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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Suggestions for Improving the Federal Government.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the government and what needs to change and what improvements need to be made. While I have never claimed to be a political animal, here are my two cents worth.

1. Vote EVERY incumbent out of office. If change is truly needed, then let's start with a clean slate!
2. Regardless of who you vote for president, split your vote between the house and senate. Vote for one party in the senate and the other in the house. I don't believe any party should have complete control of the government.
3. Increase the House terms to four years. Nothing gets done in two years and these people are now running for re-election full time.
4. Three terms in the house (per item 3) or two terms in the senate and your done! It appears that most scandals involve long time members of Congress. Don't allow them to become so entrenched that they consider themselves above the law.
5. Only voter approved issues may be discussed during the campaign (health care, education, military issues, etc.). No name calling, etc.
6. Campaign spending limits. No candidate is allowed to buy the election by virtue of the ability to raise a war chest and simply out spend their opponent for campaign ads.
7. An independent jury of 13 voters approves all campaign ads.
8. No candidate may declare their intentions nor file for office before Jan. 2 of any election year. The first primary will be held on March 1, and the last primary on May 25.
9. No radio or television talking heads are allowed during an election year. Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken can take a long, and much needed vacation.
10. All television coverage of debates must be void of on going graphs, charts, score cards or any attempt to tell me who is winning or losing the debate (cough, CNN, cough). Quit trying to influence my opinion. I am perfectly capable of coming to my own conclusions.
11. The two presidential candidates must spend 30 days on the campaign trail together and share a room. They might actually find that they have more in common than they have differences.
12. Each candidate must open and close every debate with prayer. Maybe if they are reminded that they are accountable to a higher power, they will act a little more civilized. Maybe not.
13. Vote!!! Incredible visionaries gave birth to this great nation. Incredible men and women of valor have given their lives in battle that we might freely pursue happiness. You have more than a right to vote, you have an obligation to improve this country. God bless America, and Lord, please save us from ourselves.

18 comments:

Sandee said...

Not participating, but wanted to say...AMEN! Have a great day sweetie. Big hug. :)

Anonymous said...

Mind you, the 2 candidates may kill each other if forced to share a room!

SJ Reidhead said...

I like your list. The only exception voting out incumbents is my friend Lindsey.

I think the spending on this election is just plain obscene.

A friend emailed and suggested we not encourage people to vote if they're not voting for McCain/Palin!

SJR
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/10/15/3932491.html

SandyCarlson said...

May we live up to the vision of the visionaries!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

Everyone can agree on #13

Travis Cody said...

I agree on many of your points, in particular the need to vote.

However, I don't agree that debates should be opened and closed with prayer as a requirement. Who's prayer? This is a pluralistic society with many different religious beliefs, and some who hold no religious preference at all. That kind of requirement presupposes that all persons utilize that form of spiritual expression.

I certainly respect anyone's right to pray based on his own spirituality, but I also believe that such expressions are individual.

DrillerAA said...

Sandee; Thank you.
nicholas: Obviously my goal is team building.
riedhead; Your friend will find other work, trust me.
Sandy; I would hope that we are simply good stewards of the vision.
Marcia; I would hope so.
Travis: Well, No. 12 was done mostly tounge-n-cheek, but I would just like everyone to not be quite so full of themselves and lead us to believe that they are going to be our savior. It's not going to happen.

Robin said...

Here, here! I concur on many points!

Critical thinking, in my opinion...is requirement one.

Don't "trust" the media, research the issues and what they mean to you.

When the Obama campaign says people who make under "250,000" a year won't be taxed...then who's gonna pay food stamps, section 2 housing? Where's that moeny coming from?

My company makes more than that, on paper, we are struggling to stay afloat. with fuel prices the way they are...I write /and receive huge checks every month....but what I deposit into my personal account, for the mortgage, groceries, utilities...is a lot less than most people bring home who don't have to worry about payroll and such.

But I get taxed on all of it. Personal is a wash, we don't get a return. Business, we pay out the yiing yang.

I stand by people in the grocery store with a Cadiallac Escalade who just cashed their two week paycheck for $2,289 dollars and used $300 worth of food stamps to buy their groceries.

Then I put my half gallon of milk and case of diet coke (I splurge now and again!) on the backseat of my 2004 Jeep Cherokee. Paid for, in full.

And look at the groceries and the Cadillace Escalade pulling out in front of me...and know, heck, paid for that too.

Bitter?

Maybe?!

Loving your ideas..oh yeah!

Hootin Anni said...

I could barely get past your very first on the list! You don't know how many times I've said this to all I know who really care and WANT change.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my Thursday blog. You made my day!! Hope your day treats you well.

storyteller said...

What a ‘thoughtfully stimulating’ T-13! I could support many of these ideas whole heartedly … starting with #7. I’m sooooo tired of ‘negative ads’ that contribute NOTHING to my understanding of what the candidates will do about the issues that concern me most!!! Number 11 is most intriguing … I suspect you’re correct and #12 seems most appropriate to me. I’m with you about encouraging everyone to VOTE and that’s one reason I initially shared (and currently leave) the ‘video’ at the top of each of my blogs.
Hugs and blessings,

Meju said...

Amen to #5...perhaps we should wire them to lie detectors during debates? Happy TT.

Anonymous said...

I sure am with you on #9 !

Amy, aka ABB said...

LOVE the list, although #9-12 will never happen. Sometimes I think the candidates/incumbents are so insulated from the "real" world, that they lose sight of real people. I mean all the real people who are not at these rallies and fundraisers. The ones who have no disposable income to contribute to the campaign. The ones who are not used to serve as an example (i.e. Joe the plumber). The ones who barely have time to even look at a newspaper because they're working 2 jobs and still trying raise a family.
I firmly believe in term limits for the Senate and House. You made a pretty good list, you political animal!!!

DoubleDeckerBusGuy said...

A goodly list... though I do worry about what Nicholas said being a touch too accurate. It would be nice to hear about how to fix the country's issues for a change... and not who's senile, who's a terrorist, who's "history challenged", and who's rotten as an employer.

Travis Cody said...

Good point! And that I definitely agree with.

DrillerAA said...

Robin: Looks like I hit a nerve.

Annie: Sometimes change is a good thing. Sometimes not.

Storyteller; You mean I'm finally stimulating? Who knew?

Meju; No, the constant buzzing from the machine would be distracting.

Jenn; Maybe a one way ticket is in order.

Amy; Maybe we should rename the nation's capital to Fantasy Land.

Matthew; If you can't say anything good about someone, then don't say anything at all. Would that mean that the debates would be canceled?

Travis; Thank you sir.

DoubleDeckerBusGuy said...

Debate is good... and necessary... but debate, at some point, should include some capitulation towards a common goal.

...not mudslinging.

Angie said...

I am way behind on reading posts, obviously, but I LOVE this. LOVE. We need to vote this into law ASAP!