Greek Debt Crisis - History, Currencies and Failed Civilizations

I think our politicians are more worried about riots if the bread and circuses funded by their spending ends. Their forward perspective reaches to their next election. Change is painful, but if it doesn't come soon, I agree with your prognosis.

Thanks for your insight, Tim. I agree with you all the way. Greece is an example of what can happen if the Democrats, that are in power, continue to cram these bills, that the American people don't want, down our throats.

I also congratulate the citizens of Utah for standing up and kicking out Bennett for not representing the People.

I also congratulate you for obtaining your concealed carry permit, as you mentioned in the email notice. One more American willing to stand up and defend what he loves in life.

I'm don't have a PhD in macroeconomics either, but this is spot on. The only way to stop this is to use election day as a major milestone towards fixing the problems which sadly we voters created. What is good about the Greek situation is that it serves as a lesson for those here in the U.S. who are more concerned about how we look to the French than how we measure up to our own standard: the Constitution.

I hope we, as conservatives, don't let this up coming election slip away. Keep up the good work.

For years, Nancy Pelosi has been hinting that the government should bring in enough dollars to solve our problem by confiscating everyone's 401(k) accounts, then dribbling out the money to the owners over time. That will certainly bring in piles of money and I'm sure they'll put it all in a "lock box" so that it will never be spent on anything but financing our retirement. Of course, they won't put dollar bills or gold bullion in that box, it will be... bonds, i.e., I.O.U.s.

Since the Dem voters probably don't have sizable retirement accounts, their carefully cultivated envy will make it easy to sell such a plan to them. After all, "the rich" are merely lucky and don't deserve their stashes.

Let's rearrange Congress in 2010. Save our 401(k)s.

Alternatively, let's see if we can find out where Nancy and her hubby have stashed their fortune. THAT will be the one pile of money that Congress will exempt from confiscation--and that's where I want MY money.

Tim
Your analysis is spot on. What is happening is Greece is complicated by the fact that they are part of a larger group of countries and cannot make decisions unilaterally. Our situation here in the states is beginning to get more complicated due to agreements like NAFTA and the investments made in our federal bonds by other countries. The Dems constant harping about a 'global village' is threatening our own ability to govern ourselves. I do not espouse an isolationist posture, but rather that we compete with other countries fairly, without the "other guy" artificially supporting their own industries and giving them unfair advantages to compete. Your comments regarding sound economic policies are so right on that it hurts. I am convinced that our own government, through convoluted and complex policy and regulation, has set up the lower and middle class for failure; while the elite in power, both on Wall Street and Pennsylvania Ave will reap the financial benefits. As to your point of acquiring a concealed carry permit in NH, here in W. Va. it is comparatively easy to obtain a handgun or long gun. There are a great many citizens that are prepared, and getting more prepared, to take whatever steps are necessary to insure our freedoms and pursuit of happiness will not be abridged. Perhaps there will be some relief come November 2010, but I fear that we might end up, like England today, in a stalemated Congress that cannot do anything to change, or undo, what has happened in the past year. I choose anyone, Tea Party, Rep or Dem, that is conservatively minded. We simply must turn the tide in this country. We must reduce spending and reduce the deficit. The alternatives are far too onerous to think about.

It has been said that we should get rid of them all, Repubs and Dems, and start over. The Repubs that are up there right now are also part of the problem. I think Bennett is only the first.

I think they should all be removed from office if they have been there more than 2 terms. This goes for all state and federal folks. When a person has been in office for so long they have so many "owe you's" that they cannot stay true to the people at home.

There is not much that we can do about the problems in Greece. There is a lot that we can do about our own problems, and this is coming in November. For the first time in a long time I don't think I will hear that his or her vote won't count. think about it. We, you and I have a chance to bring America back to where our founders intended it to be. The 4th of July 2011 when the fireworks go off we can really celebrate. The cure of a political cancer.

I totally agree with you on this and many other posts you placed here. A big THANK YOU!!!!

