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Congress

 
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Schmidty  

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

This was sent to me by a good friend of mine, knowing How I feel about the government. We have let the horses run wild for to long, we need to rein in these horses. It seems to be fair to them and to the American people.


Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC,
offers one of the
best quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told
CNBC. "You just
pass a law that says that anytime there is a
deficit of more
than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress
are ineligible
for re-election".

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote
for 18 year-olds)
took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why?
Simple!
The people demanded it. That was in 1971 -
before computers, e-mail,
cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven
(7) took one (1) year
or less to become the law of the land - all
because of public pressure.

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward
this email to
a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in
turn ask
each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of
America will
have the message. This is one idea that really
should be passed
around.

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in
office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in
Social
Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move
to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds
flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress
participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other
purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan,
just as all
Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the
American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they
impose on the
American people.

7. All contracts with past and present
Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this
contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for
themselves. Serving in
Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve
their
term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people
then it will
only take three days for most people (in the U.S.)
to receive
the message. Don't you think it's time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not,
just delete.
You are one of my 20 - Please keep it going, and
thanks.
reply to Schmidty
Mimzy  

Cantersville Patch Article Calls out GOP on pure Political Bull!

Here's an excerpt from that article:

'Hence, we arrive at the current impasse in Washington, where a benighted, feckless and reckless do-nothing Congress is now "holding a gun to your [and the national economy's] head," as famed investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett puts it.

"We raised the debt ceiling seven times during the Bush administration," Buffett told CNBC on Thursday. Now, the Republican-controlled Congress is "trying to use the incentive now that we're going to blow your brains out, America, in terms of your debt worthiness over time."

As early as April when this theater of the absurd was just heating up, former Bush-era U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill called the people advocating such foolish and dangerous brinkmanship on the deficit "terrorists."

Indeed, as also noted by Finance guru Edward Harrision:

"During the Bush administration, when a budget surplus turned to deficit and debt piled up, Republican leaders in Congress [repeatedly] voted to raise the debt ceiling...increasing the limit nearly $4 trillion. We're talking about Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl. Combined, they voted 19 times for a debt ceiling increase without complaint or conditions."

What changed? GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his radical Republican crew thought that the better part of wisdom was to block and impede any sort of progress on job creation or aid for the struggling middle class in favor of cleaving to their ultra wealthy Wall Street benefactors.

They decided early on that their best political strategy was to vehemently oppose any and all of the president's economic initiatives and that gridlock and inaction was a better response than pulling together as Americans to solve our common economic problems.

That gridlock and abject refusal to do much of anything is quite telling, and easy to compare. As noted here in the Chicago Tribune, "The 112th Congress is on pace to be one of the least productive in recent memory — as measured by votes taken, bills made into laws, nominees approved. By most of those metrics, this crowd is under performing even the 'do-nothing Congress' of 1948, as Harry Truman dubbed it."

Dithering during an economic crisis is what they do best. As noted here by Huffington Post writer Kelly Moore:

"Through the first six months of the year, the House and Senate have been in session at the same time for a mere 60 days. That's an average of a whopping two weeks of vacation a month. Meanwhile, the average American (lucky enough to have a job) has put in twice as many work days — 125 to be precise — in the same span of time."

As the Chicago Tribune noted: "From January until the end of May, the last date for which comparable statistics are available, 16 bills had become law — compared with 50 during that period last year, or 28 in 2007, also a time of divided government."

Moore has a capital suggestion — put Congress on a commission pay basis:

"Congress lacks seriousness of purpose. They are too busy tearing one another down. Maybe if they were compensated like so many Americans — by commission — they would get more done. They could receive a base salary, say, equivalent to the median American salary of around $50,000. Beyond that, they would be paid only for performance. No federal budget, no paycheck. National default? No paycheck (and no re-election)."

Sounds good to me.'

To read the complete article it's located here:
http://cartersville.patch.com/articles/how-and-what-to-count
reply to Mimzy
Schmidty  

Aidpage Open Letter: Cut in Pay

To the attention of:

US Senators from Illinois: Richard J. Durbin, Roland W. Burris
US Representatives from Illinois: Aaron Schock, Bill Foster, Bobby L. Rush, Daniel Lipinski, Danny K. Davis, Deborah L. Halvorson, Donald A. Manzullo, Janice D. Schakowsky, Jerry F. Costello, Jesse L. Jackson Jr., John Shimkus, Judy Biggert, Luis V. Gutierrez, Mark Steven Kirk, Melissa L. Bean, Mike Quigley, Peter J. Roskam, Phil Hare, Timothy V. Johnson
------------------------------------

I propose that the state of Illinois be a leader for once. You people take a pay cut from your $174,000.00 dollars to $50,000 or $60,000.00dollars. You can live comfortable on this and you have perks that we the people of the state do not have.

