Ask almost anyone and they will tell you the federal government is moving way too fast these days and with the wrong issues.  High unemployment, bank and state bail outs, the government's takeover of two thirds of this country's automotive manufacturing and the almost force feeding of federal government mandated health care are only a few of the problems.  The make up of the highest court is about to be changed as well. 

According to the (some would prefix with the word "Outdated") United States Constitution, the President of the United States may appoint advisors "...and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for..."   This President has appointed more than 21 Tsars to oversee everything from Automobiles, to T.A.R.P. without notifying the Senate.  Some will argue a Tsar does not need to be confirmed by the Senate since they are just "advisors".  And the president has the right to advisors, but these Tsars are actually making policy decisions.  That is a violation of the "Advice and Consent" clause, yet the Senate has remained almost entirely quiet. 

(A little boring history here) There was no established standard for electing Senators.  The founders thought the states would be best able to determine an appropriate method based upon each state's situation.  But, allegations of corruption and arguments over the selection process, and one state not electing Senators for two years, created a cry for a standardized election process.  By 1912, 29 states had adopted the "Oregon System" of electing Senators:  The people elected candidates similar to a primary election system, then the state legislatures appointed the Senator from the remaining candidates. 

But the 1912 Senate investigation of bribery and corruption in the election of Illinois Senator William Lorimer indicated that only a constitutional amendment mandating the direct election of Senators by a state’s citizenry would allay public demands for reform.  On April 8, 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment was adopted, upon its ratification by Connecticut.  Louisiana ratified the amendment two months later. The tie that bound a Senator to his state's government, was forever cut.

In a May 12th 2004 article, Bruce Bartlett wrote:  Full article here ==>> http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.p?ref=/nrof_bartlett/bartlett200405120748.asp

Few people today know that the Founding Fathers never intended for senators to be popularly elected. The Constitution originally provided that senators would be chosen by state legislatures. The purpose was to provide the states — as states — an institutional role in the federal government. In effect, senators were to function as ambassadors from the states, which were expected to retain a large degree of sovereignty even after ratification of the Constitution, thereby ensuring that their rights would be protected in a federal system.

The State of Florida is in a unique position.  It is one of 11 states that did not ratify the 17th amendment.   (Utah outright rejected it)  Florida has one Senator who prefers the party line over the state's needs.  He is attractive, an eloquent speaker, and a master wordsmith.  One who could get you confused over the meaning of the word "Is"

Recent debate in the Florida State Legislature included the subject of allowing off-shore drilling within its territorial waters.  Senator Bill Nelson has already stated publicly he will oppose this course of action.  He has also stated his opposition to several other initiatives of our great state.  If he is supposed to represent the State of Florida, and the State of Florida is in favor of drilling, then his views, and therefore his vote, will be opposed to the will of the state he is supposed to represent. 

The Governor of Florida must call a special session of the State Legislature to reject, as the state of Utah did, the 17th amendment to the United States Constitution because it usurps state's rights under the U.S. Constitution as guaranteed by the 10th Amendment. At the same time, send a letter demanding its Senatorial representatives appear before the state's government. The state legislature must demand its United States Senators vote on national issues in accordance with its views of the issues or face the equivalent of impeachment.  17 permits the direct election of Senators, but does not prohibit the state legislatures from recalling them, or telling them what to do.

These moves would be largely symbolic, but would make a point and gain national attention. 

Conneticut is another state that didn't ratify 17.  It's state legislature should investigate one of its Senators for corruption charges by taking sweetheart banking deals. It could attempt to push the state's rights clause, but Judge Sotomayor would probably rule against any attempts to impeach a Senator. 

There is no federal law prohibiting the states from passing laws requiring its Senators to vote its way on national issues.  There is also no federal law prohibiting the states from enacting term limits on its Senators.  These two points can create a slippery slope, but right now, anything is better than 17. We have enough problems with members of the House of Representatives being purchased by special interests during the election process.  Take that representative, and turn them into a super representative that is away from home three times as long, and you have a recipe for corruption stew. The Constitution states that 2/3rds of the members of the Senate may expel a member.  I believe that is to enable them to expel a member against the wishes of the state.  Since 17 relieved Senators of their ties to the state legislatures, The states should still be able to impeach it's Senators for what it considers to be misconduct. 