I just want to remind people, don't trust what anyone says, look at their record closely, pray about it, then vote. If we don't do this, then we will just re-elect the same people we are trying to get rid of - just different names.

When this financial mess exploded the Canadian conservative government sent me a questionnaire to find what I thought on a number of issues. With the economic crisis, I believe I checked more than one box. One of them was STOP SPENDING MONEY! The other was CUT TAXES. The solution is necessary and easy as you point out. One problem is those who get hand outs from the nanny state. They don't want to lose the hand out and start taking responsibility for their lives. We can take care of those in need as relatives, friends and neighbours. The government needs to get out of that business.

You got a knack Tim, that is for sure. The only thing missing is this financial melt down in the good old USA is going to come and cannot be prevented. We passed the point of no return long ago. The people simply will not do what needs to be done. It is going to be hard hit when it comes.

I fear daily for this once great land. It has a lot of wonderful folks that don't really deserve what is coming, but we have been letting the fox guard the hen house for way too long. Most of the hens are gone or are gone and replaced with decoys.

People are to complacent to bite the bullet and really do what needs to be done. We are all in too much debt to make the break for fear of losing our cars and homes. Guess what. we are going to lose them any way.

We are closer to Greece than we know.

I can only speak for drunken airman, not sailors, but I think we're similar - we only spend until we have no more money unlike our government.

On a more serious note, this is what I expect from an individual that wants to represent me and I don't really care what party they are affiliated with:

1. Understand I believe in God and expect you do also.

2. I want it understood that God will be acknowledged in public places, on my currency, and especially in my nation’s capital.

3. I am proud to be an American. If I want to celebrate a nationality other than American, I should have stayed there.

4. I expect that all individuals follow the laws of this land and to be held accountable when they do not.

5. That representatives are just that. They were not elected to be self righteous, arrogant, self serving elitists that ignore the will of those that elect them.

6. It’s my money you're spending. Do not use it to buy favors or votes.

7. If you want a raise, ask me for it. You work for me. If you earn it, you may get it. If you didn't, expect to be unemployed next election.

8. What ever you give yourselves, I expect the same. Since you work for me that’s only fair.

9. When you promise you will do something I expect you to do it.

10. When you send me, my, wife, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter to some god forsaken country to fight, it will be to win and you will listen to and support those Military Commanders who earned the right to make decisions.

11. Instead of running around the WORLD, when Congress is not in session, you will be back home listening to what the folks that you work for have to say.

12. If the folks at home are not working, you certainly should not be giving away our money to those who never looked for work.

13. Use some good old fashion common sense and stop listening to the lobbyists who earn damn good money selling you something you do not need.

14. Do not even think about giving amnesty to Illegal Immigrants for any reason.

15. Finally, never forget, some very smart people knew the day may come when I would need to defend myself against a tyrannical government so they wrote the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. I do believe the 2nd Amendment is there to protect the other Amendments.

It is going to be very difficult to turn Congress around. Pretty soon, there will be more people with their hands out, than workers putting money into the country's treasury. Guess who votes for what?

I feel bad for my grandchildren. Thanks, Obama!

Nicely said, Larry Lee. Dead on, Tim. Alaska doesn't require a CC permit, but will issue one after some training so you can carry outside the state. Seems to me it would be a valuable service to start the occasional article or blog piece on local and personal self-sufficiency--food, power, shelter, transportation, etc. It's likely centralized systems will have increasing breakdowns as money becomes tight, so being able to survive without external help for a few days or weeks could become critical.

Right on, Justin Case (comment on 5/9)! As a former drunken sailor I also take slight exception to Tim's analogy. Like you, I differed from our current administration in one dictinct way: when I was out of money, I quit spending and slept it off. Obama just issues more bonds! He won't sober up until we run his socialist, power-hungry ass out of office in 2012. (Hopefully sooner. Can you say "impeachment"?)

Thanks for the clear description of Greece's problem, Tim. We are indeed headed that way. November can't come soon enough!

