My idea of a free Republic

Since every law passed affects every single citizen, we should all be able to decide on whether we want it or not.

TONI H

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy.

We may be there now.

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public?s money.

? Alexis de Tocqueville

Look at the problems of getting a few hundred people ( H of R and Senate) to agree and pass a law, multiply that by hundreds of thousands ALL with their OWN interest at heart....


Weekly plebiscites?

would be non-existant because the only cost would be to have the voting booths set up once or twice a year with electoral board reps there to do the counting and reporting to the reps in DC to then vot according to OUR wishes and not theirs. There would only be TWO choices on the ballots....FOR or AGAINST so the hundreds of thousands would not have other amendments or changes be added in that vote. Up or down...black and white.

TONI H

Do you think the Founders anticipated ACORN style ballot box stuffing??

has been coming DIRECTLY from those Reps. We couldn't do any worse than what THEY brought down the pike.

TONI H

yes you could

IF more people vote against the way you do...what would be your argument then?

Would you just take it and not mention it again?

Keep sending them back to the drawing board, nothing changes, nothing gets done, right or wrong, everything stays as it is, the country stagnates.

We could have people voting on normal legislation on a regular twice a year or once a year basis...with our PART TIME representatives in Washington DC then passing those bills on the results of OUR vote. Those part time reps could then be given authority IN EMERGENCIES ONLY to vote on items such as you stated in your post.

No bennies for those reps other than a PART TIME paycheck and they can hold down their normal FULL TIME jobs elsewhere where they could have the SAME freaking health care package that we will be looking at soon, instead of giving themselves the free ride without it like they just did by exempting themselves, their aides, and up the food chain.

TONI H

by only a handful of representatives is NOT what we need...if we are informed FULLY about laws that are being considered BEFORE the vote is taken and NOT find out about the hidden goodies, then the MAJORITY of the vote by the PEOPLE themselves should be the rule. If more voting people turn up at the polls that are opposed to what I want, I would be okay with that. If more voting people turned up at the polls that are in favor of what I want, I would be okay with that. To have only a handful of representatives representing an ENTIRE state and country ignoring MY (and others opposing or otherwise) wishes and deciding for THEMSELVES what is best for ME or us, is a farce regarding true representation.

The Constitution itself gives limited power to the FEDERAL government with the STATES having all of the power except for militarily protecting our country. I want MY Constitution back...wherein the STATE governs according to the PEOPLE within it.

TONI H

Well the truth is "they don't"

National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960?2008

Lets say 56% of the people vote.

52% vote for a certain Bill. 52% of 56% = 29% of the population

So less than 1/3 of the population is running the country.

winds up running the country in the House and Senate...BUT at least the PEOPLE would be the ones speaking instead of reps with their own agenda and ignoring the ones who actually speak. I strongly believe that MORE than 1/3 of the people would show up at the polls to vote if OUR voices were the ones that decide instead of agenda seeking elected officials. Like I said, people like my sister NEVER vote because they feel defeated before they start because they believe that no matter WHAT we have to say, the officials will do what THEY want instead of what WE want.

TONI H

A lot have quit voting because they feel it's useless, just like a lot have quite looking for work anymore which is why the real unemployment rate is over 17%, not at 9%. When you look at the way they figure unemployment rate and applied that to voters, then it would look like those not voting were a smaller percentage. Funny how they apply funny math (lying math) depending on the situation.

set up a system amongst the citizens

Pick 1/2 of the members now serving and turf them out in Nov 2010 election. (no matter how they vote or party)

Nov 2012 election turf the other half out. (no matter how they vote or party)

Replace half each election. (no matter how they vote or party)

That will prevent them from making a career out of politics.

That will get their attention.

But the problem with this system is, they'll grab everything they can in their 1 term of service.

CONGRESSIONAL REFORM ACT OF 2010

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives
no pay when they are out of office.3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the
Social Security system immediately.
All future funds flow into the Social Security system,
Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

5. Congress will no longer vote them a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates
in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws imposed on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with congressmen ?
congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

SERVING IN CONGRESS IS AN HONOR, NOT A CAREER!
THE FOUNDING FATHERS ENVISIONED CITIZEN LEGISLATORS WOULD SERVE THEIR TERM(S), THEN GO
HOME AND BACK TO WORK.