Posted by Guest
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. This is the primary reason that we see so many already wealthy candidates running for a nationally elected position. It's certainly NOT for the salary. 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 six 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 (with the company hiring, hoping that they will use their old DC congressional contacts in their favor) 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 maximum of two consecutive 6 year terms 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/limiting the terms for Senators and Representatives to two 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.
6. All elected officials, at the end of their term, cannot work as ANY type of lobbyist for 6 years. The only reason companies, like large defense contractors hire former legislators, is in the hope that they will still have personal contacts in DC...that will help influence legislation that helps their company/industry.
- 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.
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