Posted on 02/21/2010 9:10:28 AM PST by Kaslin
“Give them a dose of reality and a reminder of our Founders principles.”
Our founders wanted one Representative for anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 people. That’s the way the House should be. If a person is doing a FANTASTIC job, why should they be term limited?
Of course, if the House were to be “recreated” in a way that follows the Constitution, you would have to reduce pay, etc. Still, with substantially smaller districts, you would have a lot more candidates running as a campaign wouldn’t cost an obscene amount of money. You’d also have a lot of turnover as I’m quite sure those that would win that just don’t have the “fire in the belly” would quit in 2 to 4 years anyway.
Please understand that I’m not talking about expanding Government ... I’m talking about expanding representation for each citizen in the USA. I guess it is a matter of semantics, but I feel this is the best solution to solve a LOT of problems. It would most certainly end two party dominance in my opinion.
“The only way to achieve political amity in the country is to squash today’s Democrat party like a bug.”
That is very true. Our motto for this election should be this: “That which is not Constitutional must be sterilized.”
“....and there are no exceptions.”
“Suggest they authorize a construction of the apartment complex for the House and Senate Members”
Sounds good! Only thing I would be worried about though is terrorism. With all of our leaders and their families living and sharing the same complex, it would be a prime target.
Not always. Think Philly and the Black Panthers. May need our own night sticks this time...it's ok though, no one will get prosecuted.
Right Holder?
***If a person is doing a FANTASTIC job, why should they be term limited?***
A fantastic job in the private sector leads to promotions.
Following that scenario - movement from City to County to State Rep to State Senate to State Gov. to Fed Rep. to Senate to POTUS. @ 4 years per position would result in a minimum of 32 years in the public service sector.
Now, if they would only VOTE that way, come November!
Hey, wait a minute . . ... is that you P.J. ??
“A fantastic job in the private sector leads to promotions.
Following that scenario - movement from City to County ...”
You forgot local town mayor or school board member at the beginning of your list ;-) .
This isn’t the private sector though. The US House wasn’t modeled after the private sector anyway. It was intended to be the voice of the “rabble rousers” in the country.
When it comes to the US House, it’s basically up to the people to decide who represents them. There are no qualifications, past experience, etc. required...much like Obama, only with far less power.
We are talking about what was supposed to be a Democratic madhouse. A substantially larger sample of the mood of the people would filter the more obscene picks out of the 5K to 10K Reps. we would have. More importantly any legislation that would be passed with a much larger sample of the public’s wishes has more chance to satisfy a heck of a lot more people. As an added bonus, getting a majority vote from a substantially larger body of people will be a heck of a lot more difficult.
Seriously, I cannot see how people are comfortable with a body of people the size of a large high school graduating class that creates legislation that is supposed to represent the wishes of 300M+ people!
***Seriously, I cannot see how people are comfortable with a body of people the size of a large high school graduating class that creates legislation that is supposed to represent the wishes of 300M+ people!***
Which speaks to the importance of States’ Rights.
State Governors need to re-assert themselves and perhaps the disaster that is our Federal Government may bring it about.
Spector will probably never figure this out, but all he really had to do was what McCain is now doing and give the Republicans a few key votes. (although it probably won’t work for McCain, due to being in AZ, and having a lot more baggage as a Republican). The idea of going to the other side and expecting help from those guys was nuts.
“Which speaks to the importance of States Rights.
State Governors need to re-assert themselves and perhaps the disaster that is our Federal Government may bring it about.”
Yep. The problem is that when a state elects a moron for a governor, they typically view themselves as an extension of the federal government. That gives them someone to blame in the event of failure, and someone to go crawling towards begging for handouts when they foul up their state’s economy. I’m in total agreement with State’s Rights. However, I’m still focusing on the size of the US House (what this has to do with the original article is beyond me, sorry :-) ).
Again, I have to emphasize that I am talking about an expansion of representation, not an expansion of government in the entitlement sense. Moreover, I don’t expect a House of 5K or 10K members to have these extravagant salaries and retirement benefits ... that would have to change.
Even the location of the House may have to change ... you could keep part of it in DC, but the “physical” House itself would have to be split into, say, 6 or 8 buildings in various cities across the country in an effort to minimize travel expenses, etc. With our modern communications infrastructure, it is no problem at all to link these places together.
Just some thoughts ... I never see this idea discussed, so I suspect I am on the fringe or flat out wrong about something. I just have this gut feeling that the small size of the House is the top problem with OUR Federal Government. The Federal Government has been getting worse and worse in terms of size and control of our lives since the Civil War.
Also, think about the wealth out there ... buying off a majority of 435 people isn’t really that hard anymore! Buying off a majority of 5K to 10K Reps. would be a heck of a lot more difficult and much harder to keep a secret :-)! As the population of the USA grows, so does the House ... therefore, anyone thinking that corruption is a solution to their problems will be shooting at a moving target that changes substantially every 10 years.
Better yet -- let the congress critters work from home, over the Internet.
Hey, throwing out all, all of the Dem incumbants would be a great start to cleaning up DC. Then nominating people like Marlin St. in Indiana would be the next step.
You raise some very enlightened arguments.
I expect the Founders did not anticipate the huge changes in store from agricultural science, the industrial age, population explosion, medical advances, extended life expectancy, immigration etc., (In 1750 the world’s population was 700 million - today it is 7 billion).
Next up?
Constitutional Amendment:
A person’s combined length of service in any, or any combination, of the following three capacities shall not exceed 12 years’ time: as an elected government offical, as an appointed government official, or as an employee of any government body or agency. This amendment applies to all federal and non-federal levels and branches of government. In exchange for all or any portion of this 12 years of service, no person shall receive any government funded compensation of any kind other than salary and health benefits received during this same 12 years of service.
There shall be no pension or retirement benefits funded or administered by any government unless expressly permitted in this amendment.
Time spent serving in the following capacities shall be exempted from the restrictions in this amendment, and compensation related thereto may include pension and retirement benefits: as a uniformed member of any component of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard; as a federal judge and federal supreme court justice.
Regardless of any other service, in exchange for serving in the following capacities, a person shall receive government funded salary and health benefits during the period of service, but no person shall receive any government funded compensation of any kind other than salary and health benefits received during this same period of service: any time spent serving as President and Vice-President of the United States; 6 years of the total time spent serving as a top level ambassador; 6 years of the total time spent as a top level cabinet secretary.
An exemption pertaining to federal law enforcement personnel shall only be valid if passed by an 80% majority of both houses of Congress and signed by the President, all occuring during the same session of Congress. Such an exmption shall not do anything but: increase the number of years of service allowable and permit pension and retirement benefits. No amendment shall be introduced in either house earlier than 6 months after this amendment becomes law.
An exemption pertaining to non-federal law enforcement personnel shall only be valid if passed by an 80% majority of all state-wide legislative bodies and signed by the state Governor of the state employing these personnel, all occuring during the same legislative session of that state. Such an exmption shall not do anything but: increase the number of years of service allowable and permit pension and retirement benefits. No amendment shall be introduced in either house earlier than 6 months after this amendment becomes law.
It could be worse. You could be Arlen Specter.
Oh, wait. You are Arlen Specter."
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there!
I like it;)
Should I have known this?
Did you write it? If not, where did you find it?
((((((((((pre-emptive blush))))))))))
Will the people of PA ever learn???
I guess Specter was truly a “democrat” who has faith in “democracy.”
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