This is how we fix Congress... or not.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - This is how we fix Congress... or not.

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:49:09 PM EDT

I remember reading some time ago how the original intent upon the creation of Congress was that they would be citizen-politicians.

Maybe this this not true, but I think it's a damn good idea.

By citizen-politician, I mean that the Congress should be called upon to propose laws when there is the NEED to do so, but otherwise they would engage in civil pursuits to derive the bulk of their income.

Their income from the service to their government would be minimal, and the mainstay of their income would originate from their skills and abilities in their civilian occupation.

A small stipend would be afforded to them for their service to the government. but they should seek an occupation elsewhere for their means of support.

Is this how our government should be run?

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:50:50 PM EDT

[#1]

We'd just have the same douchebags in office. A sizeable majority of Congressmen/women have plenty of wealth prior to getting into office.

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:51:39 PM EDT

[#2]

Like a French National Assembly type thing? I think a good way to fix it, too, would be to make Senators elected by Reps and not directly.

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:54:43 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Like a French National Assembly type thing? I think a good way to fix it, too, would be to make Senators elected by Reps and not directly.

Used to be that state legislatures elected senators....

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:56:04 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Like a French National Assembly type thing? I think a good way to fix it, too, would be to make Senators elected by Reps and not directly.

Used to be that state legislatures elected senators....

I could of sworn it was the reps of a state that chose them... brb...

EDIT: I got my FL history mixed up with my U.S. History. FL never got to the 17th Amendment, but I can't find where it says how the process was done.

EDIT 2: I have found where senators were elected directly or appointed by Governorship or by the Reps of a state.

Also, the Reps called the shots in those states that used a legislative measure, while the state Senate would always agree with the Reps.

I can't find a consistent system across the nation.

Posted: 8/11/2007 5:57:34 PM EDT

[#5]

I thought this thread would have a picture of a rifle in it.

Posted: 8/11/2007 6:25:33 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I thought this thread would have a picture of a rifle in it.

The batteries in my camera are dead. Anyway...

Posted: 8/11/2007 6:52:37 PM EDT

[#7]

Term limits for congress.

Posted: 8/11/2007 6:53:05 PM EDT

[#8]

So, imagine the salary of a congressman is $10,000. Flat rate. We've got barracks set aside for you while you're in D.C. Room, bed, blanket. Hell, we'll even throw in a small TV with basic cable.

We'll even set up a chow hall for you.

So, You've got 3 hots and a cot, and 10 grand on top of it.

Make your living elsewhere. We will make a law stating that no matter what your job, if you're a Congressman, you can have 60 days unpaid leave per year. The 10 grand should pick up the slack. If not, it's called a budget. Use it. You have to propose one, use one.

You are not allowed to have anyone pay for your lunch. You are not allowed to accept a trip to Jamaica for a "conference". You are not allowed to have anyone pay for a cup of coffee for you that costs more than 3 bucks.

You want to serve your country? Your books are wide open and public record. We're going to see who's giving you what.

Serving your country should be about SERVING, and not about enrichment. Ask any enlisted man.

(punctuation edit.)

Posted: 8/11/2007 8:00:58 PM EDT

[#9]

Fix our Government:

1. Term Limits: 2 terms and out
2. Wages: Tied to average wage, no extra payouts, no voting raises
3. Billls allowed no riders/only 1 item per bill.
4. total transparency

Posted: 8/11/2007 8:07:30 PM EDT

[#10]

Seems like a congressman can pick up $90,000 "freezer" money easy enough. I am not sure it would work.

Posted: 8/11/2007 11:31:41 PM EDT

[#11]

.

Posted: 8/12/2007 12:13:04 AM EDT

[#12]

My idea to fix Congress?

1. traitors
2. Rope.
3. Tree.
4. Some assembly required.

Posted: 8/12/2007 12:41:40 AM EDT

[#13]

This crap of career polticians is bullshit. Shouldn't be that way at all.

Posted: 8/12/2007 3:20:05 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Like a French National Assembly type thing? I think a good way to fix it, too, would be to make Senators elected by Reps and not directly.

Used to be that state legislatures elected senators....

I could of sworn it was the reps of a state that chose them... brb...

EDIT: I got my FL history mixed up with my U.S. History. FL never got to the 17th Amendment, but I can't find where it says how the process was done.

EDIT 2: I have found where senators were elected directly or appointed by Governorship or by the Reps of a state.

Also, the Reps called the shots in those states that used a legislative measure, while the state Senate would always agree with the Reps.

I can't find a consistent system across the nation.

Article 1, Section 3:
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote."

This was changed by the Seventeenth Amendment:
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote...."

Posted: 8/12/2007 3:29:03 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I'm more in favor of the one of the following:

A) Salary for Reps is the median for their district, Senators the median for state;
B) Salary for Reps and Senators is the median for the country.

You want more $$$? Get us some first, you'll see it next year.

That's a dandy idea!

ASSuming we're not including welfare $$$.

Posted: 8/12/2007 3:34:04 AM EDT

[#16]

Just a gentle reminder about CoC:

4.) Posting comments or links in support of illegal activities including, but not limited to, threats against the life of any living person, doing harm to a state or federal official, or advocating the overthrow of the government.