Ohioans: Want to take the teeth out of Obama's Health Care "Reform" Bill, at least in our state? Check out www.TheOhioProject.com and GET ACTIVE!

John Joseph

Excellent artilce and great work, Tim! I praise God for your efforts and pray that this nation will continue to remove those politicians that are destroying our counttry. From what I've seen, we are having great victories in our country. I only know of 1 democrat that has won any election since Obama became president, and that was in Florida. Everywhere else, Americans are TOd with what is going on. I am confident that we will clean house this upcoming election!

I did an oversimplified calculation on paying down the national debt. Assuming that we balanced the budget yesterday and that the interest rate remained a constant 2 per-cent it would take 50 years to pay down the current debt at payments of $0.5 trillion per year.

I have sent this information to my Representative and Senators, but have not received meaningful responses. I try to post the info on the ABC News web-page every time I visit the site as well as my regional newspaper web-page. I also forward it to family, friends and complete strangers via email.

If we are to save America it is going to take some serious work. This Obama and His Congress have to go!

Well put Tim and yet one more reason why we need to Vote 'Em Out in November! Not just the Ds or the Rs but ALL of them that have been there for 2 terms of more, and particularly all of them that voted for the stimulus package(s), the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or ObamaCare!

Greece will not only get its bailout, we will help them get it through the world banking system that we pay into. So far we are not like Greece in that we can and do print out own money, which means our federal representatives have a greater capacity to harm us. The President and Congress believe there is still a lot of room for more spending and higher taxes. Until spending is 200% of GNP and total taxes exceed 80% of our individual incomes, our leaders will contend that they are doing good for us.

Regarding the reference to state balanced budgets, Illinois has such a requirement, but it has been met by: heavy borrowing; over anticipating tax revenues; and stealing from underfunded pension plans and other committed fund categories. The result is the inability to make required payments to schools, social service agencies and charities, and a current plan not to pay anything into state pension plans next year (despite their obligation to pay 3 to 4 Billion dollars to pensions because of prior neglect). Our current debt is $13 Billion, which we cannot pay without borrowing and raising taxes (cutting expenses still is not an option in Illinois) - but the Illinois budget is "balanced."

With the wrong people in charge (state and federal) we are going to eventually look back on 2010 with nostalgia as the "good old days." The low turnout for primary elections is a dangerous predictor that the voting public still does not understand the permanent damage already done and the plans to make it worse. Check candidates' schedules and go put them on the spot by demanding commitments from them that they will put our spending on a long term diet.

The problems in greece arE going to drag the entire european cartel down and they will come begging for the US to help them.
As for the balanced state budgets ... look I live in NJ. So much has been crammed down our throats in the last 20 yrs that NOW when we try and fix the system its just to damn big to even come close to getting under control. Politicians in this state have been robbing the people blind for so long that they now think its OK and dont see that putting the same guys back in power over and over won't fix the problems we have. Its time for term limits and the time is NOW!!!! In the states as well as the local elections the movement is called G.R.I.P. Get rid of Incumbent Polititions.
Its the only thing that will right the ship.

I agree with everyone about balancing a budget and living on it, just like we all do at home. the spending on everything in the world, by the government has to stop. Our country needs to pull together, and start workingtogether on fixing problems in the United States right now, and stop thinking about what the European Union thinks.

I was a little disheartned to see two Tea Party backed Republicans not win the vote in Ohio, but I will shake the dust off and carry on.

I enjoyed reading all of your views ahead of me.

Budget Balance Challenge

“Balance the budget” the rally cry of many. A very good an noble goal. Many, including the founder of this blog, feel that this is a simple thing to do. Below are actual budget figures taken from the CBO. I have converted them to make the figures more in line with a typical American’s budget. All figures are annual. How would you “balance the budget”.

