Posted on 02/21/2009 5:26:02 PM PST by JoeA
1. Term limits at the Federal Level. The Founders never intended for the country to be ruled by a permanent political class, but rather by citizens of the republic who were engaged in the daily life of the country in ways other than as professional politicians. Their life as businessmen, farmers, merchants, and husbands and wives, would enlighten them and inform their actions and decisions during their public service.
a. One term in the Senate. Six years is more than enough time to get something done.
b. Three terms in the House. See above.
c. Two terms in the White House. Eight years in the White House is plenty of time.
2. Proposed legislation shall be limited to one issue, and bills may not be bundled with other bills. The purposes here are several:
a. Prevent the sausage-making that is the usual process in creating legislation, where large numbers of bills are packaged together to garner the largest number of votes. As we have seen all too often, representatives often vote on bills that they have not even read. Bills should stand on their own, and be passed or denied on a clear up and down vote, with direct accountability of our representatives.
b. By forcing each measure to be processed separately, we will reduce the amount of legislation produced. Hopefully, this will force Congress to work on what’s essential to the country.
c.
3. Repeal the 17th Amendment, and restore the election of Senators by the individual state legislatures. The purpose of each state appointing its Senators was to ensure that the separate autonomous state governments were represented in the national legislature. This essential part of federalism was killed when direct election of Senators was created via the 17th Amendment in 1913. Now Senators represent not the interest of the governments of their respective states, but of the population that turns out to elect them. They are nothing more than Congressman with a larger constituency.
4. Repeal the 16th Amendment, and replace it with a flat tax or other revenue generating system. The tax system in this country is a disaster, and used as a means of class warfare and as largesse to bestow on a voting block. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed: “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.” We have long since passed that point.
5. Require that all bills cite the specific clause of the constitution that empowers the proposed legislation. To maintain a limited government of laws, we must remain true to the principals of the constitution. The national government may do only what is authorized, and nothing else, unless the constitution is revised to empower the government to take that action.
6. Require that all bills have a sunset clause, a date on which they expire. This will go a long way toward ending programs which have long since outlived their usefulness, and force the periodic re-evaluation of the government’s actions.
7. All candidates for offices at the Federal level must prove they meet the requirements set forth in the United States Constitution. Candidates will be required to submit Birth Certificates and other documents to prove their eligibility for office. Just like you and I do when we register our kids for school.
8. Change the immigration laws so that citizenship accrues only to the children of American citizens, natural or otherwise. If immigrants want their children to be American citizens, they should first become American citizens. No more anchor babies.
That’s the reasoning behind #5, citing the specific clause in the constitution that allows the government to do something. I don’t see any thing that says they can create a Dept. of Education, or an EPA or HHS.
I like your ideas no citizenship, and rights accruing only to citizens, while respecting the rights of all. Very good! Those first two are great.......
1 term for the House (2 Years)
1 term for the Senate (4 Years)
2 terms for administrations - President & Governor (4 x 2 = 8 Years)
Put an end to the corruption
Pity that the GOP would fight this as hard as the socialists.
This platform needs to be the basis of the coming reform, a new party should be built around it.
Repealing ammendments is going to be tough but as HUSSEIN BARAKA and CHAVEZ have proved, laws mean nothing if there's no one to enforce them.
I mean who thought that the POTUS could set salaries at private corporations by decree?
You have a great list. I would add something about enforcing campaign finance laws so we don’t have foreign nations buying our presidency again.
Two-thirds of the States may repeal any federal law, propose a Constitutional amendment or overrule a Supreme Court within a year of that decision.
Yes: we must reign in the courts.
Would those be lifetime term limits or consecutive term limits?
I think the laws are already on the books. Of course, the will to enforce them is lacking in the current administration for some odd reason.
English is designated to be the offical language of the United States of America. While all are free to speak in any language they want, the glue that unites us is common language. Therefore, all business, government, and official business of the all government at the state, local and federal level shall be in English to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and faulty translation. Bring your own translator until you assimilate. If you do not choose to learn English, your visa will be revoked after a period of 3 years. Become American or return to your home.
The letters of Unite also spell Untie. Without the common thread of language, a country unravels....
On the floor, out loud, then a discussion, before voting
I agree except: limit Senators to two six year terms, for a total of 12 years. Limit Representatives to six two year terms for a total of 12 years. No full pension for Representatives or Senators unless they have served 24 years. If less, then the pension would be reduced and prorated based on the percentage of time served, ie, 12 years would equal one-half pension. Anyone serving less than 12 years would receive no pension.
All unions both government and private should be illegal. If employees want to get together and b!tch about work or watch sports and call it a union, that would be legal, but they shouldn’t have any rights with regard to work or bargaining with the employer. Unions have ruined America.
I especially like the indirect election of senators. That is what the founders intended.
You’re right and it’s been done to death by the bench. My intent with the single issue bill is to enforce accountability on Congress. We’ll have to find another way to work on the judiciary.
Those poor clerks. Imagine reading all 1,074 pages of the "stimulus" bill. :-O
Including trials and execution for treason.
You betcha! Now where have I heard that line before?
"No elected official and no public employee or other recipient of income from a public body shall seek or obtain preferential treatment from any body, under pain of triple punitive damages"
Ok, the language is going to take some work, but what I'm getting at is making it an offense for any "do you know who I am?" behavior. Anytime some elected yahoo jumps you in line, you are entitled to compensation from said yahoo equal to 3 times the cost of whatever service you were waiting for. And it works for more than just getting bumped from a plane or getting your DWI broomed ... think about it in terms of nationalized healthcare....
Great idea.I dont see the current crop of politicians going along with any of this.Nothing short of an armed revolt will get any of this passed.
Along with term limits, let's introduce another reform.
Instead of elections, our representatives will be drawn by lot.
We couldn't possibly do worse. And we'd likely do a lot better.
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