When you don't represent the people who sent you
in to office, who do you represent?
When your actions are guided by a political leader, and not your conscience or convictions, where is your allegiance? I was going to say how - but 'why' is more appropriate - why do they follow their party dictates like the sheep they are? And that's on both sides of the so-called aisle.
I think Senators and Congresspeople should be seated alphabetically rather that by sides. That way they'd have to sit face-to-face with the person next to them who's vote negates yours. Maybe then we'd enjoy a little more middle ground in - and with - our representatives.
Oh, and while you're at it? Term limit all of 'em. An overwhelming majority of Americans, including large majorities across the political spectrum, favor term limits for members of Congress - and the Senate. This suggests that there really is a broad desire for change in the structure of the legislative branch.
Juss' sayin'...
Franklin's quote, "In free governments, the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors," further elaborates on his reasoning. He believed that returning rulers to the ranks of the people was a promotion, not a degradation, and that keeping them in a state of perpetual servitude would be an unreasonable burden. This indicates that Franklin saw term limits as a way to ensure that those in power remained accountable to the citizens they served and were not insulated from the real-world consequences of their policies. Read the book - you'll agree with him - and me...
Term limits.
ReplyDeleteThe Senate is a part of Congress.
ReplyDeleteNobody should have voted for that crock of shit bill.
ReplyDeleteIMO: US office limits should be limited to running for federal office at 20 years service with the exception of the POTUS an VPOTUS positions. If your term expires and you have 21 years of service, your done unless you run for a President or VP. Your pension would be equivalent to an O-6 military retirement for 21 years of service. You would be prevented from working for, owning, or being on executive boards of companies that have government contracts for 10 years. For less than 14 years service no pension and those with 14 years to 20 years the retirement would be an O-5 military equivalency. Do away with their fancy health insurance and put them on the military TriCare insurance. While holding office any stock, other market and property trading would be prohibited to extend to immediate family, siblings and their immediate family with the exception of major index funds. This market trading rule would extend to 4 years after you got out of office and that would also include book deals. All proceeds for speaking engagements cannot total more than 2/3rds of their salary and half that must be donated to a non-profit charity for the same period. You would also get yearly IRS audits to immediate family, siblings and their immediate family. You would have a biennial physical and have at least one random drug test during that period and it would include a hir follicle test as well as blood and urine. Any infraction would put them out of office where they would also be subject to criminal case of violating Oath of Office.
ReplyDeleteGracious. That might just neuter the grifters. I think you should only be able to serve for a relatively short period, maybe three presidential terms, following which you disappear into obscurity
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