We the People of the United States of America are tired of our elected officials

Two hundred thrity two years ago, people fed up with the tyranny and injustice of a government far, far away, declared their independence from those who thought themselves superior.  Our forefathers envisioned honest and well intentioned people answering the call to public SERVICE of their fellow man (and woman).  

I find it interesting, ushistory.org's website version of our country's Declaration of Independence is subtitled "The Want, Will and Hopes of the People.

Thomas Jefferson wrote to the government back in England:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them  with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The hubris of our elected officials today mirror those of King George III.

Jefferson continues:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We each have individual control over our success or failure we have equal opportunity.  Our destiny is not predetermined.  We are not subject to a cast system. We aren't forced to live in squalor, we aren't forced to be dependent.  What we do with our lives is our choice.  Where we end up at the end of the day is the result of the choices we make on a daily basis.  Our government is required to acknowledge that basic right of man (and woman) and allow us to achieve all we are capable of doing.  Not using us as slaves to the government or anyone else.  The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution abolished that. The 19th amendment was the last step to ensure we were all equal in the electoral process.  We really don't need the government's help to achieve anything, the only limits we have, are those we place upon ourselves.. 


The Government Of the People, By the People and FOR the People

Our constitution gives us, We the people, the power to change our government.  Yes, we have the ability to elect officials to represent our interests in Washington.  But as we have seen through our lifetimes, Almost all end up representing their own interests.  

The founding fathers thought the most important part of our government was the representation of the people.  That is why Article 1 discusses the Legislative Branch, (Not Article II Joe Biden).  Second was the representation of our country in the world, The Executive Branch discussed in Article II.  The third part of the triumverant, was the Judicial Branch.  Congress thought the most honorable of people would aspire to be judges.  These people would look blindly upon the people involved, and look at the merits of law and the claims against it, place the facts on the scales and inform the public which way the balance shifted.  

Unfortunately, we find our more perfect union, an imperfect one.  Congress levies taxes, and spends money to benefit their own interests as well as those of their friends and family over the people they allegedly represent.  Judges tip the scales, not in favor of justice, but in favor of their own personal interests, over the best interests of the country.  And those who desire the power to be king, like George III, twist the facts, lie, deceive, and bribe us for their own personal gaines.  Eventually one will become the "Leader of the Free World".

A Frenchman, once desired to make his country better.  He'd his torn apart during the French Revolution and wanted to come to America, to learn about it's penal system and make conditions more humane for the inturned.  He came away with a deeper understanding of our country than it's life long citizens will ever have.  Alexis de Tocqueville wrote America is great because it's people believe in the equality of condition.  Rich or poor, all people face the same problems in life at the same time.  

He went on to say: “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money”.

John Jay Hooker - But there will be no justice, there will be no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as long as the government and its officials permit bribery in any form.

These are the situations we face today.  Our leaders are corrupt.  We voted out corrupt Republicans and replaced them with corrupt Democrats.  Our advocate, our watchdog, our beloved press, sits idly by twisting facts in favor of their personal views.  Often in favor or one political party over the other.  Almost always against the best interest of the people who buy it's half truths through subscription, listening, or watching the daily news.

Our Congresspeople  our supposed to be like us.  After all, they are our representatives.  We come from all walks of life, black, white, red, yellow, immigrant, native, male, female, rich, not so rich and poor.  But look at our representatives.  How many of them today drive a seven year old car with rust and balding tires?  How many of them worry about the cost of medicines or health care?  How many of them wonder if they can put a little into their retirement account this year, or will that money need to be spent on food, or clothes, or warmth?

Truth is, our representatives no longer represent us.  Most drive fancy imported cars, live in large gated homes, and send their children to private schools.  They can't be trusted to self control.  Ethics rules are violated almost every day, yet those who do only receive a slap on the wrist if even that.  Davy Crockett once called on members of congress to give a week's salary to compensate a widow, rather than send her money from the public treasury. ( http://patriotpost.us/histdocs/crockett_not_yours_to_give.asp ) His reason was, charity was the responsibility of the people, not the government.  Our government's idea of charity is lining their own pockets, not the betterment of America.

Like a modern day Paul Revere, We need a call to arms:
We must insist on fundamental changes in Congress, the Presidency and our Court System.  Changing the Presidency is easy.  We must elect a chief executive who realized our system is corrupt and wants to change it.  They must have a like minded second in command to drive the issue in the Senate.  

Change the Constitution to put more controls of the people over the actions and benefits of Congress.  Therefore, we must adopt the following proposed constitutional amendments:

1. Congressional Compensation - No representative of congress shall receive medical, retirement, or social security or other benefits that exceed those received by 50.1% of the population for the district they represent.  All members of congress shall be subject to the same base pay upon initial date of service.  Increases in compensation for service to a district shall be put to public vote in their districts.
2. Campaign Finance Reform - All remaining funds raised by candidates after an election cycle must be turned over to the government as part of the general revenue fund.  All funds used to cover personal expenses by candidates shall be subject to income tax. 
   
3. Ethics - No member of congress shall be permitted to receive campaign contributions from any organization directly or indirectly affected by committee or subcommittee membership.  If a member of congress has received compensation from a group prior to a committee membership, an amount equal to all monies donated by those groups now affected, shall be made available to the general revenue fund of the federal government.  All travel paid for by lobbyists shall be given a real value and the congressional member taxed for the value of said travel.  
4. Term Limits - No Member of the house may serve more than a total of five terms.  No member of the senate may serve more than a total of two (or three) terms.  (This ensures continuity, yet prevents any one member of the legislature from gaining too much power and influence over other members of Congress)

Getting these changes to our constitution will be difficult.  Three Quarters of the State Legislatures and two thirds of congress must pass these amendments.  Congress has demonstrated their lack of desire to self regulate.  If a member of Congress does not support our petition, then we the people have the right to start recall proceedures directed towards that representative.  


We must act.  Inactivity on our part implies we agree with the actions of our elected officials.  If that is so, then we are just as culpable in the mess our Government has created, and we deserve the situation we are currently enduring.  We must perfect, this more perfect union.  Ensure equal justice for all, restore domestic tranquility, and reestablish the blessings of liberty.