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| I didn't write this. |
I think you will find that is something that is definitely worth sharing.
_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.
2. 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.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congressmen/women 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.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!
Well I don't know about all of you, but this certainly sounds like a winner to me!
Your thoughts?
Update: Hah! I just learned that this plan which has been forwarded to me numerous times by contributors to IM, is in fact a fake plan for a 28th Amendment that has been circulating since 2010 and has NOTHING to do with Warren Buffet.
His name was added based on this quote about ending the deficit:
"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 Still I do like like some of its points.
You can learn more visiting Snopes.
I still have to admit that I agree with much of it, regardless of where it originated.
Update 2: It looks like the Occupy Wall Street folks were hoaxed by this e-mail as well.
I love it. Why not make them have the same as the people who elect them? No way would any worker be allowed to vote in their own health care, salary increases, or any other perks. Why should these workers?
ReplyDeleteHi Gryphen. You might want to check out Snopes's research.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
Best, Molly
Well, it may express American's frustrations, but it has a few facts wrong, so I wouldn't be so sure it's Warrren Buffet's plan.
ReplyDelete- Social Security: It depends when the memeber first entered Congress. Pre-1984 they are covered by the old federal retirment system, CSRS, and didn't pay into SS. If they first entered after 1984 they are in the new system, FERS, and do pay into SS. The real problem is that their eligibility for FERS is different than the rest of federal employees. Under FERS, they pay into their defined benefit portion, pay into SS, and then they have a 401K they can also pay into.
- Health Insurance. Members of Congress are covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. Same program as other federal employees, so it is helth care that "American people" are in. Where I understand it's different is they pay like $150 a year for the services of the Congressional doctor, and they aren't fussy about collecting that.
I love it! It takes away all incentive to remain there for 20 years (as my Congressman Dave Camp has done) and make a career out of scamming the American people. It makes them accountable for their own retirements, and with them vested in SS, takes away the urge to rob that system to fund their ways. Making them buy health insurance might make them finally agree that single payer is cheaper and more effective for the most people! Can we nominate Buffet for something!
ReplyDeleteOT, but reports are out that Qaddafi has been either captured or killed. If Obama was a belt notch kind of cowboy like Bush, he'd be shouting this from the rooftops, patting himself on the back, and thinking of more ways to spend our money.
They should build congressional dormatories, just like colleges have at an affordable rate. then they can't scream they can't afford to live in washington on their salary.
ReplyDeleteThis is the exact same email that was going around last year, except then it was supposedly from a tea party supporter. And just like last year, I'm unclear how these changes would fix Congress.
ReplyDeletePretty good. I certainly don't mind our congresspeople getting paid a nice fat salary. They carry the weight of our country on our shoulders. But the abundance of lifetime perks has left them out of touch with average Americans. Their sense of entitlement has gotten completely out of control.
ReplyDeleteWarren Buffet for President 2016.
ReplyDeleteUm...this has been going around for a couple years and is mostly a hoax. Check Snopes, Urban Legend, etc. for 28th amendment or 2011 Congressional Reform.
ReplyDeleteBTW love this blog. Good job.
Great ideas, but not likely to happen.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the part about fixing the deficit was part of a CNBC interview with Warren Buffett, but the rest of the list is not:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
This has nothing to do with Warren Buffet - and its mostly false.
ReplyDeleteSee http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
Right now, the biggest problem in Congress is the Republican-instigated 60-vote requirement to bring a bill to the floor of the Senate. They started this when they had the majority in the 1990's and we've suffered the stalemate ever since. They knew how hard it would be for the Democrats ever to have a 60-plus majority and that the Democrats never vote as a block. Which the Republicans almost always do. In fact, I think they have since the the mid-1970's. End that rule - it's not part of the Constitution - and members of both Houses will begin to act more like adults again.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure this is actually a plan from Buffet? Doesn't quite sound right to me. Is there a news paper article somewhere about it which confirms he has written his?
ReplyDelete-Nick G
The bribery by the War Machine and the Banksters comes in more than one form, by the way - while the Congresscritters are in office, they get campaign funds, luxurious vacations, well-paying jobs for their spouses and/or paramours - after they leave office, they become very-well-paid lobbyists, consultants, "law partners", board members, etc etc - all part of the Establishment. The generals and admirals are also in on this gravy train, by the way.
