Webster defines a junkie as “a person who derives inordinate pleasure from, or who is dependent on, something”. In the case of our elected officials, the addiction they have is POWER; so their title should be Power Junkie. How do we get them off this addiction?
There are two ways – wean them off or cold turkey.
As with most Junkies, they need help. It’s up to us to help them get off their addiction. Let’s take a look at how to wean them off. This isn’t easy but it’s our Country and we have to invest some time and effort to save it. First, you must keep up on what legislation is moving through Congress. The way I keep track is by setting up alerts at www.congress.org. They send me emails once a week with all current and pending legislation. They also send me emails telling me how my Congressman and Senators vote on each bill before Congress. There are probably other ways to keep track but I’m just sharing with you how I do it. Second, you must let your Congressman/woman and Senators know what you think of each bill and whether you want them to vote for or against a particular bill. You cannot give up, even when they vote a different way. When they vote yes when you asked them to vote no, remind them that you know how they voted and are displeased with their vote. Third, offer suggestions on modifying pending legislation or offer new legislation for them to introduce. Do not give up on them! It doesn’t matter whether they are Democrat, Republican, or some other party. Most listen to you, the voter.
Now, let’s look at the Cold Turkey option. If, after trying to wean them off their addiction, you find that it hasn’t worked; you need to get with your fellow voters of your District and get your elected official fired. That’s right – fired! You are the employer of your elected representatives and you have the power to get rid of them. Find another candidate who will listen to you and get them to sign a contract with constituents. Take some time with your neighbors and decide what things you want your elected representative to do. For example, vote against any new Federal bailouts. Make a list of these things and then find a candidate who will actually commit to abiding by them. Don’t make the list too long or too detailed – give him or her a little leeway, but not too much. Remember, their purpose is to represent YOU, not themselves and also remember that they work for you – not the other way around.
I HOPE you understand how important this is to our Country.
CHANGE is up to you!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
IT’S JOBS STUPID!
During the rein of George Bush the first, the cry was “It’s the Economy Stupid!” Well I guess we need a new cry now and I say “It’s Jobs Stupid!” I’m not picking on our President; after all, he doesn’t create legislation (although he does try to influence it). This cry is to our Congressmen/women and Senators. In a recent article by Douglas A. McIntyre, editor at 24/7 Wall Street, he stated: “According to the New York Times, a look at Labor Department statistics for the month of July revealed that "only 2.4 million full-time permanent jobs were open, with 14.5 million people officially unemployed." “That's a six to one ratio -- the largest since they've tracked this stat.”
People that are out of work do not pay taxes, they do not spend on high value items, and they try to survive until they are back to work. Instead of our Congress looking at ways to help private industry create new jobs or keep from having to lay off additional employees, they are trying to pass legislation that spends Federal funds we don’t have for programs we don’t need and don’t want! Do they care that 14.5 million people are unemployed? Not as long as they aren’t among them!
Take a look at what our elected officials deem important:
(1) Bail out the Insurance industry;
(2) Bail out the Banking industry;
(3) Bail out the Mortgage industry;
(4) Bail out the automotive industry;
(5) Provide Stimulus money for lobbyists;
(6) Take over or radically change health insurance and health care;
(7) Tax private industry for using carbon-based energy;
(8) Reward illegal immigrants by granting amnesty; and
(9) Increase taxes on small business and wealthy Americans (those that provide jobs).
Where is the Legislation to help the 14.5 million unemployed? Don’t see it!
So, what will help create jobs?
(1) Stop spending money we don’t have;
(2) Make the Bush tax cuts permanent;
(3) Make further tax cuts for workers and small businesses;
(4) Make the Federal Government buy American goods and products (only).
It only makes common sense that the more Americans that are working, the more tax dollars that will be coming in. Stifle business by increasing taxes, put doubt in business owner’s minds that new regulations are coming, continue Government takeover of private industry and we will all be on welfare – including the Federal Government!
People that are out of work do not pay taxes, they do not spend on high value items, and they try to survive until they are back to work. Instead of our Congress looking at ways to help private industry create new jobs or keep from having to lay off additional employees, they are trying to pass legislation that spends Federal funds we don’t have for programs we don’t need and don’t want! Do they care that 14.5 million people are unemployed? Not as long as they aren’t among them!
Take a look at what our elected officials deem important:
(1) Bail out the Insurance industry;
(2) Bail out the Banking industry;
(3) Bail out the Mortgage industry;
(4) Bail out the automotive industry;
(5) Provide Stimulus money for lobbyists;
(6) Take over or radically change health insurance and health care;
(7) Tax private industry for using carbon-based energy;
(8) Reward illegal immigrants by granting amnesty; and
(9) Increase taxes on small business and wealthy Americans (those that provide jobs).
Where is the Legislation to help the 14.5 million unemployed? Don’t see it!
So, what will help create jobs?
(1) Stop spending money we don’t have;
(2) Make the Bush tax cuts permanent;
(3) Make further tax cuts for workers and small businesses;
(4) Make the Federal Government buy American goods and products (only).
