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How Would You Change Washington DC?

PreachTony

Active Member
I've given it some thought, and if I had the chance, here are some things I would do to change the American political system.

A 6-year term limit for all elected officials.
As it stands now, the President may serve for only 8 years (10 years in cases of assassination), but a Senator or Representative can serve indefinitely. The longer a Senator or Representative maintains an office, the greater the possibility for corruption to grow. By limiting every position in government to one 6-year term, the amount of time for corruption to grow is drastically reduced, and hopefully eliminated.

Once you serve your 6 years, you’re out.
After you serve your six years, whether as President or as Representative, you’re out of government. You can’t go back. You cannot run for higher office, you cannot run for lower office. Some people I've pitched this idea to have said that you could return to Washington after being gone for a full 6 year term, but I disagree.

True Campaign Finance Reform
If you are anything like me, you’re tired of seeing candidates spend millions upon millions of dollars to get elected to a position that will at best pay $500,000 a year. If a candidate runs for a job that pays $1,000,000, that candidate may only spend $999,999.99 of their personal funds on their campaign, like a salary cap. The fact that this is not already in practice reveals the corruption rampant in Washington. How can a person spend so many millions on a campaign that will obviously pay them less, unless there are kickbacks involved somewhere? This also limits the number of ads and road signs we have to see.

Campaign Advertisement Reform
Candidates for office are allowed to run TV and radio ads, and to place road signs along certain roads. I would love to see a law that says all campaign signs must be taken up within one week after the election. Any sign left out after that time is subject to an automatic $250 fine, with additions of $100 per week for every week the sign remains out. All money collected goes into a statewide fund to repairing infrastructure.

No more lifetime appointments.
No official in Washington should ever be allowed a lifetime appointment. I'm looking at you, Supreme Court...

Repeal the 17th Amendment.
Our nation was assembled as a Union of States. Up until the ratification of the 17th Amendment, the state governments elected Senators and the general populace elected the members of the House of Representatives. Simply put: both the people and the states had representation in Washington. Since the 17th Amendment was ratified, however, the states have had no representation. Repealing the 17th Amendment would be a return to the foundation set up by those who wrote the Constitution and framed our government, as it would once again empower the states.

Review the Powers granted by the 10th Amendment.
Government is restrained by the Constitution, not empowered by it. The original design of our Constitutional Republic was elegant in its simplicity. Any power not delegated to the Federal level of government fell under the jurisdiction of the State Governments. Slowly, but steadily, over the last two hundred years, and more prominently in the last seventy years, the powers granted to the States have been whittled away and replaced with more power at the Federal level. Reviewing the 10th Amendment would drastically shift power in this country back to where the founders intended.

End Federal Withholding.
An added caveat, but a necessary one. There are two basic schools of thought pertaining to the government’s involvement in the economy. One group thinks that the government spurns the economy; the other group believes that the individual spurns the economy. During the Great Depression and entering WWII, President FDR decided that, in order to further the efforts of our nation to rebound, he would institute federal withholding to get money into government sooner. The belief was the federal withholding would end after the war, but FDR died in office, and his program lives on. One thing stopping the American economy from rebounding is the simple truth that individuals do not have enough money in their pockets. The solution doesn’t come solely from tax cuts, but from the end of federal withholding. Give the money back to the people who earned it.

Debate Structure.
One debate. One evening. Town hall style debate. Presidential candidates as well as Vice Presidential candidates would be on hand for the event. Allow the major national networks to bid for the rights to carry the debate.
 
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Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
There is no way to do campaign finance reform without also silencing honest people. The down side is worse than the upside.
 

PreachTony

Active Member
There is no way to do campaign finance reform without also silencing honest people. The down side is worse than the upside.

Fair point. I realize now that I should've specified that I meant that to say the candidate can only spend that much of their personal funds. It would serve like a salary cap in sports. I'll edit the post to reflect that. Thanks for catching it, Rev.
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Fair point. I realize now that I should've specified that I meant that to say the candidate can only spend that much of their personal funds. It would serve like a salary cap in sports. I'll edit the post to reflect that. Thanks for catching it, Rev.

