Just 3 things... and the government is ours again!

[Hangtime]

1. Term Limits for Congress and the Senate.

2. The quest for Public Office means your private finances are Public Record.

3. Burn the Tax Code. Percentage Flat Tax for ALL. Corporate and Private sector.

It's a start....

[Sandman]

I like 2 and 3.

For 1, I'd rather see campaign finance reform than a term limit.

[Tarmac]

yup, publicly financed campaigns.  I rarely advocate raising taxes, but the numbers I've seen say that we could buy back our government from the special interests for $6 per taxpayer.

[Simaril]

I'm in on all 3.

Publically financed campaigns woudlnt solve anything, since the supremes have ruled that financial contributions are an expression of free speech. Very hard to get around that, as the current rules (and all their loopholes) show.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Sandman
I like 2 and 3.

For 1, I'd rather see campaign finance reform than a term limit.

agreed...all that term limits do is encourage and reward voter apethy.


ack-ack

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
agreed...all that term limits do is encourage and reward voter apethy.

ack-ack

It also assumes that we the People are too stupid to recognize corruption when we see it. If the elected representative truly does represent the will of his constituency, I see no need to put a time limit on it. An effective representative shouldn't be tossed aside simply because their time is up.

[Hangtime]

an 'effective representative' and a 'political fat cat' are one and the same right now.

How to get them off the gravy train?

Term limits.

If he's an effective, dedicated and honest legislator he'll step aside when his terms are up and campaigin for the man he thinks would be best for the position to replace him.

EDIT: Sandy, professional politicians like Ted Kennedy MUST be levered outta Washington. For far too long, dynastic Senators, elected by a tiny percentage of the national population have had far too much influence via committie chairmanships and the like on national issues. They have got to go!

[Simaril]

Originally posted by Sandman
It also assumes that we the People are too stupid to recognize corruption when we see it. If the elected representative truly does represent the will of his constituency, I see no need to put a time limit on it. An effective representative shouldn't be tossed aside simply because their time is up.

You're exactly right...IF the "we the people" are doing their job.

Experience shows, though, that the majority of even those few who DO vote dont look at their responsibility that way. Most voters are easily swayed by name recognition or vague impressions, which makes the power of incumbancy and familiarity overwhelming. Voters often fail to eject even the most flagrantly worthless candidates. (Can you say, "Marion Barry"?)

[Ripsnort]

You can do something about Term Limits:
http://www.citizencongress.org/

[Tarmac]

Originally posted by Simaril
I'm in on all 3.

Publically financed campaigns woudlnt solve anything, since the supremes have ruled that financial contributions are an expression of free speech. Very hard to get around that, as the current rules (and all their loopholes) show.

I've never understood that decision.  The way the public financing proposals get around that is to make acceptance of public financing voluntary.  Basically, you agree not to take other money but get your campaign paid for up to a certain (competitive) amount.  

http://www.publicampaign.org/

[Skuzzy]

I do not favor term limits.  It encourages even shorter term thinking.  And short term thinking has, and will, continue to cause a significant number of problems.

I want to see something which makes these clowns accountable.

Here is something radical (forgive me, I am thinking as I am typing).  If they make 10 campaign promises and do not keep any of them, they cannot run again.  As a matter of fact, force them to make promises.  You want to run, give us your platform and what you plan to do if you win.  You fail to accomplish X percentage of your goals (it would be unreasonable to ask for 100%), and you are out, for good.
If you violate any of your goals (voting the other way), then you are immediately ejected.  If you fail to attend a voting session, you are out, unless you can prove it was some type of family emergency (and traveling to the Caymans to check on your bank account is not an emergency).

As a whole, if they fail to do thier jobs, they have to accept a 10% pay cut each year.  This is for all politicians, from the President down.  They make thier goals, they get a raise.  Put the money where thier mouths are.

[Mini D]

I'd add a 4th:

Any bill brought before congress can only have one item on it.

[Yeager]

term limits and a percentage cap on income during term should have been written into the consitution.  It was, in my opinion, the greed of the framers of the constitution that have left us with this farce of a government.

As soon as people realized they could gain great wealth by serving public office the die for failure was cast.  Our representatives will never voluntarilly cede their conduit to generation of personal gain and they will always without exception, serve themselves before they serve us.  It is simple human nature and the framers completely dropped the ball on us all.

[FUNKED1]

4.  Nuke DC

[lasersailor184]

I agree with Funked.