Constitutional Amendment 28 Is Our Only Hope

The results of the 2010 mid-term election, (after congress forced The Affordable Care Act on Americans), is the best argument for Constitutional Amendment 28.  Read The Amendment and you will be convinced that it will work.

The Congress of The United States is granted power, by the people, to pass legislation and send that legislation to the President of The United States.  The President of The United States may sign the legislation, or exercise veto the veto power granted by the people.

If The President exercises veto power, the legislation will be returned to The Congress of The United States for amendment, or the necessary vote to override the veto of The President of The United States.  If The Congress of The United States does not vote to override the veto of The President of The United States, the bill is considered dead.

If the President of The United States signs legislation sent to him by The Congress of The United States, the legislation will then be posted online for seventy-two (72) hours, during which time all registered voters will have the opportunity to log into a secured website and vote to approve, or reject the legislation.

If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation vote to approve the legislation, the legislation is enacted into law, on a timeline stated in the legislation.  If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation reject the legislation, the legislation is returned to The Congress of The United States.  The Congress of The United States may choose to amend the legislation for further consideration by American voters, or kill the legislation.

This Amendment forbids The Congress of The United States, or The President of The United States to take any Executive Action that is not in accordance with legislation as it is approved by a majority of American voters.

After congress gave 63% of Americans the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) the House of Representatives experienced a turnover which changed the balance of power in that legislative body; too late to avoid the damage done by those who were voted out of office.  Now Americans are living with the damage done by those who were voted out of office.

The 63% of Americans who still do not want Obamacare are stuck with it, thanks to members of congress who were voted out in 2010.  There is no question that the current members of The House of Representatives would not have voted for Obamacare if they were in office in 2009.  The American people spoke loudly against Obamacare in 2010, after the damage was done.

If Constitutional Amendment 28 was ratified before 2009, the American people would have decided the fate of Obamacare, instead of .000004% of American voters.  Congress is 535 registered American voters, but they are not held accountable for their actions before they do damage to 100% of Americans.

There is a need to have a congress.  If held in check, they will provide a valuable service to the Americans who elect them.  They should write the laws, pass them, send them to the President for signature, but a majority of American voters must have the final voice before the legislation is enacted into law.  The majority of registered voters do know better than .000004% of registered American voters and that majority must have the final voice on legislation.

We can have that final voice with an online vote on all legislation passed by congress.  This takes away congressional power when a majority of American voters disagree with them.  The online vote will also take away the power of lobbyists in congress.  Lobbyists can now pressure, or buy off, members of congress, but they cannot pressure, or buy off, 150,000,000 registered voters in America.

Join the movement.  Leave your comments after you read the Amendment.  Follow on Twitter @onlinemajority.  Be part of the solution.  Leaving it up to .000004% is not working for America.

Constitutional Amendment Number 28

The Congress of The United States is granted power, by the people, to pass legislation and send that legislation to the President of The United States.  The President of The United States may sign the legislation, or exercise veto the veto power granted by the people.

If The President exercises veto power, the legislation will be returned to The Congress of The United States for amendment, or the necessary vote to override the veto of The President of The United States.  If The Congress of The United States does not vote to override the veto of The President of The United States, the bill is considered dead.

If the President of The United States signs legislation sent to him by The Congress of The United States, the legislation will then be posted online for seventy-two (72) hours, during which time all registered voters will have the opportunity to log into a secured website and vote to approve, or reject the legislation.

If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation vote to approve the legislation, the legislation is enacted into law, on a timeline stated in the legislation.  If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation reject the legislation, the legislation is returned to The Congress of The United States.  The Congress of The United States may choose to amend the legislation for further consideration by American voters, or kill the legislation.

This Constitutional Amendment forbids The Congress of The United States, or The President of The United States to take any Executive Action that is not in accordance with legislation as it is approved by a majority of American voters.

Constitutional Amendment 28 Will Give Power To The People

This movement will work and it can be done in one of two ways.  Congress can pass a Constitutional Amendment requiring a majority, online vote of the people before legislation is enacted into law.  Two-thirds (2/3) of the states must ratify such an Amendment.  Another way to pass a Constitutional Amendment is by putting it on state ballots, bypassing congress completely.  This requires ratification by a three-fourths (3/4) of the states.