If the state government of Nevada had a say on the actions of its Senators, we would not have a stimulus bill riddled with pork and payments to special interests. (By the Way, appropriations bills are supposed to originate in the House of Representatives, not the Senate)   If the states had more of a say in Federal issues, states wouldn't have been forced to take federal money and give up their right to self determination.  If Senators had more accountability, we would not be on the brink of decimating a health care system in favor of a system like Canada or England, where people have to wait months for treatment of simple ailments, or die awaiting treatment for more serious issues that today we can treat in days instead of months. If the federal government were forced to listen to the solutions at the local level, our country would not be so dependent upon foreign oil. If the states and the people, rather than the Republicans and Democrats controlled the national debate, we wouldn't have state parks, private companies and institutions being threatened with takeover by the federal government, or family businesses forced to close. 

‘All the powers of government result to the legislative body. The concentrating these in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government... 173 despots would surely be as oppressive as one.’

 Thomas DiLorenzo, author of The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War, wrote:

The Seventeenth Amendment was one of the last nails to be pounded into the coffin of federalism in America.

Just after retiring, Senator Zell Miller of Georgia said:

''Direct elections of senators, as good as that sounds, allowed Washington's special interests to call the shots, whether it's filling judicial vacancies or issuing regulations,''

"That a representative owes the People not only his industry, but his judgment, and he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion."

The current system needs to change.

The Oregon system was good enough for 29 of 47 states at the time, yet it does not seem it was ever considered as an alternative to the solution that was finally adopted. 

Modify the Oregon Plan for Senators.  The state legislatures, during their regular session, nominate up to (say) eight candidates for consideration as Senator. The citizens of that state vote in a preliminary election to narrow the field to two or three candidates, then the legislature elects the Senator.  A weighting system could be used for bi-cameral state legislatures.  If a Senator is charged with misconduct, state legislatures should be permitted hold investigations, and then proceed with impeachment proceedings the same way the United States Congress can impeach judges or the President. 

We need change in our government.  When special interests have a louder voice than the people who put them in office, nobody's interest is served.  The corruption and payoffs with the public's money makes the goings on at Tammany Hall look like pre-school, and Boss Tweed look like the schoolyard bully.  It's time for real change, instead of a campaign slogan.

As I look around at everything going on today, I'm beginning to think the real problem with America today is Viagra.  That quick fix little pill that encourages inflation, reinforces self importance, and has little other purpose than giving it's user the ability to screw the closest thing to him.  Medical studies have shown, by the way, it reduces fertility, so it's really counter productive.  (Kind of like the government.) Viagra's and Cialis's only purpose is to serve the pleasure of its consumer.  When I was in my late teens, my mother used to refer to others my age as the "Me Generation".  I made sure on no uncertain terms I was offended by that statement.  But today, I understand what she meant, it wasn't necessarily me she was talking about, but referring to others my age. 

Do something as simple as walking through the door at your local mall.  More times than not, you'll find yourself opening the door, only to have someone pushing their way through from the other side.  It wouldn't be half bad if the other party said "Thank you" or otherwise acknowledged something was done for them.  (Last time I checked malls had double doors.  I don't see many people who would fill up the entire six foot opening, but some will try)  There was a time when we were a bit more self sufficient.  We'd open our own doors.  

I had my nephew visiting with us for two weeks one summer.  I had work to do around the outside of the house.  While I toiled in the heat, my nephew sat in air conditioning comfort watching TV.  When I was his age, I'd be out there with my uncle getting things done.  If I helped, it meant we had time to do other things, like take in a ball game, go fishing or such.  It also meant I had earned my keep.  One day recently I witnessed my neighbor's daughter raiding mom's purse for cash.  When confronted, she said her friends were heading to the movies and she wanted to go as well.  It didn't matter that she had just received a sizable allowance just the day before.  The young girl siad she was trying to save her own money.  I've watched other neighbors sweat it out in the South Florida heat, while their kids stay inside and play video games or watch TV.  

Ever get caught in a long line trying to exit the freeway?  How many times do you witness someone flying past the stopped cars, only to wedge themselves in at the last minute? 

