As I know many people have, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to put some of the values of OWS into action to generate true change. Mind you, there’s a lot more to OWS than what my proposed amendment addresses. The Constitutional Amendment I am proposing is designed to eliminate corruption, level the playing field and improve upon the candidates we elect to represent our views. I think what’s most important to move our nation forward is having more honest leadership and removing corporate corruption in government.
Name of the Amendment: Honesty in Governance, The People’s Amendment…………not really sure what the right “catch phrase” should be. Open for suggestions.
Problem with the Nation: OWS is highlighting many of the socio-economic problems that exist in the United States today. “Wall Street” is the primary target because the central theme to OWS is that corporate corruption is the central part of the problem. Corporate greed has bought the government.
Democracy: In core theory, our democratic system of governance should be what’s right to elect leaders to guide our nation down the right path. If it weren’t for the “Problem”, we’d be on the right track. Our fore fathers laid down one of the best systems in history over 200 years ago to govern a nation fairly and unfortunately that system is unraveling and in need of repair.
Solution: Fix the “Problem”. Take corporate control and corruption out of government.
Problem with Occupy Wall Street: No focus. Too Extreme. I admire the passion of those demanding change, but there is a system of governance in place and turning over garbage cans in a public square isn’t going to accomplish anything. I think the movement is great for education and awareness, but it lacks direction to generate traction for true change.
Proposal: Constitutional Amendment #28
Problem with Constitutional Amendment #28: Amendments are approved by Congress. They’d never approve of it. So, this would be the first Amendment of sorts in that people would have to be extremely vocal and force such a drastic change into law. Essentially what I’m suggesting is that for such an Amendment to happen, you would need a movement for it, such as OWS or the Tea Party before it. Maybe Halfstar could make some T-shirts that say “I am the 28th Amendment” instead of “I am the 99%”
What I suggest for the Amendment:
1. Immediate repeal of Corporate Personhood.
2. 100% reform of campaign financing such that all campaigns for higher office federal positions are publicly funded.
3. Life-long sustained civic commitment to our country without corporate corruption for our elected leaders.
What I mean by #3 is that you can’t be bought going in, you can’t be bought while you’re in there and you can’t be bought when you’re out. If you elect to pursue a position at the highest level government, you forfeit your free market compensation value for the rest of your life whether you are still serving or return to the civilian work force. You enter into government to serve the people/nation only; not yourself or your friends. You want to serve our nation? Your compensation is capped for life at the maximum salary of your highest attained civic position.
To clarify: If you are elected a Senator in 2012 and return to the civilian workforce after the fact, the most you can earn in a year is the maximum salary you could attain in your civic career. Whether you chose to leave on your own accord or lose your position by not being elected, you can’t just go and take a job on XYZ company’s board of directors for 20 million a year. You can take a job with them, but your compensation is limited to the maximum level you could receive in your former position. In the case of Congress, that would currently be 223K. This applies to a president to. You want to be a president? Great, but the most you can earn per year following your departure from government is $400K.
Article 3 in Amendment 28 Enforcement: If a former member of our highest levels of political office receives compensation from private industry exceeding what is outlined, they will be committing a federal crime and serve time in jail. The penalty will be harsh. This sounds very extreme and anti-American, but I think we’ve reached a point where extreme measures need to be taken to eliminate corruption.
Summary: I think our country has the right framework for honest leadership. I think the loopholes allow the wrong candidates into positions of power that don’t have our nation’s best interests in mind.
Conclusion: It we get the right people in government who truly care about moving our nation in the right direction (not what’s best for their wallets and their friend’s wallet”) we can get back on the right track.
Sign’d
Captain teal dear.
(inside joke)
Just some ideas that I had been writing down over the past few weeks as I've been reading about many of the frustrations being communicated by protesters.