Revenues: $50,000

Expenses: $86,150 consisting of:

$16,630 - National Defense
$16,400 – Social Security
$14,500 – Other Mandatory (Includes Federal & Military Retirement, Unemployment Benefits, Food Stamps, SSI Disability, Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit)
$10,380 – Medicare
$4,400 – Interest on National Debt
$4,000 – Education (Mostly transfers to the States)
$3,000 – Transportation
$2,400 – Veterans Benefits
$5,650 – Other
OK have at it and the next time you hear a politician or talking head say “Balance the Budget” ask HOW?……

NOTE FROM FOUNDER OF THIS BLOG - Tim Carter:

John C., Thanks for you input. Let's assume that all your math is correct. I've not the time to go check it.

Have you ever been to Washington DC? Have you ever visited Federal offices in your city or state? My guess is that if you peel back the cover of your numbers analysis, you'd quickly discover that the lion's share of the expenses are human resources - not monies being spent on physical things.

I say this from a position of experience. I was an elected official in my Village and served on the Finance Committee. Nearly 70% of our annual budget was direct employee expenses and benefits.

I'd venture to say the same is true for our Federal Government. If so, I'd hand out so many pink slips to balance the budget that your head would swim. There are simply too many employees. There's not a doubt in my mind that we couldn't slash 35 percent of them and NOT see a reduction in work done.

What's more, I'll bet that technology could easily fill much of the gap.

And in closing, in tough times, we hunker down. If we have to lay off 35 or 40 percent of the government work force to balance the budget and services slow down or disappear, so be it.

We got along quite well in this world 60 and 70 years ago with far less government workers. I'm willing to give it another shot. Believe me, the private sector will fill any vacuum that develops as a result of such a cut.

If citizens want or need a specific service that's been cut in my method, the private sector will create the service. Those citizens that want or need it can pony up to PAY for it THEMSELVES. That's the way it worked before we had this monstrous bloated government.

Sorry,
I left out $8,875 for Medicad (mostly to the states) from the above.

Dear Tim,

Please forgive me for changing the subject here, but not really. It's all about the budget, and having the money as a government to do things.

I have been reading up on Medicare, from the Medicare site online. I see that there may be repeal of the New Health Care Reform, before it even hits the Supreme Court for "constitutionality."

This is why. I may be the only one who didn't understand this, but bear with me. The separate states are responsible for matching funds with the government to impliment Medicare in each state. With the greatly increased healthcare costs the government is now going to fund, the states will have to give more matched funds to have the Medicare( Obamacare), in each state. That cost very well can bankrupt states. I think this is why a lot of states are now jumping on the bandwagon: because they are reading the fine print and now realize they are going to have some staggering new expenses to cover. So, it can be laid out that the Government is interfering in the commerce and trade of the states; hence also unconstitutional.

That along with the large companies such as Caterpillar giving their projected loss disclosures, (as mandated by federal laws),they state these corporations will go BANKRUPT with the new mandated healthcare. All of a sudden, it seems that the Healthcare Reform is starting to be backed in a corner. The way out has to be AMENDMENT.

Here in Ohio, I know reitred teachers have had cuts already to their healthcare coverage to balance the state budget, and GM folks have seen cuts in their health care plans for retirees. There is also talk about cutting reitrement plan funds.

According to the timeline for the Obama Healthcare Reform, the coverage payment for covering children to age 26, free healthcare screening,and covering preexisting health factors, starts on our insurance policies as of January 1, 2011. Insurance Companies will increase policy premiums from projected 40%- 100% to pay for this.

Remember, that if private insurance companies have to raise their premiums to make ends meet, that also the government has these increased costs, too.

I wonder if that was taken into consideration on the budget???

Next, according to the timeline, as of January 1, 2011 is when the premiums are set to go up, People in the age category of 55 and older will see cuts in coverage for:X-Rays, Scans, and MRI's
per the schedule. Couples who make $46,000.00 or more are in the "donut hole" and will not have medication reimbursement, except for a $300.00 check for the year. Corporations who have employees who switch from private plans to the Federal plan will be fined for each one. (Some employers are already electing to put their whole corporation on the Government plan because of the costs).
So, much less will be covered for folks 55 and older. That was always the plan. Remember the research by Dr. Emanuel, Obama's healthcare czar, and brother of Rom Emanuel, that states less rigorous medical treatment of patients 55 years old and older is more health care cost effective .

