Issue 297 Electoral reform March 21, 2014

Elections are essential for a Republic like the United States. They determine our Representatives and thus determine the direction the nation is headed. But there is corruption involved which secures the two main political parties as power brokers and thus limits alternative candidates. Rather than focus on the corruption here, I would like to discuss an alternative to the current rules so that anyone can run for office without the political manipulations.

The idea: The idea is simple; create an account for each individual running for office. Yea, it is not necessarily that simple. These accounts belong to each candidate and are monitored by a body that ensures that the money comes from U.S. citizens or businesses. These accounts are given to each person running for office so that all individuals who have decided to run for office have a centralized fund that can be monitored by the public to detect unlawful use and spot for other forms of corruption. So under this system, no individual is left out of running for office unlike the current system where you have to achieve a certain popularity rating.

How it works: A similar idea is to create an account that is shared equally between both candidates to use does not sit well with me. It does not take into account that individuals giving money to a candidate is a form of the freedom of speech. So having individual accounts makes sense. Also, currently, individuals are limited to how much they can donate to a campaign (even though the loopholes favor the two main political parties). As such, that limitation would be eradicated so that people would be able to donate as much as they please (including businesses) to their candidate with one stipulation. That stipulation is that all donations are anonymous. This prevents the candidates from knowing who actually donated to their campaign which prevents future kick backs to an extent. It also prevents political backlash by the other candidates who may win and want to punish those who did not support them. So this is how it works.

Conclusion: This idea is not 100% perfect, that I know. But I also know it is at least better than our current election rules that thrive on corruption and solidify the Democrat and Republican power base. As such, I submit this idea which protects your privacy and freedom of speech to you my dear readers. Critique it as you may, I am open to all improvements.

Issue 296 Constitutional Changes March 20, 2014

In this issue I will discuss what changes I want to see done to the Constitution. I will limit mine to 3 topics however: term limits, national debt, and the federal bureaucracy. Let's begin.

Term Limits: The term limit issue is popular and it is also important. We already have had Presidents in their final terms of office break their promises and do what they felt like as they no longer where beholden to the electorate to be re-elected. As such, this mistake cannot be repeated in the instances of the Congress who do need term limits. So how should it be done? For me, I would first increase the terms of the members of the House of Representatives to three year terms instead of the current two year term. My purpose here is to have 1/3 of the body being changed every single year so that the people can react faster to an obtrusive or tyrannical leaning government. But what does this have to do with term limits you ask? Well, I would limit the House of Representatives to three full terms, but they cannot be consecutive. So a member of the House would be able to serve a total of nine years, but because it is not consecutive they would be forced to leave congress for 3 full years (or run for an entirely different office). This ensures that they will still be beholden to the people because they will want to be re-elected later and also interferes with lobbyist keeping their pet politicians in office.

As to the Senate. I would keep the traditional six year term, but limit it to two terms again not being consecutive. This again has the same advantages of protecting against elected officials ignoring their constituents and hurting lobbyist efforts of making more pets out of politicians. I would like to see the State legislatures choose the Senators instead of the direct method used by the people now so as to protect State interests from Federal overreach as well. This method of being chosen by the State legislatures was overturned by the 17th amendment in an effort to create a purer democracy, but if you are a student of history you will know that pure democracies are 100% unstable and prone to mob rule. By returning the decision to the State legislatures it also provides opportunities for a swifter recall as the State legislatures could recall Senators (pre 17th amendment) if they failed in their duties or went out of control (I am also open to recall votes for members of the House of Representatives by the people as well).

Debt: We all can agree the national debt is a major security risk and needs to be addressed. So I believe a balanced budget amendment will be the best way to solve this issue. The balanced budget amendment I have in mind is very simple. It would require that the Federal Government cannot spend more money than it takes in via tax revenues. Yes it is that simple. The government cannot spend more than what the tax payers give it. I specify tax revenues because the idiots at the Federal government also include loans to the Federal government as part of income. Separating the debt from revenues is a must. Also, an additional provision will be added that dictates that all interest on current debt must be paid first before all other spending each and every year. This insures our current debt goes down. However, being able to issue debt is an important function. So bonds issued to the people will still be allowable under this amendment and used specifically to fund government and cannot be used in other ways. Money left over from the budget and the bonds will be used to pay off any additional debts the Federal government has incurred. There is an issue here though, as government may need to incur additional debt beyond what they get through savings bonds. So the only way they can burrow from a foreign country or private bank (or other private institution) beyond private individuals is in specific circumstances. Those circumstances will be limited to Congress declaring war on another country (no exception) and a State of emergency declared by the Governor or State legislature due to a natural or man made incident. In this instance, the money burrowed is restricted to funding the war or the place where that the State of emergency has been declare, with any money left over being returned to pay off the debt. This prevents any abuses by the government that could result from this provision and makes it harder to put the nation in debt.

