What can be done to defuse America?

[HeyYou]

I'm sure all kinds of exemptions will be included in a balanced budget amendment, not the least of which would be for "national security" etc etc. But the point is, to qualify for a convention 2/3 of states must request one on the same issue. A balanced budget amendment is just the foot in the door for systemic changes.

Trouble is, the constitutional convention is only for adding/changing/removing amendments to the constitution. Do you think it likely that a term limit amendment for congress would actually pass muster? Any proposed amendments would also need to be ratified by two thirds of the states.......

[Aurielius]

 

I'm sure all kinds of exemptions will be included in a balanced budget amendment, not the least of which would be for "national security" etc etc. But the point is, to qualify for a convention 2/3 of states must request one on the same issue. A balanced budget amendment is just the foot in the door for systemic changes.

Trouble is, the constitutional convention is only for adding/changing/removing amendments to the constitution. Do you think it likely that a term limit amendment for congress would actually pass muster? Any proposed amendments would also need to be ratified by two thirds of the states.......

 

To my knowledge five states have rescinded their call for a Constitutional Convention, whether they have the authority to rescind a request is still an unresolved constitutional legal question.

[TheMastersSon]

 

I'm sure all kinds of exemptions will be included in a balanced budget amendment, not the least of which would be for "national security" etc etc. But the point is, to qualify for a convention 2/3 of states must request one on the same issue. A balanced budget amendment is just the foot in the door for systemic changes.

Trouble is, the constitutional convention is only for adding/changing/removing amendments to the constitution. Do you think it likely that a term limit amendment for congress would actually pass muster? Any proposed amendments would also need to be ratified by two thirds of the states.......

 

According to polls three out of four of us favor term limits for Congress. Cronyism and corruption are inevitable, the best we can do is limit the damage by imposing term limits on all federal offices, even our courts.

[HeyYou]

 

 

I'm sure all kinds of exemptions will be included in a balanced budget amendment, not the least of which would be for "national security" etc etc. But the point is, to qualify for a convention 2/3 of states must request one on the same issue. A balanced budget amendment is just the foot in the door for systemic changes.

Trouble is, the constitutional convention is only for adding/changing/removing amendments to the constitution. Do you think it likely that a term limit amendment for congress would actually pass muster? Any proposed amendments would also need to be ratified by two thirds of the states.......

 

According to polls three out of four of us favor term limits for Congress. Cronyism and corruption are inevitable, the best we can do is limit the damage by imposing term limits on all federal offices, even our courts.

 

Doesn't matter what the general populace thinks. We pretty much have no say in a CC. We can suggest, but, it is still the politicians that are running the show. Do you think 3 out of 4 potential congresspeople are going to be wanting term limits?

[TheMastersSon]

If you've followed the job approval numbers for Congress, which have hovered around single digits the last 40 years, disenfranchisement in a free republic is not eternally sustainable. So yes I think enough states and their elected reps (who are nothing other than private citizens acting as public servants) have washed their hands of federal policy, on everything from immigration safe havens to cannabis legalization etc etc, that change not only will be but currently is being demanded, and was primarily responsible for our current president. Multiple articles claim Republicans have control of enough state legislatures (5-7 depending on how you figure it) to trigger a convention, because a balanced budget amendment is a right-wing hot button.

[HeyYou]

Well, congress has had low approval numbers for several decades. That doesn't come as a surprise. Perhaps the fact that those voters that you seem to think are disenfranchised, continually put them back in office, even though they don't think they are doing a good job, should tell you something......

[TheMastersSon]

The simple truth is that both parties are beholden to and controlled by the exact same multinational mafia and special interests, so inevitably our "choice" isn't. As Obama just proved by eight years of watching our treasury bleed to totalitarian Communism without lifting a finger to stop it, what occupies our White House now and since Nixon are simply mouthpieces for this machine regardless of party. Which I think was your original comment or something close to it. :)

[HeyYou]

The simple truth is that both parties are beholden to and controlled by the exact same multinational mafia and special interests, so inevitably our "choice" isn't. As Obama just proved by eight years of watching our treasury bleed to totalitarian Communism without lifting a finger to stop it, what occupies our White House now and since Nixon are simply mouthpieces for this machine regardless of party. Which I think was your original comment or something close to it. :smile:

Pretty much. :D

 

Which is also why I really don't expect anything to change. Having to buy off another set of congressfolk every few years would be expensive. So, just keep the already bought and paid for folks in there. It's easier, it's cheaper, it's more effective for "them".

[TheMastersSon]

Graft taken just once is good for a lifetime of political influence. That's the problem. A single Lindsey Graham or Diane Feinstein or Orrin Hatch costs our country literally trillions of dollars, because of their perpetual re-election for decades. Term limits would eliminate this potential for long-term corruption of a given set of politicians or by a given set of special interest groups.

[HeyYou]

Graft taken just once is good for a lifetime of political influence. That's the problem. A single Lindsey Graham or Diane Feinstein or Orrin Hatch costs our country literally trillions of dollars, because of their perpetual re-election for decades. Term limits would eliminate this potential for long-term corruption of a given set of politicians or by a given set of special interest groups.

I agree. And that is exactly why it will never happen. :) The folks with the money make the rules. or block rules that would interfere with their goals.