I know. We are not really a Democracy; we are a Constitutional Republic, but, I wonder what the Founding Fathers would think about what is going on in D.C. ? We no longer seem to have representation for “We the People.” We have basically two parties, fighting for control. I am no fan of the Tea Party but I understand their concerns. All parties have something to contribute, but it seems the main purpose of the major players is keeping their party (and themselves) in power and not doing the work they promised when they campaigned. If the Tea Party win more seats in future elections, I am sure they will soon act just like the Democrats and Republicans. Their main job will be — to get reelected. Something must happen to one’s psyche after winning an election; they become drunk with power and believe their own publicity. I guess its easy when they are surrounded by people who tell them how great they are — all day long.
The laws need to be changed when it comes to how long one can serve in public office; I mean jumping from one political office to another. Government leaders need to briefly serve and then go back to the private sector, and I don’t mean working as a lobbyist. Fifty-percent of those who do leave public office, work as a lobbyist, influencing politicians. For some its a revolving door, jumping form public office to lobbyist and back to politics. They need to live under the same laws they created for all of us. The majority of them have no idea what its like to live in the world (laws) they created for you and me.
For example, take a look at Dianne Feinstein — I like her and I have voted for her, but I think its time for her to move on. We need new people with fresh ideas, and there are plenty of 3rd party candidates (who are not as extreme as the Tea Party) who have a lot to contribute, but don’t even get an invite to the debates. That is not by accident. The game is rigged, and let’s be honest, to them its one big game.
So back to Ms. Feinstein; she was elected in a special election on November 3, 1992, as a Democrat to the United States Senate, to fill the term left vacant by the resignation of Pete Wilson. She was reelected in 1994, 2000, 2006, and again in 2012 for the term ending January 3, 2019. Don’t forget, she was mayor of San Francisco (1978-1988).
There are no term limits for U.S. Senators. She could run as often as she wants, and even if she lost to someone else, she could run for other public office and essentially be in the political system forever.
Here’s another example: “After 40 years in Congress, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), is calling it quits. He won’t run again in 2016.” He served 40 years! And this is his reason for finally leaving:
Senators receive $174,000 annual pay, plus perks, like (excellent) healthcare, personnel, expense allowances, etc. They are also eligible for pensions. Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible or a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. I discovered that nearly one in five members of Congress get at least two pensions. And those of us who will end up living off social security are called moochers! No wonder these guys want to stay in office as long as possible.
The Republican party complains that pensions are a drain to tax payers, but don’t want to talk about collecting their own. Somehow they believe they earned their “entitlements” while the rest of us did not.
Lets take a look at Texas Republican John Cornyn, who claims to be a deficit hawk; the “Daily Beast” reported earlier this year that he currently collects three pensions — a total of $239,383 paid by the taxpayers. Cornyn collects $48,807 from the Judicial Retirement System of Texas, after he sat on the Supreme court from 1991 to 1997. He also gets $10,132 in retirement benefits from the pension fund for state elected officials and workers, after serving as Texas attorney general from 1999 to 2002. Cornyn also reported a $6,444 retirement distribution from the Texas County and District Retirement System. He was a state district judge from 1985 to 1989. He has been in the Senate since 2002. When he retires, he will eligible for yet another pension.
Can anyone see the hypocrisy? He isn’t the only one doing this. Its perfectly legal and let’s be honest.– how many of us wouldn’t do the same. Its legal, so it must be ok. After all, that money was earned. Right? Creating laws and enforcing them is hard work! So who creates the pension models? Our lawmakers.
I discovered that nearly one in five members of congress get at least two pensions, including Ms. Feinstein, who was paid $54,925 in pension payments for her time as mayor of San Francisco, according to CRP and a recent investigation in the National Journal. Feinstein has received about $850,000 in retirement benefits over the past two decades. She is ranked the second-wealthiest member of Congress to collect a pension in 2012. Her net worth is estimated somewhere between $42.8 million and $98.7 million. Meanwhile, those of us who will end up living off social security (and maybe a 401k, if Wall Street doesn’t gamble it away, or the retiree finds out there were hidden fees adding up to 25% of their total retirement earnings) are the moochers! Remember the House always wins, whether its Vegas, Washington or Wall Street.
And while I’m on the subject of hard work, Senator Harkin already told us how many hours a week they work. But according to the media, they seem to take a lot of vacations. So how much time are they required to spend in Washington? The Constitution doesn’t really spell out how much time Congress needs to spend in Washington, in session, doing congressional things. Article I, Section 4, in the Constitution said that Congress had to meet at least once a year, with the meeting on the first Monday in December. (That was a date that synced up with state legislatures and it was a better fit for politicians who needed to be at home for the harvest season.) God knows, they need to be home to supervise the harvest! Oh, wait, that’s Monsanto’s job. In reality, congressional supporters say the job entails long hours at unexpected times, with lots of energy devoted to fundraising and talking to constituents back home. My guess is the constituents they are meeting with, are really big business — remember — corporations are now people.
Once elected, officials are looking to their future and keeping their seat. That means fundraising is job number one. Both parties are guilty of this. Both parties receive money from the same corporations. Corporations don’t care which party is in office, as long their needs are met; like tax loop holes and exemptions. In addition to the money candidates raise for their own campaigns, they often get help from their party’s fundraising committees. Now with the rise of Super PACS, we don’t know who is giving money to whom. We don’t hear a peep about fixing that anymore, do we? Why should they? Its a sweet deal for all involved.