I read a story yesterday where a man ran over a NY cop just to get out of a ticket over a parking space.  (Story here ==>>.  Man Runs Down Cop to Avoid Parking Ticket

Every year we prep for storm season down here in South Florida.  My wife and I start stocking up on bottled water, canned goods, batteries and gasoline. I have to check the storm shutters and their bolts to make sure everything is in working order.  We have a check list we break out and post on the refrigerator.  Storm related shopping lists move to the garage door from the refrigerator so we don't forget to pick up this necessity or that.  Business trips are scheduled with flexibility.  Vendors, Clients and Co-workers are informed when situations arise that may create modifications in plans.  I get the generator out, fill it's tires with air so I can move it easily and make sure it will start.  I change the oil and flush the fuel lines each year and do whatever else I need to keep it working. I inspect the extension cords for damage, and clear the area of brush where the generator is always setup. Yet every year, you'll see people somewhere crying the government didn't have water, food or other supplies for them.  Ever look closely at some of the cars in those free bee distribution lines?  You seldom see a news story about people who prepared for the worst and were ready when the storm hit.  When you do see the people who prepared, they are usually cast as evil people who don't help others.  Tell that to my neighbors when I ran extension cords to their houses so they wouldn't loose the food in their refrigerators.  One of my neighbors overloaded my generator by trying to run half their house from it.  They then yelled at me for refusing them help after the next storm.  I'm surprised the government hasn't stopped by and confiscated part of  our stockpile in the name of some local tax or fee. 

When I was young, we participated in scouting.  We didn't need the government telling us to clean up after ourselves.  We knew if we didn't take care of the outdoors, we wouldn't want to go back in the future.  We went to church almost every Sunday.  We were taught it was our responsibility to serve a higher purpose than our own.  We weren't expected to be perfect, nor expect those of us around us to be flawless either.  We would make mistakes.  It was part of  being human.  When the kids struck out on their own, my parents built houses for habitat for humanity.  They loved it so much, when they retired they bought an RV and traveled the country helping others.  When mom was dying, we all came and worked in the community she and dad were helping build.  Mom made sure we all used her hammer, a gentle reminder we were all here to serve more than just ourselves.  In retrospect, she was reminding us we are our parents most important legacy and our children are ours.  At some point we need to look at ourselves and ask if we honor our parents (or grandparents with our actions, the see if our children will honor us, long after we are gone..

There isn't a magic blue pill our country can take to make things better.  This weekend we honor the lives of the greatest generation, who gave literally, all they could in the name of freedom and making life better. And today, almost all of them are gone.  Now, too many people are only focused only on themselves to really make this a better better country.  (There are more than you can imagine that put themselves in front of their children) They want the rest of us as well as the government to do everything for them.  But the government can't be everything every individual wants it to be.  That's impossible.  But it does seem like the ruling class are trying to do just that.  .  I believe for years our government and too many people have been overdosing on Viagra and Cialis, and it's trying to make the rest of  us, the closest thing to it.

Like the popular commercial of the 70’, It’s time to make the donuts.  Time to get up and get to work.   


Henry Ford said "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently".  The bright side to our loss is we have started to discover the next generation of leaders.  We aren’t the party of tired old men. Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin and even Linda Lingle have emerged from the shadows.  The bigger question is, who is the Republican Party, and what do they stand for?

It seems as though the Democrats and the media have tried, quite successfully to define the Republican Party in the eyes of the uninformed, and we have let them get away with it.  We are environmentally conscious without being tree huggers. We don’t tell others to conserve while buying our redemption through something called an “offset”.  We don’t penalize success. We give hand ups, not hand outs.  We invest our most valuable possession, our time, in the things we care about.  We know money doesn’t solve problems, people do.

I stopped by the local Republican Party office during the election to try and get signs and bumper stickers in support of our candidates. While there I was also given a pamphlet with a simple title: I’m a Republican Because…..

The Pamphlet follows: (my comments are indented)

I'm a Republican Because......
I believe the proper function of Government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done by or as well as by the individual and the most effective government is closest to the people.

