Vital changes that only a Constitutional Convention can bring

In today’s world there are many issue that under the surface effect each and every individual in the country today. Largely, this is perpetrated on us by career criminals, or more accurately the permanent political class. These relics of a bygone era trying to dictate to individuals and businesses in the activities of free trade how things WILL operate. The monoparty system that has become our political system has created a incestuous machine to ensure that nobody will challenge them, or their ideas. Between this and the tale as old as time, the expert grift that is campaign considerations, lobbying, and trading on favors, the government of the people, for the people, has become a government of the politician, for the politician. Ideally, the remedy would be to have our representatives pass legislation to reign in this behavior, but sadly the inmates are in charge of that asylum and have no interest in changing that. The only recourse left would be to work to achieve an Article V constitutional convention. Wherein, we may be able to leverage our local legislatures to put forth some of these proposed amendments to the constitution to remediate our infestation of thieves that steal and storytellers that spin colorful yarns.

Amendment Proposal 1 – Congressional Term Limits

According to Article I of the constitution, these are the current requirements to become a member of Congress:

House of Representatives (Section 2)

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Senate (Section 3)

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof*, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. (* Changed to direct election by Amendment 17)

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

Proposition would include the following:

Members of congress may not seek reelection to this body after they have served no more than 3 full terms, combined between chambers.

Purpose

Adding this restriction would allow for a maximum of 18 years for a single person to maintain the power of the office. This would ensure that nobody monopolizes power for 3 to 4 decades, amassing wealth, power, and favors. This also ensures that people in power to regulate things such as technology are more likely to understand the usage, pitfalls, and needs as things progress.

Amendment Proposal 2 – Fairness Within Congress

Section I – Compensation for members of Congress

Each member of the House of Representatives shall be compensated at a rate equal to the median income of the constituents within their district. Effective at time of ratification.

Each member of the Senate shall be compensated at a rate equal to the median income of their state.

Thusly, no housing allowance will be apportioned. Medical, Dental, and other insurance services shall be provided via the Health Care Marketplace, or may be purchased solely by the member. Effective at time of ratification.

Retirements shall be assessed in the same method as the general populous, with regular Social Security withholdings from aforementioned wages, effective retroactively to sitting members.

Section II – Investment and Insider Trading Monitoring

All capital holdings such as stocks, bonds, properties, etc. shall be held in trust for the duration of tenure in congress. No portfolio subtractions may be made, and for any additions, Security and Exchange Commission must approve and audit each transaction to exclude insider trading. If found, the trade is cancelled, a fine equal to 30% of the trade will be assessed and placed into the reserves for Social Security. Violations will also be referred to the appropriate committee for ethics violations.

Section III – Elimination of Exemptions

At no point may congress enact legislation that explicitly, or implicitly excludes congress or any other governmental positions from application, effective retroactively.

Amendment Proposal 3 – Election Equalization

Section I – Election Contributions

Elections must be funded with equal apportionment from funds allocated amongst all candidates.

Private contributions may not come from Businesses or from Labor Unions in any form, including Political Action Committees.

Contributions cannot be received from, or found to have originated outside the borders of the United States, barring individual contributions from active military personnel.

Section II – Media Objectivity

During a Primary Election, all candidates will be allowed on the stage and given equal time, regardless of party affiliation.

During a General Election, all candidates will be allowed on the stage and given equal time, regardless of party affiliation.

Violations of these criteria, or if an unfair bias to certain candidates or parties is observed, reported to the Federal Elections Commission and Federal Communications Commission Inspector Generals, and is found to be valid, that media outlet will be barred from hosting debates or commercials for the duration of the election cycle.

Amendment Proposal 4 – Lead By Example

Since the government currently has the power to regulate minimum wages, labor restrictions, regulations, and safety, it is hereby set that all public sector Labor Unions are hereby disbanded, and all remaining operational holdings transferred to member pension funds. As the government is the arbiter of what is fair practice for workers, they shall henceforth lead by example.

Amendment Proposal 5 – Repeal of 16th Amendment

Under the auspices of the 13th amendment, section I making it unconstitutional to be placed into involuntary servitude, this shall repeal the 16th amendment regarding the income tax. The 16th amendment compels each individual to apportion their income to the government, without option nor remediation, under pain of imprisonment, asset seizure, all at the threat of martial force.

This includes the disbanding of the Internal Revenue Service once all prior assessed monies are paid through the current tax year.

Amendment Proposal 6 – Equitable Consumption Tax

All remaining forms of taxation shall cease and desist in favor of a universal consumption tax. Each commercial transaction shall have a 10% Federal Sales Tax placed upon it, regardless of item or amount. Exclusions would be made for individuals working within the public sector (education, law enforcement, fire, etc.) for any and all service related purchases.

Amendment Proposal 7 – Balanced Budget

Section I – Ban on Quantitative Easing

At no point should the nation’s hard money supply be altered by the use of Quantitative Easing, or mass manufacture of more currency than is needed to replace aging currency. The overproduction of currency, causes an unfair devaluation of the currency currently in the hands of the populace, and reduces the spending power, causing inflation.

Section II – Progressive Return to Gold Standard

As the nation pays down the debt, it shall return to a Gold Standard, ensuring there is a cap on how much currency is in circulation at any time and guaranteeing the strength and longevity of the US Dollar. Once done, The Federal Reserve will be obsolete.

Section III – Balanced Budget

Congress shall pass without exception an annual budget for the nation without increasing the national debt. While an outstanding debt exists, congress shall have access to 90% of the general revenue, with 10% withheld to immediately pay off debts.

Amendment Proposal 8 – Equal Protection From the Law

No government agency, or agent shall have unlimited qualified immunity for violations of an individual’s rights during the performance of their duties.

No government agency will use deadly force when executing a no-knock warrant.

These are just the first of many common sense solutions we could get through, past the gatekeepers most interested in keeping the status quo. More ideas and suggestions to work through and will be discussed along the way. Until then, keep fighting for ways to reduce the government’s hold on your life, and the lives of the people you know.