I agree with some of the above ideas though. I think absolute term limits, salaries based on a national or state average, and elimination of all "lobbying" would be a good start.

Posted: 8/12/2007 4:02:00 AM EDT

[#17]

we already have the power - vote!

so the solution to the problem is pretty deep.. how do we get people to see how fucked up these 'elected officials' realy are????

solve that problem, and things will be a lot better.

Posted: 8/12/2007 4:54:16 AM EDT

[#18]

So, imagine the salary of a congressman is $10,000. Flat rate. We've got barracks set aside for you while you're in D.C. Room, bed, blanket. Hell, we'll even throw in a small TV with basic cable.

Poblem I see here unfortunatly is that virtually every real congress critter is already wealthy, so they can just "play congress"

The concrete former or nurse will need to work nights to keep feeding their family on 10k a year....

Oh wait, normal people don't get elected to congress very often, so it won't matter.

Posted: 8/12/2007 4:58:56 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Term limits for congress.

+1, this is the only way.

Posted: 8/12/2007 5:06:33 AM EDT

[#20]

Nothing is going to change as long as we have universal suferage. The fact that the only requirement is that you are 18 and were lucky enough to be born in the greatest country ever doesnt make you qualified to decide on who your reps in DC should be.

Posted: 8/12/2007 6:49:23 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
<snip>

That's a dandy idea!

ASSuming we're not including welfare $$$.

Nope... real earned income (wages) only. Investments, dividends and welfare do not apply.

Posted: 8/12/2007 7:03:18 AM EDT

[#22]

Imagine the difference the place would look like if the STATE congresses elected the Federal senators to REPRESENT THE STATE INTERESTS on the fed level. Suddenly state politics would be super important again and the people in DC would be more answerable to state differences and not be essentially super-congressmen with 6 year terms.

Of course, we'd have to repeal an amendment.

I've also argued in the past to remove as much of the entitlement programs from federal control and send it to the states for two reasons: a) it would make state politics that much more important, meaning more incentive for locals to be involved in democracy and b) it would allow the people greater access to changes, experimentation, reform, etc.

So for example, if the federal income tax didn't cover SS, Medicare, medicaid, public schools, etc. but only defense, the FDA, CDC, and those types of things, we the people locally could decide if something was too expensive for our state to fund.

Posted: 8/12/2007 7:48:30 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Is this how our government should be run?

"Government" makes sure that the new congress-critters are wowed and dazzled by the lights, the parties and the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!

If the new congress-critters can resist the perks and the $$$ they are run out of town by the political machine.

Look at Randy Cunningham........the fighter pilot.........he looked like he had the potential to be a good "citizen politician".........and he couldn't resist the corruption of the $$$$.

Cunningham is in prison today!........as many more of American politicians should be!!

Posted: 8/12/2007 8:24:10 AM EDT

[#24]

Just a gentle reminder about CoC:

4.) Posting comments or links in support of illegal activities including, but not limited to, threats against the life of any living person, doing harm to a state or federal official, or advocating the overthrow of the government.

Just a little reminder from the Declaration of Independence:

"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it...

And another reminder from the Constitution:

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It took force of arms to secure America the first time...........

Posted: 8/12/2007 9:33:22 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Term limits for congress.

+1, this is the only way.

It'll help, but the only real solution is an educated and active electorate. If Congress serves at the consent of the governed, then we have a HUGE responsibility. Collectively, we've shirked that responsibility and others have decided to take up the slack. That's what happens. We deserve it, too.

Congress can be fixed by electing good people into office. This is still possible, and thus far, few seem to notice or care. If people want to be truly free, they can be - all without firing a single shot. It's plainly obvious to me that most people don't want it, and pretty much don't care.

Yeah but folks who run that stand for change are quote: "un-electable"

Posted: 8/12/2007 10:29:22 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Term limits for congress.

+1, this is the only way.

It'll help, but the only real solution is an educated and active electorate. If Congress serves at the consent of the governed, then we have a HUGE responsibility. Collectively, we've shirked that responsibility and others have decided to take up the slack. That's what happens. We deserve it, too.

Congress can be fixed by electing good people into office. This is still possible, and thus far, few seem to notice or care. If people want to be truly free, they can be - all without firing a single shot. It's plainly obvious to me that most people don't want it, and pretty much don't care.

Yeah, that is true Subnet. No laws will fix a fucked up majority block of voters.

Posted: 8/12/2007 10:32:26 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

It'll help, but the only real solution is an educated and active electorate. If Congress serves at the consent of the governed, then we have a HUGE responsibility. Collectively, we've shirked that responsibility and others have decided to take up the slack. That's what happens. We deserve it, too.

Congress can be fixed by electing good people into office. This is still possible, and thus far, few seem to notice or care. If people want to be truly free, they can be - all without firing a single shot. It's plainly obvious to me that most people don't want it, and pretty much don't care.

"At the consent of the governed?" I fear we've already slipped into "by the ignorance of the electorate"

Posted: 8/13/2007 12:49:44 AM EDT

[#28]

Term limits would be a good start.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - This is how we fix Congress... or not.

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