We expect when you are away from Congress, you are in your district talking to the citizens about what is happening in our government. Townhall meetings and hitting the local news radio and TV stations to keep the people informed is mandatory. From time to time, get out and walk the neighborhoods, go to the school zones and talk to parents awaiting their kids, Have brown bag lunches in a park and talk to us. Postal and E-mail newsletters are great, but we need to see your face and hear your voice.  Invest your most valuable resource in us, your time. Don’t forget to tell us what you are doing and who is abusing the system.

I believe good government is based upon the individual and each person's ability, DIGNITY, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.

Any attempts to revise give away programs that diminish an individual's desire to work will be met with strong resistance. We will do anything and everything possible to help those with additional life challenges. We also recognize life throws little hazards into the road from time to time. We will do what we need to do on a temporary basis to help people get back on their feet when knocked down.

I believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of the individual initiative and incentive

We are not the party of big business. We are the party of all businesses, big and small. But we are also for the people who work for them. We are not anti-union. The work we do does not favor one over the other, but serves the common interest of both simultaneously. In case of a tie, the people win.

I believe sound money management should be our goal

We will put a stop to earmarks that line the pockets of politicians and their friends. When those earmarks are presented on the floor of Congress, we will do everything in our power to stop them. Projects like the "Prairie Parkway" will no longer be tolerated. If these kinds of projects are presented by other members of congress, we will recuse ourselves from the debate and vote. We will not tolerate corruption in any form. We will clean our house first, where we can and must, but not in such a way to give the other political party the unchecked ability to force the people to endure policies that are fundamentally detrimental. We can call for the resignation of those such as Ted Stevens.  If they will not resign, we will not permit their soiled name to be associated with our movement.  We can start first where Republican Governors and Legislatures can protect the seat for the party.  When the next election cycle arrives, corrupt individuals will retire and we will place candidates with integrity on the ballot. As Harry Truman said, I will not allow as much as an adulterer to sit in my cabinet.  If he will lie to his family, he will lie to anyone.

I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex or national origin

We will do our best to help shatter the "glass ceiling" and other impediments both real and imagined. We will not allow our party to be affiliated with hate groups. This country's longest surviving hate group has it's roots in the other party, not ours and we will remind all the people of this at every opportunity. It may have been  John Adams who started the push for the abolishment of involuntary servitude, But it took Abraham Lincoln to make it happen. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson were both Republicans and broke the color line for professional sports. Ironically, it was the Southern Democrats who started the most notorious hate group in this country's history, yet somehow it is tied to our political party and we despise that fraudulent affiliation. It was a Democrat, George Wallace, who denied equal access to the state university system in Mississippi.

I believe we must retain those principles of the past work retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.

The conservative principles of Ronald Reagan are what renewed and revitalized our political party. Maybe our new direction is to revisit those principles espoused by the great communicator, and renew our Contract for America. When we regained control of congress, we started to do great things. But the corruptibility of power got the best of us and we lost our way. We need to get back on track.

I believe that Americans value and should preserve the feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with the people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and extension of human rights throughout the world.

We will not allow any legislation to pass through Congress that encourages fascists such as Castro, Kim Jong Ill, Hugo Chavez, who trample human rights. We have and will continue to work to help those in peril such as the residents of Darfor and Israel who must endure the continued threats of violence and extinction. We will use our voice in the public arena to call for global assistance and pressure the executive branch to help these people when ever possible. A strong military will help defend our beliefs and our way of life.  We will support them at all costs.

If we really believe this is why we are Republicans, then we need to get back to the ideas that made the party of Lincoln, and Reagan.  Newt Gingrich gave us back the House of Representatives. But our leaders quit fighting for their principles and succumbed to the intoxication of power.  When President Bush was elected, Republicans refused to listen to Democrats, and refused to listen to their constituents.  What we ended up with was a party of the special interests just like the other guys.  With the spotlight on the majority, the minority was able to do the same thing and get a way with it.  

It’s time to clean house.  It’s time to get back to doing the people’s business.  Our constitution defines our government of being one of, by and for the people.  Our party must take the lead and return to that fundamental view.  


Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both”. 


Our representatives should pledge the following:

As Republicans and Representatives of the people we serve, we will:
Stop all earmarks that do not benefit all the people.  Federal money spent to build roads across a legislator’s land cannot be tolerated.  Tax breaks for companies that manufacture wooden arrows for kids, NASCAR race tracks, and Starkist Tuna (American Samoa) should not be given.  Funds can and should be given to research projects that benefit legitimate medical research and other projects that directly help all or most of the American people.  

