Proposed Tea Party Political Platform

1/3/2010 | Don Mashak

[DavidFarrar]

I have re-posted Don Mashak's Eight-Point Political Platform, while adding two more, 9 & 10.

I will be adding an eleventh point soon, which will take away the power of the executive branch of government, or the legislature branch, to print money without the consent of the electorate. There will be an exemption in cases of an emergency, perhaps a two/thirds vote of Congress.

[DavidFarrar]

In Response to Don Mashak's Tea Party Eight (Nine) Point Platform.

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

I really have my reservations on the issue of term limits for Congress, but I am willing to go with it if it will help build a majority. It will however, require a Constitutional Convention to change this requirement, in my opinion. But if we are going to limit Congressional terms in order to try and limit special interest, it would seem to me we ought to take the need to raise large sums of money for re-election purposes completely off the table to begin with by simply allowing for only one four-year term, or perhaps six. Although, I think six years would be too long. A person could do some real damage in six years.

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 looses 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 1/1/11.

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

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.

9. A Congressional investigation will be called to address Barack Obama’s presidential qualifications as per Article II, Section I, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution.

10. Will not support ANY Congressional incumbent candidate for re-election, no matter how conservative, liberal, or independent they may be.

It is far more important at this time in our nation's history that we send a strong political message to the entire political establishment that we, the people, have now found its voice and is willing and able to use it.

Well, there it is. The floor is now open for discussion.

          ex animo

          davidfarrar

[mnehring]

All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

No matter how much it sucks, we have to honor any contracts we made.

[Man50D]

I will be adding an eleventh point soon, which will take away the power of the executive branch of government, or the legislature branch, to print money without the consent of the electorate.

Wouldn't this require a Constitutional Convention? If so doesn't a Constitutional Convention permit any changes in the Constitution?

[RebelTXRose]

What kind of contracts do you mean? I’m thinking retirement benefits.

[DavidFarrar]

I agree.

I am not really sure what kind of contracts, business or otherwise, Don is talking about here.

ex animo
davidfarrar

[Recon Dad]

I really have my reservations on the issue of term limits for Congress, but I am willing to go with it if it will help build a majority.

I for one love the idea of term limits, but doubt we’ll get as far as a convention. The way to accomplish the same thing is to support only the candidates that will pledge to self impossed term limits on themselves.

[mnehring]

That is what I was thinking.

[mnehring]

I first thought retirement benefits in terms of contracts. Those could be pension plans or health plans. Some have contracts for office space, etc. We may not like they have them, but the contract is made and should be honored unless an out is written into it.

[DavidFarrar]

Yes, I think you are right. But since changing the terms of Congress will also take a Constitutional Convention, it might as well be on the table.

ex animo
davidfarrar

[DavidFarrar]

The only real reason why I hesitate in supporting Congressional term limits is because you end up empowering the unelected beaucracy, unless you limit the term to one long term — long enough for the elected office-holder to learn the ropes.

ex animo
davidfarrar

[jla]

Who is Don Mashak?

[DavidFarrar]

Those are really good ones. I will add them. Thanks.

ex animo
davidfarrar

[nwrep]

On #9: A Congressional investigation will be called to address Barack Obama’s presidential qualifications as per Article II, Section I, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution.

Even if one has the votes to call such an investigation, it will quickly go nowhere as the Congress cannot force the Executive Branch from revealing anything more about the President than what it wants to reveal (which has already been revealed). It will quickly escalate into a Constitutional fight, and the Executive Branch will win, since SCOTUS will not touch it.

It is best to leave this out - the only thing this point will do is to allow detractors to single it out as evidence of the "fringe element" nature of the movement, ignoring other legitimate points of the Platform. As a result, the entire Platform will be derided, or worse, ignored, leading to the same fate as the earth shattering "Climategate" revelations, which is that it will die a natural death, never graduating past chatter in niche conservative groups.

[Darteaus94025]

Since the politicos are proposing a ‘one time’ income tax on all ‘bankers’, I propose a ‘one time’ wealth tax on politicians elected during the last 20 years. This ‘one time’ 20% tax would apply to the politicians and ALL members of their immediate families. Wealth to be taxed would include all property - including all charities and foundations from which they receive ANY consideration.

If it makes the difference in the life of one child it will all be worth it.

[DavidFarrar]

Just an ordinary grassroot member of "The Right Movement" of the Re-Tea Party website.

ex animo

davidfarrar

[nwrep]

One suggestion - A Constitutional Amendment prohibiting Congress from enacting Laws that usurp Private Enterprise in the field of medicine and Healthcare. In other words, no authority to ever promulgate a Government owned or controlled health insurance.

[DavidFarrar]

Yes, I suppose you are right. But I hate to see this guy get away with making a mockery of our Constitution.

ex animo
davidfarrar

[DavidFarrar]

Good one. I will work it in. Thanks

ex animo
davidfarrar