ReplyDeleteWarren Buffett knows all this. That he doesn't mention it makes it clear that he is trying to make sure that the American people stay ignorant of it.
I'm a little surprised that Buffett has fooled you, Gryphen. You ought to read Who Will Tell The People? : The Betrayal Of American Democracy, by William Greider. Published in 1993, it's still in print. I'm sure things are much the same, except worse.
Will Congress have to vote on this to pass?
ReplyDeleteBuffet should have been a politician, he is what they are supposed to be.
By the way, it seems clear that this viral email has little connection with Buffett - see
ReplyDeletehttp://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/03/congressional-reform-act/
Joel Luther
ReplyDelete'I'm ready to FIRE OBAMA & HIRE TRIG'S MOMMA!!'
Like · · 5 hours ago
11 people like this.
Jay Parrish i was hoping she would change her mind things have changed so much in the last month people are really ready for her,,
4 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Joel Luther Exactly.. America is more than ready, for Governor Palin to enter the race for President!!
4 hours ago · Like · 2 people
City Of Meriden Well put
3 hours ago · Like · 3 people
This just in from Sarah's facebook page. It's just begging for responses from the IM crowd, don't you agree?!
Of course, what makes sense, is fake.
ReplyDeleteBoy, doesn't that sound familiar?
Perfect! This proposal is nothing short of fair and reasonable. But my pessimism meter is flying off the charts: its a frustrating shame that congressional politicians will never, never permit such restrictions-- or any measure of reform-- to curb their own preferential advantages.
ReplyDeletei've worked all my life, and still do; i have no pension, and no insurance; yet many people living around me are insured for life on my nickle, and are guarateed a living "wage" because i work.
ReplyDeleteso, i certainly agree that Congress should be the first to do what Mr. Buffett outlines
and i think that i should receive the benefits that others, who don't even work, get. if some of our citizenry benefits from my labor, shouldn't i???
No matter who wrote it, I like it.
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed: I thought this was a serious proposal and I thnk it should be! Maybe if our congressmen/women learned what the tenet of "all men are created equal" and it was translated to all men are treated equally ... our bills and laws would suddenly become more fair. I love every statement under this fantasy proposal!
ReplyDeleteI say it´s time to make that fake plan a genuine plan. The people are waking up to our congress pretending to fight for us, throwing the occasional bone our way, and blaming the people across the aisle for their failures.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts have turned to these same issues in the last 2 yrs. Esp the healthcare part, but this fake doc says it so much better.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the OWS effort can be a start in making this real.
What happened to the suggestion that members of congress be chemically castrated before taking office? Seems to me that would help separate those REALLY, REALLY, REALLY committed to public service and those just seeking a cushy job with decent pay, fabulous benefits and lucrative post-retirement career opportunities. (I don't think this is Warren Buffet's idea either.)
ReplyDeleteO/T: I've always liked the way that every time someone calls him "Mister Buff-it" he imperiously corrects them with "that's Boo-fay". Funny bit...
I would vote for that in a minute, if indeed, that would be the situation. Like everything involving our government, nothing is at it appears and we collectively are too dumb and powerless to make that change. Hopefully, OWS will be starting the shift.
ReplyDeleteOh well. Even if it were true, it wouldn't pass.
ReplyDeletePut this on the ballot, let the citizens vote for or against it. I KNOW it would pass!! These peopole act like royalty, time to get back down to earth with the rest of us. I worked for 25 years for one company, get $400 a month pension - NO HEALTHCARE. If they take SS away, I will have to find a refrigerator box to live in. These clowns in DC line their pockets, end up millionaires, still getting healthcare and pensions at the expense of taxpayers. No wonder they think they are "special"
ReplyDeleteWE EMPLOY THEM, we should decide on their raises and perks.
ReplyDeleteI don't object to congress receiving a decent wage, pension, and healthcare.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what we want for all Americans? So I think this is backwards.
Instead let's give all American workers what Congress gets.
At first I thought that was actually the point of this proposal, i.e. if Congress members knew they would only get the shitty pay and benefits that too many American workers receive, they would improve things for American workers, but this proposal appears to just be punitive.
I think that is very self-limiting and short-sighted. Make congress share the wealth, NOT have even more reason for only the already rich and priveleged be able to afford to run for congress.
What I DO object to is too many members of Congress behaving as though their main job is to be the Wall Street protection league.
And the reason for that is that Wall Street fills their compaign coffers.
