MY VOTE IS FOR SALE

Vanity | July 4, 2002 | B. A. Conservative

[B. A. Conservative]

It is beyond challenge that most, if not all, of the problems America faces today originate in Washington. It is fallacious reasoning to suggest that the problem lies with the people of the United States. Our government is a republic. Our republic is predicated on the theory that those elected to public office have intellectual competence, educational skills or experience that exceeds that of the electorate and that those elected public leaders will do what is right for the country even in opposition to commonly perceived public opinion. During most of the past century, the political class has demonstrably failed to lead, but have instead become political prostitutes selling laws and benefits in exchange for votes transforming our Constitutional republic into a tyrannical mob-rule democracy destined for bankruptcy. Non-producing parasites now use the Democratic Party to prey on their neighbors, the still producing members of our country.

Under our Constitution, the power of the United States resides in We the people. For too long, we have allowed that power to be delegated or sold by the prostitutes in both political parties, primarily those in Washington. Clearly, ours has become a top>down government. As one voice among We the people, I think it is time to withhold the delegation of that power by only delegating it to selected politicians and then only with strings attached. FreeRepublic is a much larger segment of We the people, with a much larger voice. We at FreeRepublic are the roots of the grassroots. Newcomers and some that have been frequenting this site for years may deny that Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives because of the discussions that took place on this web site. They are wrong. Our voice is loud and it is heard in the Halls of Congress and in the Whitehouse. The stain that will be remembered in history is not the stain on Monica's dress; it is the stain of Impeachment. And that stain came from the computer ink that spilled from the hearts of Freepers determined to see justice done. We at FreeRepublic are the roots of the grassroots. The buck starts here.

There has been a great deal of discussion on FreeRepublic lately about what role we should play in this fall's election and that we should cut Bush and the Republicans some slack. Variations of this theme have been discussed on other threads: "THAT which you believe"---"An open letter to Republicans" by redrock. I particularly like the comments by DoughtyOne and "Move the RINOs and we move the party. I really think it's that simple," by NickDanger.

Ronald Reagan won two landslide elections by telling Americans he was going to cut the government in Washington down to size. The Contract with America gave the Republicans control of both houses of Congress for the first time in roughly thirty years. Prior to the Contract with America Republicans only had control of even one house in Congress one other time in 70 years. The lesson that Republicans seem to have difficulty in learning is that the people are conservative and when presented a conservative agenda they will vote for it. And conversely, when pandering is all that is offered, the public prefers the real prostitutes every time. I have a solution to this problem. I call it the

Contract with Congress

I am not giving my vote to anybody in November. I have decided to auction my vote in this fall's Congressional elections. Politicians are going to have to bid for my vote. I have decided not to exclude any particular politicians or parties from the bidding. And I have decided to attach some rules to the bidding itself:

1. There is a minimum bid.
2. Anyone defaulting on any part of the minimum bid will be barred from consideration for future auctions.
3. A public pledge to guarantee to bring the minimum bid to the floor for a vote is an acceptable alternative to a written and signed contract, although anyone offering a written and signed contract similar in format to the Contract with America will be given preference.
4. Any part of the minimum bid or "contract" not enacted into law will be supported and returned to the floor in the next or subsequent sessions of Congress as required until enacted into law.
5. If there are no acceptable bids for my vote in Congressional races per the rules above, my vote (normally Republican straight ticket) will not be cast at all.

   Minimum Bid:

   1. Complete scrapping of Title 26, Subtitle A-Income Taxes.
   2. Replacement of the Income Tax with the Fair Tax, the Flat Tax, or a combination of the two.
   3. The growth of government spending is unacceptable. I not only want it stopped; I demand that it be reversed by at least 2% per cent per year for at least the next two years. In 2004, I will re-evaluate to determine whether or not the rate of reduction should be adjusted for future years.
   4. No more socialism. That means no new payments to individuals except for services rendered or goods purchased. That means no new grants to organizations, public or private, and no new grants to state or local governments.
   5. Immediately begin the voluntary privatization of Social Security using the Cato plan.

   This is only the Minimum. There are a number of suggested options that politicians could add now or that we will add in future contracts for future elections.

   Suggested Options:

   • Amend the Constitution to provide for Term Limits for members of Congress and the Federal Judiciary.
   • Sunset law for all Federal Regulations not reauthorized within five years.
   • Sunset law for all Federal agencies not reauthorized within five years.
   • Balanced Budget Amendment that allows deficit spending only when there has been a Declaration of War by Congress or by a 60% majority vote of both houses of Congress when and if there is a previously accumulated saved surplus that is larger than the proposed deficit or by a two thirds majority vote in both houses if there is no saved surplus or the saved surplus is less than the proposed deficit.
   • All votes in both houses will be roll call votes electronically recorded and electronically verified by key encryption, password enabled.
   • Constitutional Amendment allowing Line Item Veto by the President.
   • Change the rules of the Senate eliminating the filibuster.
   • Constitutional Amendment repealing the XVII Amendment to the Constitution.
   • Abolish the Department of Education.

   Most of these problems would eventually be solved by Term Limits. I think the Term Limits Amendment should be saved as part of the ultimate threat packaged as a part of a package to be presented under Article V to a Constitutional Convention. It takes time to put together sufficient public arousal and support to apply the kind of pressure that we may need to bring to bear on people who are used to exerting power rather than being subjected to it.

[Texasforever]

Look, it is a nice thought it really is. However, it is fairly easy to choose the most conservative candidate in the primaries because the most active participates are the conservative base. Simon is a good example of that principle. The political reality is that in the liberal states that even elect a Republican it is a Rino they elect. You will never get Bob Barr elected in New York. When it comes to the house races Tip O’Neil was right , all politics are local. Senate Races are a bit more based on national mood but not by much. If the GOP is to hold the majority and the Congressional committee chairmanships that actually decide the policy of the nation then Rinos must be tolerated. If you look at the house committee chairmen and house leaders they are all center to right Republicans so the reality is that the GOP leadership is still dominated by the conservative base.

