What changes to government could most of us agree on?

[donttread]

here's an idea. . Why not start with changes most reasonable Americans might agree on? So here's a view I thought might meet that criteria .

1) No congressional Pay during "shutdowns"
2) Perhaps most important however. No voting on two unrelated issues in one bill other than the specific funding amounts of various programs under the budget bill. IMO, little is more crippling to our process than this practice. .
3) While we are at it how about limiting the size that a bill can be?
4) Legitimate bills should be brought to vote in a timely process not stuck in committee hell forever.
5) No long term retirement benefits to congress. At least unless they serve 20 years and I think many of us believe that none of them should do that.

So first of all do you agree? Secondly, what additions would you make? Remember these are things you think the vast majority of americans might favor.

If the polarized voters could agree on 4 or 5 things and do so strongly enough to vote against all non supporters we could start reclaiming government. Until we do that our differences don't matter anyway because the government will do what Bushbama did, regardless of what they say.

[nathanbforrest45]

Repeal Income Tax
Term Limits, no more than two terms
All bills must be single topic only, no riders to a bill, i.e. you can't add a provision to fund research on dead crows on the highway in a bill to fund the military.

[nathanbforrest45]

I realize most people would not agree to any of my suggestions, which is why this government is doomed and will never be functional "for the people"

[Captdon]

here's an idea. . Why not start with changes most reasonable Americans might agree on? So here's a view I thought might meet that criteria .

1) No congressional Pay during "shutdowns"
2) Perhaps most important however. No voting on two unrelated issues in one bill other than the specific funding amounts of various programs under the budget bill. IMO, little is more crippling to our process than this practice. .
3) While we are at it how about limiting the size that a bill can be?
4) Legitimate bills should be brought to vote in a timely process not stuck in committee hell forever.
5) No long term retirement benefits to congress. At least unless they serve 20 years and I think many of us believe that none of them should do that.

So first of all do you agree? Secondly, what additions would you make? Remember these are things you think the vast majority of americans might favor.

If the polarized voters could agree on 4 or 5 things and do so strongly enough to vote against all non supporters we could start reclaiming government. Until we do that our differences don't matter anyway because the government will do what Bushbama did, regardless of what they say.

Only number five would mean anything. The first four wouldn't mean a thing to the average voter. They don't know about them.

[pjohns]

As regarding the US Senate, two points leap to mind:

(1) No more passing, only to cast a vote later. (This is typically done by members of the opposition party, who do not want their votes to be seen as decisive, in passing a bill. After it already has the requisite 51 votes, such people will add their votes to that number.)

(2) No more changing votes. (This is typically done so that those in question may proudly proclaim, to their constituents, that they voted a particular way--although they voted that way, in the end, only when their votes were meaningless.)

Of course, the Senate makes its own rules; so I really do not expect these reforms to happen.

[donttread]

I realize most people would not agree to any of my suggestions, which is why this government is doomed and will never be functional "for the people"

Try us. Remember to focus on something you think people will agree with if you can.

[donttread]

As regarding the US Senate, two points leap to mind:

(1) No more passing, only to cast a vote later. (This is typically done by members of the opposition party, who do not want their votes to be seen as decisive, in passing a bill. After it already has the requisite 51 votes, such people will add their votes to that number.)

(2) No more changing votes. (This is typically done so that those in question may proudly proclaim, to their constituents, that they voted a particular way--although they voted that way, in the end, only when their votes were meaningless.)

Of course, the Senate makes its own rules; so I really do not expect these reforms to happen.

That's the point. We need to find points of high agreement and be willing to vote people out over them.

[donttread]

Only number five would mean anything. The first four wouldn't mean a thing to the average voter. They don't know about them.

You don't think people know that unrelated bills are bundled together? If that's true they could be educated and would then be likely to oppose current practices.

[Chris]

Do whatever it takes to reduce the power of the government.



But not many would agree to that.

[Captain Obvious]

Do whatever it takes to reduce the power of the government.



But not many would agree to that.