PUBLIC FINANCING of campaigns, baby. ONLY.
Until we change 3 things about all Federal elective office positions, we are doomed to forever being at the beck and call of corrupt lobbyists and their ilk
ReplyDelete1) TERM LIMITS for Senators and House Reps. You do 12 years, and your done, full stop. NO more Strom Thurmonds or Robert Byrd's dominating a seat for 50 years.
2) ALL Federal elections for Pres, VP, Congress, are publicly funded by the US Treasury. Stops most of the corruption cold.
And no more million dollar "contributions" from China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia to pacs and political groups
3) ALL Federal office holders (including Judges, US attorneys, etc) must wait 10 years after leaving office before they can work for, consult with, or be part of any lobbying firm. Stiff fines and prison resulting.
And who might have to vote such laws into place, I might ask.
Do you think Congress would limit themselves like that?
Yep, this one has been around for a while. I had my hubby send it to me yesterday. Must have seen this 20 times in the last 2 years. Love Snopes. Hubby won't check so he just sends things to me, I look it up and give him the analysis.
ReplyDeleteYes, some good stuff here, but it is this kind of "legislation" information out there in cyberspace which effectively derails the conversation. We start talking about the veracity of the message, who wrote it, when, instead of the actual points of the message, what is actually true, what can be possible, and what should be possible.
There is a fantastic 99% Declaration circulating OWS:
ReplyDeletehttp://witsendnj.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupied-wall-street-journal.html
sounds like a "common sense" idea to me too. greed has been the motivation for too many of our politicians.
ReplyDeleteI would add that it be ILLEGAL for ANY ex-Representative or Senator to EVER become a lobbyist or work for any lobbying firm. EVER. Under a penalty of life imprisonment for treason.
ReplyDeleteIf it even smells like you're lobbying a current member of our government for any reason you go to jail forever. Period.
Ironclad. No exceptions.
Why does this need to BE a hoax. All it would take is one courageous congress person to propose it - or one courageous citizen to begin a "petition to Congress". If we are a nation "of the people", then WE have the power to make this happen.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 4:33 am mentions reps / sens living in dormitories - I have had this thought for several years. Either than, or each State purchases a house in DC that the State's elected congressional people live in TOGETHER. Congress members families should have to remain in the home state.
I really like "Congress critters" from Mistah Charlie, PhD.
Gotta love #2 but it needs to expand to any hired or appointed position that is paid by taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteI assume hourlys and Civil Servants are on SS, but anyone else on the Government income list certainly has to be.
Medicare also too is a must.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteGotta love #2 but it needs to expand to any hired or appointed position that is paid by taxpayers.
I assume hourlys and Civil Servants are on SS, but anyone else on the Government income list certainly has to be.
Medicare also too is a must.
12:48 PM
Federal employees hired before the early 80's (the first Reagan administration) participated in the Civil Service Retirement System. Federal employees who paid into this plan did not pay into, and do not receive, Social Security benefits for the time they were full-time Feds.
Those Feds hired after Reagan became president were put under a new system which includes Social Security. Three guesses as to why. Reagan never missed a chance to trash and screw over Feds.
Both groups contribute towards and receive Medicare benefits.
- Retired Fed
This completely misses the point. It's campaign finance and the revolving door that cause the real problems. A congressman's health care and compensation is peanuts compared to these other opportunities for self enrichment.
ReplyDeleteBig problem with term limits is that it wipes out institutional memory. Oregon tried term limits and quickly changed back. With permanent freshmen legislators lobbyists run everything. Since many lobbyists are in fact former legislators or other participants in that whole merry-go-round, they could run rings around duly elected representatives.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.factcheck.org/2011/03/congressional-reform-act/
ReplyDeleteFactcheck.org has also done an examination of this. I like the sentiment of it though.
Does it really matter if it is Buffet stuff or not? Does it matter if it is not true in it's inception? The matter is that it makes sense considering the mass mess in Congress and the seemingly unsolvable solutions to almost everything. Lets just accept the ideas as a good thing and someone with some power of the press, etc get on board with it and lets get it done.
ReplyDeleteIf the people get together and have enough signatures, Can't it get on a ballet for votes? There must be some lawyer's in OWS that can get it going!! Come on Law men do it!!
ReplyDeletebuffet's crony capitalism as its worst, he is a criminal and should be prosecuted.
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