I woke up to forty four degree weather and a pretty heavy rain at 7:00 am and they say we will get one to three inches of snow overnight tonight. It's sorta like predicting positive results from the Obama "porkulous package".........I'll believe it when I see it. But just in case, I guess we better go out and stock up on eggs, milk, and toilet paper. In case it really does snow. That's an old Maryland tradition by the way. As a photographer I really do hope it snows. I need to make some images of the south covered in white stuff. Fortunately, I haven't started the victory garden yet and so the cold weather won't hurt any delicate new buds trying to emerge from the primordial ooze.
FICTION N FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE
I want to thank my Northern cousin for the following article. She and I are always alternatively vying for the title of the "Lead" black sheep in the herd we call family. Both of us are very proud of our efforts, and do seem to blindly contribute to the general good upon occasion. Right on DD! I have added a couple of my own astonishingly insightful editorial comments just to aggravate a few more people.
THE PROPOSAL
When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well. Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus.
(Doesn't seem to work that way so much anymore, just look at Jeff Imelt at GE. Stock is at $8.5 down from forty something in the past year alone, yet he still makes $3.3 million a year plus bonus -2008- and he becomes a presidential economic advisor to boot....Oh that'll help.........go figure).
Our government should not be immune from similar risks. Therefore: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members and Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State). Also reduce remaining staff by 25%.
(We'll probably have to change the constitution to do it, but the staffs could be reduced so that the reps and congresspeople would actually have to work, or at least read a bill or two before they pass it.........Duh!).
Accomplish this over the next 8 years. (two steps / two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting. (Might take longer, but it is the kids and grand kids we're fighting for on this one). Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include: $44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay / member / yr.) $97,175,000 for elimination of the above people's staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year) $240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%. $7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion / yr.
(Your humble and lovable author also suggests that the Congressional dining room be required to serve only pork product entrees for the next 8 years to serve as a poignant exclamation point.)
The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and would need to improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country?
(oxymoron's anyone?).
We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing. Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few).
(God forbid we actually get involved).
Note:
Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. (And that right there tells you who the really work for). Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.
(FLASH EDITORIAL COMMENT........All these current 653 senators and congress people, regardless of party, need to be replaced through the vote and ten year term limits implemented. We need people who realize that they work for us and are not in DC to line their own pockets and/or build their own castles. How stupid is it to have someone over 100 as a representative? Sitten, rockin, n droolin on our dime!).
Summary of the opportunity:
$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100,000 for elimination of the reduced house member of staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.
$8,073,383,400 per year , estimated total savings. (that's 8-BILLION just to start!)
Big business does these types of cuts all the time.
(But big government never will).
If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits there is no telling how much we would save. Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term .
(Or maybe just a full ten years as a real term limit and serve it or loose it!)
Sounds like pie in the sky? Well, we Americans are and always have been forward thinkers. Now it seems we have be look to the past for our salvation once again. It's something called the Constitution people! For those with public school educations..........Google it! The above suggestions probably do not comply with the Constitution, but the basic premise of the piece is sound food for thought, and a start! Now you and I have to get busy.
Aren't you all glad I don't have to sit inside on too many rainy days like this one?
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