So, we will be weeping as of January 1, 2011. Please remember that in November 2010 when you VOTE. Here in Ohio, there will be a vote on the New Healthcare Reform also in November.

Lastly, if private insurance companies are hiking the insurance premiums up as of January to try and cover all the new additions to the health care bills, HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO PAY THE BILL????

Just a thought!

I apologize I mispoke on the "donut hole" folks, after I reread the provision. Instead of $46,000.00/ year, it is $85,000.00. The check coming back for medication reimbursement is $250.00.( to be sent out 3/15/11. Also Medicare part D folks will start paying higher premiums. Also NEW TAX on ALL PRIVATE INSURANCE POLICIES to pay for Compensation Effect Research(Plan to begin 2012).

Responding to Tim Carter’s response to my post of May 12, 2010

Tim,

Thanks for commenting on my post.

I am very certain of my numbers and I think your response proves the point of how difficult the situation is. Your solution is a good one. I particularly like it because it reduces the number of government employees. Government employees have an incentive to vote for larger government.

However, your solution falls way short balancing the budget. Do you really think that 70% of the Social Security budget is direct employee expenses and benefits? How about Medicare and Medicaid? Interest on the National Debt? I don’t think so. Are you also suggesting that we give pink slips to 30% of our troops? These are the top expenses of the Federal Government

Your village example falls apart because so much of the Federal Budget is not employee expenses and benefits or physical things IT IS ENTITLEMENTS.

I don’t think you are a math guy but EVEN IF the entire Federal Budget was 70% direct employees and benefits and you cut those expenses by 35% as you suggest the budget is still underfunded by 30%. Here is the math.

$86,150 (annual expenses) * .70 = $60,305. These are the expenses that are direct employee and benefits in your example.

$60,305 * .35 = $21,106. This is the savings by cutting 35% of those direct employee expenses.

$86,150 - $21,106 = $65,044. This is the new annual expense after your suggested cuts – Still roughly $15,000 or 30% short of “balancing the budget”.

“Balance the Budget” rhetoric makes for a nice rally cry and a very good sound bite – but it cannot be done without fixing Social Security and Medicare and bringing our troops home.

COMMENTS BY AUTHOR Tim Carter:

John,

Thanks again for your professional response. We're on the same side of this issue. The trouble is, neither of us have access to the granular details of the budget. Well, perhaps it's buried in the huge volumes and you have the time to look at it. I don't at this time.

Why don't you take the time to peel back the layers and see what percentage of the money for one section of the government goes? For example, take the Department of the Interior. Or how about the Department of Labor? What percentage of their budgets are employee salaries and benefits?

You balance the Federal budget by doing what you or I would do on a personal level. You do it the way companies balance their books. You would cut ALL unnecessary expenses. It would be horrific. It would be life changing.

I can tell you that there are billions wasted in earmark programs. There are hundreds of millions - perhaps billions - of dollars wasted in employees across every department that could be let go.

The the buildings they work in can be sold or leased to private companies.

There would be massive pain. Some, not all, citizens would be hurt. That's too bad. That's what happens in tough times. Those citizens that weaned themselves off the government teat years ago would suffer the least.

The bottom line is that you start cutting to the bone those areas that are deemed not as necessary as others.

Look at how the size of government has grown in the past 60 or 70 years. Is the USA any better off as a result of this growth of government? Is your quality of life grown the same amount as a direct result of what the government has done for you? Or is it better because *you* made it better yourself?

And as for your comment about bringing troops home, go back an listen to the campaign speeches made in 2008. Our current Commander in Chief said numerous times they'd already be home by now.

