I sure didn’t miss the hassles of not being ‘connected’ while I was in the Back Country of the Sierras. No radio, no cell connection, and of course no internet connection. It means I didn’t have to listen to a bunch of political lies and cover ups by the media.
However, at some point I had to come down off that mountain trail, and back to the crap we think of as reality. Trust me, I’d much rather be dealing with altitude sickness, water stops, water filters, outdoor nature calls, and bears. Though I can say I will never miss exiting a tent on my hands and knees to find a tree in the middle of the night just so I can pee.
That this is an election year, made the reprieve a special blessing.
Alas, but I had to come down off God’s most magnificent creation, and back to the devil’s playground.
More cops defending themselves, and more cities upset that a cop shot a thug who pointed a gun at the cop. Seriously, what did the thug, or the citizens think would happen?
A sitting Senator, a leader of his party, publically announcing he asked the head of the CIA to lie, and give a fake security briefing to the opposition candidate for POTUS. Worse, no one seems to care.
There was a time, not that long ago, that I opposed term limits. That time has passed. In reading the Founding Fathers justification for our Constitution, it becomes clear, they neither wanted nor envisioned career politicos. Thomas Jefferson was sent a copy of the ratified Constitution, while still in France. His one objection was there was no term limit on the office of POTUS. It took 159 years to address the error.
We still have not addressed this mistake as it applies to our Congress. In truth, we have made it worse with the 17th Amendment, ratified 103 years ago.
We the people are not being represented by our peers. No, we are being told what to do, how to do it, and when, by people that are more interested in the power of the office they hold, than listening to those that sent them there. And it is our fault, as we keep sending them back.
I have a modest proposal.
Senate.
Repeal the 17th Amendment. The Senate was supposed to be the voice of the States, and therefore nominated, and elected by the legislature of each State.
Amend the Constitution;
Senate.
Term limit to 2 terms, 12 years total.
House of Representatives.
Term limit to 6 terms, 12 years total.
All of Congress.
Physical residence in the state they are running for office in, for a minimum of 12 years. Duel residency is limited to 14 days in one other state per year.
All laws passed, apply to Congress, and their staff.
To run for another office, while holding a current office, requires the office holder to resign from the office held.
Should that person fail the election, the person is now term limited out of Congress forever.
Loss of re-election, term limits the person out of Congress forever.
Just to be clear, one cannot term limit out of the Senate, and then run for the House and vis versa.
Term limited persons, and their staffs, are barred from working for a lobbying firm for 12 years after leaving office.
No tax funded retirement. All retirement funds are whatever is contributed by the office holder. No foundations, no gifts, no speaking fees. Personal funds only. They pay into Social Security.
Re-election funds are forfeit upon loss of election, or upon term limiting out of office. They are given to the General Fund of the US government.
Congressional pay is limited to the average hourly wage of the district they represent. For the Senate, the state average applies. No monetary gifts, no speaking fees. Any money made outside of Congressional pay, results on a deduction from Congressional pay. Earn $1 and have $5 deducted from their Congressional pay.
Naming of buildings etc. after members of Congress are prohibited, until 12 years after leaving office, and no compensation from either the former Congressional office holder, or the organization owning, leasing or renting the building is allowed.
Last but not least. Amend the Constitution for the passage of bills.
NO riders on bills that are not specific to the bill being considered. A health bill cannot be slipped into the transportation bill for example.
All budget items are to be individually written, debated, and voted on. This ensures accountability by the Congress person and avoids pork being added to bills that must be Constitutionally enacted.
I sure didn’t miss the hassles of not being ‘connected’ while I was in the Back Country of the Sierras. No radio, no cell connection, and of course no internet connection. It means I didn’t have to listen to a bunch of political lies and cover ups by the media.
However, at some point I had to come down off that mountain trail, and back to the crap we think of as reality. Trust me, I’d much rather be dealing with altitude sickness, water stops, water filters, outdoor nature calls, and bears. Though I can say I will never miss exiting a tent on my hands and knees to find a tree in the middle of the night just so I can pee.
That this is an election year, made the reprieve a special blessing.
Alas, but I had to come down off God’s most magnificent creation, and back to the devil’s playground.
More cops defending themselves, and more cities upset that a cop shot a thug who pointed a gun at the cop. Seriously, what did the thug, or the citizens think would happen?
A sitting Senator, a leader of his party, publically announcing he asked the head of the CIA to lie, and give a fake security briefing to the opposition candidate for POTUS. Worse, no one seems to care.
There was a time, not that long ago, that I opposed term limits. That time has passed. In reading the Founding Fathers justification for our Constitution, it becomes clear, they neither wanted nor envisioned career politicos. Thomas Jefferson was sent a copy of the ratified Constitution, while still in France. His one objection was there was no term limit on the office of POTUS. It took 159 years to address the error.
We still have not addressed this mistake as it applies to our Congress. In truth, we have made it worse with the 17th Amendment, ratified 103 years ago.
We the people are not being represented by our peers. No, we are being told what to do, how to do it, and when, by people that are more interested in the power of the office they hold, than listening to those that sent them there. And it is our fault, as we keep sending them back.
I have a modest proposal.
Senate.
Repeal the 17th Amendment. The Senate was supposed to be the voice of the States, and therefore nominated, and elected by the legislature of each State.
Amend the Constitution;
Senate.
Term limit to 2 terms, 12 years total.
House of Representatives.
Term limit to 6 terms, 12 years total.
All of Congress.
Physical residence in the state they are running for office in, for a minimum of 12 years. Duel residency is limited to 14 days in one other state per year.
All laws passed, apply to Congress, and their staff.
To run for another office, while holding a current office, requires the office holder to resign from the office held.
Should that person fail the election, the person is now term limited out of Congress forever.
Loss of re-election, term limits the person out of Congress forever.
Just to be clear, one cannot term limit out of the Senate, and then run for the House and vis versa.
Term limited persons, and their staffs, are barred from working for a lobbying firm for 12 years after leaving office.
No tax funded retirement. All retirement funds are whatever is contributed by the office holder. No foundations, no gifts, no speaking fees. Personal funds only. They pay into Social Security.
Re-election funds are forfeit upon loss of election, or upon term limiting out of office. They are given to the General Fund of the US government.
Congressional pay is limited to the average hourly wage of the district they represent. For the Senate, the state average applies. No monetary gifts, no speaking fees. Any money made outside of Congressional pay, results on a deduction from Congressional pay. Earn $1 and have $5 deducted from their Congressional pay.
Naming of buildings etc. after members of Congress are prohibited, until 12 years after leaving office, and no compensation from either the former Congressional office holder, or the organization owning, leasing or renting the building is allowed.
Last but not least. Amend the Constitution for the passage of bills.
NO riders on bills that are not specific to the bill being considered. A health bill cannot be slipped into the transportation bill for example.
All budget items are to be individually written, debated, and voted on. This ensures accountability by the Congress person and avoids pork being added to bills that must be Constitutionally enacted.
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