Looking for oppinions on our US government and constitution.

[Mark L. MN]

For a couple of years now I have been contemplating the idea of a pair of constitutional amendments. As a whole our constitution is a document that covers the needs and such of this country. But unfortunately there are a few that are less then honorable. My amendments are an attempt to, shall we say, 'plug a few holes' being taken advantage, and abused.

I'm looking for opinions. Not just from here, so pass it around.

1. One bill, one law, one action. No law can be passed that has more then one action. This would basically kill 'pork' spending, because no one could add a special funding to any bill. It would prevent 'poison pill' or such actions.

2. Definition of a person as covered by the US bill of rights, as being a living person and not a legal construct. And that no business or legal entity shall have any rights that exceed or supersede those rights of a person.

[harryn]

I understand where you are coming from on this - I used to think these were good ideas as well.

Over time I learned that nothing ever gets done anywhere without a trade, and the more people involved, the more trades need to get done. With 100 senators and 435 congressmen, that is a lot of trades. If I were in congress, do you really think I would trust the rest of congress to go along and vote for something "now" in hopes that they would vote for what we agreed to do in the "future". Not likely.

One could make a point that if there were only 125 or so vs 535, the problems would go down by the same amount - about 4x. I am long past the idea that reasonable citizens are listened to, so having a lot of representatives vs few is just an economic decision to me.

Adding to this complexity, is the short cycle time of the congressional election cycle. Every 2 years the reps need to raise enough special interest money to be re-elected. One could make an argument that if the election cycle were 6 years, the problems would be reduced by almost 3X.

Taken together, this would imply that having just one house of congress with 2 reps for "small" states, and 3 for "large" states, would reduce the problems by 12X. Not likely to happen though.

Personally, I would ban dual citizenship for anyone 18 or older. At 18, you are old enough to decide if you are "Really an American or not". That doesn't mean throw people out, as you could still provide people born as dual citizenship "resident alien / green card" status instead. It would reduce some strange behavior people have though.

Perhaps you can give some examples of what you are trying to solve with #2 though - lost me a bit on that one.

Harry

[Mark L. MN]

Okay, I can see some what your reasoning on the first item. But it would be a major stoppage of the excessive amount of corruption in our government in getting a law passed.

As for the second amendment. In the last 30 some years, many legal entities, such a trade groups, business and the like have through legal trickery gained rights that exceed those of a person. A perfect example is a case where a 3 year old boy died because of some E-coli tainted meat. The mother wants to have some action taken. Including letting the public know about it. But a beef producers trade group has a court order preventing her from saying anything that would affect their profits. The well being and the rights of even a single person should not be super seeded by some ones profit. If a business or a group is doing some thing, any person should have the right to say some thing about them.

The rights of the people must always be placed above the rights of a business, or any legal 'entity'.

[vidio1]

Sounds like a plan to me......It has always annoyed me that nothing can be passed without playing a tit for tat game. Eliminate that and it would go a LONG way towards minimizing corruption.

I'm kind of lost on the 2nd proposal too. I understand what you were saying, but wasn't aware it was a frequent issue.

I feel corruption is the single biggest problem we face with our current Politicians. There are too many loop holes that have been jumped through and too much 'back scratching" going on.

@harryn You bring up some very good points, and those points most likely reflect current political practice that most Americans accept as the norm. That said I sounds like you also realize the corruption is there and have accepted it........

Part of the problem I believe is Politicians in general have conducted this practice for sooo long we as obedient, tax paying Americans just roll over and except it, feeling powerless to do otherwise.

Special interest group.......might as well be called Politician bribery source. How in the world did that even become legal????? Probably because the ones with their hands out are the ones making the laws.

I know it's not currently practical, but I'd like to see term limits for ALL politicians in addition to these amendments. I think this would also go a long way toward minimizing pay-offs from special interest groups, or make it happen so often it would reduce the payment amounts to the point the Politician in question might decide he still works for the American public.

OK I'll get off my soap box now.....

[Mark L. MN]

Pass it around. The more people that are aware and thinking about my to amendments the better chance there is that it will happen. Talk to every one you can, get them thinking. It is their choice to do nothing and suffer the consequences, or take action and be a citizen!

Something I have dreamed of saying to ever person of this, hang it, every nation on this planet: SO VOTE. MAKE YOUR CHOICE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE, THEN SOME ONE ELSE WILL MAKE THOSE CHOICES FOR YOU. SO VOTE, OR HAND OVER YOUR WALLET, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR MONEY, SOME ONE ELSE WILL. SO VOTE, OR HAND OVER YOUR HOME, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR HOME, SOME ONE ELSE WILL MAKE THAT CHOICE FOR YOU. SO VOTE, OR HAND OVER YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES FUTURE SOME ONE ELSE WILL MAKE IT FOR YOU. SO VOTE, OR HAND EVERYTHING OVER AND SHUT UP. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR NATION, THEN DON'T COMPLAIN.

[Joe S.]

Originally Posted by Mark L. MN For a couple of years now I have been contemplating the idea of a pair of constitutional amendments. As a whole our constitution is a document that covers the needs and such of this country. But unfortunately there are a few that are less then honorable. My amendments are an attempt to, shall we say, 'plug a few holes' being taken advantage, and abused. I'm looking for opinions. Not just from here, so pass it around. 1. One bill, one law, one action. No law can be passed that has more then one action. This would basically kill 'pork' spending, because no one could add a special funding to any bill. It would prevent 'poison pill' or such actions. 2. Definition of a person as covered by the US bill of rights, as being a living person and not a legal construct. And that no business or legal entity shall have any rights that exceed or supersede those rights of a person.

I like those ideas, I wish the federal system also had an citizen initiative system, and absolute term limits for elected officials, say 8 years total in all of a person's government service (Elected not civil service).

[tlagnhoj]

Originally Posted by Joe S. I like those ideas, I wish the federal system also had an citizen initiative system, and absolute term limits for elected officials, say 8 years total in all of a person's government service (Elected not civil service).

The federal system DOES have a citizen initiative system... It's called elections!

Term limits? Impose them through the ballot box!

The problem is not that we need 2 more constitutional amendments. The problem is that WE ( you know We The People) need to take control. Vote the bums out!

But since we know that the vast majority of the population of this country will not cross parties to vote anyone out of office, my advice is to hold on tight and wait for the train wreck we all know is coming. Or you could prove me wrong and join me and others by voting for ANYONE else.

Just a thought.

I also recommend that everyone actually read the constitution. You may be amazed to find what is in there... and what is NOT!