SCHLUEDE

My best friend, a staunch Republican and myself, a died in the wool Democrat normally do not discuss politics as we are so far apart.We respect each others views and agree to disagree on most political agendas. We have however lately been discussing a possible grass root movement we would love to work on together. Thought I would run it past you.
Every 2 years we are inundated with political wrangling because of up coming elections. Money is squandered on everyone's re-election campaigns and we are just SICK TO DEATH of all of it. The business of the American people is put on hold for the running of campaigns and strategy sessions. Here are our ideas to fix a broken system. This year it is worse than ever before. The Congress is doing NOTHING to help the American people as all they care about is who will and will not be elected in 2012 and power and greed reign supreme.

Our ideas:

The President is elected every 6 years. A President cannot serve more than one term-period. You have 6 years to get your agenda done and then you are done. The election is held every 5 years. The winner has to serve as an apprentice for a year-at reduced or no salary. During that year they learn the job and get their cabinet ready to start work on their agenda the day they take office. Every other job has apprenticeship programs and we feel being President should absolutely have one.
Congressmen also only serve for 6 years-both House and Senate. No re elections-no good old boy society. The Senators and Representatives live and work in the State that elected them. Once every other month they fly to Washington DC for a one week face to face meeting. Other than that they telecommute for all votes. They will then be at home to answer to their constituents that elected them and get first hand feed back on the will of the people. This will eliminate the lobbyist feeding frenzy of Washington DC. The lobbyists will have to travel to all the States to talk to the Senators and Representatives and since they only run for 1- 6 year term they might not bother. Same apprenticeship program for all Senators and Representatives as for the President. A year to get their staff and learn the job for their 6 year stint. NO REELECTION POSSIBLE-EVER. A past Senator could run for the house and a past Representative could run for the Senate for an additional 6 year term.
Health care. All Representatives and Senators get the same health care package as everyone else on Medicare.\-Period. Should take care of getting better health coverage for us all.
Pension. They get the same 2/3 of the salary that the really lucky corporate workers get for their pensions if they get any.
This is just the beginnings of our ideas that might move this country back to people in office who would SERVE THE PEOPLE and not their own inflated egos and need for supreme power and prestige. We need public SERVANTS back in the White House and Congress.
A very concerned citizen.

Joined Oct. 7, 2011