Enough with the bitching, moaning and whining...
 

It's time to actually do what the candidates should be doing, but aren't, and that is to propose specific ideas on solving our political problems.

Here, I'll start. :D

- I say that we should pay a salary that attracts bright people and competes with what they can make in private business. While some people may think that a base of $174,000 a year salary for Senators and Congressman is a fortune, the truth of the matter is that it’s actually very low compared to what even the average bright person can make in the private sector. When you add the additional cost of maintaining two residences (very few of their families follow them to DC), and even with their office allowances, it makes it so tough that Congressman and Senators have been sharing apartments for years. So let’s make the pay $250,000 per year and with the term limit I suggest below, it will allow someone who might not otherwise think of serving...to do so.

- Another thing that needs to be laid to rest, is the false rumor spread about how Congress is guaranteed this salary for the rest of their lives ( for even one or two terms). This is totally false, but I won’t get into it in depth here. Suffice to say and to try and set the record straight, any retirement/pension they currently receive is similar to other Civil Service/FERS employees and is a function of the number of years (a % for each year) times the number of years of service.

- Regarding term limits, although that's a tough one, something definitely needs to be done. The shorter the term, the more they will be tempted to set something up quickly for themselves for when their term is through or begging for donations for their next election. The way it is now, a Congressman is voted in for only two years. If a person has decided that they want to be more than a one term Congressman, what do you think they’re doing the minute they get sworn in for their term? EXACTLY, they have to immediately start campaigning and looking for donations for their next term! No one with any common sense can fail to see that if a Congressman has another election in two years, they are not concentrating on doing their job and are much more concerned with trying to get more donations. And while Senators are elected for four years, they are almost in the exact same boat and have the exact same goals.

- Given the current situation, there is way too much potential for ingratiating themselves with big business/industries to either get donations or set themselves up for a much better paying job when they get out. Being a current professional politician has shown to have these exact problems. They seem to spend more time trying to get reelected or ingratiating themselves with businesses/industries… than taking care of business.

- So maybe make it a single 6 year term for both Senators and Congressman, so they can concentrate on governing and then they don't have to spend their time campaigning to get reelected, or sucking up to businesses/industries for future employment.

- In other words, I believe lengthening the terms for Senators and Representatives to one 6 year term, will eliminate a lot of the problems we have now of politicians being in constant "campaign/job seeking mode."

- I also believe that campaign reform along the lines below, will greatly reduce the need for elected officials to "pay back" those who donated a lot of money for them to get elected. Because I don’t care what anyone says, if someone donates a lot of money to your campaign, anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows damned well that candidate will look favorably upon that donor.

Consequently, I suggest:

1. Eliminating all private/business/PAC campaign contributions, except $50 from individuals only.

2. Establish a new tax on businesses that is used for the 'election pot.' And yes, I can hear the screaming now but.....since these same businesses will no longer be able to contribute directly (or through lobbyists/PAC’s), they will probably find that they are actually spending less money.

3. Give each candidate a set amount of campaign money........ and they have to determine how they want to best spend it. If they want to blow it on a few expensive TV ads, so be it. I’m guessing though, they will choose to figure out more cost effective ways to reach out to the voters and let them get to know the candidate better.

4. Limit access of lobbyists to politicians. Much like agents are limited in their access to amateur athletes, the number of lobbyists running around the halls of Congress is not much different than an infestation of cockroaches.

5. Mandate a quarterly report that shows every single lobbyist/interest group/individual that has met with each politician....and any votes made by that politician that could even be obliquely construed as affecting them.


- It is my opinion that although some will cry about muzzling their 'freedom of speech' (by limiting campaign amounts), if we were to allow smart, dedicated regular citizens (who can't afford it now) be able to run for a public office, we will get back to what was envisioned by the FF’s…which is a 'citizen legislature.'

Instead of the current lifetime occupation of.... 'Politician'…..soon followed by ‘Lobbyist.’


OK y’all, instead of the usual 2 or 3 sentence sound bites and personal attacks, quit being so lazy and let’s hear what you think will help solve our current problems.

:popcorn:

:wave:


CNM

And that affects us how? Other than the money part of the equation, this is the most unimportant part of this election cycle. There are many, much more important issues at stake. And if you weren't so lazy, you would go to the candidate's website and you would know that they have their own ideas about how to handle specific issues. But, typical liberal that needs someone else to do the work for them.

I should have known to ask for this.....
......would mean some weren't capable.


Campaign reform and the unlimited amount of money that is allowed to buy candidates.....IS the primary problem.

That you prefer to ignore that...is not surprising.

That you're too lazy to even offer your own ideas...is not surprising either.

Now run along and let's wait and see if any adults aren't too lazy to proffer their own ideas.


:wave:

CNM

While term limits seem appealing on the surface, you must realize that the effect is to eliminate all senior leadership.
Imagine a corporation where no one has been employed for more than 6 years. Imagine a military with no officers serving for more than 6 years. Imagine a doctor who cannot have more than 6 years experience.
Term limits solve the impetus for re-election problem, but create many more problems in its place.