How about copying and pasting copies of the letters right here at the Fire Pit? You know, the letters you've been sending him about your unhappiness that he's failed to keep that promise. I say this assuming by your comment that you don't support the overseas efforts and rallied around that campaign promise.

We await to see the copies of the letters you've sent over the past year.

Back to the budget: Layoffs, massive layoffs. Radical changes to entitlement programs. Instant repeal of the Health Care Bill. New initiatives that educate the citizens that we're going back in time. That over the next 30 years, we're going back to what it was like in the 1920's. People have to discover how to take care of themselves.

We know that will work. Why? Because our country came so so far from 1776 to 1932 or so without all these debilitating entitlement programs. Do some people need help? You bet, but not nearly the number that are getting the aid today.

Tim Carter - Founder, www.TimCartersFirePit.com

Tim,
We are on the same side of this. My point is that it is a very very difficult issue and deserves so much more thought than people are willing to give it. It also will involve much more sacrifice than most people are willing to make and that sacrifice will have to come from all Americans including people currently enjoying Social Security and Medicare.

And, just FYI, I do support the troops, our overseas efforts and President Obama's surge in Afghanistan. They and their families have a taste of the sacrifice that will be needed to make America great again. The point I was trying to make is that war does contribute heavily to the budget deficit. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks for the dailogue.

Tim,
I just realized that your site accepts html tags. You and your readers can find data on the budget at this website.

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/index.html

More on the budget

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/110xx/doc11047/05-13-CBO_Presentation_to_AAAS.pdf

Yes, I laso have seen Greece and agree it could very well come to our shores. I have often asked myself what are we turning into here in America, for it is not the one I know. I can only pray that Americans rally and truly take back what America based on our founding fathers and Constitution withstands this fundalmental change as promised by President Barack Obama. I know we will all come together and unite as one when the call comes forward, for never have I seen a more dangerous time for my country.It would take me hours to explain all I feel.We are dealing with an ideology and a machine that is quite formidable. Illegal Immigration and Arizona Law and from a president to attorney general and the director of homeland security et al all aganist this Arizona Law and None Have Even Read It is inconsionable...further fueling vitriol and division (God Bless Arizona, A Cross standing alone in the desert stolen the another put in place and now must come down! A shiite Mosque to be built blocks from where 300 Americans were slaughtered, A National Health Plan the process alone, that a majority of Americans do not want, Unions openly breaking laws in front of peoples homes, yet the major media looks the other way and calls Tea Baggers violent...A President and democratic Congress continue to ram through more and more debt ...I pray to almighty God America will march as one come 2010 and most assuredly 2012 to return America to where it should be.

More about earmarks

http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/earmarks.php

Tim,
You're maybe not an expert in economics but your analyse of the situation is perfect. As European
(I'm French... nobody's perfect !) I'm "in the movie" and I confirm that the entire economy in Greece just collapsed. This now impacts other countries such as Spain or Portugal and could also impact some other major European countries as France or Germany in the future. A strong saving plan has been announced by Angela Merkel (German chancellor), workers in Spain are in the streets, etc...
I'm afraid we are in the same situation as in 1929 and we all now that World War II is a direct consequence of the "black Thursday".
Let's hope our politicians (I'm talking about all of them, including US ones) will have enough common sense to keep us away from any war.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!
A friend sent this along to me. I can't think of a reason to disagree.

I am sending this to virtually everybody on my e-mail list and that includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. My friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010".. It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights..

I know many of you will say, "this is impossible". Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.

We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes

Thanks,

A Fellow American

***********************************

Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options 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

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

2. No Tenure / No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.

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

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

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

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work..

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

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work..





If you agree with the above, pass it on to all in your address list. If not, just delete.

For my money the main reform would be no private funding of campaigns.

We the people own the airwaves and should demand for network liscences that they all allow X amount of time for debates to all qualified candidates.

The sooner we get the money incentive out of politics (as well as health insurance fwiw ) the better.