How much funding do you believe comes from personal accounts. All the other push I have seen with regards to campaign finance reform has to do with how much businesses give to candidates.
 

poncho

Well-Known Member
I'd start by striking at the root.

Abolish the Federal Reserve and IRS.
 
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righteousdude2

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I've given it some thought, and if I had the chance, here are some things I would do to change the American political system.

A 6-year term limit for all elected officials.
As it stands now, the President may serve for only 8 years (10 years in cases of assassination), but a Senator or Representative can serve indefinitely. The longer a Senator or Representative maintains an office, the greater the possibility for corruption to grow. By limiting every position in government to one 6-year term, the amount of time for corruption to grow is drastically reduced, and hopefully eliminated.

Once you serve your 6 years, you’re out.
After you serve your six years, whether as President or as Representative, you’re out of government. You can’t go back. You cannot run for higher office, you cannot run for lower office. Some people I've pitched this idea to have said that you could return to Washington after being gone for a full 6 year term, but I disagree.

True Campaign Finance Reform
If you are anything like me, you’re tired of seeing candidates spend millions upon millions of dollars to get elected to a position that will at best pay $500,000 a year. If a candidate runs for a job that pays $1,000,000, that candidate may only spend $999,999.99 of their personal funds on their campaign, like a salary cap. The fact that this is not already in practice reveals the corruption rampant in Washington. How can a person spend so many millions on a campaign that will obviously pay them less, unless there are kickbacks involved somewhere? This also limits the number of ads and road signs we have to see.

Campaign Advertisement Reform
Candidates for office are allowed to run TV and radio ads, and to place road signs along certain roads. I would love to see a law that says all campaign signs must be taken up within one week after the election. Any sign left out after that time is subject to an automatic $250 fine, with additions of $100 per week for every week the sign remains out. All money collected goes into a statewide fund to repairing infrastructure.

No more lifetime appointments.
No official in Washington should ever be allowed a lifetime appointment. I'm looking at you, Supreme Court...

Repeal the 17th Amendment.
Our nation was assembled as a Union of States. Up until the ratification of the 17th Amendment, the state governments elected Senators and the general populace elected the members of the House of Representatives. Simply put: both the people and the states had representation in Washington. Since the 17th Amendment was ratified, however, the states have had no representation. Repealing the 17th Amendment would be a return to the foundation set up by those who wrote the Constitution and framed our government, as it would once again empower the states.

Review the Powers granted by the 10th Amendment.
Government is restrained by the Constitution, not empowered by it. The original design of our Constitutional Republic was elegant in its simplicity. Any power not delegated to the Federal level of government fell under the jurisdiction of the State Governments. Slowly, but steadily, over the last two hundred years, and more prominently in the last seventy years, the powers granted to the States have been whittled away and replaced with more power at the Federal level. Reviewing the 10th Amendment would drastically shift power in this country back to where the founders intended.

End Federal Withholding.
An added caveat, but a necessary one. There are two basic schools of thought pertaining to the government’s involvement in the economy. One group thinks that the government spurns the economy; the other group believes that the individual spurns the economy. During the Great Depression and entering WWII, President FDR decided that, in order to further the efforts of our nation to rebound, he would institute federal withholding to get money into government sooner. The belief was the federal withholding would end after the war, but FDR died in office, and his program lives on. One thing stopping the American economy from rebounding is the simple truth that individuals do not have enough money in their pockets. The solution doesn’t come solely from tax cuts, but from the end of federal withholding. Give the money back to the people who earned it.

Debate Structure.
One debate. One evening. Town hall style debate. Presidential candidates as well as Vice Presidential candidates would be on hand for the event. Allow the major national networks to bid for the rights to carry the debate.

Some great thoughts!

As for me...I'd fire them all and let new, fresh voices and minds take over. Of course you'd have to phase this in to maintain the experience of some in DC, but America needs to be rid of career politicians who have served to serve special interest and lobbyist groups.

In Cali, politicians have learned to manipulate the term limits by running for a different office. So there'd need to be rules to prohibit such games.
 
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InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'm in favor of removing campaign signs within 24 hours of the polls closing.