Members of congress will never voluntarily give Americans the online voting right.  We the people will have to do it on our own, by passing an Amendment and ratifying it in three-fourths of the states.  Members of congress are addicted to their power and many of them truly believe they know better than the people who elected them what is best for the people who elected them.  Congress is only.000004% of all American voters and we the people are allowing this .000004% of Americans to destroy America.

Case in point; the House and Senate passed The Affordable Care Act despite outrage from a majority of American voters.  In 2010, many of those members of congress were replaced in The House of Representatives, but they were replaced too late.  The damage was done.  The Affordable Care Act was already passed.

We are now facing multiple issues with The Affordable Care Act.  The issues are so bad that members of congress have exempted themselves and their staff from the Act.  Once again, they have put their own well being over the well being of the people who elected them to office.   The final word on legislation before it is enacted must be taken away from congress and given to the people. 

Congress will still have a very important job; to propose and pass laws for the voter consideration.  After the law is passed by congress, and signed by The President,  the American voter must have 72 hours to log into a secure site and vote for approval, or rejection of the law.  If a majority vote of the people is for approval, the law is enacted.  If a majority vote of the people is for rejection, the law must go back to congress for further consideration.  It really is that simple and it will work every time.

Will all registered voters log into a site and vote on every law passed by congress?  No, but a large majority will, especially on legislation like The Affordable Care Act.  The majority vote of the people will be the final voice on legislation.  That majority vote must be our check and balance on a congress that does not always do the will of the people.

Would we have The Affordable Care Act today if it had to pass a majority vote of the people?  The polls at the time it was thrust upon us by congress indicate that The Affordable Care Act would not have passed a vote of the people.  The 2010 elections indicate that Americans were upset at members of congress who passed The Affordable Care Act.  Many of those members of congress were voted out of office, but voting them out of office was too late to save Americans from The Affordable Care Act.

Every American voter must have the opportunity to vote on all legislation before he/she has to live under the law.  Such a vote will also put an end to congress passing laws, then exempting themselves from the law without our approval.  It's time for this .000004% of American voters to live under the same laws all other American voters live under.

The wording of a Constitutional Amendment must be simple. Here is an example.

The Congress of The United States is granted power, by the people, to pass legislation and send that legislation to the President of The United States.  The President of The United States may sign the legislation, or exercise veto the veto power granted by the people.

If The President exercises veto power, the legislation will be returned to The Congress of The United States for amendment, or the necessary vote to override the veto of The President of The United States.  If The Congress of The United States does not vote to override the veto of The President of The United States, the bill is considered dead.

If the President of The United States signs legislation sent to him by The Congress of The United States, the legislation will then be posted online for seventy-two (72) hours, during which time all registered voters will have the opportunity to log into a secured website and vote to approve, or reject the legislation.

If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation vote to approve the legislation, the legislation is enacted into law, on a timeline stated in the legislation.  If a majority of American voters who choose to cast a vote on the legislation reject the legislation, the legislation is returned to The Congress of The United States.  The Congress of The United States may choose to amend the legislation for further consideration by American voters, or kill the legislation.

This Amendment forbids The Congress of The United States, or The President of The United States to take any Executive Action that is not in accordance with legislation as it is approved by a majority of American voters.

The GOP Missed Its Only Opportunity To Defund Obamacare

Congress voted to exempt its members and staffers from the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  I do not blame them for exempting themselves, but I have to ask why republican members of congress did not hold out for extending that exemption to all Americans when they gave it to themselves?  Instead of forcing ACA on congress, why not give Americans the same exemption congress gave itself?

Where should implementation of the ACA not be left up to the individuals who will pay for it?  Why not just let Americans choose to accept, or reject the ACA on an individual basis?  Why not let the ACA be an individual selection, instead of an individual mandate? 

Democrats in congress will argue that the ACA will not work unless there is an individual mandate.  Duh... you think?  Perhaps those who do not want the individual mandate know the ACA will not work, even with the mandate.  Could it be a majority of American voters know better than congress?  Congress is .000004% of American voters, yet they are forcing the ACA on everyone... except themselves. 

What is wrong with that picture?  What is wrong with that picture is the fact that .000004% of Americans are arrogant enough to believe they know what is best for all other Americans.  What is wrong with that picture is the fact that .000004% of Americans are forcing all other Americans to live under laws from which the .000004% is exempt.  What is tragic about it; we Americans allow them to do it.