Federal Bureaucracy: Here is something simple. I would limit the Federal government to four key institutions and specify their powers. Those four are the Treasury, department of State, department of Defense and finally department of Interior. Each one will have a unique and specific role specified in the constitution and that no other institutions would be allowed to exist outside of these departments with their abilities not exceeding beyond what is specified by the constitution save for amendments being added that would change or alter their roles. All other components of the federal bureaucracy would vanish or be given to the State and local governments respectively.

Conclusion: There are plenty more changes that can be made or even these ideas can change form. Much needs to be done before an amendment can even be passed and even that is no guarantee. All I can say is that all ideas need to be discussed and vetted to ensure that any changes if any are done to the Constitution are done responsibly.

Issue 295 Convention of States March 19, 2014

Have you ever heard of a Convention of States? Well if you are a student of history or of government you should have. But let's go over what it is anyway.

What is it: The United States Constitution specifies two ways to amend the Constitution. One way is to have both houses of Congress vote on an amendment with a 2/3 majority required in both in order to pass the change. However, there is another harder way to amend the Constitution. That method is to have 2/3's of the State legislatures pass Constitutional reform so that an amendment can be added. This has not been done since the Articles of Confederation where replaced back in 1789 by the United States Constitution.

How it works: Well if you think the entire Constitution is going to be rewritten, then you are wrong. A Constitutional Convention can specify what topics or amendments they are allowed to address. So specifically saying that it will address term limits for elected members of Congress and for judges appointed to the Supreme Court would actually limit the convention to discussing and making amendments on those issues exclusively.

Some other examples of amendment topics that could be discussed at a convention of states:

• A balanced budget amendment
• A redefinition of the General Welfare Clause (the original view was the federal government could not spend money on any topic within the jurisdiction of the states)
• A redefinition of the Commerce Clause (the original view was that Congress was granted a narrow and exclusive power to regulate shipments across state lines--not all the economic activity of the nation)
• A prohibition of using international treaties and law to govern the domestic law of the United States
• A limitation on using Executive Orders and federal regulations to enact laws (since Congress is supposed to be the exclusive agency to enact laws)
• Imposing term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court
• Placing an upper limit on federal taxation
• Requiring the sunset of all existing federal taxes and a super-majority vote to replace them with new, fairer taxes

It is actually happening: The people of the United States are fed up with Washington D.C.'s politics and their wasteful spending. So a group calling itself Convention of States has begun an effort to begin an actual convention to fix our government. The examples above are their examples (but not limited to) of topics that they will be discussing at the convention itself. To read more go to this website: http://www.conventionofstates.com/

Conclusion: Am I worried that the members of this convention will overstep their boundaries? Well of course I am. So that is why I am writing this article, so that you, my dear reader can pay attention so as to keep them from being as corrupt as the members of the government. Stay strong and stay attentive my friends.

 

Isue 294 Self Contained city March 18, 2014

It is possible to create a city that is self sustaining. With technology a city that runs itself without the need for outside resources can make a city greener and possibly even healthier to live in. So how can it be done?

Food Towers: For one, the city will have to bring the farm within the city limits. To do this, food towers or more accurately converted buildings will be used to grow all the food for the city. These towers will use technology called hydroponics to feed and water all the plants within the tower using a series of tubes and nutrient rich water. For other food like mushrooms and other plant like organisms (or even wines and beers) temperature controlled basements or sections of food towers would be needed. As to the meat, special towers or buildings would be used for livestock where the animals would be fed and slaughtered. We could get wool and other fibers from animals in these same facilities along with milk and eggs, only eating the animals after they become too old to produce. Also, their poo can be used as fertilizer for the other plant life in the city itself. (Of course this is only if the city values its meaty meals over going vegan). By the way, towers, or even aquariums can be used to supply fish as a form of urban fish farm.

