Sure things around us seem to be changing, but the truth is that they really aren't changing at all. Now I could easily go into a tirade as to how this applies to the election in a couple weeks. I mean...the President promised change, but it is really more of the same. And the challenger is promising change, which is really only a return to the way it was 4 years ago...so that's not really change. It would be too easy, right?
So rather, let's talk about real change. Change means "to transform or convert". So let's talk about that for a second. Was anything in Washington transformed or converted during the last 4 years? Will it be in the next 4...regardless of who holds the highest office in the land? Don't answer that. I won't accept any answer except 'no'.
We all say we want change. Even the conservatives want change...if only to change things back to the way they were (because things were SO much better then. ahem.) But none of us really do. Because if we wanted change, we would be speaking up. Loudly.
The truth is, we want things to stay pretty much as they are...but just get a little better each year. I mean, if things were to REALLY change, we would have to throw all of our plans out the window and live in the moment, right? We spend way too much time making those plans and preparing for the future as we expect it to be to upset the apple cart and try something REALLY new. REAL change is just too big a risk.
So we placate ourselves with a little temporary change. We love to be inspired by a candidate who promises big changes...we just don't want him to succeed in actually making them a reality. Instead, we want a tug of war going back and forth; two steps forward, three steps back. Then as the ripple effects sweep by our front porch, we look hopefully for signs that help us convince ourselves that things are a wee bit better. We inevitably are disappointed because either things aren't 'better enough'...or because they seem worse.
All of it though is just an illusion we foist on ourselves, because nothing is really changed. Things are not better or worse...we just think they are. In fact, things haven't really changed at all. And down inside we know it. You can tell that we know it because of how few of us vote. In the 2010 mid-term election, less than 30% of the US population (42% of registered voters) went to the polls. We know that elections don't really matter. They should but they don't. Because no matter who wins, NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL will change in Washington DC.
Our votes are bought and sold by wealthy corporate and private "investors", using media manipulation and bribery to set policy. With no term limits, successful congressional career politicians can make backroom deals and loophole ridden policies for decades, before retiring with full pension/salary and healthcare for life at our expense. Not that they need it, because during their tenure in the Capitol they have made plenty of "friends" who will of course make sure they are taken care of once they leave office.
We check up on our elected elite before and during their terms in Congress, but does anyone ever take a look at where they go AFTER? Trust me when I say that if they played their cards right while on Capitol Hill, they never have to really work again.
No...I'm pretty sure we don't really want change. Because if we did, we would stand up and make our voices heard. Right? Truth is, we're afraid. Afraid our plans will become null and void. Or worse, afraid we will be ridiculed or painted as a "socialist" or worse a terrorist. I mean, look at what happened to the Occupy folks...real Americans standing up for real change. Victims of police brutality. Thousands arrested and countless more added to "watch lists". There's good reason to be afraid, right?
But, there are REAL solutions out there and REAL people standing up...we just have to look somewhere beyond the hallowed halls of Congress to find them. For example...Warren Buffet has a plan that would END the deficit forever. Of course, Congress would NEVER pass such a thing, because...well, read it for yourself and you'll know why:
Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the
best quotes about the debt ceiling ... "I could end the deficit in 5
minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that any time
there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are
ineligible for re-election."
The
26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months
and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in
1971 - before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the
Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land
all because of public pressure.
If
everyone shared this with 20 people, in three days, most people in The United
States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be
passed around.
Congressional
Reform Act of 2012
1. No Tenure/No
Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.
2. Congress
(past, present & future) participates 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 the American people. It may not be used for any other
purpose.
3. Congress can
purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will
no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower
of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress
loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care
system as the American people.
6. Congress must
equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts
with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/12.
I would also add #8 Term Limits to the list. Three 2-Year terms in the House and two 6-Year terms in the Senate. If they know they can't stay forever, perhaps they will make some hay while the sun is shining, right?
The
American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. 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.
It will likely take a Constitutional Amendment to pass something like this, because 90% of Congress is unlikely to vote for it. I mean…it would be REAL change and it would affect THEM…for the worse. But for the rest of us, it will be real change that will affect us for the better.
Want real change? How about we start here? Pass it on...share this with everyone you know. Remember: Real change is a choice you make...it starts with you and me.
