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Real clear politics has a well known average of polls, where currently only 24.2% think congress is doing a good job.
People in all political parties and political philosophies seem to think congress could do a lot better.
How do we reign them in to behave better?
Some possible ideas:
1. Term limits, maybe you can't be in the US Senate and US House for a combined more than 12 years.
2. The median US income is about $32,000 a year. Limit congressional pay to twice the median income by law as it fluctuates up and down, or currently $64,000 a year. Currently they get $174,000 a year. This may encourage them to work on median household income.
3. Tie their pay to voter approval. Perhaps congress member only make the median income of $32,000 a year (and adjust it as median income changes), but they can make their full $174,000 a year if the voters overall vote to "approve" of congress' job performance as a whole. This could make congress members reach for deals and towards the middle of moderate America to make the most voters happy.
4. Tie their pay to specific tangible goals. Perhaps congress members only make the median income of $32,000 a year unless they can balance the budget, social security, and medicare. If they can check off those three things, then they automatically get their $174,000 a year salary.
5. Outlaw congress members from investing in the stock market and crypto market.
6. Allow stock members to invest in stocks, but only in US total stock indexes and nothing else.
7. Require congress members to once every 3 months take a true townhall forum where average citizens not screened by the media can ask questions. The townhall meeting must be recorded and placed online in an easy to find place on the congress member's website.
The greatest idea of all, people actually learn about their government and what the people they voted for have actually done. It amazes me the vast ignorance of so many about our politicians yet who can talk endlessly and in depth about their favorite celeb, sports team or video game. We get the Government we deserve...
Congress would not allow any of the above. They're great ideas, but they will never see the light of day.
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Term limits with a grandfather clause might well pass. It wouldn't affect anyone currently in Congress. But we could slowly get rid of people who hang on too long and prevent new ones from arriving. There wouldn't be people in Congress like Feinstein, McConnell and Biden who should all be in retirement homes.
Open primary ranked choice voting. Get the extremists out. Make them pander to 50% of the electorate instead of 20%.
I honestly think this would be the best move for our representative republic.
Besides gerrymandering. How is that still a thing? Most undemocratic thing we have going. How can a state be close to 50/50 yet be represented 70/20 in Washington? That’s some bull****.
While I am in favor of term limits, I voted other because my priority would be requiring all candidates and members of Congress/Senate to pass the same national security screening that Federal employees with national security clearances must pass and renew regularly. This would require Congressional members to disclose any gifts from lobbyists (both domestic and foreign), including non-monetary gifts with a value over $50. Such a review would also include full disclosure of their finances, including questionable stock purchases and sales, and a review of activities that might make them susceptible to foreign influences. . It should be updated annually for Congresspeople and bi annually for the Senate. We pay their salaries, just like we pay other Federal employees. Their lifestyles and questionable connections should be scrutinized the same way. I would like to also see this for POTUS and the vice president. It is insane that we allow these people to skate by and review classified information without even a basic security screening.
One bill, one issue, one vote!
Bundling legislation has become legacy abuse.
When government shutdowns threaten, Congress should be first to not get paid.
Crime for congress to lie, as with harry reid and adam schiff, etc. Should be sanctioned by congress and legal associations and kept off all committees for lack of honesty and integrity. Law now, crime to lie to congress, legal for congeress to lie to the american people. There are lies and then there are lies. Easy to tell the difference.
Limit pay based on wealth/net worth. Do we need to pay the likes of Kerry/Heinz, Pelosi/Dole and other multi millionaires on both sides of the aisle. Trump set the tone by giving all his pay to different causes.
Ex congress cannot be hired by media for 5 years post leaving congress.
One bill, one issue, one vote!
Bundling legislation has become legacy abuse.
When government shutdowns threaten, Congress should be first to not get paid.
Crime for congress to lie, as with harry reid and adam schiff, etc. Should be sanctioned by congress and legal associations and kept off all committees for lack of honesty and integrity. Law now, crime to lie to congress, legal for congeress to lie to the american people. There are lies and then there are lies. Easy to tell the difference.
Limit pay based on wealth/net worth. Do we need to pay the likes of Kerry/Heinz, Pelosi/Dole and other multi millionaires on both sides of the aisle. Trump set the tone by giving all his pay to different causes.
Ex congress cannot be hired by media for 5 years post leaving congress.
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