Personally, I do not want to force the ACA on congress and congressional staffers.  I believe they should be allowed the exemption, but I want the exemption for myself, along with members of congress and their staffers.  Why do members of congress, and staffers, believe they are better than those of us who pay their salaries? They believe it because we allow them to believe it.

Fox News is attempting to get all members of congress to answer whether, or not, they will exempt themselves.  I submit that Fox News should attempt to get the same answer from all congressional staffers.  Perhaps that question posed to staffers may encourage those staffers, who have the ears of congressional members, to fight for exemptions for all other Americans.  Perhaps Fox News should expose the staffers who exempt themselves, the same way the news network works to expose their bosses.

Senator Ted Cruz, while exempting himself and his staffers, is trying to defund the ACA.  He will fail, even though a majority of Americans support his effort.  He could have fought to give the same exemption to Americans that he gave to himself and his staff, but that thought never entered his mind.  Why did he and his republican colleagues in congress not fight that fight for all Americans? 

The answer is simple; Senator Ted Cruz and his colleagues were thinking about themselves when they exempted themselves and staffers.  They were not thinking about their constituents.  It is business as usual for Senator Ted Cruz.  He replaced a fight for his constituents with a fight for his personal agenda.  He is not a hero for attempting to defund the ACA.  He and his colleagues are cowards for not fighting to give all Americans the right to exempt themselves from the ACA.

The republican controlled House of Representatives had voted 40 times to repeal the ACA, knowing every time their bill would go nowhere in The Senate.  How much time did the republicans waste?  Why did those same republicans say no to exempting themselves unless the same exemption was given to all Americans?  The answer is simple; they put personal well being ahead of their constituents.

Why should congress not fight now to give all Americans the exemption they gave themselves?  It's too late now.  The House of Representatives can vote to exempt Americans from the ACA now, but such a vote will go nowhere in The Senate.  The Senate already has what it wants, exemption for its members and their staffers.  Republicans leaped to exempt themselves before they looked for a way to exempt all Americans. 

When will Americans send people to congress who will put their constituents wants and needs ahead of congressional members' personal wants and needs?  The American people have no one to blame but ourselves if we re-elect any member of congress who exempts himself/herself from the personal mandate.

The Dumb-Down Version of Obamacare And The Continuing Resolution

In January, 2014 The Affordable Care Act will be implemented.  It will be a dumb-down version of the Act that was passed over two years ago.  What's missing; a way to pay for it.  The employer mandate is being delayed for another year and groups exempted are rising on a daily basis.  So, how do we pay for the dumb-down version of healthcare for those who cannot pay for that healthcare?

The answer is simple; we will increase the national debt, which is now approaching $17 trillion.  There is no question in anyone's mind that the national debt ceiling will be increased by congress when the continuing resolution is passed in September; probably the eleventh hour of the last day of September.  Has anyone heard one member of congress mention NOT raising the debt ceiling?  No, and you will not hear it. 

The people who promised they would go to Washington and reduce the national debt are hoping you have forgotten they made those promises.  There will be rhetoric and finger pointing on both sides of the aisle as to why it is necessary to raise the national debt.  Each side will blame the other for the necessity to raise the national debt.  The only spin that will be the same on both sides is the spin supporting the idea that we cannot shut down government.

How about taking another approach?  Forget raising the national debt and focus on running the government with the revenues collected by the government?  Congress says that will not work.  Why not?  Americans who are unemployed and under-employed are making it work in their households.  The people who provide the revenue for government are running their households on the money they make.  Why can members of congress NOT do the same thing with respect to running government?

Why do members of congress dumb-down their intelligence when it comes doing the things they ask other Americans to do?  They must hold the line on the debt ceiling and force themselves and all other members of congress to come to the table with a budget that will work within the revenues currently received from the taxpayers who are managing their budgets.

Maybe they should start with pay cuts for members of congress, and cut backs in staffing.  Why is that not a place to start?  Many of the people who elected members of congress experienced pay cuts, and companies facing hard times in today's economy were forced to cut back in staffing.  Why is government exempt from doing the same things Americans do during hard times?  Why does the cost of government continue to rise while Americans are cutting back?

The approach of cutting back on government spending will be a tough job for congress, but all members signed up for that tough job when they asked us to vote for them.  It is time for all of them to accept the job they signed up for and do that job.  Otherwise, they should resign over the congressional recess so Americans can send someone to congress who will accept the job and do the job.