I'm in favor of examining the 10th amendment and deferring to its principles.

I'd be for getting rid of federal income tax withholding if there were an alternative tax plan in place, consumption tax or flat tax.

As far as the rest of the list, no thanks.
 

PreachTony

Active Member
How much funding do you believe comes from personal accounts. All the other push I have seen with regards to campaign finance reform has to do with how much businesses give to candidates.

I personally believe that all campaign financing should come from individuals. Business, special interest, etc should not be financing a campaign. The thing to remember in American politics is that we're basically at a point where campaigning is a popularity contest between a millionaire and a multi-millionaire.

Honestly, who was the last candidate running for high office that, in recent history for themselves, had to live paycheck-to-paycheck? Who was the last candidate that had to work two jobs to pay the bills?
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I personally believe that all campaign financing should come from individuals. Business, special interest, etc should not be financing a campaign. The thing to remember in American politics is that we're basically at a point where campaigning is a popularity contest between a millionaire and a multi-millionaire.

Honestly, who was the last candidate running for high office that, in recent history for themselves, had to live paycheck-to-paycheck? Who was the last candidate that had to work two jobs to pay the bills?

While I understand the sentiment I do not believe your solution fixes anything. Remember the dems tried to push this only because they believed it benefited them. Everyone has a way around this stuff. What we need is candidates that are ethical and moral and Christian.
 

PreachTony

Active Member
While I understand the sentiment I do not believe your solution fixes anything. Remember the dems tried to push this only because they believed it benefited them. Everyone has a way around this stuff. What we need is candidates that are ethical and moral and Christian.

I agree. While I don't think we should use the police power of government to legislate Christian morals (simply because it opens the door for allowing other religions to do the same), I completely agree that Christian leaders are needed.

I would never try to say that my idea is the be-all-end-all solution. Compromise is required by both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful change.
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I agree. While I don't think we should use the police power of government to legislate Christian morals (simply because it opens the door for allowing other religions to do the same), I completely agree that Christian leaders are needed.

I would never try to say that my idea is the be-all-end-all solution. Compromise is required by both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful change.

The only other thing in your list I would have a different view on is the number of debates. I do admit that what typically goes on is overwhelming. Remember that originally in the old days they had to travel around the country and debates were over and over again. Now we have media they did not, but even then not everyone can schedule their time for one single debate.

Also it is difficult to cover all the issues needed to be discussed in one single debate in just one and one half hour on tv.
 

blessedwife318

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
First of all I would impose a 12 year limit on Federal office that can be used in any way but after 12 years you are done. So if you want to do 2 Senate terms great, or if you want to do 2 terms in the house then run for President go for it.

I would do away with the IRS and just have a national Sales tax instead of Federal Income Tax.

No running for an office until you have completed your term in the current office. If you are elected to the Senate you serve your full 6 years before running for a different office.

Put the 10th amendment back in its proper place, giving States the Rights they are due in the Constitution.
 

PreachTony

Active Member
The only other thing in your list I would have a different view on is the number of debates. I do admit that what typically goes on is overwhelming. Remember that originally in the old days they had to travel around the country and debates were over and over again. Now we have media they did not, but even then not everyone can schedule their time for one single debate.

Also it is difficult to cover all the issues needed to be discussed in one single debate in just one and one half hour on tv.

The debate one, Rev, is the absolutely most facetious one on there, and it's mostly because I'm so tired of the ads and everything.

I'm kinda surprised no one else has mentioned anything about the idea of repealing the 17th Amendment.
 

Zaac

Well-Known Member
I'd start by strategically setting explosives to let the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Rock Creek flood inside the beltway running every Senator and Congressman back to their home districts to live and work.:smilewinkgrin:
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'm kinda surprised no one else has mentioned anything about the idea of repealing the 17th Amendment.

Probably because people like the idea of voting for their Senator. Also, if it were left to the state legislatures there is a real possibility of a tie vote or even the selling of votes. Another factor is the inability to remove a bad or corrupt senator. So long as the state legislature was controlled by the same party as the senator, he could remain senator for a long time. The state legislators would only need to align with the senators political party every 6th year. Think of the horse trading, favoritism, and graft that would occur in those years.
 
