Collectively. . . it is OUR fault!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Without question!!! It is the people's fault. People have become so dumbed down to "bumper sticker" politics that its pathetic. Politicans are afraid to tackle the big issues because it takes longer than 15 seconds to explain.
In my humble opinion it is partly due to the primary system, but by in large it is dues to politicians drawing the maps. There are too many districts that cater to one side or the other.
Everyone needs to get "involved"!!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
No doubt. I wish voting was mandatory.
Convince everyone you know, to vote out every fucking Senator and/or Representative who isn't working for the tax paying property owners of their districts.
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Huh?
- If you're not a tax paying property owner... No Voting Priveleges
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Does this mean if someone pay a sales tax on a car I can vote? I assume you mean real estate, but over my 42 years I have learned that making assumptions can be a mistake. If so, I could damn near write a book on that issue.
- Term Limits for all of Congress. . .
Originally Posted by MrGiz
They have a term limits now. Each of them is elected to one term. Why shouldn't the majority of the voters of a district have the right to rehire a politician if they were doing a good job?
To boot, this would be a disaster. Staff members would become way to powerful, and yet, they would have no accountability.
- No more lifelong pensions for one term served!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
US Representatives don't have pensions after one term. You have to be vested with time served. You have to have been elected to 3 terms.
- New amendment to make all of their decisions and laws affect them as equally as any of their constituents... same Health Care , same Social Security , same travel expenses , same tax advantages , same vacation time , same lack of sick-pay , etc. . .
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Doesn't bother me one bit, but I can tell you I wouldn't want their job. Its not like they don't work weekends or when they aren't in Congress. I can tell you from first hand experience they are always working. They work most weekends and most holidays. When they aren't in DC they are at parades, meetings, town halls etc etc. No thanks, you can have it.
US Senators are a little different. Since they have to wait 6 years before their next election they get it pretty good for a year. But after that they are working all the time too.
Now, their health care is great. I mean awesome. It comes out of their paycheck, but its part of the same group plan that staffers get . It is greatly reduced for the Congressmen and staffers.
Not sure what you mean my travel expenses. Their job pays their travel. Just like my company pays for my travel. They just have to do it a hell of a lot more than I do.
A US rep generally flys to and from their district each week. When they fly home they have to travel all over their district. Sure some district are confined to one city, but if you are the Rep from Montana you have to travel the state for your job. Most districts have big geographic areas.
- Limit or cut-out all lobbyist political contributions
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Lobbyist are limited to their contributions. Just like you and me they can only contribute $2,400 (I am 99% sure that the limit was 2400) to a federal candidates per election. Further, their contribution - like yours or mine - is disclosed.
What is the real sin is the 527's that have popped up that can take unlimited contributions from unknown contributors. Fuck, one billionaire gave 25 million to a 527 supporting Newt Gingrich. (Talk about a hell of a money barn fire!) Thats pennies compared to what others are giving to influence elections.
- Redefine the Washington D.C. definition of an Expense CUT! A "CUT" does not mean a lower rise than planned!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Preach on brother! DC speak is a hell of a lot different than English.
- Put an end to the I.R.S. !! Fair Consumption Tax for all!
- Put an end to The Federal Reserve Banking System.
- Quit printing new money with zero back-up!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
OK. Not wild about a federal sales tax because I think it will end up hurting middle class and working people. It could be done fairly though.
The rest? Really don't know much about. I haven't studied the gold standard since high school. I gotta believe there was a reason that we broke away from it though.
- Quit giving billions of U.S. dollars to countries who hate the U.S.!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
OK, but that is way to easy to say and much harder in practice.
- Get the fuck out of Afghanistan and protect our own borders!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
No shit. We should never deploy our soldiers without a declaration of war. Have we learned nothing from history? Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc etc has proven that if there is no clear objective then there will be no clear winner. No winner means we have no idea what the fuck we are fighting for.
- So , so , so much more. . . convince a 100 people to give a fuck. . . and tell them to vote!
Originally Posted by MrGiz
Agreed.
To me what is wrong with our country is that we have become way to polarized. No one thinks anymore. If someone doesn't agree with a point they just call the other people names and dismisses them. "You conservative wing nut religious zealot" "You socialist lefty pinko commie". It is so easy to do that. Its intellectually cheap and frankly isn't worthy of elected office. Yet that is who is selecting the nominees and thus that is who our leaders have become.
But I disagree Giz, I think Jefferson is loving this. TJ is up in the big congress in the sky high fiving all the other founders. He wanted a government by the people. We have that. John Adams would be rolling over in his grave for any number of different reasons.