There are many issues to be addressed besides the Affordable Care Act, but it is the one getting all of the attention, because it is the one that is scheduled for implementation without a plan, or a way to pay for it.
Obviously, The Affordable Care Act will add to the national debt if it is implemented in January.  The dumb-down version will not provide revenues sufficient to pay for the implementation.  So, hold the line on the debt ceiling and let those who insist on implementation offer a way to pay for it, along with every other cost of running government.

Put the dumb-down version of The Affordable Care Act on a list with all other costs of running government and decide where to cut to keep from raising the debt ceiling.  Americans who will have to pay off the national debt make cuts everyday.  It is time for congress to manage the cost of government.  Tough decisions and sacrifices must be made.  Raising the debt ceiling is not the answer.

Term Limits Is Not The Answer - May Do More Damage Than Good

Many are calling for term limits in congress, but that could cause more damage than good.  A member of congress in a final term has no incentive to keep the promises made to his/her constituents.  There will be more incentive for members of congress, in their final terms, to line there pockets from the lobbyists and push agendas that do not benefit the people who elected them.

The voters of each state should decide on the limit of terms for each member of congress at the ballot box.  Setting term limits leaves the member of congress with no accountability to constituents in his/her final term.  Term limits will definitely do more damage than good.

As it is, we have enough issues with congressional members making campaign promises, being elected, then breaking those campaign promises.  These people can be, and in many cases are, voted out of office on our next trip to the polls, but that is after the damage is done by those members of congress.  We must have a way to check and balance congress with each and every bill it passes.

I strongly believe we need a congress.  We need qualified people who will pass legislation that is good for Americans, and who is better to decide what is good for Americans than a majority vote on enactment of legislation passed by congress?  This can be done if American voters have the right to vote on enactment of legislation.  If congressional legislation passes a majority vote of the people, it becomes an enacted law.  If congressional legislation does not pass a majority vote of the people, it goes back to congress, where it can be amended, or dropped. 

This will work and it is possible if we amend the constitution.  Constitutional Amendments have changed the face of America.  Without a Constitutional Amendment women would not now be allowed to vote.  Critics who argue that a Constitutional Amendment giving Americans the online vote for, or against, enactment of legislation will never be ratified.  I remind those critics that term limits will also require a Constitutional Amendment that will have to be ratified.  Either way, we have to fight for a Constitutional Amendment.

Ask yourself this question; what would be fate of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) if Americans voted on it before enactment?  If you believe the polls 53% of American voters would vote against enacting it.  Who really knows.  The polls may be wrong.  A majority of voters may  vote to enact it, as written and passed by congress.

Personally, I would not vote to enact any legislation that adds to the national debt.  I would vote to enact only legislation that is designed to reduce the national debt, and eventually pay it off.  If America had a surplus that would cover implementation of a healthcare act, I would vote to enact such a bill in a heartbeat.  America needs a healthcare act, but it needs one that can be paid for from surpluses.

Online Majority will continue to work for a Constitutional Amendment that will give American voters the final word on enactment of legislation passed by congress.  Such an Amendment will leave terms of members of congress up to the voters who send those members to congress and it will render lobbyists irrelevant.

Online Majority - The movement will work!

Congress is .0000004% of all registered American voters.  Those members of congress are elected by a majority vote of American voters in their respective states, and those voters can vote a member of congress out of office.  What is wrong with that process?

There is nothing wrong with the process if you are satisfied with accepting the damage done by members of congress before you have the opportunity to vote them out of office.  The real question should be; what can we do to improve the process and protect Americans from members of congress who ignore their campaign promises, putting their own agendas before the will of the people who elected them?

One twitter follower and I have been exchanging ideas.  I would like to thank him for his thoughts and ideas.  One of his ideas involves term limits in congress.  I wholeheartedly agree that term limits is an option we should consider.  However, let's take that to the extreme and assume a member of congress can only serve one term.  That member, once he/she is elected can choose to ignore campaign promises and promote an agenda that is not good for the people he/she is in Washington to serve.

In fact, if a member of congress is term limited it removes one reason for that person to be concerned about keeping campaign promises.  He/she will not be concerned about earning the trust required for re-election, which makes him/her more vulnerable to lobbyists and the personal gains lobbyists offer to members of congress.  Term limits could be an incentive for a member of congress to ignore campaign promises and support bills that hurt their constituents, for personal gain offered by the lobbyists.