You are always busy adding taxes or cutting benefits, but you have never cut your wages. I think that if you would cut your own wages, since you have no troube raising them, be leaders, show by example.

==================

Post Open Letter to your Elected Representatives

reply to Schmidty
Schmidty  

The 28th Admendment

Subject: 28th Amendment




Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come!
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest was to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. A Constitutional Convention - this is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come. And, with the advent of modern communication, the process can be moved along with incredible speed. There is talk out there that the "government" doesn't care what the people think. That is irrelevant. It is incumbent on the population to address elected officials to the wrongs afflicted against the populace...you and me. Think about this...
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this Email to a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.




Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:




"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."

reply to Schmidty
Schmidty  

THE OIL SPILL

What a joke, it isn't an oil spill it's a disaster. BP and our Government are tip toeing around it like they have some on their $350.00 shoes. Isn't our President really gathering information by playing with oil balls on the beaches.

I can't see why they are having such a problem.When Exxon had their spill  didn't they have a hose system that vaccumed the oil off the top of the water? Really, if not why don't they figure out one. Oil is lighter than water.

They are talking about how much it's going to take to clean it up. All guess work. Let's get in there, fix it, then figure out what to do to keep it from happening again.

I use to be a welder at one time, working with metal over half my life. These caps they have tried to make. Another jokethey are making it to small. Make a big box to encompass the whole outfit with a funnel at the top and they couldguide it to tanksor barges, something, instead of just letting it go.I'm very very glad that the fire departments don't work the way the government and BP are working this. Everyone might as well grab marshmellow and hotdogs and have a party, because the house or building would be gone.

Metal is heavier than water, come on use your imagination and see it in your minds eye. The saw gets stuck, these rink-a dink-caps that they have tried to make, come on. And look at how long it took to make them, geezz, I hope they were within specs!

I , myself , think there is something else going on, because of all the stupidity that is going on with this tragedy.Just think for a moment.......Have you noticed something very strange. I don't want to jinx it but it needs to be pointed out.

Has enyone figured out what's strange yet. I'll give you a few more seconds......... OK, I can't stand it. When Bush was in office and he and Cheney had a big meeting with the oil companies, if one of those Arabs farted, they'd tell us they lost some gas and the price would rise. Here we have 20,000 to 40,000 barrels a DAY, and I imagine they are 55 gallon drums, THE PRICE HAS DROPPED, at least in my area, it's not a lot but compared to when the oil companies had us bent over and was drilling for blood, it was getting rediculous. Still is if you ask meNotice that the Media isn't pointing this out either.

  The Republicans try putting the blame on the Democrats and the Democrats blame the Republicans and the Independants blame one or the other, depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Do you know what would get Congress and the House of Representatives to get things done better. TO WORK FOR US. It's another mind twister. Yep, let us vote on whether they get their pay raises. Maybe , just maybe they will start taking their jobs more serious, spend more time running the country instead of running their mouths. I don't see any of them coming up with any real (yes I said real) ideas on how to straighten out this mess.

Let the big guys fall if they can't run the business any better than what they have.There are plenty of the smaller guys just itching to get some of that 'business'. Have the overlooked the principle of the monopoly laws? They are wanting 'new' jobs, how can you do that when the Fat Cats are laying people off?

They need to read up on Hamilton's ideas on banking, look at Jefferson'sobjections and work at what's best. What happened to all of these construction jobs that were coming into play. WE all can't be census takers, oh, and by the way, are we going to get paid for filling out the census? We have done what they are redoing. Someone doesn't think it was done right, and they are right. Do they have a slot for illegal immigrant? I'd better stop before i get started on the illegals. the nerve of them to protest and then Mexico's President slams us because we have sensible laws so people don't just flood tthe US the way the illegals are now. If they get away with changing the Illegal status for their benefit then maybe we legals ought to through a fit like they are about being taxed. I don't see why we are paying taxes when they rase their wages with no concern about main street (then bitch about wall street) and to top it off have someperson or people yell, scream, holler about how they have the right to break the law to come into this country and then they send that money to their families in Mexico, now you know why the President of Mexico slammed the Arizona law. That's more money for him and his people. I think we have bent over backwards as it is and enough is enough.The line needs to be drawn.With that said I thinkI've said enough....for now. Later

reply to Schmidty
Hmong Advance, Inc.  

About HmongAdvance

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We are a non-profit corporation that works with Laotian and Hmong community partners across the United States.  We help to advocate the cause of the Laotian and Hmong people in Washington, D.C.

We advocate on domestic and foreign policy issues of concern to the Lao and Hmong people in the United States and abroad.

