sent to me by my dear friend Liz Bailey -
"Salary of retired US Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . $180,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of House/Senate members . . . . . . . . $174,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House . . . . . . . . . . $223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders . . . . . . . . $193,400 FOR LIFE
Average Salary of a teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,065
Average Salary of a deployed Soldier . . . . . . . $38,000 ( I think we found where the cuts should be made! ).
Warren Buffet, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:
"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.
[RL adds: I heard another good quote the other day, from Nobel Prize-winning economist Joe Stiglitz: "The whole shutdown is nonsense. Congress passes laws saying how much money should be spent; Congress passes laws saying how much revenue (i.e. taxes) should be raised. The difference between the two, is 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.
[RL adds: I heard another good quote the other day, from Nobel Prize-winning economist Joe Stiglitz: "The whole shutdown is nonsense. Congress passes laws saying how much money should be spent; Congress passes laws saying how much revenue (i.e. taxes) should be raised. The difference between the two, is the deficit."
In other words, Congress made the deficit. My solution to the deficit is simple: Tax the rich and corporations. No problem. Why would the people not vote for that in millions, if politicians had the balls to offer it to them? Remember - `From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs'.]
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 - before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is 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.
Congressional Reform Act of 2013
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is 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.
Congressional Reform Act of 2013
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.
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 12/1/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.
Congress 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. Don't you think it's time?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!
If you agree, pass it on. If not, delete.
You are one of my 20+ - Please keep it going, and thanks"