I support term limits in congress, because I believe we need the fresh new ideas in congress we will have as members rotate in and out when their term limits expire.  That said, term limits are not a check and balance on congress while its members are serving.  We must have a check and balance on members of congress while they are in congress.  We can have that check and balance on congress and take away the pressures lobbyists now exert on members of congress.

You are currently using the tool that will give us checks and balances; the internet.  Think about everything you now do online.  You are reading this blog.  You can do your banking online.  You can communicate with others in seconds, using chat various forums.  You can shop online and have merchandise and food delivered without leaving your home.  You can find a mate online if you choose to join one of the online dating sites.  You can even file your tax return online; a definite interaction with the federal government.

Consider for a minute everything members of congress do online, besides the things I have already mentioned.  Most of them tweet on a daily basis, promoting their agendas.  Nearly all of them have websites, complete with a "donate to my campaign" button.  Members of congress definitely rely on the internet as much as other Americans have come to rely on it.

So, why has no member of congress ever proposed a Constitutional Amendment to allow all American voters the opportunity to vote on legislation before it is enacted?  Why has the subject of online voting never been a topic of discussion in congress?  Simply stated, online voting would take power away from members of congress and give it to all American voters, where it belongs.  Members of congress feel threatened by online voting, and they should be endorsing it.  Their jobs would still be important.

Online Majority does not want to do away with congress.  We need congress to pass legislation, but we also need the check and balance of giving all American voters the opportunity to approve that legislation before it is enacted.  There is no good reason for .0000004% of all American voters (congress) to be the final word on legislation before it is enacted.  A simple majority vote, allowing all registered voters the opportunity to approve legislation before enactment should be the law of the land.

Some say it will not work, because the government is corrupt and the online voting process will be corrupted.  Think about the absurdity of argument.  It starts with the premise that government is corrupt, which is all the more reason to install all of the checks and balances we can install, to fight corruption.

Some say the system will be to complicated to install.  It could be designed, written, debugged and installed within six months.  There is ample brainpower in America to do the work, and run it smoothly.

Some say it is unconstitutional.  Yes, it is right now, but a Constitutional Amendment will make it constitutional.  Constitutional Amendments are not unconstitutional.  If you are a woman, you have not always had the right to vote.  A Constitutional Amendment gave you that right.  The same is true for black Americans. Constitutional Amendments have played a major role in reforming American politics and we have an opportunity to continue reforming it for the better.

Would the founding fathers have given us the right to vote online?  I have to believe they would have if the technology had been available at the time the Constitution was written.  They had the foresight to realize times would change the needs of Americans and the Constitution would need to change from time to time.  The Constitution is the document that established our rights as Americans and the Amendments to it have strengthened it.  It's time to strengthen it again.

Join the movement and let your voice be one of the voices that approves legislation, before it is forced on you as the law of the land. Americans must have the final voice over the agendas of politicians before those agendas damage the lives of all who live in this great land.

More will be coming soon on how you can join the movement.  Prepare to claim the power you should have.

Want To Defund Obamacare - Just Refuse To Raise The Debt Ceiling

Congress is starting to debate the issue of the debt ceiling, which now stands at $16.8 Trillion.  The current debt ceiling will be reached by September 30, 2013.  What should congress do about it?  What will happen if congress does not increase the debt ceiling?

The fear mongers tell us government will shut down if the debt ceiling is not increased.  Government will not shut down, but not raising the debt ceiling will force spending cuts. Some of those spending cuts will hurt, other cuts will not even be noticed with respect to the things that matter to America.  With respect to cuts that will hurt, Americans have clearly stated they are willing to make some sacrifices.  They made that statement loudly, by sending members of congress to Washington who promised to cut spending, balance the budget and refuse to raise the debt ceiling.

If those members of congress do not keep their promises to cut spending, balance the budget, and they agree to raise the debt ceiling, they lied to Americans and should not be re-elected to congress.  To their credits, some of them are looking for spending cuts; sponsoring bills that will never pass both The House and The Senate.

Spending cuts that are the focus of futile legislation will be forced if the debt ceiling is not raised.  If members of congress who promised to not raise the debt ceiling keep that promise, they will also keep their promises to cut spending and force a balanced budget.