I'd start by striking at the root.

Abolish the Federal Reserve and IRS.

This would be a good start, but really, as messed up as the entire federal government is, it needs a complete reboot. Something as damaged as our federal government is beyond reform.
 

poncho

Well-Known Member
This would be a good start, but really, as messed up as the entire federal government is, it needs a complete reboot. Something as damaged as our federal government is beyond reform.

Nothing will ever change until we take the money powers and their enforcers out of the equation. As it is now the government and the American people have becomes debt slaves to a "small group of dominant men."

"I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." Woodrow Wilson

Sure we can tinker around the edges till the cows come home but as long as the money powers are allowed to keep the democratic party in their left pocket and the republican party in their right pocket it will all be for nothing.
 
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PreachTony

Active Member
Probably because people like the idea of voting for their Senator.

I get that people like voting for their Senator, but they were never supposed to.

The Senate was created to represent the State Governments while the House was created to represent the people. Once the 17th Amendment took effect the state government were, in essence as well as fact, stripped of representation at the national level. Without state governments represented in Washington, there really is no reason to have state governments at all. Just eliminate the state bodies, erase state borders, and place the entire nation under the umbrella of the federal government.

Also, if it were left to the state legislatures there is a real possibility of a tie vote or even the selling of votes. Another factor is the inability to remove a bad or corrupt senator. So long as the state legislature was controlled by the same party as the senator, he could remain senator for a long time. The state legislators would only need to align with the senators political party every 6th year. Think of the horse trading, favoritism, and graft that would occur in those years.

Instituting term limits would place at least a type of restriction on the corruption. Basically any political system devised by mankind is going to suffer corruption. It takes a strong will and resolve to try to limit that corruption as much as possible.
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The Senate was created to represent the State Governments while the House was created to represent the people. Once the 17th Amendment took effect the state government were, in essence as well as fact, stripped of representation at the national level.

Members of the US Congress represent their states at the national level. They fight for money and appropriations for their state. Could you list some areas where the states were stripped of their representation with the 17th amendment?

Without state governments represented in Washington, there really is no reason to have state governments at all. Just eliminate the state bodies, erase state borders, and place the entire nation under the umbrella of the federal government.

Again, what representation was lost when the 17th amendment was passed? If I were a sitting senator when the amendment was ratified, would I suddenly have a shift in my mission to represent my state?

Instituting term limits would place at least a type of restriction on the corruption. Basically any political system devised by mankind is going to suffer corruption. It takes a strong will and resolve to try to limit that corruption as much as possible.

Or term limits would remove an effective legislator from representing their state. Just when they learn the ropes of how things are done in D.C., or when they finally chair that important committee, an arbitrary limit forbids them from doing their job.
 
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Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator

A 6-year term limit for all elected officials.
I would agree with 8 years for the House - max of four- two years - one term of 6 years is too long

Once you serve your 6 years, you’re out.
Negative - You do not want a constant turnover. In fact that is the purpose of the Senate - that chamber is continuous as opposed to the House which starts over (in theory) every two years.

True Campaign Finance Reform
Not too excited about your proposal - something needs to be done, but not a radical change.

Campaign Advertisement Reform
Candidates really have little say over signs that are put up. Unrealistic recommendation

No more lifetime appointments.
When the Constitution was written, the average life span was less than 60, now it exceeds 70. Yes, it is time to put on a time limit. I would say 25 years.

Repeal the 17th Amendment.
agree

Review the Powers granted by the 10th Amendment.
No need to review - just abide by it.

End Federal Withholding.
End the Federal income tax. I support the Automatic Electronic Tax.

Debate Structure.
One debate is NOT enough.

One debate should be one-one - that is only the candidates ask each other questions.

One debate should be a "timed event" For example - the debate should be two hours long (with a 10 minute break) - 20 minutes scheduled for questions by moderators - the remaining 90 minutes would be equally divided - each candidate gets 45 minutes to speak. If you use up all your time on the first question - then you are finished.

One debate - strictly questions from the audience.

In fact I would like to see numerous debates.
Campaign speeches is just the same-ole~same-ole
 
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