Political Reform by Grassroots Movement?

This came to me in an email: Now I don't necessarily agree with all these points (for instance, I am not convinced that term limits accomplish anything of benefit vs campaign finance reform), nor am I convinced by the argument(?) presented, I think it is a good start for the conversation that would necessarily follow.The basic tenet as I see it, is that the members of legislature cannot treat themselves as special - they are citizens elected to represent citizens, and should be affected by the laws they pass for the citizens they represent.I would also add to it that anyone of the legislature that wants to repeal the health care bill should voluntarily withdraw from the lush congressional plan they have provided for themselves.Enjoy.Edited by RAZD, : lasp

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we are limited in our ability to understand
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Rebel American Zen Deist
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The argument we often hear is that if congress critters are term limited that will just make the staffs, who stay forever, that much more powerful.There is an easy cure for that...

I don't agree with the No Tenure / No Pension for those congress people who continue to work at some government or state capacity. I think time should carry over to the job and for retirement. So if they do 4 years in congress and you can retire in law enforcement after 20 years, they should only have to do 16 years. As is the norm for all government jobs now.I agree about term limits too. Other than that, sounds good.- Oni

agreed.I don't see what the deal with term limits is.what if you have someone who is really good for his/her constituents, and is popular back home? Term limits seem like some arbitrary thing that people dislike, but why? I am not sure I follow you, I had a Friend who worked for Elizabeth Dole (R) Senator from North Carolina, and when the Senator was not re-elected that whole staff went back to NC, and moved out of DC. The Staffs are employed by the representative, and leave when they do. I agree, though what if you are in the military 1st (like many in congress), do those years of service stack as well with your service in congress?I don't want to get a conspiracy theory here, but some of them have access to some information that doesn't need to be sold to other countries. I think keeping them paid helps.

I would say, whatever the norm is now with regular government emplyees. So if the military years count, then in the case of congress people, it should count too.- oni

I'm not thinking of the staffs of the individual representatives and senators but the staffs of the standing committees. For the most part they are there no matter who is in office, and for long periods of time.

ok, thanks for clearing that one up, I have no clue about those people, a good friend of mine works for our congressman back home and lives near here in DC, I'll ask them about it.thanks as well Onifre, I thought maybe you knew, I was just guessing.

Disagree. Votes should be based on competency, not tenure.The term limits on the office of President are a little different because of the amount of power concentrated in that office (specifically, control of the military) and in a single person. Disagree. Many candidates sacrifice advancement in their careers to vie for office. I think we all know how difficult it would be to pick up where we left off if our careers were interrupted by even 2 years, much less 8 or 12 years. Pensions offer a safety net for those who would otherwise stay with their current careers. A simple fix would be to lump Congress in with federal employees with the same retirement plans, health care, etc. Maybe we could suggest that Congress should use the VA as their sole source of health care. That would be interesting. What laws are they not beholding to? That is morally wrong, IMHO. A contract made is a contract made.

Why is it that politics is the only field in which LACK of experience keeps getting touted as a job qualification?"Nah, I've never been to med school. I'm a maverick! I'm an outsider! We're gonna do heart surgery the PEOPLE'S way when I get to that operating room!"

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I have no time for lies and fantasy, and neither should you. Enjoy or die.
-John LydonWhat's the difference between a conspiracy theorist and a new puppy? The puppy eventually grows up and quits whining.
-Steven DutchI never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it. - John Stuart Mill

I was explaining to a friend the other day about how in awe I am of someone like Glenn Beck. A morning-zoo DJ who has elevated himself to the point of pundit, with absolutely zero experience in politics. He has a complete lack of education in politics, no experience in real journalism, and yet he has a nationally syndicated radio show, his own TV show, and I don't know 4(?) books, one or two were NY Times bestsellers?Say what you will about him and media scum like him, but he has managed to build an empire on what looks like a community college education. He is a genius at bullshitting.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.

Hi Taq, thanks. I am not a fan of term limits, I would much rather see election finance reform so that an honest candidate that does not happen to be rich can have a reasonable hope of a fair election.I would rather see primaries run similar to the reality shows, with candidates being voted off the island until you are down to the final two and then a run-off election (one vote per person only works for two candidate elections - one need only look at the fiasco election in California when Schwarzenegger - the only republican - was elected).Have town-meeting style debates rather than political ads, and then vote off the worst of the lot.This would start by eliminating the candidates that nobody wants, and doesn't allow them to be spoilers in the final election. Curiously, if term limits had not been in effect, then Clinton would have easily defeated Schrubbia. I have trouble seeing that as a bad thing. Indeed, and would likely result in improved health care for our veterans and government workers.But I think we can go a step further, and give everyone the same health care package. Yet this is talking about "contracts" that congress passes to benefit congress and nobody else - that to me is morally wrong.I also feel that all laws passed by congress should have an expiration date.Enjoy.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

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Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

yeah but who cares, he doesn't run anything. He is obviously and entertainer. I listen to Howard Stern (about 2-3days a week), i do not agree with alot of that, but the show is entertaining.I do not get why people are so put off by glenn beck? I haven't ever listened to him, and do not know many who have (and i'd say 75% of the people i know are conservative and/or republicans), he is no big deal.unless you are just hatin cause he has a show and you don't?

Other countries can serve as good examples. Many democracies have moved towards totalitarian regimes because the President uses the military and marshal law as a means of keeping power. Like many have said, just get rid of the age requirement for Medicare. Of course, that is easier said than done, but it should be the goal. Another way to go about this is to build on the VA model and start extending care to those currently on Medicare/Medicaid. You could even start government funded medical schools that would wave student fees in exchange for 5-10 year contracts at government funded hospitals (which is currently done in the military). In this way we could move towards a system where people have a choice between privately run hospitals and government funded hospitals. They are also held repsonsible for those decisions in the voting booth. That sounds like a really bad idea. Laws that protect the citizen from government abuse should never have an expiration date. Imagine if

Hating? I said I was in awe of how well he has done for himself with zero experience in journalism and politics. I could care less what he says on his show, I think the guy is a genius.Those who hate Glenn Beck hate him for the lies he tells, but I don't realy care about that. He's there for ratings, and he does his job well.- Oni

Hi Taq, And that would be one of the reasons that I found the Schrubbia\Cheney abuse of the everything from the National Guard to the so called "Patriot" act so disturbing - it certainly is a move in that direction rather than away from it.I am equally disturbed that Obama has not really reversed this move. Perhaps as a counter to the loss of retirement provisions as they keep extending the age limits. Give something get something. Right now I could retire (over 62 - but benefits reduced), but cannot get medicare until 65? I'd definitely be for that. Of course all the for-profit hospitals would close their emergency wards and make people go to the gov't hospital ... Are they? That seems a rather unmentioned issue when many are shouting "abortion" "gun control" "terrorists" and anything else to distract people from real relevant issues.Enjoy.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

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Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)