It only makes common sense that the more Americans that are working, the more tax dollars that will be coming in. Stifle business by increasing taxes, put doubt in business owner’s minds that new regulations are coming, continue Government takeover of private industry and we will all be on welfare – including the Federal Government!
The Shell Game
The Constitution says, “All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.” This was done by drafters of the Constitution to insure that spending bills were originated by the body of Congress closest to the people they represented.
However, since we have a lot of lawyers in the Senate, they figured out that they could technically violate this principal by amending HR 1424, a bill already passed by the House but not for that purpose. The Senate version of the bailout package is technically an amendment to a House bill that would require group health insurance plans to provide equivalence, or parity, in the coverage of mental and physical illnesses – HR 1424. In affect, the Senate used HR 1424 as a shell for a different purpose than what it was intended.
The other thing the Senate does is to incorporate earmarks, amendments, riders, and add-ons to House-approved legislation. Many of these changes have no relationship to the actual legislation being considered. In recent years both Houses of Congress have come up with a new strategy – make the bills so big and so complicated that unless you have a few weeks, a team of lawyers, access to every piece of legislation ever written, and a strong desire; it is impossible to determine what exactly the bill will do or not do. In addition, put in contradictions that override each other in certain cases.
THIS IS A DISGRACE!
So, what can we, The American People, do about it?
We must get our elected officials to act! What is needed is a new piece of Legislation to simplify the text of Congressional legislation so that average Americans are able to thoroughly understand exactly the intent of Congress in passing these Bills and Resolutions and to disallow earmarks, amendments, riders, and/or add-ons that have no logical relationship to the Act. The Act should be called the `Simplification of Legislation Act'. Any Legislation written after the passage of this bill must be easy to read and comprehend by:
(1) Ensuring that “legal-ease” be removed and replaced with simple to understand terms and concepts; (2) Allowing no earmarks, amendments, riders, and/or add-ons that are not directly related to the intent of the original Legislation; (3) All Legislation must be released to Legislators with adequate time to be properly read and analyzed, provide input back to their constituents and receive feedback; and (4) All legislation must provide the original source of the draft and what groups or persons outside of Congress provided input.
(2) All Legislation (with final markup) will be made available to the public a minimum of ten working days prior to scheduled final vote.
(3) No Legislation will be allowed for Floor vote without meeting those conditions stated in this bill.
(4) The Congress may waive these provisions only in the case of a National Emergency, where an immediate response is the only logical course of action.
(5) Additional Conditions – Failure of a Legislator to read Legislation prior to a Floor vote may be interpreted as non-performance of his or her duties to their respective constituents and may be used as grounds for recall.
I urge you to meet or correspond with your elected Representative and get him or her to make a commitment to get this legislation introduced and passed. If they won’t, find someone else that will and vote for them.
Inaction is not an option!
However, since we have a lot of lawyers in the Senate, they figured out that they could technically violate this principal by amending HR 1424, a bill already passed by the House but not for that purpose. The Senate version of the bailout package is technically an amendment to a House bill that would require group health insurance plans to provide equivalence, or parity, in the coverage of mental and physical illnesses – HR 1424. In affect, the Senate used HR 1424 as a shell for a different purpose than what it was intended.
The other thing the Senate does is to incorporate earmarks, amendments, riders, and add-ons to House-approved legislation. Many of these changes have no relationship to the actual legislation being considered. In recent years both Houses of Congress have come up with a new strategy – make the bills so big and so complicated that unless you have a few weeks, a team of lawyers, access to every piece of legislation ever written, and a strong desire; it is impossible to determine what exactly the bill will do or not do. In addition, put in contradictions that override each other in certain cases.
THIS IS A DISGRACE!
So, what can we, The American People, do about it?
We must get our elected officials to act! What is needed is a new piece of Legislation to simplify the text of Congressional legislation so that average Americans are able to thoroughly understand exactly the intent of Congress in passing these Bills and Resolutions and to disallow earmarks, amendments, riders, and/or add-ons that have no logical relationship to the Act. The Act should be called the `Simplification of Legislation Act'. Any Legislation written after the passage of this bill must be easy to read and comprehend by:
(1) Ensuring that “legal-ease” be removed and replaced with simple to understand terms and concepts; (2) Allowing no earmarks, amendments, riders, and/or add-ons that are not directly related to the intent of the original Legislation; (3) All Legislation must be released to Legislators with adequate time to be properly read and analyzed, provide input back to their constituents and receive feedback; and (4) All legislation must provide the original source of the draft and what groups or persons outside of Congress provided input.
(2) All Legislation (with final markup) will be made available to the public a minimum of ten working days prior to scheduled final vote.
(3) No Legislation will be allowed for Floor vote without meeting those conditions stated in this bill.
(4) The Congress may waive these provisions only in the case of a National Emergency, where an immediate response is the only logical course of action.
(5) Additional Conditions – Failure of a Legislator to read Legislation prior to a Floor vote may be interpreted as non-performance of his or her duties to their respective constituents and may be used as grounds for recall.
I urge you to meet or correspond with your elected Representative and get him or her to make a commitment to get this legislation introduced and passed. If they won’t, find someone else that will and vote for them.
Inaction is not an option!
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