Congress and Elections

Congress

The United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate have now gone far beyond their needed purpose. The original intent was to be 'citizen' legislators. To have real jobs and convene for a short time when needed. Boy, has that concept slipped. The current purpose is to get elected, meet all year long, get as much 'bootie' as you can for yourself and your constituents, get reelected and do the same over and over again, and hope you don't get caught. Our elected officials raise so much money, take 'free research trips', etc., they pretty much live like 'nobels' from the 16th century. Congress' forced social agenda contributed mightily to the current financial crisis by forcing loans to unqualified borrowers, then as these loans were readily 'flipped' from investment firm to investment firm, and when the 'value' of the assets were driven up at each step, they eventually had to come crashing down. How many times will this type thing happen with Congress 'asleep at the wheel'?

Being an engineer, I would like to make an analogy, and compare 'Congress' and engineers. In many large companies around the world, large engineering staff's exist. And, over some years, the culture often grows that the engineers job is to do large projects. It gets to the point that the engineering group 'creates' projects, whether thay are really needed or not, just so they have something to do. They work fiercely to support the need for the project in the attempt to convince upper management that the project is needed very badly, when often times it is not. Fortunately, in a business, management says no to those types of projects. No one in our government says no.

I see 'Congress' with the same mentality. Since they are in Washington all year, they have to meet, create 'bills', hold hearings over the most obscure things, if they can hold hearings on members of the other party to show they are bad people, etc. just to justify their job, and salary. I suggest that congress meet only February, March, and possibly August of each year, that their salary be reduced to $12,000 for each month that they meet. They must come prepared to WORK during that time, because if they don't they will not get anything accomplished, and, come to think of it, maybe that would be a good thing. The rest of the year they would have to get a real job. Lobbying, campaign fundraising, special trips, etc. would be minimized. The congress should only be concerned with the 'large federal issues' mentioned earlier, and not dwell into the sex lives of frogs, roads to nowhere, where military bases would be (that is the job of the military), etc. Approve a budget to carry out the limited government envisiged and other bills to correct serious issues that have arisen since the previous session. That's IT! They had over a year to solve the 'Fiscal Cliff' issue and it comes down to getting something done over New Year weekend. They didn't want to deal with it during a 'campaign season', but did nothing since the elections - nearly 2 months! CRAZINESS!!!!!!

That brings me to 'Term Limits'. I believe that if Congress was restricted to meeting only a couple of months of the year, this issue may resolve itself, however, why be half sure. There seems to be no logical reason that the President of the United States has his/her time for serving as President limited to two terms, or 8 years, and not have the same for Congress. Look at some current office holders (not yet updated for recent election results):

Chuck Grassley ~48 years, Iowa
Ed Markey  ~46 years, Massachusetts
Ron Widen  ~42 years, Oregon
Chuck Schumer ~ 42 years, New York
Hal Rogers ~ 42 years, Kentucky
Chris Smith, 42 years, New Jersey
and many more over 35 years, and it goes on, and on, and on ............

and on and on, and on and on. And, many of the Senators listed above have served several terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, making their stay much longer. It is hard for me to believe that there are not a large number of very competent citizens in each of those states and congressional districts who could have brought new and possibly exciting ideas to the Congress during parts of the 'reigns' of these long term incumbents. Unfortunately, being the incumbent allows the ability to collect and stockpile considerable funds for reelection campaigns, pass out 'favors' and 'capital booty' to thier state and constituents, and receive unfettered access to press and name recognition which is almost impossible for a challenger to overcome. Setting limits of 4 terms, 8 years - the same time the President is limited to, for United States Representatives, and 2 terms, 12 years for Senators, 4 years longer than allowed for serving as President. Those terms would be more than ample time to share any ideas that anyone may have. There would be no loss in continuity and that gives any politician up to 20 years, 28 if they serve as President, plus additional time if the serve as Vice President. Isn't that enough? Let's stop the dynastic Congressional 'trip to the trough'!

Elections

This election fraud mess has gotten ridiculous during this COVID-19 crisis! We apparently have groups like Acorn, SEIU, etc. actually intending, and directing people, to fraudulently register unqualified, dead, or non-existant voters. Not letting Republicans monitor the vote opening and counts, Governors and Secretaries of State for the various States changing election rules and processes that can only lawfully be changed by the State Legislatures. For gosh sakes, even a third world country like Brazil seems to be able to get voting right. It uses a computerized system with photos of the candidates, since many can't read and write. Voting is a law that every qualified voter has to vote, and they get about 95+% turnout I am told.

So, here we go again, as in the immigration section. Every citizen of the United States must have a passport. There is a read-only passport file somewhere in the government used by Homeland Security to screen people reentering the United States. How hard would it be for each precinct to have access to a current read only file of passport holders and numbers in that precinct? Duh, not that hard! When someone comes in to vote, or requests an absentee ballot - which can only be requested in person, or through the military, etc. using the same verification process, the precinct would verify the person and passport number with the file, send in an electronic note that the person with that passport number has signed in to vote. If it is discovered later that the passport number signed in to vote in multiple precints or absentee, that person would be liable under the voter fraud laws.

Campaigns

Our country’s political campaigns have gone far beyond freedom of choice and freedom of speech. The current campaign system is promoting, even perpetualizing, an ever increasingly egalitarian ‘ruling class’. Just consider the good deeds that may have been accomplished using the nearly $2.00 billion which was spent by the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Presidential candidates on advertising for each of those last 3 election cycles.   How much was spent for the Senate and House races? Most national campaigns are now almost 2 years long. Why so much money? Why so long? That is what politicians do. This has to change! In 2016, the Republican 'debates' have become a cottage industry for local tv stations, TV networks and candidates. And, most of it is crap!

