Time For a New Congress

The following is being passed around the internet, which means it won’t be taken seriously by the real powers that be. With the government shutdown perhaps we should take matters into our own hands and see how far the country can be run without government interference.

However noble and reasonable this idea, Congress would never vote on a measure that reduces it’s own benefits. Maybe the courts or a presidential act might do it. A general public vote would definately work. It is time to enact some restraint of  runaway power.

Congressional Reform Act of 2013 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/31/13. 

The American people did not make this contract with Congress. Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Being elected into Congress means serving the people and should be regarded as an honor and a civic duty not as a career for personal lifelong entitlement. George Washington served the county as General and President then quietly retired to his farm in Virginia without special treatment or pension. 

Resistance is Futile

Prepare to be assimilated and watched, strip searched and get used to the new police state comrade. Mind you this is in a democratic country with a bill of rights that is suppose to protect citizens from excessive and oppressive government practices but the war on drugs and now the war on terror have pretty much decided that having your privacy invaded is more important than freedom.

Now go back to watching mindless TV and eating junk food, citizen.

If Congress had to behave like the rest of us.

I got the following as a forwarded message in my e-mail. The idea is popular if the vast number of people forwarding it is any indication. There is more to this proposal than just handing it around the net though.


Preface:
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that Congressmembers could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its' forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.


Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ".

The downside to this idea would require the involvement of Congress, you know the people this would directly affect. It's very hard to get people to curtail their power and privledge on their own. This idea needs real power behind it to make Congress take notice. A campaign that used the threat of a public tax strike, revealing congress members finances and the biggest of all with holding votes are some suggestions.

I encourage everyone who believes in this idea to take real action. Don't just complain about inequality DO something about it. What the three branches of government don't realize is that there is a fourth branch - the people they rule over. We have the power to refuse them and we need to make it clear that our needs are not being met.

As in many cultures the rewards of power is that you don't have to live like the rest. Whether it's communism, democracy, socialism, republicanism, many political ideologies contain the concept of egalitarianism- that everyone is treated equal. Not anymore. What this amendment purposes is to return the balance of power to all. Remember, we entrust these people with our country, government and our lives, they owe us some respect for the gift.