the books. We will be closed on Fridays and will lose even more income to the new Wal-Mart store that recently opened.

I'm also very sorry to report that your cousin Frank will no longer be working summers in the warehouse. I called him at school this morning. He already knows about it and he's upset because he will have to give up skydiving and his yearly trip to Greenland to survey the polar bears.

That's just the business side of things. Some personal economic effects of Obama's new taxation policies include none other than you You know very well that over the years your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in cash, tuition assistance, food, housing, clothing, gifts, etc., etc. But by your vote, you have chosen to help others -- not at your expense -- but at our expense.

If you need money now sweetheart, I recommend you call 202-456-1111. That is the direct phone number for the White House.. You can also contact the White House here :http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/.

You yourself told me how foolish it is to vote Republican. You said Mr. Obama is going to be the People's President, and is going to help every American live a better life. Based on everything you've told me, along with all the promises we heard during the campaign, I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to transfer some stimulus money into your bank account. Have him call me for the account number which I memorized years ago...

Perhaps you can now understand what I've been saying all my life: those who vote for a president should consider the impact on the nation as a whole, and not be just concerned with what they can get for themselves. What Obama supporters don't seem to realize is all of the money he is redistributing to illegal aliens and non-taxpaying Americans (the so-called "less fortunate") comes from tax-paying families.

Remember how you told me, "Only the richest of the rich will be affected"? Well guess what, honey? Because we own a business, your grandmother and I are now considered to be the richest of the rich. On paper, it might look that way, but in the real world, we are far from it.

As you said while campaigning for Obama, some people will have to carry more of the burden so all of America can prosper... You understand what that means, right? It means that raising taxes on productive people results in them having less money; less money for everything, including granddaughters.

I'm sorry, Ashley, but the well has run dry... The free lunches are over... I have no money to give you now. So, congratulations on your choice for "change." For future reference, I encourage you to try and add up the total value of the gifts and cash you have received from us, just since you went off to college, and compare it to what you expect to get from Mr. Obama over the next 4 (or 8) years. I have not kept track of it, Ashley. It has all truly been the gift of our hearts.

Remember, we love you dearly...but from now on you'll need to call the number mentioned above. Your "Savior" has the money we would have given to you. Just try and get it from him.

Good luck, sweetheart.

Love,
Grandpa

[lhopp77]

The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president. -- Author Unknown

[Green1995SVX]

Lee-

I would like to point out a few things about your post. First of all, the gentleman in your story sites the stock market crash with talking about his feelings of President Obama. Please see the below graph. Under whose presidency did the decline of the market primarily fall? Doesn't this graph show that recent stimulus plans have helped?

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh448/halfwindows/Screenshot2010-03-28at122144PM.png

Now, I couldn't help but see some parallels between the subject of the story, and my father. My father is a 66 year old small business owner and a lifelong registered republican. He voted for Mr. Obama because of his disgrace for what the republican party has become, and his true personal belief that he was the best choice for our country. (His words. I just called him to ask.) My father plans to retire in December, and is happy to see his stock market-tied investments recovering. He also mentioned that he is more than happy to pay additional taxes if it means that people with serious medical conditions can now afford to seek treatment.

My point is, Lee, that everybody has their own opinion. What's great about this country is that we all may have our own. I am proud of my father for being able to see beyond party lines and the "Fox News Hype."

[lhopp77]

Lee-

I would like to point out a few things about your post. First of all, the gentleman in your story sites the stock market crash with talking about his feelings of President Obama. Please see the below graph. Under whose presidency did the decline of the market primarily fall? Doesn't this graph show that recent stimulus plans have helped?


Now, I couldn't help but see some parallels between the subject of the story, and my father. My father is a 66 year old small business owner and a lifelong registered republican. He voted for Mr. Obama because of his disgrace for what the republican party has become, and his true personal belief that he was the best choice for our country. (His words. I just called him to ask.) My father plans to retire in December, and is happy to see his stock market-tied investments recovering. He also mentioned that he is more than happy to pay additional taxes if it means that people with serious medical conditions can now afford to seek treatment.

My point is, Lee, that everybody has their own opinion. What's great about this country is that we all may have our own. I am proud of my father for being able to see beyond party lines and the "Fox News Hype."

The stock market is only a minor factor in the above story. The main point is the additional taxes and believe me they are coming---big time.

I fully understand where you are coming from and it scares the hell out of me as indicated in my other post above.

Consider this:

"The path to Sunday's catastrophic vote was paved with cynical blandishments by the Democratic Party's congressional leaders to their members. The votes were induced by the assurance that in the seven remaining months before the election, the true facts of their legislation, which led to overwhelming public opposition to the bill when passed -- can be undone in the minds of the voters by remorselessly repeating misconceptions to the public.

The most mendacious, cruel and destructive proposition put forth by the Democratic congressional leadership -- and soon by almost all its ranks and files -- is, of course, the outlandish claim that the bill will reduce the deficit.

The uncontrolled growth of the annual deficits and total public debt is at the crux of the public's slack-jawed horror of Washington policy these past 18 months. Washington is placing our grandchildren's prosperity on a slow boat to China.

Everything that more than 200 years of American invention, investment, labor, suffering and triumph, war and victory has created is being sold off to the world's lowest bidders in a matter of months.

So far, the public has not been fooled by the claim that a new entitlement for 30 million people is being created -- and it will cost less.

But now the Democrats have the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) official accounting -- and they plan to use it as a shield and a sword as they wade into the public debate.

Of course, every informed person understands why the CBO calculation is an honest measure of a dishonest bill. Republican Rep. Paul Ryan at the health care summit, former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, in last Sunday's New York Times, and hundreds of commentators have all laid out the lamentable, indisputable and undisputed fact that the CBO methodology has been gamed by the congressional Democrats to turn what will be more than a trillion dollars in further public deficit and debt into a fantasy savings of $140 billion.

While Medicare is at about $30 trillion in unfunded liability by 2070, the bill preposterously claims it is going to cut Medicare by half a trillion dollars a decade. The quarter- to half-trillion dollars per 10 years that it will cost to pay Medicare doctors enough to keep them providing services has simply been put in another bill. The mendacities go on and on. They are not merely small, politically useful little deceptions. They are of a dimension that may destroy the republic.

The Democratic congressional leadership seems to have a stunningly insulting view of their potential voters' intelligence. But on such a basis is the battle for the minds of the voters joined.

Never will the wisdom and common sense of the American public have been put to a more fateful test. The organized opposition to the bill must do its best. But, as fitting to a constitutional republic, the fate of American freedom lies with the people."

Lee

[ensteele]

Many people who gave to chairity (like Ashley in the forementioned story) or to their local church or other established organization, will not be able to afford to do this in the future. The government will handle that for them. They will decide who gets what or how much. Remember also that there are going to be thousands of new jobs created to do this and they will siphon off much of the money before it is given out. That is one of the problems with BIG GOVERNMENT. And you think it is bad now, just wait. :( :(

[lhopp77]

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc

Lee