Infrastructure: Cars would need to become irrelevant in the city which will eliminate the need for roads. However, how will goods be made or even shipped to their intended location. For one, a public transportation system would need to be developed to transport the goods underground to the different businesses in the city. Basically, a freight train system for the city's exclusive use and a series of elevators at each building bringing the cargo to each appropriate floor would be needed. A separate transit system would be required for people which would be better suited above ground to bring people to different buildings roofs or midsections to go inside rather than at the ground floor. This insures the ugly freight remains hidden, while the people can enjoy the cities sights from on high.

Goods: Some goods like toys, paper and the like will still be needed. So how do these products get to your home? The most logical method would be a 3d printer. Those same freight cars will also be taking your garbage to a recycling center to be processed back into their base materials. These materials can then be turned into "inks" for use in 3d printers. What's more, our human waste and plant matter can also be broken down not just into fertilizers but "inks" as well. So you can buy the blue print for your child's toy online and have the materials shipped to your home. After the materials arrive, the home owner simply has to put the ink in the 3d printer and press start.

Jobs: Working from an in home office is going to be essential. Many of the future skilled jobs will revolve around using the Internet. So, things like computer programming, advertising and the like will all be able to be done at home. Specific jobs will require face to face meetings which mean that renting a board room for the day or office space for a particular project will become more mainstream. This has the benefits of reducing costs for a business, but harms social interaction. Restaurants will not be affected really as they will still require many of the customers to have that dine in experience to get their yummy food.

Exceptions: While it is possible to do all this, certain things will still need to come from outside. Those things are people and commerce. Cities are a center piece of trade and without people from other places coming to buy and sell their wares, money can become concentrated into a few peoples hands. This can be detrimental and cause a cities collapse as city life becomes unaffordable for everyone else. So visitors are a must in order to generate new and lasting revenue.

Conclusion: A self sustaining city which uses its waste and is planned out efficiently can be self sustaining in everything but generating new wealth. This concept is not fully my own as it has been discussed countless times by those seeking a greener society, or for people who are predicting the future of cities as a whole. So as we age, expect new cities to pop up along with new technology that will make our lives more convenient while at the same time perhaps a little more mundane.

Issue 293 MIRA March 17, 2014

First I would like to say Happy St. Patrick's day. Now it is time to criticize President Obama's MIRA idea.

MIRA: MIRA is a play on IRA for investments. In this case people would be allowed to take a portion of their salary and put it toward a government bond which will earn interest. At a specified time, the individuals using the MIRA would be able to collect the money as part of their retirement savings. This is how it works in a nut shell.

Problem: This will not help retirees. Instead it is a gimmick because the people running the federal government cannot not sustain Social Security at all. On top of this, the federal government wants access to more money that other countries are now refusing to lend them. So they are turning to the American people with savings bonds. These bonds are the key component of MIRA. Your money, if you contribute, is used to purchase these bonds which are loans to the federal government. Basically, the people in the federal government are replacing one source of borrowed money with another.

What this demonstrates: By implementing a system like MIRA, it shows that other countries realize we cannot pay our debts. This is the reason why China is giving America less and less while solidifying itself with precious metals if a crash could happen. All in all, this shows that the country is in dire straits.

Stop feeding the beast: If you contribute to this fund, then you are aiding in the demise of the nation. Our government spends way too much already and it just wants more. As such, by lending it money through MIRA, you will be contributing to the national debt and the growing instability of the dollar. On top of all this, the money being contributed may become mandatory if financial troubles escalate, or your money may be with held in other crises. It is a bad deal.

Conclusion: The Government is full of fools. It seeks to spend its way out of debt, but that is impossible. What should be focused on is reforming every aspect of government so that it maximizes efficiency. There is no need for a Medicare parts A, B, C, and D with our contributions only funding part A exclusively, but being borrowed from to fund other parts of the federal government. Over 4 trillion dollars is owed to the Social Security and Medicare systems combined with trillions more dollars in unfunded liabilities. I have not even touched defense spending and that takes up even less money than all the entitlement programs combined. Clean up your act government and stop giving us false hope.

Issue 292 Civil Disobedience March 14, 2014

Civil Disobedience is an important aspect of society. It lets us fight back in peaceful ways against a government institution or business. So what forms does it come in?

