Congressional Reform Act of 2010

Email from my Aunt | March 16, 2010 | ?

[Redleg Duke]

I like it, but the incumbents will never allow it to happen. The Kennedys and the Gores et al will never allow their aristocracy to fall!

[Impy]

Term limits would take a constitutional amendment.

[MsLady]

Then leave out the terms limits and give them everything else. I was also thinking maybe there pay should equal how well they do their jobs.

[MsLady]

I think the people should vote on these things. You know the incumbents never will. If they are limited in their benefits and money they make, they probably wouldn’t stay in office very long. So the term limits might not be needed.

[Redleg Duke]

The problem is that while our Founding Fathers came to America to get away from the aristocracy, a new one has emerged seeing the House and Senate as entitlements and long-term employment.

[Impy]

“I was also thinking maybe there pay should equal how well they do their jobs.”

How would that be gauged? That’s very subjective. The unions would insist various terrible people are doing a great job, for them.

I’m all for eliminating their fat pensions.

But you don’t want to make the pay too low or only rich people will ever run.

[MsLady]

Yes your correct. But, something has to be done, this is so out of control it’s sickening.

[MsLady]

And they make laws and rules that don’t apply to them. As with their retirements and health care. That needs to be ended, especially the retirement benefits are way beyond generous.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Not going to happen for the simple reason that each congress creates its own rules, and they have a death grasp on this authority, short of a constitutional convention that takes it away from them.

[MsLady]

Other than throwing them all out of office in november, I suppose nothing else will work? It would appear they are bound and determined to do whatever the heck they want. No matter how corrupt it is and how much the American people don’t want it.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Even throwing the current bunch out doesn’t change things much. The institutional forces quickly subvert efforts at change.

Remember that not long ago, the Republican congress behaved so abominably that they were turned out as a group. But there was a great irony behind this.

George W. Bush, of all people, believed that the presidency had become too strong, or that the congress had become too weak. So he focused on the WoT, and tried to let his Republican congress run the country. This was a throwback to the second half of the 19th Century, when a few presidents tried this.

It was a distinct failure, and so now our nation is burdened with the exact opposite, who also are showing signs of being booted out, as a group.

But this just returns us to the same situation we had before.

As an alternative, I was very heartened yesterday, that Justice Thomas’ wife was founding her own Tea Party organization. As such, this is an indicator that at least one Justice would favor and support a constitutional convention.

But we need to ask the question of all congressional candidates as well: “If the individual States call a constitutional convention, to reform the federal government, will you support this effort?”

I think a surprising number, of all but the worst of the offenders, would actually support that, at least in principle. For they have seen how twisted, inflexible and inefficient the current system has become. How it is no longer acceptable to just about anyone.

[madamemayhem]

i would add the rule that congresscritters (house and senate) will NOT be paid out of the federal taxes. they will be given a salary paid by the state they represent. if a state so chooses it can pay for housing for the group and that will be considered part of the salary. the individual states should have the ultimate authority over the people who represent those states.

[madamemayhem]

make it illegal for congress to take any money in any form (gifts, contributions, etc.) from lobby groups.

[Oceander]

No. Don't leave out the term limits. The democrats have pushed the country into a constitutional crisis, and now is the best time to push for a constitutional amendment that will provide some protection against any party in the future attempting another illegal, unconstitutional power-grab such as the democrats are engaged in right now.

I have never before been a fan of term limits, as I have always considered the negatives to be worse than the positives; however, the democrats have changed my mind - the benefits to retaining a few wise, responsible legislators in Congress is far, far outweighed by the dangers of allowing corrupt, feckless, and incompetent incumbents to burrow in and make a permanent home for themselves and their fellow travellers leeching off the federal taxpayer.

If it takes an amendment to the Constitution to impose the added protection of term limits, then it is time for the state legislatures to call for the convening of a Constitutional Convention to so amend the Constitution.

[devistate one four]

No retirement is a huge first step.

I like pay for constitutionaly leagal work.

Termination for anything outside the bounds of our founding documents.

[MsLady]

I would like to think you are right. I see how broken things have become at times become very disheartened. I did see where some states and it would appear more to follow, are standing on states right and will not allow the feds to run roughshod over them anymore.

[MsLady]

Excellent idea!!!

[MsLady]

And a hearty amen to that. If our founders were alive today, they wouldn’t even recognize the country they founded.

[MsLady]

That’s how I have felt for a long time. My hubby thought otherwise so I just zipped it...lol Until this past year. Sometimes I don’t even know what to say, the horrible things I’m hearing pelosi say and the things her and dingy are trying to do, just boggle my mind. Personally, I truly believe the far left are mentally ill.