"What If Government Were More Like An iPod?"

[Guest]

I would enjoy reading this forum's comments on this morning's Wall Street Journal "ESSEY" by Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame).
He makes many good, wryly points including;
The 10% polling rule for funding cadidates.
Posting surveys using participants who actually understood the situation
Describing our governmental system as "turned into a congealed ball of lard
that eats money and excretes red tape."

[Guest]

"...The Constitution has a big red button on it labeled 'update'..." -- Scott Adams

I'd suggest a couple of changes for starters.
Term limits for members of Congress...four years for House members and six for Senators sounds good.
A federal budget must be created in January of each year and the spending in that budget cannot exceed projected tax revenue to the government for the year.
The salary of members of the House shall be $1 million per year. Members of the Senate shall be paid $1.5 million per year, both adjusted annually for inflation. Health insurance and retirement benefits for members of Congress shall be contributory and such benefits shall be the same as all federal employees as prescribed by the Federal Employees Retirement System.
A strict limit of $250,000 shall be placed on campaign expenses for any candidate for Congress. Such expenses shall be totally funded by the federal government. Candidates themselves shall be prohibited from expending their personal funds for campaign expenses.
Campaigning or the participation by candidates for both federal primary and general elections in media or privately sponsored events shall be limited to 90 days prior to election days.
Payment for campaign advertising or expenses by any political party, corporation, trade union, sovereign entity, or the candidate himself shall be prohibited. All such expenses shall be paid by the federal government.
Acceptance of campaign contributions, speaking fees, consulting fees or any income, in cash or in kind, beyond the salary for the office by any member of Congress shall be a federal felony.
I'm sure I could think of a few more improvements that could be made to the U.S. Constitution, but these would be good for starters.

Please don't tell me that some of what I've suggested violates the Constitution...that's what needs changing!

[Guest]

"...The Constitution has a big red button on it labeled 'update'..." -- Scott Adams

I'd suggest a couple of changes for starters.
Term limits for members of Congress...four years for House members and six for Senators sounds good.
A federal budget must be created in January of each year and the spending in that budget cannot exceed projected tax revenue to the government for the year.
The salary of members of the House shall be $1 million per year. Members of the Senate shall be paid $1.5 million per year, both adjusted annually for inflation. Health insurance and retirement benefits for members of Congress shall be contributory and such benefits shall be the same as all federal employees as prescribed by the Federal Employees Retirement System.
A strict limit of $250,000 shall be placed on campaign expenses for any candidate for Congress. Such expenses shall be totally funded by the federal government. Candidates themselves shall be prohibited from expending their personal funds for campaign expenses.
Campaigning or the participation by candidates for both federal primary and general elections in media or privately sponsored events shall be limited to 90 days prior to election days.
Payment for campaign advertising or expenses by any political party, corporation, trade union, sovereign entity, or the candidate himself shall be prohibited. All such expenses shall be paid by the federal government.
Acceptance of campaign contributions, speaking fees, consulting fees or any income, in cash or in kind, beyond the salary for the office by any member of Congress shall be a federal felony.
I'm sure I could think of a few more improvements that could be made to the U.S. Constitution, but these would be good for starters.

Please don't tell me that some of what I've suggested violates the Constitution...that's what needs changing!

I like your thoughts.

[Guest]

"...The Constitution has a big red button on it labeled 'update'..." -- Scott Adams

I'd suggest a couple of changes for starters.
Term limits for members of Congress...four years for House members and six for Senators sounds good.
A federal budget must be created in January of each year and the spending in that budget cannot exceed projected tax revenue to the government for the year.
The salary of members of the House shall be $1 million per year. Members of the Senate shall be paid $1.5 million per year, both adjusted annually for inflation. Health insurance and retirement benefits for members of Congress shall be contributory and such benefits shall be the same as all federal employees as prescribed by the Federal Employees Retirement System.
A strict limit of $250,000 shall be placed on campaign expenses for any candidate for Congress. Such expenses shall be totally funded by the federal government. Candidates themselves shall be prohibited from expending their personal funds for campaign expenses.
Campaigning or the participation by candidates for both federal primary and general elections in media or privately sponsored events shall be limited to 90 days prior to election days.
Payment for campaign advertising or expenses by any political party, corporation, trade union, sovereign entity, or the candidate himself shall be prohibited. All such expenses shall be paid by the federal government.
Acceptance of campaign contributions, speaking fees, consulting fees or any income, in cash or in kind, beyond the salary for the office by any member of Congress shall be a federal felony.
I'm sure I could think of a few more improvements that could be made to the U.S. Constitution, but these would be good for starters.

Please don't tell me that some of what I've suggested violates the Constitution...that's what needs changing!

VG Do you mean that each member should be paid a $1 milion per year? and why would you pay more to Seators then congressmen?

Finally th constitution does need changing. what needs to be changed is people interpreting the constitution to fit their needs rather than their needs abiding by the constitution

[Guest]

VG Do you mean that each member should be paid a $1 milion per year? and why would you pay more to Seators then congressmen?

Finally th constitution does need changing. what needs to be changed is people interpreting the constitution to fit their needs rather than their needs abiding by the constitution

Watching them fight over that $1 million to split would be interesting. Hogs at the trough comes to mind.

[Guest]

VG Do you mean that each member should be paid a $1 milion per year? and why would you pay more to Seators then congressmen?...Yes, I'd pay them both a sizable salary to try to attract better people, who might otherwise work in the private sector. With term limits, talented people wouldn't be making a lifetime commitment to campaigning for a career in the Congress. A term or two and they'd be gone. They need to be attracted with a more competitive salary.

Because they'd be precluded from taking any campaign money or making "side money" with speeches and the like, a larger salary seems justified. And in the grand scheme of things, the annual salaries for members of Congress would be substantially less than $1 billion...peanuts in the context of the federal budget.

I'd pay Senators more than Congressmen because their votes are more important and they represent more people. Each Senator represents half a state, while each Congressman represents about 150,000 people.

[Guest]

1. All laws shall be understandable by a high school graduate has written.

2. there shall be no pensions for elected officials unless those tensions are 100% contributory.

[Guest]

All elected officials will be REQUIRED to have an IQ higher than 70.

[Guest]

All candidates must take a polygraph.

[Guest]

no candidates with a lawyer background to be allowed.

btk

[Guest]

All current members of Congress shall be subject to random, routine drug testing.