The same goes for redistricting right here in Orange County and the big fight going on with Anaheim City Council. Why would these guys want anyone else at their table? They like things just the way they are. The problem is systemic and runs from Washington to local districts.
Yes, our government is a mess and it looks like no end in sight until we change it. That means taking the power away from those who abused it and giving it back to “We the People.” Lawrence Lessig, author of , Lesterland: The Corruption of Congress and How to End It, gives a “Ted Talk” that addresses this topic better than me and he has some ideas how to fix it.
If we are losing our Democracy because some politicians are getting more than one pension, then limit the number of pensions and term limits the Senators.
What are the concerns of the Tea Party, Inge? Is it only limited government? Their attempt to defund Obamacare, by shutting the government down, is now leading to the debt default with potentially negative effects.
“One of the popular refrains after any government crisis or leadership failure is the call for “term limits.” The debt-ceiling/government shutdown debate is no different. Not at all.
But, unlike other reforms, which would improve the U.S. political system (campaign-finance reform, more earmarks, open primaries, a shortened campaign season, redistricting reform, actual journalism) or scrap it all together — parliamentary systems are way better — “term limits” would do nil to make our political system better. Instead, term limits would just shorten the time period politicians would have to wait before hopping into a cushy lobbying position.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-mcelwee/term-limits-are-not-the-a_b_4093778.html
Riot police “welcome” vet protesters at the White House – scary shit. Look at the face of the head cop – that guy is scared shitless. There are guns under their jackets – steel batons at the ready.
These were the protesters carrying the Confederate Battle Flags to the White House while calling for the ruination of the federal government? My sympathy for them does not run deep.
Alaska Palin does not know irony. You know how one can tell?
Her is what she said in the million minus nine hundred ninety nine thousand or so vet march: “[We] will not be timid in calling out any who would use our military, our vets, as pawns in a political game,”
Grift on, grifting on…
Heard on the video;
“looks like something out of Kenya.”
Proud of that are you skally?
These dumb yahoos had taken the barricades from the memorials and were piling them in front of the White House fence, yep, that’s free-dumb for you.
And if any of the memorials get vandalized, that’ll be Obama’s fault too.
Apparently people do have Sarah Palin’s number, as they were heckling her, calling her an idiot (understatement of the year).
Tea Partiers unite and embrace your inner racism;
‘Wanting A White Republican President Doesn’t Make You Racist,’ It ‘Makes You American’
Joe The Plumber
I certainly agree with the most of the points made in the video. The devil however is in the details.
I have mixed feelings about term limits, once someone learns the system they must move on, which leaves non elected staff having a disproportionate increase in power.
The argument for publicly financed elections is one I have resisted for years, but it’s becoming more appealing as I get older.
I think that anyone who must get a licence from the FCC for broadcast should be required to provide some amount of time not only to PSA’s but also include candidates for public office in some sort of prescribed manor that is evenly distributed to ALL of them. How and in what manner, I really don’t know, but that could be figured out, I suppose.
The real problem is trying to get those feeding on the system to change it properly. They have no real motivation to do so and that seems to be the biggest hurdle.
Carl, I agree with what you wrote, so I am going to go lie down now.
Don’t fret too much Greg, it’s bound to happen once in a while.
Enjoy your nap.
Carl,
You’re right, this could be solved by publicly financed elections. Currently a US senator has to raise about $20,000 a day. That not only takes a lot of time, but leaves them beholden to those with big money.
Citizens United only amplified the role of big money tainting our elections and yet, childish simpletons like Inge, think there is no difference between the two parties. Like appointments to the Supreme Court don’t matter or have long term and far reaching consequences for our democracy.
What a maroon.
Happy now Inge?
It is silly to talk of publicly financed elections. Because a congress who would enact such into law (and somehow not get overruled by the SCOTUS) would be a congress that is responsible and one we would want. And if they got there in the first place, why would we care if we have publicly financed elections?
It is also a congress that will not be elected. It is like wishing for oil companies to provide only clean energy.
The only thing we can do is elect better people. Easier said than done, but that is reality, and how much the deck is loaded in favor of the ones with the money.
Blogs like this are extremely useful and can be potent in changing status quo. It’ll take a fierce advocacy to identifying the best candidate and not the “least of all evils”
Greg does a decent job (don’t let it get to you head, now), and we need more journos that take this tact. The trick, when you do not have money, is to influence as many as you can through the liberal exercise of the First Amendment. Which means you should not vote for Mimi Walters over Ed Royce just because the latter is a “real wingnut”
Touches two of the cliches.
Congressional compensation somehow being comparable to some deficit causing mechanism, and a disclaimer that we are a republic and not a democracy. If the former was really an issue we would fix it because unlike the real deficit, this one’s easy to fix. As to the distinction between our republic and a democracy, in what way is that distinction even meaningful for us? We have representative democracy, so while we are not a Toyota Camry, we are still a car. Insisting that we are a car and not a Camry is useful, how?
We re-elect 90 percent of our incumbents, and that is whose fault?
Wait till McCutcheon v. FEC makes Citizens United look like a lemonade stand.
*When the elephant trunk is down….according to Vedic Indian and Hindu msyticism….
it bodes poorly for the future….with lots of bad luck to follow. The Elephant Trunk
needs to stay high and above the fray……not low in the gutter.