Term limits would guarantee *citizen* representation.
No perks.
No nepotism or family dynasties.
No retirement benefits.
Elected officials make an appropriate salary to pay for their own housing, food, travel and medical care.
Former military are exempt from some restrictions.
Give them a dose of reality and a reminder of our Founders’ principles.
I’d say no exemptions from the laws they make, but that sorta falls under no perks.
Exactly..take out the perks...take out the elites.
Keep in mind the elected officials in Congress have to pay for their homes/apartments in the Washington, DC, and to maintain their homes in their districts! That’s two homes they have to keep up!
Suggest they authorize a construction of the apartment complex for the House and Senate Members. Each the same size regardless of position. They could live in it without cost. That would save a little money for the taxpayer as we then don’t have to pay a salary to support two homes. The rest still applies—no perks!
This also makes it easier for the citizens when we put in and enforce Term Limits. This would force a more frequent turnovers to allow citizen legislators!
“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.
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.
Including the judiciary, although I’d defer to the wisdom of the founders and give them the longest term limits.
I’d also establish a flat tax at 10 percent on everyone.
I’d also restrict all federal spending to those things enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, and require that all legislation specifically state which of those enumerated powers gives the bill legality. You don’t want term limited politicians and bureaucrats with a lifetime tenure.
I’d also establish some sort of spending limit, although I’m not smart enough to figure out how to do it. Something on the order of the federal budget not being more than 10 percent of the gross domestic product, although, as I say, I’m clueless how to do it or enforce it. Nevertheless, spending and entitlements is the main reason we’re in the mess we’re in.
I like your list. It’s a great daydream for a Sunday afternoon.