Would you support this as a constitutional amendment?

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Daggdag, Apr 6, 2020.

  1. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Government never shuts down, so this amercement will have no effect.
     
  2. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    One third of all member of the U.S. House live in their offices. Now this isn't roughing it as the offices are pretty nice. but it isn't an estate either.

    And once again "86,000/yr"????

    A Walmart STORE MANAGER makes more than that!!!!!
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
  3. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    You do know that actually writing bills, submitting them, and then gathering support to move them from committee to the House or Senate floor and THEN marshalling the support to actually get them voted on and passed into law is NOT exactly a simple task don't you?
     
  4. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    So what???!!! Congressional service is supposed to be a service. And if a military major and his family can live comfortably on a military base, why can't a member of Congress?

    And if one third of the U.S. House has to live in their office, then all the more reason to do what I am suggesting.
     
  5. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Yes it is. Bills are drafted by staffers. If you think members of Congress are spending hours, days, weeks, and months of their time laboring over the drafting of laws, I've got news for ya. As soon as a member of Congress wants something in a bill, he/she tells a staffer, and the staffer does the work. Much of this labor is all for show, with no expectation that a bill will pass or even come up for a vote. The member of Congress just wants to be able to say, "I introduced a bill" or "I co-sponsored a bill" that "blah, blah, blah".

    It doesn't take a genius to do some horse-trading while a bill is in committee, either. We all know how to do it.

    The narrative that members of Congress are our "brightest and best" and that "experience" is so important is a narrative pushed by Congress and those who benefit from the status quo. They want us to believe that, but I think it's all hogwash. Term limits would give us a Congress that was motivated to serve and to accomplish things. What we have now is a Congress that doesn't care about anything except the next election, and they will sell their principles and integrity to keep their seats.
     
  6. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    A military base is not Washington D.C.

    So you are suggesting that in order to "serve" in Congress, a person be willing to live away from his or her family for a big part of the year?
     
  7. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    You think congressional staffs magically appear once someone takes office? Of course not.

    And anytime I hear or read someone say to the effect "Anyone can do that" what it actually means is "Damn near no one can do that".
     
  8. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    If they live in officer quarters on Ft Belvoir, there is no reason their families cannot live comfortably with them. What do you think officer quarters are? A barracks or something? They are nice homes, Dayton! Not mansions, but nice. They comfortably accommodate married officers and their families. Everything they need is right there on base.
     
  9. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    I don't disagree with you. I'm simply saying that Washington D.C. is not comparable to a military base. I knew a guy who worked in the Bureau of Prisons in D.C. He had to live more than two hours away from his work in order to find a decent one bedroom apartment in a safe area and had to pay an incredible amount of rent (by my standards) to do so.
     
  10. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Actually, they appear pretty magically.

    https://time.com/3105933/congress-staff-pay/
     
  11. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    My son lives in Virginia and works in the D.C. area, and I know that rents are high there. This is why I suggested that members of Congress be housed (free of charge) in nice quarters at a military base that nicely accommodate their spouses and kids. We should take care of their needs (medical, dental, transportation, etc) and pay them a modest salary. Remember, they are our representatives. They shouldn't be poor or needy, but we are not kings, and so they should not be either.
     
  12. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    You sure it is advisable to have what are supposed to be civilians who have control over the military budget and all military promotions to be housed and provided for at a military base? The image alone I suggest is troubling.
     
  13. Distraff

    Distraff Well-Known Member

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    Good one. I'd actually go further. They lose a month of pay for every week the country is closed down. We also don't allow them to leave the building unless for medical emergencies. We close down the congressional swimming pool and gaming room.
     
  14. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Not at all. Congress also makes decisions about war. I don't see any harm in members of Congress looking at the faces of those young people every day that they make those decisions about.
     
  15. Texan

    Texan Well-Known Member

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    Except that Congress members keep their salary for the rest of their life, even if they are a 1 term congressman. Add in the under the table lobbyist perks and insider trading and you have people like Pelosi making millions for themselves and many members of their families. Which congresswoman paid their daughter a six figure salary to stuff campaign envelopes? Lifetime congresspeople learn all of the tricks to get rich. Term limits.
     
  16. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    And Congressman serving three or six terms are going to learn all the tricks as well. Term limits is a magic elixir than too many Americans believe will right all the wrongs in Congress.

    It won't.
     
  17. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Terms are already limited - 2 years for members of the house and 6 years for the Senate.
    All it takes is people willing to vote the bums out.
     
  18. Daggdag

    Daggdag Well-Known Member

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    Manynin the house are not rich. They rely on there salaries and benefits in order to pay for their homes if they are required to keep in Washington and in their home state. Anon millionaire congressman is less likely to support some *******s shutting down the government if they're going to lose all their pay and benefits as a result of the shutdown.


    .
     
  19. Daggdag

    Daggdag Well-Known Member

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    Thanks of gerrymandering especially on the Republican side it's very hard to vote in you. 90% of house elections are rigged in favor of one party of the other whichever party controls the state controls the pen that draws the districts and both parties always trying her best to rake the district so that is impossible for their candidates to lose.
     
  20. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    :lol:
    You say this like Democrats don't gerrymander every chance they get.
    :lol:
    Fact remains:
    All it takes is people willing to vote the bums out.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
  21. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    What the hell is that?
    English is the official language here, in case you've forgotten.
     
  22. Daggdag

    Daggdag Well-Known Member

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    Being the most used language is not the same as being an official language. The United States has no official language
     
  23. An Taibhse

    An Taibhse Well-Known Member

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    And who will introduce and vote for such an amendment? The same people that have voted for campaign reform, congressional term limits, and lobbying reform?
     
  24. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    Nevertheless, PF does, and it's English. You get that, right?
     
  25. Natty Bumpo

    Natty Bumpo Well-Known Member

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    Term limits are an attack on democracy that denies a citizen's right to vote for whomever she may feel best represents her.
     
    Dayton3 likes this.

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