[Doctor Stochastic]

That's mostly true. On the other hand, most US elections are for individuals not parties. Thus people often wish to punish an individual, usually an incumbent, in spite of party affiliation.

[Jim Robinson]

Hah! Well, let me know when you motivate anywhere close to an effective number of those who don't vote. I'll shift my vote as soon as you can show me how you are going to defeat the Democrat Party. Defeating or splitting the Republican Party is a no win situation. Just gives us more Clintons, Torricellis, McKinneys, Davises, etc. No thanks.

[Jim Robinson]

Yes, but it's mostly true.

[exodus]

To: exodus
Maybe we could just intimidate liberals into not voting. Then the Republican majority will have come about without any liberal votes. All we really have to do is disenfranchise them. Somehow.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.
# 156 by AM2000

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In the same spitit--

We could run an ad campaign to let the world know that liberals are too good, sensitive, and respectable to be involved in the dirty business of politics.

Only a filthy, hateful, right-wing conservative would stoop so low.

LOL.

[exodus]

To: B. A. Conservative
I was okay until I read that we should stay home and not vote. Republicans losing power doesn't mean they listen next time, it means we lose our Republic to a very evil Socialist regime. No thanks.
# 157 by ladyinred

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You're right, ladyinred. Don't stay home.

Don't vote for a Democrat, either. Vote for a third party conservative.

A vote for a third party candidate acts as a wake-up call to the Republicans.

Without Ross Perot's strong showing in the 1992 election, the Republicans would never have drafted the Contract with America, which was nothing less than a successful attempt to win our votes back to the party.

[Jim Robinson]

Sorry, but it's a proven mathematical fact that a vote for a marginal third party counts as one less vote for the Republican (assuming you are a conservative to begin with) which equates to a one vote plus in favor of the Democrat in the race. Vote third party. A Democrat will thank you.

[185JHP]

It's not a sure thing that Republicans who lose will believe "It's because I wasn't conservative enough!" They might think "It's because I wasn't left enough!" (That said, I'm glad I don't have to decide whether to actually vote for the likes of a Specter.)

[exodus]

To: exodus
Third parties are too weak. Not enough numbers. If you want a more conservative government (and I do) then you are going to have to start by eliminating the most liberal (ie, leftist) elements. You will find them heavily concentrated in the Democrat party. Vote them out. In large numbers. The message that will send to both parties is that the American people despise and reject marxism! The only message you send by voting for an inconsequential third party or by not voting at all is that you don't give a damn. The left with thank you for that.
# 159 by Jim Robinson

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Yes, they're weak. They don't have enough numbers to win outright.

Third parties are weak because every time they start to gather support from the mass of voters, one or the other of the major parties adopts that third party's ideas as it's own, and confiscates that third party's voters.

I'm going to vote for a conservative third party candidate. Confiscate me, Republicans.

Show me more than a "conservative" label. Say out loud, in public, that you are going to scale back big government. Say that taxes are too high, and that you are going to lower them. Say that the IRS, ATF, and FBI will, from now on, be subject to the full force of the law when they, individually and collectively, commit crimes. Back up your promises with legislative action.

Better yet, don't wait for me to cast my vote. Start now.

Republicans have a majority in the House, and 49 percent of the Senate. Republicans hold the Presidency.

How much power do you need before you are brave enough to take a stand?

[christine]

i agree with you, exodus. excellent post! ;)

[Texasforever]

We may actually elect conservatives when we stop turning on them the moment they say something that strays from the purist my way or the highway dogma. The best example is the trashing of Bill Simon that has gone on in the last week because of something he did not even say.

[exodus]

"...If you look at the house committee chairmen and house leaders they are all center to right Republicans so the reality is that the GOP leadership is still dominated by the conservative base."
# 161 by Texasforever

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It takes more than a label, Texasforever.

If the Republican leadership were truly conservative, Bill Clinton would never have gotten his budget passed un-read in 1995.

[Texasforever]

It takes NUMBERS to control the agenda. You tell me how to elect a conservative in Olympia Snowe's district and we can go from there.

[christine]

a significant reason that third parties are "inconsequential" is that the two-party monopoly won't allow them to be heard. how many times do you see 3rd party candidates included in debates for example? when do you see the media giving a 3rd party air time?

who has access to all the big money?

we don't have free elections with any real choices. politicians are "chosen" to keep the status quo.

[ladyinred]

A third party conservative cannot win at this time, thus the democrats would win! I once voted for Buchanan in the primary, but he didn't get anywhere. I learned my lesson, the RATs are the real enemy of this country, and defeating them is the most important thing in my opinion.
The likes of Hillary Clinton in the White House is the worse horror I can imagine, and those who think voting for a third party would not help her are not paying attention. But thanks for the post anyway.

[exodus]

"...The political reality is that in the liberal states that even elect a Republican it is a Rino they elect..."
# 161 by Texasforever

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So we must "understand" when the Republican leadership passes up a good conservative candidate because he's not liberal enough to win a "liberal" State.

Did you notice that in some of those liberal States, the voters put in a guy who's more conservative than the Democratic candidate? The guy we call a "Rino?"

Maybe if the voters had a choice between the liberal Democrat and someone who wasn't a third party man, like, maybe, a conservative Republican, the State wouldn't be "known" as liberal any more.

[Texasforever]

Did you notice that in some of those liberal States, the voters put in a guy who's more conservative than the Democratic candidate? The guy we call a "Rino?"

That is what primaries are for right?