Posted on 04/05/2010 12:49:59 PM PDT by Presto
http://docs.google.com/View?id=d9zrjs6_12g68ptbg5
Just put the senator being elected from the states and most of the nonsense that has occurred since direct election of senators would be fixed.
Right now the states have no say at the federal level.
I seem to have missed how you would raise taxes to support a real war.
From the States’ treasuries. Why would there be a shortage of funds?
DREAM ON.
for-q-clinton,
I am neutral on whether Senators should be appointed by their State governments. But taking the democratic power from a State’s citizens to elect their Senators would not be popularly supported.
Also, it would not create the desired salutary competition between Federal and State governments that this proposed Amendment.
Social Security? They're in it.
Obamacare? They're in it.
If we have to live with it, they have to live with it. Watch 90% of their schemes die aborning.
I wouldn’t let the NY State legislature name a truant officer let alone a US Senator.
Why dream, when we can have reality? The Congress does not get to decide whether the Constitution is amended. And Congress does not get to ratify any proposed Amendment. The Amendment I am offering here empowers the States. And States ARE the political entities that ratify Amendments to the Constitution. And this Amendment removes the Federal Government’s powerful hand from the pockets of private citizens. - That might be appealing to an educated voting population.
I personally like this. I have always believed that the Fed’s ONLY function is war. It is up to the states to educate and feed the poor.
If welfare and health care were handled on the state and local levels they would be much more effective.
to be blunt, such an amendment would have been possible only when the franchise was restricted to property-owners, and those married to property-owners.
of course if the franchise were thus restricted such an amendment would not have been necessary.
While I dont see it happening I like the idea.
Lurker,
I have heard of the Amendment proposal of which you speak. But the fact is, all members of Congress are required to pay social security taxes; so they are already in it. Upon retirement, they will be eligible for SS benefits (assuming the Federal Government hasn’t gone broke). The same will be true of Obamacare. What that other Amendment proposal seemed to be getting at is not to keep Congress from exempting themselves from the law (since in no case are they) - but rather to curtail the payment they receive for their public “service” as representatives. But the 27th Amendment already to does this to some extent.
GoldenPup,
Why would the proposed Amendment be impossible unless the franchise were restricted to property-owners?
As it was and as it should be.
IRS should be two part-time bureaucrats whose job is to cash 64 checks (states + territories) annually. They wouldn’t even need more than two shotguns...
Oops. I forsee emergency after emergency. Revise to say 3/4's vote of Congress to declare an emergency and sunset in one year time frame.
VRW Conspirator,
The additional clause you suggest seems fine and in order.
But realize that Congressional declarations of catastrophe occurring within a State will in no way authorize the Congress to lay and collect additional taxes. If Congress declares a catastrophe (whether by simple bicameral majority or super bicameral majority) at that point they can grant a tax exemption, deduction, or credit to the State under strain. So there is no motivation for even a plurality (or even a sizable minority)of representatives to give a State a big ol’ honkin’ tax break. That doesn’t put revenue in their US Treasury - it takes money out.
UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide,
That is not an argument against the specific merits of this Amendment proposal. That sounds like an argument that the Constitution itself is not longer operable law. I can’t agree.
but look at the map...most states are conservative so we would be a leg up. Plus they couldn’t be worse than chuck schumer.
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