Quit accepting any travel gifts by lobbyists. Allow them to pitch their requests, see first hand the issues they raise, but if the cause is just and legitimate, then we the people will support your investigation into the issue. Budget official travel for these kinds of trips, and if you take the family along, that part of the travel expense should come out of your own pocket. Any possibility of the appearance of a Quid Pro Quo contribution or gift should be avoided. We do not allow this in business and should be the same for our people’s government.

Our founding fathers did not want this country to be one of serfs and kings (or queens).  We will quit acting like we are better than the people we serve.  There is a reason our country doesn’t have an aristocracy.  We are your representatives. We will try and live like those in our districts and states.  Our laws give you the right and ability to replace us, and if we abuse the trust, we expect you to

Police our own instead of turning a blind eye. If one of our colleagues in the party attempts to abuse the system for personal gain, we will stop them.  If they continue the practice, we will call them out. Harry Truman did not even permit adultery in his cabinet.  If a man is able and willing to lie to his family, he is just as willing to lie to the people he serves.  

Identify and nurture the next generation of Republican Leaders.  Sarah Palin was a breath of fresh air to so many in our party and helped energize the party loyalists, not just the conservative base. Our Primary responsibility is to work for the people.  The secondary responsibility is to train our replacements.  At any time we might need to call upon them to step up and take on the work of the nation.  

Spend time with the constituents.  We will visit local TV news programs and  talk about the events in Washington.  We will do radio interviews weekly not just when something goes tragically wrong. We will be more visible not just when we want your vote.

Remember we are public servants.  We work for you, not the other way around.

Make bills should be simple and transparent. If something is good enough to be passed into law, it is good enough to stand on its merit. It should be easy enough for the average citizen to understand without a law degree or the need to spend more than an hour to research. It should not be necessary to add even one sentence outside of the intent of the bill in order to get it passed. And Republicans should pledge to vote no out of hand for bills presented both in committee and in the house. This includes spending bills.  

Ronald Reagan said "No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

As members of the Republican Party, we need to take the time and demand our leaders adopt the Republican Representative’s Pledge.  As members of the party, We need to take the time to call, write, and visit our congressional and party leader’s offices.  Send an e-mail is quick and simple, sending a letter or making a phone call requires a little more effort.  If we want to change our party, we, all of us, need to invest a little time getting our people to listen to us, then together, get our message to the rest of the country.  We also need to stay on top of our elected officials.

We need to return to the values that made us the Grand Old Party and make us the New and Improved GOP.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Did you ever stop to realize our constitution allows freedom of speech, but not freedom of opinion.  We can go (or not) to the church of our choosing, we can assemble and speak, and redress the government, but nowhere does it say we have the right to our own opinion.  

Or at least that's the way it seems.  In the past week:

A seventh grade child wears a political t-shirt to school and is called a racist by her classmates.  Students are told to take down a political banner from their dorm room.  Senior Citizens are getting in fights at nursing homes over politics.  Even family members are arguing over who is the better candidate.  A pro-candidate march is held in a major city, yet those who visit the shops along the route, yell jeers and epithets against those who only wish to make sure their opinion is heard.  When President Bush was elected to office several prominent "celebrities" threatened to move out of the country.  (They stayed though)  A middle aged woman was carrying a political sign, only to have it ripped from her hands and the stick holding the sign, used to beat her about the head.  

I would expect events like this to occur in some far away place, in the world where dictators and fascists rule the day, What is most troubling, it comes from the very placed I served almost seven years of my life to defend.  

I'm not sure when this all started, maybe it's been here all my life and I was just too blind to see it.  I am old enough to remember seeing the riots of the sixties, and I remember hearing on the nightly news some man was shot in Memphis Tennessee, and still another time I recall people yelling things at soldiers returning from some place called Vietnam.  I guess those people didn't like what our military was doing over there, and exercising their right to free speech.  It would take several more years for me to learn about that war, and everything that went along with it.  Still today, not all the facts on that conflict have been made public.  But I digress.  