I propose, no I demand, a new system. First, any campaign for a federal office, that being for a member of the House of Representatives, the Senate, or for President/Vice President, may only begin within 3 months of the election in question. The election might be a primary election or a general election. This requirement would be binding on any candidate, group, or organization under penalty of law. If you can’t get your positions across in 3 months, 6 months if a primary is included, you shouldn’t be a candidate for anything! Also, no primary election, caucus, or binding candidate decision making process may be held by any state more than 6 months ahead of a national general election, held biennially the first Tuesday in November.

Secondly, since the vast majority of the campaign money is spent on television advertising, the number of minutes any candidate, group, or organization (such as a 527 group, and why do those even exist? - but that is for another day) receives will be limited for campaign advertising. And, since our federal government grants the licenses to the networks and stations, there is no reason a campaign should provide the windfall profits that the television networks, public networks, major networks, or cable networks, receive during campaign ‘seasons’. All advertising, which will be limited as described below, will be made available to the candidates for a federal office at no charge to the candidates. That will do three things: 1) It eliminates some of the incentive the networks now have for stretching the campaigns out as long as possible, 2) It will help level the playing field for all candidates. 3) It will help reduce the ‘richest person or group wins’ because they can flood the airways, satellite space, and cable lines with more ‘face time’ with the public, 4) It allows any candidate unlimited time as a guest on television interview programs where someone is there to ask questions. Candidates must choose when, where, and how to use the allocated advertising time wisely, because that is all that will be available.

The election playing field must be leveled! This ‘ruling class’ system we currently have must be changed. Unfortunately, those that are empowered to make the necessary changes are those in that ‘ruling class’! They are not inclined to put any term limits or campaign limtsa on themselves. The only way we, as citizens, can make it happen is through consistent pressure, consistent protest, and consistent outrage to these elected officials. Let us no longer be the 'silent majority', but rather the 'vocal majority'.  We must all be willing to be leaders of that 'vocal majority' effort. We must have real change!

So, let us discuss how the advertising minutes might be limited.

House of Representatives

Each candidate for the House of Representatives will receive only 400 minutes of advertising time during the 3 month campaign periods described above. This advertising time would be determined if the advertisement is viewable in 25% or more of the district on any local or regional broadcast station or cable or satellite station. All candidates may appear as many times as they wish on any talk program, interview program, or similar type program provided that program has been continuously aired for at least 12 months prior to the election date for the election, primary or general, being campaigned for. The television networks and/or stations will report ads aired weekly by the candidate, group, or organization supporting ‘their candidate’ or opposing ‘another candidate’. The election commission will publish the summary of the weekly advertising minutes and ‘campaign to date total minutes’ each week. Any station or network agreeing to the airing of advertising once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine. Any candidate, group, or organization airing adds once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine and possible incarceration. The election playing field must be leveled! This ‘ruling class’ system we currently have must be changed.

Senate

Each candidate for the Senate will receive 1,600 minutes of advertising time, statewide, during any of the 3 month campaign periods described above. This advertising time would be determined if the advertisement is viewable in the state of residence on any local, regional, or national broadcast network or station, or cable or satellite network or station. All candidates may appear as many times as they wish on any talk program, interview program, or similar type program provided that program has been continuously aired for at least 12 months prior to the election date for the contest being campaigned for. The television networks and/or stations will report ads aired weekly by the candidate, group, or organization supporting ‘their candidate’ or opposing ‘another candidate’. The election commission will publish the summary of the weekly advertising minutes and ‘campaign to date total minutes’ each week. Any station or network agreeing to the airing of advertising once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine. Any candidate, group, or organization airing adds once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine and possible incarceration. The election playing field must be leveled! This ‘ruling class’ system we currently have must be changed.

President

Each candidate for President will receive 1,600 minutes of advertising time in each state, during any statewide primary 3 month campaign period. This advertising time would be determined if the advertisement on any local or regional broadcast station, or cable or satellite network or station viewable anywhere in that state. There are no national primaries, so no national network time will be available to candidates until 3 months before the national general election date.

For the national general election, each final candidate on the national general election ballot for president will receive 12,000 minutes of nationwide broadcast, cable, or satellite network advertising in addition to an additional 1,600 minutes of advertising on any local or regional broadcast station, or cable or satellite network or station viewable anywhere in that state

All candidates may appear as many times as they wish on any talk program, interview program, or similar type program provided that program has been continuously aired for at least 12 months prior to the election date for the contest being campaigned for. The television networks and/or stations will report ads aired weekly by the candidate, group, or organization supporting ‘their candidate’ or opposing ‘another candidate’. The election commission will publish the summary of the weekly advertising minutes and ‘campaign to date total minutes’ each week. Any station or network agreeing to the airing of advertising once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine. Any candidate, group, or organization airing adds once a candidate’s total has been reached will face significant fine and possible incarceration.

In summary, nations, cultures, and systems of civilized populations evolve over time. This has happened since ancient humans first started ruling themselves. Eventually, more often than not, some of these civilizations evolve into systems more favorable to the 'ruling class' that is invariably created. Throughout history, when this occurs, the ruled population rebels and overthrows the 'ruling class', through 'riot in the streets' type violence, if necessary. I am not advocating an overthrow of the 'ruling class' through violence. But, if we don't act now to correct the current situation, I am very concerned we may eventually get to that. Look at what we now have as a result of the current campaign - Rich vs. Poor redistribution of wealth tax proposals, Old vs. Young Social Security change proposals, in some areas now, increasing racial division.

Let us accomplish the necessary changes using the American system - the election system and the legislative system.