So, you are finally going to change your ways and demand everyone else discuss issues? What a useless hypocrite! You have already lost all credibility. Go away.

I have discussed MANY issues and provided links backing up my POV, (whereby you haven't)......and can only prove how prescient I was when I wrote this. ;)


It must really suck to realize, that you are so pitifully transparent. :1rotfl:

:wave:

CNM

No I don't feel that is the primary problem. I feel the lack of pride is the primary problem in this country.

There seems to be too many pride-less people that have not been successful enough in life to be generous with their own money, so they want to force others that have been successful to give money away to people that don't have enough pride to work for a living. That practice has not helped anyone, it has held many back in life. It has created a society of people that have developed a sense of entitlement to those handouts. That is the primary problem facing this country today.

:sad:
CNM

Go ahead feel free to get into depth here...

:sad:

CNM

LOL :1rotfl:

Signing my initials to something I didn't write, is the epitome of originality and desperation.

Thanks for showing all that you are so intimidated by me that you have to do it.


:wave:

The REAL CNM

lol!

:icon_wink:

The term limits that the OP speaks of would be extremely hard, if not impossible, to achieve.

It would take a Constitutional Amendment to do it. The current terms are written into the Constitution. Congress cannot agree on simple things. They would never agree on shortening their cushy jobs.

Yep, typical.

Call anyone that makes you look like an idiot a 'troll.' :oops:


CNM

Thank you for at least providing an intelligent response that isn't churlish. :thumbup:

While I tend to agree it would be very hard, just that fact alone that Congress would fight something that would eliminate their corrupt ways however...is something I think is worth pursuing.

CNM

:agree:
Some folks didn't learn that in their middle school civics class so they need to be reminded. Term limits are more important to them than the state of our economy, employment, national defense and justice. They will ignore criminal activity and vote for the most corrupt candidate in Democrat history and then turn around and complain about turn limits and fight voter ID.

Because you agree with the response? If you don't, then it's "nasty and mean spirited"?

:agree:

So, go ahead get into depth CNM:boxing2:

This post sure doesn't sound like CNM. It must be a case of identity theft. CNM has definitely gotten into a few heads.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guest View Post
No I don't feel that is the primary problem. I feel the lack of pride is the primary problem in this country.

There seems to be too many pride-less people that have not been successful enough in life to be generous with their own money, so they want to force others that have been successful to give money away to people that don't have enough pride to work for a living. That practice has not helped anyone, it has held many back in life. It has created a society of people that have developed a sense of entitlement to those handouts. That is the primary problem facing this country today.


CNM


Pride? ONLY minorities and women are ALLOWED to have any pride. And it's a false pride to boot. If you're a white male and you show you have "pride", you're called a racist or a misogynist.

I'm a white man, I have pride, I have the audacity to show it, and I'm called all kinds of names. People love to tear those above them down.

You certainly DO NOT have a way with words!

The above was posted by CNM .

Omg
 

Oh no....there could be more than one CNM imposter!







CNm

Today we are celebrating the wit and profound wisdom of CNM !

The Real CNM

Chi-town - I am surprised that you didn't give CNM the same advice you gave me, when I first came on here. You told me that I didn't belong here. I took that as an insult, but it wasn't.

Anyone that wants to talk politics doesn't belong here. This forum is for Republicans that want to follow the lead of the party, and do nothing but criticize, condemn, and complain. Blame Democrats for everything that is wrong with the world, but hardly ever support their rants with anything other than what right wing clowns, and Fox Noise puke mouths of their mouths, or wherever.

CNM - When someone tells you to supply details for one of your statements, and you do, I can guarantee you that will be the end of the post. Since they never supply details, they assume that you can't either. In their minds going to the extreme is the ultimate destination. If Hillary is elected, the world will end. Obama tried, but couldn't complete his goal. Both houses of the Republican congress are exhausted for all the hard work that they had to do opposing everything that he put forward. They will not be able to stop round two of the end of the world.

Even if Trump is elected, the world will come to an end. That is why Trump stated that he wouldn't rule out using nuclear bombs. He wants to put everyone out of the misery in one big hurry. Why suffer? He is going to put an end to the world to end all suffering. What a guy!

:loco:

You are making a king size assumption, when it comes to Senators, and especially what Congressman can make in the real world. People of above average intelligence should be able to make over $174,000. that assumes that our elected officials have above average intelligence. Have you checked out the brain power in the Texas delegation? A lot of them can't find their ass with their both hands.

It is a joke to say that the representatives especially in the House have to start begging for funds immediately after being elected. Gerrymandering across the board is so wide spread that upon being elected, there is a better than average chance that you will run unopposed next time around.

There is an easy way to get rid of Gerrymandering. It is people running for the House run state wide. No more districts. Change the term to four years. The rural areas may not have people representing them. That is the price to be paid. It is not like the House gives a damn about people in rural areas anyway.

If corporations in this county were paying their fair share of federal income taxes, you may be able to have federally funded campaigns. Get rid of the 401(c) charitable groups. All donors to Pacs names will be made public. Let us see who is trying to buy what.

The plain and simple fact of the matter is right now that nothing is going to change. The parties have gone so far into their corners, that you couldn't get them to agree upon the time of day.

