Proposed 28th amendment

Amending the Constitution, so-called 28th amendment.  We have all received this in an email.
To clarify this message, the proposal is in plain print, my opinions in blue, links are in pale.print.


I have received this several times in the last two years.   It was proposed almost to the letter in 2008-2009-2010 now 2011. I don't mind getting it as a social issue. Disturbing,  people  forwarding it do not understand the process. It would seem we  start by forwarding emails and then we get involved, attend rallies, support good candidates and work against bad politicians. If we do nothing that is what we get, nothing.  It is all we can ever hope for, nothing. Our grandchildren's future is hopeless.   Ours as we age and become more vulnerable is bleak.  It sounds cold and negative but I am afraid it is reality.  Please, continue if you have time.

Amending the constitution appears to be easy, sounding great, and it has merit.  However, the originators of this message formulating the 28th amendment forget a few minor details.   It is not a simple task.  We had a health care battle that lasted for 2.5 years and will continue on for months to come and 60% of the people were against it. Washington does what it wants, when it wants. Their self-interest and quest for greed override the American public's. This would not be in the best interest of anyone aligned with enablement from the government. Enabled are, illegal immigrants, unions or each time we look for government intervention or involvement  we qualify. The special interest groups are the people with the death grip on our politicians, they put them in office and keep them in office regardless of ineptness.   People that work, pay taxes, good Americans are not standing together. Our personal ideologies without compromise divide us rendering us vulnerable.  We are overwhelmed by special interest groups.  Frankly, the people that receive enablement and do not pay taxes outnumber the people that do at the polls. If we demonize millionaires, the politicians gain the support of the enabled population and they in turn take from the middle class.  I know.  They are proposing social change of increasing the middle class by diminishing the wealth of the affluent making them part of  the middle class.  The demonetization of wealth and success are concept of Socialism, Marxism and Socialism.  It also appears to be prevalent in the Muslim culture.

This e-mail proposal is inaccurate, at best it shows imagination. Congress is not going to shoot itself in the foot unless controlled with a majority of two thirds (66%) Tea Party candidates, in the Republican or Democratic party, both in the House and the Senate. We'll all be dead by that time, but we can hope. The alternative is that 2/3 of the states (34) would have to call for a constitutional convention.  Three-quarters (37) would have to ratify the proposals. There are a lot of Blue (Democrat) states out there that would not even entertain these proposals.  Do you think Massachusetts would entertain such a proposal?  So, that is where we stand, change the music, change the dance. We need a responsive two party systems in every state accountable to the Taxpayer, not unions, or illegal immigrants, or special interest groups. Tea Party scrutinized, they cannot do it by themselves apparently?

Here is one we can all agree on. (No, we cannot agree)
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Because of the Vietnam War and not wanting to serve in a war zone, there were riots in every major American City. We were on the edge of anarchy. Simple! No, very distressing that people have such short memories. The people demanded it. That was in 1971 . . . before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones. This is a refresher of the early 70's.  We were on the fringes of anarchy. I don't think anyone wants to revisit people being shot in the streets by the military. The prudent approach is who we vote out, and whom we vote in. Deciding on what movie to watch tonight or ball game to view, or what to have for dinner 
is important.  Just forwarding the message to ease our conscience is not going to accomplish much.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land . . . all because of public pressure. This is silly and does not need addressing.  I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

If it is only going to take three days why have I received it many times in the last 24 months? Can you hear me now?  In the 2010 Elections Massachusetts still voted in the same caliber of people, this emphasized apathy of the voters. Only we can help ourselves out of the rut.

Proposed Congressional Reform Act of 2011 - Great, with a TEA Party, President, Senate and House we could get it.
1. Term Limits. - 12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office (they are not of the same stature as the President). True, it is a miracle that so many start relatively failures economically and leave public office wealthy.  

3. 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. They have since 1984.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. They do, but with a six to eight million dollar budget per Senate office and a  four million dollar per Representative's office it is a little easier. Budgets scrutinized?   They steal more during their term in office than most Americans can make in a lifetime. Nobody leaves office that is not very wealthy that I can find. The kicker is their re-election  campaign funds and the creative ways to keep the money.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. How about if the price of oil and food goes up, their salary decreases?
Decrease, is the key word here. If they are not watchful, they lose, never mind about not getting more. They lose with us that are retired. The 27th amendment to the constitution to limit the salaries of Congress, it has never been endorsed in Massachusetts. We really need to change the music in this state.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the one they saw fit to put into law for the American people. This will be cured once we scrap Obamacare. Sixty percent (60%) of Americans did not want it but Congress did so anyway, we got it. It is now rumored that there are provisions that we cannot get out of. Our only real hope is that the Supreme Court Review of this declares it unconstitutional.

7. Congress must equally abide by ALL laws they impose on the American people. They do, but we must take into account those that have a past/present criminal record or character disorder.  Unsavory politicians are kept in office by misinformed constituents. Change the music, change the dance. I think any crime associated with the public office held (public trust) would have a minimum sentence resulting in a 10-year incarceration. We know what crooks are about our last three speakers of the house in Massachusetts  were indicted, all Democrat..

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. We're a little late, of course this letter comes around often.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen 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. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time. Great concept! Now let's tell them the truth and stop the bull.


This is where we need to get a grip on reality.  We could join our local Tea Party or get involved with  discussion groups.  Forwarding a message is not going to solve the problems of the country.  It is a little more complex.  You only forward it to get more people off their butts and into the street. If you do not care, roll over and have another beer.   The people occupying lower Manhattan do not want their enablement to end and are working toward that goal.  They want more of what they have not worked for.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS! You care if you are reading this.  Take the extra step and get involved. Let's declare the game over and send the present team in the White House to the showers. If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete this message, you are one of my 20+. Please keep it going. Nothing, I repeat, nothing is cured by petitions they are a voice but that voice has to be backed up by public support at demonstrating our objections and support in opposition to what we do not want. Tea Party Candidates at the polls?  I really don’t see a more creative solution.  I have mentioned the Tea Party several times and realize there are readers that do not enjoy the concept.  I could take a moment to explain our options:
If we are Republican, we can attempt to nominate good candidates.  Understand their platform of commitments and hold them accountable, they work for us. This is a Tea Party concept.
 If we are Democrat, conservative, please, we need to weigh our options to get the government that is best for us.  Often we find we share the same ideals.  Make the candidate of your choosing accountable.
If you are an Independent, get involved.  A conservative Independent is a fence sitter.   Having one vote that is in all likelihood, not the deciding vote but in conjunction with other conservative voters, it is a beginning.
At some point like I did after 34 years I got sick of sitting on my hands.   The time would be probably better spent improving the Republican Party and voting in unity.  For whatever is wrong with it there is nothing so distasteful that it can not marginalized. If you are a Liberal voter, I wish you luck, we are not on the same team.  We'll carry and take care of you.  Try not to be such a burden.


peterR