Forum Post: The issue is our political election process not corp greed
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 19, 2011, 3:45 p.m. EST by jimrwashington
(9)
from Montgomery, NJ
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Politicians spend more time raising campaign money than governing. Corp and 1%'er contributions enable election victory and define the real constituency of their office. Politicians (far too often) no longer represent The People. Frankly, the false issue of partisanship is masking the real culprits which are special interests and mega-donors. Republicans serve the wealthy, the military industrial complex, Insurance, Energy and Finance/Banking industries. Democrats serve the wealthy, unions, public employees, trial lawyers, and Entertainment, Insurance, and Banking/Finance Industries. Naturally they appear partisan as they fight vigorously for their special interests and vote quietly in agreement when their backer’s interests align. The 99% do not have a chance for change until the political process is brought back to the peoples business. We need term limits, serious campaign finance reform, and a national referendum process.
Big Business must be motivated by greed and that isn’t going to change in a free market society, nor should we wish it. Business must be regulated to assure competition, that markets are free from collusion and that the safety of workers and the environment is assured. When corporations are allowed unlimited meddling in the political process under guise of constitutionally guaranteed free speech, we see a breakdown of the proper role of government in regulating business. The division of power between the branches of government was a magnificent step in evolution of self-determination. We now face a new challenge of devising a division of power between the 3 governmental branches and the concentrated wealth of the 1% and Corporations and the expanded voice and collective money of public employees, the new 5 pointed centers of power. We need term limits, serious campaign finance reform, and a national referendum process.
This actually is the best statement on the problem... fee student loans, free rent, close the banks, tax the rich, are all statements from people who think there is a tactical solution to a strategic problem.... the problem is the political system we have allowed to flourish... Politicians have their own retirement program, they don't really care about social security, (serve one term in congress and collect the rest of your life) they have their own healthcare program. they don't care about ObamaCare, they can call you before congress and hold you in contempt for lying, the voters can not hold the electorate in contempt for lying, they are above the law... they live by their own law.
But why would they ever take these privileges away from themselves? How are you going to force the issue?
Gaining this kind of reform is clearly a huge task. It will take a centralist uprising to force the issue, but it is possible. I am amazed at the fear the TeaParty has wrought and frankly they are a bit radical for most in the country, but look how they captured the Republican agenda. My old party is acting like a bunch of chumps, even playing the class warfare scare card. Laser focus during elections demanding that elected officials sign on to a simple platform of 2 terms for Senators, 4 for Congressmen, support for a national referendum and a pledge to support a campaign reform bill or constitutional amendment if it’s needed to get by the Supreme Court.
The only political money that politicians get should come from their districts or state depending on congressional or senate election. no outside money and it should be limited to what the average income of that district or state is. one person, one vote, One maximum political donation.
And since the supreme court said corporations, unions etc can donate. then they should only be able to donate in that same amount and only once in the district and state that their headquarters is located. We as american citizens can only legally vote in the district and state of residency so should the entities.
You make good points, but it would require amending the constitution. I got the info below in an e-mail this morning. Its targeted at the US deficit but the notion also applies to campaign finance reform.
"Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling: "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971... before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time."
I think it makes sense in total and has applicability to many of the woes OWS seeks resolution to.
My best friend Ernie says get rid of all of the bums.
Ernie is a wise friend.