You don't go against your best interests. Our elected officials won't do anything to hurt them, or the people/businesses that got them there.

I blame BOTH "sides" for the destruction of this country. And yes, it's already been partially destroyed. It's already a shell of it's former glory. Why? The people changed. We went from proud and white...to mediocre and dark. We're still heading that way, towards darkness, it'll be complete within 30 years. They'll be the majority, they'll run things, they'll have all the power. Will it be better? Look at where they came from and you tell me what you think. You've left your grandchildren a stinking pile of ****. Europe too is getting dark, an invasion of "refugees". Western civilization has peaked and begun it's slide.

In all my dealing with CNM, it's her that stops responding when the facts start rolling out.

Once in a while I check these forums but always see CNM on them blathering away about some nonsense. CNM do you really have nothing better to do, is your life really just composed of monitoring these forums and berating others, how sad.

Its ironic that you go around putting others down, saying how lazy they are and that the country sucks, yada yada, but you are just sitting on your ass day after day and hour after hour trolling these forums. That sounds pretty lazy to me and not to mention not doing anything to contribute to society. Well good luck with that, hope it fills your emptiness and poor self esteem but doubt you'll mind happiness or purpose this way.

How exactly has the country been destroyed???

You either are too young to have known it before, or you are in total denial of reality!

Good job, don't actually answer the question. Just make general statement about the country being destroyed but nothing to back it up with.

Please enlighten me, how had the country been destroyed? How is your life so horrible?

It's not HERE in the last bastion of "whiteness". But outside the bubble, it has and is getting worse. We were #1 in many areas, now we're lucky to be in the teens. Education is a broken mess, medicine is a broken mess, banking is a broken mess, the inner cities are a broken mess, it takes two incomes to make it, kids are idiots being raised by Lawanda, housing and education is unaffordable. What HASN'T gotten worse?

Libtards think it's great...go figure!

How is medicine a mess, we have the best physicians and medicine in the world?

We've never been the best in education, but ultimately that's parents responsibility. But education isn't worse, fact is more children have to go to college today than in the past to get a decent job.

Please banking a mess, that hasn't changed. Banking has always been crooked

When haven't the inner cities been a mess? But here you are wrong, there's actually less crime in places like NYC and elsewhere. Back in the day there were actually more murders and streets were more unsafe.

2 incomes to make it, well yeah, the economy has grown, cost of living has grown, inflation etc. Its great that the economy has grown so much, its called capitalism, what our country was founded on, hardly all for doomsday and saying that the country has been destroyed, quite the opposite.

I have to disagree that kids are idiots. Where's your proof?? I have kids and they are amazingly smart. There are millions of smart kids these days and as said before most have to go to college making them smarter then past generations.

How is education and housing unaffordable??? The housing market continues to grow meaning somebody is buying homes. I bought 2 new homes in the past 5 years without a problem. Education does cost money, I have student loans but just pay them like a mortgage, its an investment.


I think you really have a misperception of the world, perhaps due to matching too much news. People continuously say that America has been destroyed or that America needs to be great again. America is great, prosperous, and the world's super power. Economy is highest its ever been, unemployment is very low, housing market is growing, military is strongest in the world, and the list goes on. Hardly seems like the country has been destroyed.

Wow, intellectually stimulating comment. Good job contributing to the discussion with substantial ideas. Love your elementary school yard name calling, that definitely makes our country great.

it was made clear what is going bad in the country in a previous post, but apparently you did not get it or read it.
Now maybe you can share how things are really going fantastic for most Americans?

Ummmm, I did, look above and here it is again. I f you can't even follow a forum conversation then I can see why you think things are so bad.

Again for the slow people:
"How is medicine a mess, we have the best physicians and medicine in the world?

We've never been the best in education, but ultimately that's parents responsibility. But education isn't worse, fact is more children have to go to college today than in the past to get a decent job.

Please banking a mess, that hasn't changed. Banking has always been crooked

When haven't the inner cities been a mess? But here you are wrong, there's actually less crime in places like NYC and elsewhere. Back in the day there were actually more murders and streets were more unsafe.

2 incomes to make it, well yeah, the economy has grown, cost of living has grown, inflation etc. Its great that the economy has grown so much, its called capitalism, what our country was founded on, hardly all for doomsday and saying that the country has been destroyed, quite the opposite.

I have to disagree that kids are idiots. Where's your proof?? I have kids and they are amazingly smart. There are millions of smart kids these days and as said before most have to go to college making them smarter then past generations.

How is education and housing unaffordable??? The housing market continues to grow meaning somebody is buying homes. I bought 2 new homes in the past 5 years without a problem. Education does cost money, I have student loans but just pay them like a mortgage, its an investment.


I think you really have a misperception of the world, perhaps due to matching too much news. People continuously say that America has been destroyed or that America needs to be great again. America is great, prosperous, and the world's super power. Economy is highest its ever been, unemployment is very low, housing market is growing, military is strongest in the world, and the list goes on. Hardly seems like the country has been destroyed."

"That's the way you debate" - Will Ferrell, Old School

Will Ferrell the dope head liberal, @ss.