Even though our founding documents don't say explicitly we have the right to our own opinion, the idea we have the freedom of speech surely implies it.  In China, Cuba and Russia, their citizens are allowed to speak their mind, as long as it is in support of the government.  In Idi Amin Dada's Uganda, if you spoke your mind, you probably ended up espousing your ideas of freedom to the grubs and other underground critters.  

Duplicitous to all of this is the press.  Watch almost any TV news program and you will notice bias.  Some talk about thrills running up their leg, others mock opposing candidates, and still others abuse their investigative freedoms to, what an average person would consider, slander and libel, towards anyone who seems to be a contrarian, all while hiding behind their constitutional right to freedom of the press, backed up by legal precedents and teams of lawyers.  It's not the federal government we should fear.  Their need to investigate requires judicial review.  Speak out against the press, and it's not probable your private life will be exposed, odds makers in Vegas will almost guarantee it.  

Take "Joe the Plumber".  He was home in his yard throwing a ball with his son.  A candidate invited a question, and Joe accepted the opportunity.  The ensuing debate made painted a less than glowing image of the candidate in question, and started many Americans asking tough questions.  Within a day, Mr. Joe's entire life was on display for the rest of the world.  He's not really a plumber (but he does work for a plumbing company). He owes back taxes.  Is divorced. Questions about how good a father he is.  And I even heard a report his financial and medical records have been put on public display.  And by the way, his real name is Sam, not Joe.  Talk about abuse of power.  And all just for having an opinion that counters that of "the chosen one".  

Congress has stated they will move to impose the "Fairness Doctrine" after the coming election.  It has been said it will be directed at "Talk Radio" because of the overwhelming slant of this news and entertainment media in favor of one direction over the other.  But it doesn't adress the bias of the other media outlets.  Nightly news, Entertainment News, Newspapers and Late Night talk shows all slant the other way.  Where is the fairness?  Will those with contrarian opinions be placed in equal numbers on the editorial boards of the nation's newspapers?  Will Katie Curic work side by side bit Britt Hume? Will we be getting our news from less biased reporters?  Will the other opinion be heard?

There is a slight flaw in the idea we are not permitted our right to our own opinion.  We get to vote for or against people who seem to represent or counter our opinions of this country and it's government.  For now, we have the right to cast a secret ballot to show support for our candidates and our opinions.  That right may soon change in one area of life.  Several states permit collective representation of workers in labor organizations.  If one party gains too much control in Congress, a law will be passed abolishing the right to secret ballot in a Union vote.  If this happens, then this thesis is correct, we really don't have the right to our own opinion.  

The tone in this country has become dirty, like the trash that lines our highways and the smoke that fills the air we breathe and the chemicals dumped in our rivers, streams and oceans.  Back in the seventies, Chief Iron Eyes Cody did a series of advertisements (Iron Eyes Cody Ad) asking us to keep America Beautiful.  As he paddled his canoe down the stream, more and more garbage is seen in the water.  As he enters a larger river, you see the pollution in the skys, and as he stops along the highway, people throw their trash at his feet.  A tear rolls down the cheek of the once proud chief.  

Such is the way of this country has become in regards to opinion.  Especially if it is different from our own.  Even more so if you are a conservative.  Presidents Clinton and Bush both said they would make attempts to work with the opposition party.  But the most vocal on the other side refused to budge.  News shows trying to air both sides of a story end up sliding into five minute noise session between two people trying to keep the other from talking.  We can't legislate the way people think.  We don't have that right.  But we can make efforts to respect someone else's opinion.  If they can't respect our right to disagree, it can't be helped that's their opinion and although our founding fathers intended us to be able to express our opinion, they forgot to explicitly give us that right..

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.

I'm beginning to wonder if the "bailout" of the financial institutions is more of a red herring than a reality.  I understand there is difficulty obtaining some loans.  But my neighbor, who works in the commercial loan department for a mortgage broker is still writing notes. Not as many as she did during the housing boom, but she is still writing notes Yes, banks are failing because they bought stock certificates in bad loans.  Programs the current administration inherited from its predecessor, tried to change but couldn't. 

