NEVERQUIT'S SATURDAY RANT

And that is only what is visible on the surface. The secret back room deals, and the "below the radar" machinations by self-superior elitist combinations are bringing down our Nation. Unless some miraculous change in the present direction takes place soon, our Nation will be the laughing stock of the planet. And I see no miracles on the horizon at this point.

How to bring about change, I don't know. Some changes I'd like to see? These are the quick knee jerk ideas. Along with these, I recommend reading "CASE AGAINST THE REACTIONARIES", by Theodore Roosevelt - aka the "We Stand at Armageddon" Speech - Chicago, Illinois - June 17, 1912

http://www.theodore-...actionaires.pdf

I recommend the speech not so much for the exact specifics he speaks to, not the 1912 context. But his spirit and philosophy, and the lowest common denominator of the message, spirit.

Now, for the knee jerk ideas of a simple minded man:

#1 - New Term Limits on Senators and Representatives within State & Federal Government. 8 year terms for each Federal. Same rules between branches within the States.

#2 - Remove all money from the Special Interest Groups, PACS, and Lobbies. Despite recent bans of gifts to lawmakers, and limits on campaign contributions, lobyyists and groups can spend unlimited money to "honor" members of Congress or donate to non-profits connected to them or their relatives. This must completely and totally be eliminated. The "right to petition the government for a redress of grievances" in no manner suggests an aperatus to "honor" members of Congress with money, gifts, or any material influences.

#3 - The Stock Act is half hearted. It needs to be expanded. No member of Congress, Representative, Senator, appointee, or employee may invest in the Stock Market while in service to the government. No member of any Executive Administration or employee thereof, may invest in the Stock Market while in service to the government. 1*

#4 - The Healthcare insurance currently provided to members of the Legislative, Judicial and Executive should be eliminated and these people should be provided the same healthcare as enjoyed by the Military Community. This is not a monetary issue, it is ethical issue, and great for morale.

#5 - The current methods of campaigning need to be thoroughly meditated on, and serious changes made. The current "private" 2*, parliamentary based workings of the Democrat and Republican Parties, how members are chosen, how delegates and politicans are selected, how smaller and fringe parties are treated, all needs to
be examined. The schism in the early 1900's within the Republican Party needs to be given great consideration philosphically. I don't have an aswer other than this.

#6 - Immigration needs to be systematic and open enought to handle some discomfort. I firmly believe, and my heart swells when I hear "The New Colussus"; the words "Mother of Exiles" ring loudest. New DNA is good for the gene pool. Current laws need to be enforced, reviewed, rewritten. Border States must be included and the primary rewriters. Sanctuary states and cities must be dealt with directly. There is no other option but amnesty for those already here, they must be accepted and the flood gates closed. The childish bickering between the Federal Government and the States must end and it must end with the laws of the land being enforced, and current status of all alien residents resolved as citizens.

#7 - A Balanced Budget Amendment for all local, state and federal governments. The Deficits and Debt must be balanced. Glass-Steagall reinstated. 1999 FSMA(Gramm-Blilely Act) must be repealed. An Independant Audit of the Federal Government. 3***

#8 - All weapons systems and material support to the Military are to come from Domestic Producers only. (Military Bases on Foreign Soil obviously have needs from local sources)

#9 - Conduct a full and open review of the United Nations, including the direct, all inclusive monetary costs to our local, state and federal governments; the UN's utility and contribution to the interests of the United States in relation to it's costs to taxpayers.4***

#10 - Conduct a full and open review of all Foreign Aid, inclusive of all monetary costs to the United States in relation to their contributions to promoting the interests of the United States.4***

#11 - Conduct a full and open review of all Military Alliances, inclusive of all monetary costs to the United States in relation to their contributions to promoting the interests of the United States.4***

1* A special government service bond should be created, much like a 401K, for elected government workers and their staff. These people can take a % of their salary while in service, before taxes, and get a fair rate of return on it in a safe and conservative government fund. Five years after leaving office, this money may be collected and used in any manner.

2* Parties are not covered in the Constitution.

3* Conducted by private firm, selected by a board selected from Governors of the States. (States with debt and deficits are excluded membership from said new Board) As individual citizens we are required to balance our budgets and manage debt fairly to our creditors or incur penalties. So should governments, the Federal government must be the role model, not the prodigal son. Printing more money, while expanding the size, scope and influence of the Federal government while maintaining artificially low interest rates, and rolling over debt after debt is not a long term strategy for progress. It is a strategy for disaster. For all I know, it's moot, too late anyway. We're screwed.

4* With great power comes great responsibility and costs. However, if the United States Tax Payer, and soldier, is going to carry the major financial and physical burden of maintaining peaceful relations among nations, a higher influence upon said relations must be the return.

Any less, then I advocate absolute isolation and ease from the drain upon our treasury. I grow weary of being asked for help; agreeing and providing help, and the same people later complain about the job we did when we didn't even HAVE to help in the first place.

The rant continues.

Hear, hear! All that you have said is right, or at the very least on the right track.

I have to say though, nothing will change. The American people, and I am one, are lazy and stupid! Not all of us mind you, but enough to be the majority. So long as none of "them" are affected in great numbers, it will continue down this path to destruction.

I see it everyday. People walking or driving, living in their own little worlds, never thinking outside of their "circle" and even when they do they sit and do nothing because "what's one person gonna do" or "it doesn't affect me so who cares" or whatever the hell these people think.

Basically they float through existence, while everything including their freedoms are stripped away by the day. All in the name of security, or peace of mind, or whatever cockamamie bullshit the press is feeding them today. These folks, their happy with their lives, they believe this is a two party system, they believe in places like Berkeley and Harvard, take what the media tells them as gospel, and aspire to the average.

We used to be a country of people who soared for the heights, who revered intelligence and freedom, as opposed to fear and security. We prided ourselves on freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. Now it's all PROFIT, PROFIT! The people in this country, they are fools because they know not what they have. They are so tied up in their little lives, they can't see and aren't meant to see what's coming. Just wait for the derivatives market to crash! Did you know there's something like 3-5 companies holding over $200 TRILLION in derivatives? BTW that is only 3X WORLD GDP, yes THREE TIMES ALL THE WORLDS GDP, and oh yea the derivatives market is fragile, not to mention MUCH more of a gambling system than any other Wall Street sham or mechanism, but who cares right? Who cares? Doesn't affect me, right???

It's sad really, Rome is crumbling around us and because it's easier to bury their heads in sand than deal with the real problems at hand, people just turn a blind eye and hope it goes away. It's NOT GOING AWAY folks!

Anyway brother, I really appreciated your words, I am frustrated beyond frustrated like you, and frankly it's disheartening to see this once great country fall apart.

Yours Truly,
Living in an Angry, Hateful Vortex of Agony