How much does a Senator cost?

[henry quirk]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I wonder if a term limit of a term or two would tempt congress critters to accept cash or a promise of a post term job to vote a certain way on certain bill.
What the hell, why not grab the brass ring, can't run for reelection.

Cash can be camouflaged, buy a used car from a relative for 3 million dollars, buy an island and sell it to him/her for a dollar after leaving office, or bury valuable shit on his/her property to be found.

Many of them go to work as lobbyists or employees of companies they supported after leaving anyway.

Mebbe the best solution is to minimize our need for 'em, reduce 'em to mere employees, trim down the mechanism of governance to a bare minimum, and then hold it all in place with our foot on their necks.

just sayin' (again and again and again and...)

[xoxoxoBruce]

Easier said than done, if they're making laws they have power, if they aren't who is? Someone(s) gotta have that power.

In theory if any congress critter who doesn't adhere to the will of the people gets culled. That was semi-reasonable when there was a smattering of people being coached by a few clerics and community pillars, and no TV to distract them. But 350 million people with a couple hundred million opinions becomes constipated.

The saviour riding into town on a horse rented on credit is political parties, dozens of them. They would organize the hoards into effective control of congress. But they had to fight tooth and nail for control, not of congress but of people so they could pay for their rented horse. Eventually is was down to two empires built and maintained by a public who buy the founding slogans and can't be bothered paying attention anymore. The outlier parties come and go on slow news days but don't count as they don't have power.

So who makes the laws and who controls them? Sure ain't the people, they're watching Netflix.

[henry quirk]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Easier said than done, if they're making laws they have power, if they aren't who is? Someone(s) gotta have that power.

In theory if any congress critter who doesn't adhere to the will of the people gets culled. That was semi-reasonable when there was a smattering of people being coached by a few clerics and community pillars, and no TV to distract them. But 350 million people with a couple hundred million opinions becomes constipated.

The saviour riding into town on a horse rented on credit is political parties, dozens of them. They would organize the hoards into effective control of congress. But they had to fight tooth and nail for control, not of congress but of people so they could pay for their rented horse. Eventually is was down to two empires built and maintained by a public who buy the founding slogans and can't be bothered paying attention anymore. The outlier parties come and go on slow news days but don't count as they don't have power.

So who makes the laws and who controls them? Sure ain't the people, they're watching Netflix.

yep...

Like I say: minimize our need for 'em, reduce 'em to mere employees, trim down the mechanism of governance to a bare minimum, and then hold it all in place with our foot on their necks.

Step the First: quietly, as you can, minimize your need for 'em...don't seek approval...don't advertise it...just self-rely more.

Even that little bit means a lot.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That can be a costly maneuver, the local Harley dealer got a permit to remodel. The work progressed and when the started framing for a second floor the township said whoa, that permit doesn't allow you to go up, and everyday that framing is up means another couple thousand dollar fine.
That's just the locals, the state would probably send the National Guard, and the Feds send Warthogs.

[henry quirk]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

That can be a costly maneuver, the local Harley dealer got a permit to remodel. The work progressed and when the started framing for a second floor the township said whoa, that permit doesn't allow you to go up, and everyday that framing is up means another couple thousand dollar fine.
That's just the locals, the state would probably send the National Guard, and the Feds send Warthogs.

A permit to refurbish one's own property: utter crap.

Please, sir, may I wipe my ass? is what it amounts to.