I wonder how an "Agreement in Principle" could be reached in such a short period of time.  Several house members objected several times, but it wasn't reported in detail on any news channels.  Instead everyone blamed John McCain for getting involved.  It wasn't until he showed up and met with the objectors, any dissent was brought to our attention.  I think we were on the verge of having a bailout bill shoved down our throats.  This is one one of the first pieces of legislation I know of to be drafted without hearings in either chamber of congress.  Is there something wrong with this picture?

It is my understanding 20% of the proceeds from the future sale of the notes the government acquires will go to ACORN.  This institution has taken profits from underwriting mortgages and using it to fund questionable voter registration drives, several of which have been found to be fraudulent.  Proceeds of any government operation that generates profits should go back to the people taking the risk, the American Taxpayer. One of the things that bothers me is congress has investigated the White House almost incessantly since taking over two years ago.  were they too busy investigating nothing when they should have been investigating this potential problem? 

One Presidential candidate has worked closely with ACORN, and he supports the current bailout plan.  The other thinks the American taxpayer shouldn't have to foot the bill.

The Inspector General of the SEC said numerous red flags were missed with Bear Sterns.  Christopher Cox said the monitoring system at the SEC for banks is fundamentally flawed, because monitoring of the banks is voluntary.  As soon as the first bank failed, shouldn't congress changed the law or the SEC changed its rules for monitoring of banks to become mandatory.  Somebody was asleep at the switch. 

A large portion of the problem we are in is due to home speculators flipping houses for a quick profit.  As I said in my last blog, I know of three people who collectively own more than 21 residential properties and are struggling to make the payments on each one.  Actually one of the lost four of his five homes.  If the government bails them out, they stand to make very large profits from their risky venture, at the expense of others.  If unchecked, speculators will be able to push the financial markets to the brink once again, by continuing the same practices that got us to this point in the first place.

As with anything that comes out of our current congress, the bill will have earmarks to this group and that.  The "golden parachutes" will still exist no matter what congress puts into the bill. The government will buy the bad debt immediately making the financial institutions profitable.  Higher profits means greater bonuses for executives in those companies.  Will the higher profits for these "troubled" institutions go to offsetting the bad debt the government bought?  I don't think so.   Washington Mutual failed and the outgoing CEO still received millions for his incompetence.  The FDIC, (you and I) insured the deposits for WAMU and helped line the pockets of the departing CEO.  If the FDIC hadn't helped out, JPMorgan wouldn't have stepped in. WAMU paid $24 Million to two CEOs it fired within six weeks.  If they didn't have that liability, would they still be around?

My feeling about several of these financial geniuses that ran the banks into the ground is similar to the computer people of the Internet Boom of 2000.  Unskilled yet motivated people disguised at computer people pumped millions from venture captialists and immediatly lined their pockets.  Once the VCs demanded a return on their investment, the money dried up and we had the tech crash of 2000.  I think many of these bank CEOs worked in the industry for a few years, worked their way up closing lots of profitable loans and jumped from company to company while inflating their resumes and negotiating sweetheart deals.  When real decisions needed to be made they took their bankroll and ran rather than work out the problem. 

We the people elected these representatives to protect our interests in government and they have failed us miserably. And most of the news channels turn a blind eye to the goings on in Congress.  It is a fact the Democrats have enough votes to force any rescue plan through the legislative process.  If it is such a good deal, why do the Republicans object, and why don't they pass it anyway. 

The saddest part of this whole process is we won't be able to review any of it until it has been passed by congress and is on the way to the President's desk.  By then it will be too late, and we will be stuck with the results.  Some government of the people, by the people and for the people.  It always seems like "Take it From the People, Shove it Down the People, and Stick it to the People"

And government only knows one solution.  Like the IBM commercial here  ==> IBM Commercial - Catapult ((Sir Arthur Throw Money at the Problem) Throw money at the problem and it will go away.  The problem is, it's our money.  Experts say there are other things that can be done that cost a lot less money.  Eric Cantor's insurance proposal through FHA costs a lot less.  Changing accounting rules for banks and businesses would help as well.   Sarbanes - Oxley is a nightmare and a big part of this problem as well.  

 I wonder how many hidden mickey's will be found in this bill over time. 

Even today the three biggest lies still hold true.  Although number two and three change over time, number one has stayed the same:  "I'm from the goverment and I'm here to help."

