Posted on 02/06/2011 3:45:38 AM PST by Scanian
Why would anyone spend millions of dollars for a job that pays in the thousands?
My guess: so they can jury-rig the tax code, broker side deals, get to fly the in the company jet, etc. as well as plain old corruption.
There is too much government, period.
All organizations move to the left over time until they go bankrupt. The speed this happens is related to the management turnover rate. New candidates typically offer to give away part of the store to get elected. Speeding up the management turnover rate is no solution to the looting at all.
Outlaw campaign contributions altogether. Make them spend their own money to get elected/reelected. Maybe then they’d realize what it means to live on a budget.
And the old arguement that that would mean only millionaires could run - Horse hockey. The internet and hand shaking doesn’t require money.
It is TIME to DownSize DC!
And TIME to force Congresss and Senate to telecommute most of the year from their home district. There is no reason for them to be in DC most of the year. NONE.
The Constitution states that they shall meet at least 1 time per year and does not state the duration.
The Texas Legislature meets 1 time every 2 years unless the Governor calls for a special session. It has worked well for a very long time.
Can you imagine the cost saving of removing the Congress and Senate from DC 3/4s of the year? And it would remove them from the influence of the lobbyist for that time and place them back under the thumb of the electorate.
A total change of the Center-of-Gravity of the Federal Government.
IT IS TIME!
NO... 2 x 4 year terms..
The problem as I see it is that legislators pass laws that are for the benefit of lawyers. Lawyers are admitted members of the bar, officers of the court, and consequently, members of the judicial branch of government. Putting them in a position to write and pass laws or to enforce them could not be any more of a conflict of interest. There should be a 4-8 year waiting period between the time an individual practices law or holds a membership in a law firm and the time they can run for legislative or executive office at the federal level.
Spending within the limits set by the Constitution, primarily Article I, Section 8, is easily sustainable. It’s when Congress jumps the fence and starts “helping the poor and downtrodden” that we get screwed.
Personally, I think we can cut spending substantially by following the Tea Party goal of eliminating the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. Name me ONE THING that either of them contributes to their respective field! Does Energy add one barrel of oil to our supply? Does Education provide one pencil to the classroom? Evaporate both of them.
My druthers:
1. If you have worked as a lawyer in ANY capacity in the last five years, you are ineligible to run for federal office.
2. If you have worked in any capacity for a lobbying firm, even for one day, you may never run for federal office.
3. Once in office you have a maximum of 12 years to be in office. Use them wisely.
4. Reps and Senators already in office get the same 12 years. Items 5 and 6 apply.
5. While in office, you must telecommute from your home district at least 50% of the days Congress is in session.
6. Once you leave office you can never work for any entity that has connection to the federal government in any way.
Well, good luck with that, Diogenes.
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