For example, there is a movement in congress to defund Obamacare.  Legislation to defund Obamacare will never pass in The Senate and there are not enough votes to override a presidential veto if The Senate managed to eek out enough votes.  Why not just refuse to increase the debt ceiling?  There will be no money to fund Obamacare.  If the debt ceiling is not raised, there will be no money to implement Obamacare and no money to launch a 2014 advertising campaign for Obamacare, costing $700 million dollars.

When the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was passed, we were told it would save money.  Now we are being told it will cost money.  It has not yet been implemented and it is already set to receive a $700 million bailout in the form of a promotion campaign.  The fact that it needs a promotional campaign is a clear indication that success of the Act is doomed.

We were initially told that much of the cost of Obamacare would be paid from savings that would be generated by ending fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.  We are approaching two years after that claim was made and there is no evidence that fraud is being eliminated in either of the aforementioned programs.  So, where does the cost of that unrecognized savings come from to pay for Obamacare?

The glaring question is; why should ending fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government program, be tied to paying for any other program?  If there is fraud in any government program, the perpetrators should be prosecuted.  Money saved from ending fraud in any government program should be used to effect a balanced budget and pay down the national debt.

By the way, a balanced budget is not the answer.  There must be a surplus generated by America to pay down the national debt.  America will have to generate more revenue than expenses to ever pay off the national debt.  After we do manage to pay off the national debt from surpluses, continue to generate those surpluses and pay for a healthcare program.  That actually makes sense.

It's time for congress to realize that they must run the government within the constraints of the money that is generated from revenues.  Borrowing money is not the answer.  The budget must be balanced now and we must find a way to generate surpluses in the future to pay off the $16.8 Trillion we now owe.

Republican Congressman Paul Ryan presented a budget that would be balanced about 18 years in the future.  At the time he presented that budget he was a running for Vice President of The United States.  Assume he had been elected to that office in 2012 and re-elected to it in 2016.  Then assume he were elected to the Presidency in 2020 and re-elected in 2024.

The budget he presented would not be balanced for a couple of years after his second term as President.  His administrations would still have generated deficit spending, under his own budget plan.  Paul Ryan was not even willing to hold his own feet to the fire with respect to government spending.

Of course, he did offer a budget that balances, somewhere in the future.  The Democrats have not presented a budget that balances at any time in the future.  In fact, the democrats have not presented a budget for the past three or four years and is offering nothing in the foreseeable future.

Congress is attempting to run the country on "continuing resolutions", a term that means, "we have no idea what to do".  Along with those continuing resolutions congress continues to raise the debt ceiling to pay for them.  There is no end in sight to this practice.  Congress shows no interest in addressing the issues that will eventually be addressed by bankruptcy of The United States.

We the people are being played for fools by every member of congress.  Of course, our votes to re-elect these people to congress shows that we are willing to be the fools.  It's time to end the foolishness.  Some argue that we have the final word at the ballot box when members of congress are up for re-election.  Those who believe that are living in fantasy land. 

Yes, we can vote members of congress out of office after they do damage to America.  We still have to live with their mistakes after they are voted out of office.  Hindsight may be 20/20 with respect to seeing mistakes made by congress, but the pain of that 20/20 hindsight is is felt long into the future.  Right now America has a $16.8 trillion debt and 20/20 hindsight as to what caused this debt.

Our children's grandchildren, and generations beyond will inherit that debt.  Do you really want to  make them pay?  Members of congress have no issue passing our current problems on to future generations.

Congress is .0000004% of the American vote.  It is time for a Constitutional Amendment that will give all voters the right to vote on legislation before it is enacted.  Online Majority is a movement to give us that right to the online vote.  We must have a way to protect ourselves and future generations of Americans with a majority vote on legislation.

Think of all you do online now.  Voting online is long overdue and having the final word on legislation before it is enacted is long overdue as well.  It is time we fight for the right to let a majority of Americans be the final word on legislation, before it is enacted.

The Detroit Bankruptcy - No Bailout?

There is no question that The City of Detroit is bankrupt.  Sadly, there may be many more cities making trips to the Federal Courts with the "we are broke" paperwork.  The ink is barely dry on Detroit's paperwork and many in congress are using more ink on a bailout bill.

Let's be clear, I do not favor a bailout program for Detroit.  Even if I did support a bailout, there is no question that members of congress should first determine how much is needed to bailout the city before they rush to pass a bill with a "fill in the blank" amount.  After all, the amount that will be filled in will add to the national debt.  Here we go again, rushing to spend money the country does not have.

