Things that must go:
Senators make $174,000, which is more than 95% of americans make- and that is not counting all the perks.
No term limits- John Kerry is the junior senator for his state and has been a senator since 1985. Politics is not real life, it is Daes Dae'mar(nerd reference) and is an alternate reality full of games, perks, and self-importance. I don't really feel that a person living that kind of lifestyle for any amount of time can relate to me, much less represent the common man. Out of the 300 millions Americans, I hope that there are more than 100 people fit to serve as senators- we can afford to limit them to 12 yrs. Don't worry they get great retirement and health benefits.
Multi-million dollar election campaigns- the ones with the most money often win.... does that sound right? I have no idea how to address this issue, but something needs to be done. It would seem that many Presidents are somewhat beholden to those that, in effect, got them elected by donating to their campaigns.
Representation without taxation- 40% of americans pay no income tax, but are able through their votes to control how that money is spent (and how much). The top 10% of earners pay 72.4% of the income tax burden. If you are a politician, who do you want to cater to? you need to cater to the bigger group with more votes so that you can get re-elected a million times and keep your huge salary and perks. Is there any wonder that there is more and more government spending? If you don't contribute to the pot, why do you get such a large say in how it is spent?
Commercial Break blast- Have you ever noticed that commercials are like 20 decibels louder than the show you are watching? Right when I am slipping into a nice sugar coma during Conan O'Brien BAM! super loud car commercial with alarms going off. Does that sell more cars somehow?
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Nice post. Really agree the term limits for legislators. Sort of ridiculous. Also, Supreme Court Terms? Maybe?
ReplyDeleteRe: Voting privilege without taxation. I'm not sure I'm with you on this one, or at least I'm not understanding your full perspective. How do you account for people who don't pay income because of socioeconomic problems outside of their control? Do they not deserve that right, or is there no such thing as externally-inflicted poverty? I guess the scenario I'm envisioning is sort of a structurally reinforced distribution of wealth away from the middle class and to the wealthy -- pushing the middle class into poverty, where they can't vote to take the power back, because they don't "contribute" to the pot anymore.
And commercials suck. That's why I've sworn off television and stick to 100% video game playing during free time.
Amen Mikey. You are so on the money. About the politics and the commercials...
ReplyDeleteI am not really proposing that they not be able to vote, but rather that they must pay taxes. I may be crazy, but I would rather pay more in welfare and have those same people pay it back at tax time than have them be completely free of the negative consequences of their voting. Any ideas on how to work this out?
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