Posted by: Thomas Richard | August 24, 2011

A secular issue worth thinking about: Reform of Congress

Alright – this is not a Church issue, but a secular governmental one. I received this in an email, and I thought it deserved an audience. Think about it:

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. Term Limits
12 years max, some possible options are below.
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension
Members of Congress receive a salary while in office,
that salary ends when they leave office.

3. Congress members (past, present & future) are to participate in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system
immediately.
All future funds flow into the Social Security system,
and Congress participates with all Americans.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan,
just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system
and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Members of Congress must equally abide by all laws
they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present members of Congress are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make the contract members of Congress enjoy,
Congress made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators,
so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you think this might work? Congress needs a reformation! Could this be part of a solution? If you think so, suggest it to your congresspersons.


Responses

  1. Dear Thomas,

    Thanks. I am sending the suggestions to my congress persons, right now,
    along with my continued prayers for all who serve in government in our world. Today is a good day to do this, considering that it is the Feast of St. Louis, King of France. What a great example he is for leaders of families and of governments!

  2. Dr. Richard – your suggestions for being a member of Congress are perfect!

    • Hello Rose,

      I don’t know who wrote this originally – it came as one of those “pass it on” emails – but it does have some worthwhile ideas. Careerism, it seems, can be the death of any service-oriented profession! When it is no longer service to others and for others, but one’s personal career, it’s over.


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