That makes about as much sense as someone with a sexting problem entering the race for Mayor in New York City.  Thank God, that would never happen in America.  Silly me for mentioning that, but it is the only thing I could come up with that is as outlandishly crazy.

The federal bankruptcy laws need to apply to Detroit.  It is time for politicians to stop arguing for equality under the law, except when they do not want equality to apply.  Let the bankruptcy move through the court system and work within the law to do what is best for Detroit.  It will move the city further down a road to fiscal responsibility in the future.

Much of Detroit's problems relate to millions in unfunded pensions.  How did the city manage get by with failing to fund pension plans?  There needs to be a law in place that requires all municipalities to fund pension plans before it pays for any other goods and services.  This will force city officials to address problems before they reach the magnitude of the problems now facing Detroit.  It will force city leaders to look at places to cut expenses that will not effect employee pensions.

Will it force them to layoff some employees.  Possibly, but now they have to tell employees the time they spent working for the city leaves them with no retirement benefits for their years of service.  Perhaps it would have been better for some of those employees to have changed jobs years ago.  Would those people be better off now?  I am certain many of those people are now asking themselves that very question.

Remember, we taxpayers bailout the automakers.  Even President Obama claimed that move would bring prosperity to Detroit.  For some reason, it did not.  Now, the city needs another bailout?

Online Majority believes there is no valid reason to bailout Detroit with taxpayer dollars.  This is yet another reason why American voters must fight for the right to have online voting.  We must have a Constitutional Amendment that requires an online vote of the people approving congressional legislation before that legislation is enacted.  A majority of American voters must vote to bailout Detroit before it happens.

This is a concept that should be supported by every member of congress.  After all, they use the internet to campaign, raise money for campaigns and stay in touch with their constituents.  We live in an era that allows us to do most everything online.  Congress is .0000004% of all American voters.  Why not give 100% of American voters the opportunity to cast a vote on laws that affect their lives, before those laws are enacted?  Let the majority decide.

Perhaps a majority of voters would approve a bailout for Detroit, but the polls do not indicate it, and congress is not inclined to listen to a majority of the people who cast votes to re-elect them.  Voters can go to the polls and vote members of congress out of office at election time, but that is too late.  The damage is already done.  We are closing the barn door after the the horses are out.

It's Time For A Homeowner Bailout

Here is how we can give a bailout to homeowners, and it will also help the banks.

Assume Michael and Jan have a home mortgage owing the bank a principle of  $300,000.  The home has a market value of $200,000.  Bailout funds for the difference in the principle amount of the mortgage and market value, $100,000, can be paid to the bank, but the bank must re-finance the home for $200,000, at no re-finance costs to Michael and Jan, and at a fixed rate of 3.5% for the term of the original loan.

This will lower the monthly mortgage payment for Michael and Jan, considerably.  The money they save can be used for "frivolous" things, such as food, clothing, education, medical coverage and perhaps even a family vacation they have not been able to take for years.  They may even be able to put some money into savings to replace money they had to use to make mortgage payments over the past few years.

This kind of  "frivolous" spending will actually stimulate the economy, instead of lining the pockets of bank executives whose poor management lead to the need for a bailout.  Members of congress all agree there is a need to stimulate the economy.  What better way to stimulate the economy than to allow Americans to spend their money for the things they want and need?

Of course, no member of congress would think to help their constituents in this manner. The President is proposing more government guaranteed, thirty year home mortgages with a 5% down payment, which is exactly what got us into the mess we are in now, and it does nothing to help those who are now in foreclosure, or facing foreclosure. 

Does anyone wonder why no politician has proposed a bailout for homeowners, such as the one I propose in the preceding paragraphs?  Should you ask them why?

Yes, and when you ask them why, remind them that you will be at the polls, casting your vote for their re-elections.  Remind them that each bank executive who received millions in bonus pay after the last bailout casts only one vote.  The did so while foreclosing on millions of constituents.  Why do members of congress protect bank executives bonuses while they watch their constituents being evicted from their homes?

Reverse The Terms Of Bush And Obama

Imagine for a moment that President Barack Obama was elected to The Oval Office during the eight years President George Bush actually sat behind the desk.  Then imagine that President George Bush was into his second term, as President Barack Obama is today.  Where would we be now?