I'd like to take the opportunity to personally yell at all those responsible for the current credit meltdown.  To blame one individual would be irresponsible.  But let's put blame where it needs to be. 

• President Clinton:  This was your program.  It was your administration that started this mess.  You got the ball rolling.  Like Prometheus, you gave investors fire.  Initially the Investment Gods told you it was a bad idea to loan money to high risk individuals, you didn't listen.  Eventually the Investment Gods came on board, because they saw the opportunity to line their own pockets.  
• Congress.  It was your actions forcing lenders to give loans to people who can't pay them back.  You also left enough loopholes so people could leverage their primary residence on margin to buy more homes as investment property.  Didn't you guys learn about the problems of buying on margin back during the stock crash of the 1987?  
• President Bush: You and your cabinet new what was going on.  But you liked the fact your administration could claim high home ownership rates.  (Note: Since posting this, additional research has proven President Bush attempted to do something about this potential problem back in 2002 but was shouted down.  I still blame him for not going to the bully pulpit to make his point and get his way.)
• Warren Buffett:  You kept money cheap despite the indicators.  You had inside info to the credit markets yet you pushed on.  Fannie and Freddie needed the cheap money.  You basked in the glory. 
  
• Financial CEOs:  Just like President Bush and Congress, you guys knew the facts behind the economic boom since 2001.  But you lined your pockets and bailed out.  As long as the money came in, you guys didn't have to make hard choices.  For some reason you guys stopped screaming when the money got good.  
• Senator Chuck Schumer:  You and you alone caused the melt down of IndyMac.  Our economy was still able to hold its own until that bank failure.  You made the comment they could be in trouble and it's investors panicked and ran.  That was the start of the avalanche.  
• Any of the CEOs and board members of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  You took federal subsidies and cooked the books.  What you all did was actually criminal.  You are lucky you aren't in jail.  The profits you made based upon lies are nothing less than fraud.  
• Those of you who flipped houses to get rich.  I personally know three people in this category and have already given them a piece of my mind. Between them, they owned more than 20 homes (individually more than John and Cindy McCain).  Well actually the banks owned them.  They had enough trouble making payments on their primary home.  They abused the system legally, lined their pockets, and got caught, a little bit. They didn't lose it all, but they did lose a big portion of what they had.

So far the only solution presented is to bring back a version of the Resolution Trust Corporation.  Those of us old enough to remember that debacle have a good idea of how this one will end up.  The news media suggests congress will adjourn and leave this problem to simmer.  Like the gas price issue, you would rather do nothing until after the election than help a nation who hired them to do a job.  It is too bad we the taxpayers don't have any recourse, such as withholding pay to you and your staff until crisis solved.  It probably doesn't matter anyway.  You guys have gotten rich of our money for far too long. 

I'd like to thank the hand full of responsible journalist who kept talking about the potential problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  You at least tried to warn us of the problem before it became too big.  Unfortunately your colleagues didn't take up your drum beat. Between you and John McCain, at least you guys tried to prevent a melt down.  Unfortunately people higher up in the food chain did their very best to keep your screams down to the level of a church pew whisper.  

Why am I so mad?  The reason is simple.  I've watched for years as my health care costs have gone through the roof.  I seldom go to the doctor, but I know many people who do and understand their plight. It hit home when a very dear friend became seriously ill and I had to rush them to the hospital. The impediments I endured trying to help my friend helped me find a solution to his problem.  Today I'm on the brink of developing a new product that will guarantee to lower health care costs.  My biggest problem, there isn't much money left for me to borrow.    I'm just a working class stiff with a wife, dog and mortgage.  I can't afford the lawyers I need to protect and patent my idea.  I need money to develop the prototype.  I need cash to pay the people who will help me develop it.  Banks want collateral.  The equity I had in my home is now gone because of the housing crash.  Venture Capitalists will take more than 50% of the idea just for funding it.  Since I don't have the money to hire lawyers, they would almost assuredly want most of the remaining shares, leaving me with about 10% of the original idea.  

I agree with one Presidential candidate the fundamentals of our economy are strong.  There are just too many forces working against us.

Could government please get out of the way and let us at least try and walk.  For those walking, please keep to the right, some of us want to run.