For more information visit our website at www.HmongAdvance.org

Or contact us at:

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Washington, D.C.  20016

Tele. (202) 629-0377

 

reply to Hmong Advance, Inc.
Schmidty  

Government

I think that the wage system in the government ought to be put back, into "We the People",

into our hands for several reasons.

1. They would work harder  to get their wages raised.

2. Spend more time voting on the items at hand, because the record would show how they voted.

3. They would spend more time in Congress or the house on all matters to get your vote.

4. Somewhere along the line, We the People, forgot that Government is suppose to be working For us, not us for them.

If they were working for us, they would be careful, they would help their people, they would help bring jobs to the state and to the counties.They just like their counter parts on wall street have had the easylife way to long. They need to be in out shoes, they need to work for their wages, not be off on extended vacations somewhere, or visiting other countries.If they spent more time in their state and jurisdiction they would know more of what the people need and want. Have they helped us against big business? Have they helped us against unfair credit practices. Did they help aginst the Oil companies when they were taking advantage of us, no, that was just a show, nothing became of the 'hearings'. And who do we have to blame,US, when and where have you ever known an employee to vote on their own ages and if they could do that would they work that hard, no, they would have top dollar , the best benefits, and not put out too much effort at their work. Sound familiar? Who should be getting help, Their buddies on Wall street or the American workers, farmers, and the lower income.

The American people should not feel like their government had let them down, that there is no hope, that you can't trust the person you put in office.The office that they hold is to represent...US, you and I, and to do help us, guide us,  defend us, and take care of us. I don't see much of that. I see people in office that are there to get what they can, to better their lives and to hell with ours. If we really want things to change, We need to take back control of our government. If your Representitive or your Congress person is not doing their job then boot their butts out of there, don't vote them right back into office, that is stupid. A new person will be hungry for the job, out to show their people that they arethe paeson for it, and surely they couldn't mess it up anymore than what they have done already.

reply to Schmidty
Brighan  

An Open Blog to Congress.

 America, we need to openly debate the domestic issues that plaugue everyone who is touched by the status quo in politics. I hope to create a diverse and spirited debate of resolutions and actions we need to remind our elected officials that we, the voters, are their bosses. So feel free to post your gripes and answers how we, the people, can relive the promise of the American dream.

 

I collected some of the prior posts to get started, in which case I urge everyone to get out and vote this coming general election.

 

Dear Congress:

 

In my opinion, I am frustrated and disgusted to see that our elective officials sitting in Congress appoint themselves raises and golden parachutes while the 80% of us who live in poverty year after year see rising property taxes, lower job opportunities, and a rising corruptive government that puts the “haves” before the “have-nots.”

 

Why do we need to bail out the super rich for their greed and unethical business practices without any sanctions for their behaviors? Many questions frustrate the American public, in which case I refer to NAFTA, the war, and globalizing the world economy with our tax dollars supporting other nations.

 

DO NOT bail out the financial markets for their mistakes even if the economy collapses to the point that no one will dare to make the same mistake again. I will make sure other people know your voting record if you do support the bail out of the financial giants like Freddie Mac.

 

See you at the polls.

 

Elaine of TSA forwarded the Birk Plan that bears repeating:

The Birk Economic Recovery Plan (Talk about thinking out of the box)

Hi Pals, 

 
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

 

Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in

a We Deserve It Dividend

 
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000

bona-fide U.S. Citizens 18+.

 

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman

and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. 



So divide 200 million adults 18+  into $85 billion that equals $425 (correction by Emil). 
My plan i s to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a

We Deserve It Dividend.

 

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.

 

0AEvery individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

 

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

 

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs

Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Dead beat Dads to come clean – or else

 

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+  including the folks

who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers
and every other company

that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

 

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it...instead of trickling out

a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

 

If we’re going to d o an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

 

As for AIG – liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

 

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

 

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”

 

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party


How do you spell Economic Boom?

 

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

 

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned

instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

 

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest. Kindest personal regards, 
Birk
T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!

 
In response to the debate, Elaine of TSA poses the question--Why not get the money from the pension funds of Congressman and politicians?  You know kinda like the Enron stunt which wiped out retirement savings and penions for so many in America.
reply to Brighan
PapaJohn  

PapaJohn

Hi, I'm 52, and am not needing any help now. I have things taken care of. I am also now gearing up to run for Congress for 2nd District in Nebraska. Our economy needs help bad, and people, you need jobs, money that you can count on, and stability in our country. I stand for all of the above.

If you need more info, please leave a note or two, and I'll get back and leave whatever you need to know. Ask questions, don't be afraid to ask. That's why I'm running. 




 I hope you all enjoy the message I am sending you. We need fresh blood in the White House, Capitol Hill and the Senate, especially. No more career politicians.
  Your friend,
John G. Smith USMC (Ret.)

reply to PapaJohn