Today two unemployment percentages were posted on Twitter.  One was tweeted by a Democrat, the other was tweeted by a Republican.  The Democrat tweeted that the unemployment rate is down to 7.6%.  The Republican tweeted it is actually 14.3% if you include those who are under-employed.  There is no doubt in my mind; the percentages quoted by the Democrat and the Republican would be reversed if the chronological order of the Presidents were reversed. 

Keep the percentages in mind, we will come back to them.  First, let's examine that reverse in the order of the Bush and Obama administrations.  President Obama would have dealt with the terrorist attack of 9/11.  He would also have dealt with the Katrina disaster.  President Bush would have inherited the home loan mortgage mess, dealt with the a downturn in the economy and high unemployment.  He would also have been in office when Bin Laden was located and had the opportunity to take out a terrorist.

Would either of these men have handled the aforementioned events differently if there terms were reversed?  We don't really know. Democrats and Republicans alike all have their spins with respect to how their man in The Oval Office would have managed events that transpired during the other man's administration.  Sometimes, the spins are interesting to read, but those spins have the benefit of hindsight and literally no benefit with respect to resolving the issues we face today.

I'm sure you can imagine how each party would be spinning exactly opposite of the way they spin events now if the terms of Bush and Obama were reversed. That is a major issue with politics.  It's all about the spin.  Party leaders, strategists and talking heads do not care about the truth.  Sadly, politicians spend too much time pointing fingers and creating spin.  If they spent as much time actually doing the jobs they were elected to do, there would be no need for spin.

Now, let's revisit the aforementioned unemployment numbers.  It's obvious that unemployment can be calculated in many different ways and it is also obvious the aforementioned percentages were calculated using different sets of data.  Let's assume the basic math used to calculate both percentages is correct.  Using two different sets of data rendered two different percentages. 

I am a blogger in my spare time.  In real life, I am an accountant and have been for over forty years.  I can give you another ten or twelve more ways to calculate unemployment percentages, and ten or twelve different percentages.  The math is simple; divide one number by another number.  Even I cannot screw this up if I key the right numbers into a calculator.

Why not just compare the employed and under-employed percentage week to week without comparing those numbers to each other. Some members of congress who have no clue what to do about the issue may want to track those percentages, week to week and continue to spin their reasons for failing to fix the issues of unemployment and under-employment.  I would rather see members of congress implement action plans to reduce both numbers.  Just do the job and the numbers will take care of themselves.

To the members of congress who use the 7.6% and 14.3% numbers to support their respective spins regarding unemployment, I have only one question.  Does it matter which number you track to support your spin?  To those who are unemployed, and those who are under-employed your spins do not matter.  What matters to the unemployed and under-employed is that congress cannot find a way to work together to put the unemployed back to work and the under-employed into jobs for which they are are trained.

Members of Congress are masters at spinning their points of view.  Spinning their points of view got them elected to office.  All of them are still spinning points of view, hoping you and I will forget that they are not getting the job done.  If you forget they are not doing the job, maybe they will keep the job when you go to the polls to vote for their re-elections.

There is a great line in the movie, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, that is fitting with respect to politicians and spin.  "I just got a brand new bullshit detector, and I can tell when someone is pissing on my boots and telling me it's a rainstorm".  My boots are wet and it's not raining.

Many who are unemployed and under-employed will go to the polls, in 2014 with their boots wet, and not from a rainstorm.  They will remember those who are up for re-election gave them wet boots, finger pointing and numerous ways to calculate unemployment percentages.  They will also know the candidates who are pleading for re-election did nothing to fix the problems they are facing.

The spin (bullshit) candidates used to get to congress should not keep them there. The unemployed and under-employed all have bullshit detectors, otherwise known as common sense.  Common sense tells everyone that members of congress are not doing the job.  Perhaps it is time for the current members of congress to update their resumes and join the ranks of the unemployed and underemployed. 

I truly believe this suggestion will help; no sarcasm intended.  I suggest that members of congress approach their jobs as if the terms of President Bush and President Obama were reversed.  It will cause them to reverse their spins and look at the other side of the argument.  After each member reverses his/her spin and realizes how easy it is to argue both sides of an issue, forget the spin, go to work and solve the problems.

Serving the people of America is a privilege that carries enormous responsibility.  There is actually work to do.  It is a real job, not a numbers game.