Petitions: Yes, that piece of paper which lists signatures is an important aspect of civil disobedience. By first voicing your displeasure and then having people sign the petition showing you their support it allows you to notify a government or other institution of your displeasure. It can also be used to voice your opinion in favor of something occurring like a new law or action as well.

Mail Campaign: Here protesters send in mail with each one describing what they are protesting and why. The letter is concluded with a signature of each individual group or protester member. Basically one letter per person. Whether the letters is hand written, copied and signed or even electronic, it can be very disruptive to a business or a government institution while showing that you, as protesters, have the majority of the people on your side.

Boycott: A powerful form of civil disobedience, here people refuse to buy from or use a product or service. It is a powerful message that helps to show extreme displeasure with a person, an act, an institution, or a business. Originally it was used in Ireland to boycott people whom the community did not accept, so it can be used in that capacity as well.

Sit ins: This form of protest has people literally sit in a business or government institution which hinders regular functions of an institution. Basically, it has a number of people inside a facility like a government office, and all the staff and visitors have to move around the people performing the sit in. It is a very disruptive strategy to any institution if enough people are gathered. It can also be used to block the entrance to a building or to block the path of vehicles if the protesters want to prevent say a park from being torn down or prevent government officials from voting.

Picket lines: Similar to sit ins, the picket line is protesters lining the streets in front of a business or institution to voice their views. It works to prevent pedestrian traffic from moving and forces those who are entering and exiting the building to listen to them (along with any passerby).

Rallies: A rally is kind of like a big presentation. It gathers up like minded individuals to discuss and solidify their message as well as allow leaders to guide their fellow protesters in the right direction.

March: A march is like a rally, but it is a massive group of people that pass through communities to gain momentum. Finally, they reach a particular destination where they wish to show their displeasure. The sheer size of the march is meant to intimidate in order to force action. So marching on the white house to show displeasure on an immigration bill, or a business for making weapons of war are all aspects of this. March's usually also contain a rally, a sit in, and even a picket line. It can also be used as a way to give impact to the intended target of displeasure when delivering a petition.

Press: None of these work without press attention. Media is the key ingredient to get your message across. So having a carefully crafted message and talking points is essential. Also, the ability to get the media attention is also important too. No media equals your movement being ignored.

This means that you need a press core for your group. A movement or protesters will need to put out its own press releases to coordinate the movement, and counter any propaganda the opposition puts forth.

Conclusion: Protesters cannot at any time turn into a mob. They must always be civilized with a clear and cohesive message. As such, imitate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the way he conducted the civil rights protests. These are the most common forms of protest that have existed for over a hundred years. Use them well and use them responsibly.

 

Issue 291 Legal drug 2 March 13, 2014

Yesterday we talked of small token regulations and advantages to legalization of drugs. Today we continue that discussion with respect to the role of distribution and doctors.

Pharmacies: A pharmacy requires a prescription to dispense a medication (for those that the government requires at the very least). As such, a pharmacy can stock the now legal narcotics that have been purposely modified to insure quality and lessen the chances of overdose. With a pharmacy, a specified amount can be dispensed at any given time based on the prescription, which can control the number of "highs" an addict can have access too. Already, there are derivatives of drugs that are deemed illegal in other forms dispensed due to the fact that they can be used in medical applications. In addition, certain drugs are dispensed that help addicts of certain drugs wean themselves off the addictive drugs themselves. So pharmacies can play an active role.

Doctor’s office: If using the above pharmacy model, then doctors licensed to dispense narcotics and are qualified to recognize that individuals are addicts in the first place can write prescriptions for the narcotics. A doctor acting in this capacity would be used to control the amount an addict gets at any given time based on the prescription they are writing and also help wean the addict off that addictive drug when they are ready. Basically, by having doctors who know about addiction and how to treat it we can help protect the addicts from doing much more harm to their body.

Combination: Another possibility is a special clinic designed specifically to handle people who are addicted to the formally illegal drugs. Here the addicts can have access to a doctor on staff to check their physical condition while at the same time the addict can purchase and use the drug on site (purchasing the drugs aids in funding the clinic). What this means is that every time they need the high, the addict would come to the special clinic and purchase their drug that they are addicted to. Then the addict would go to a privacy booth monitored by cameras or staff and use the drug. If they should overdose, a trauma center would be located inside the clinic so as to save the addict as soon as the overdose occurs. This version has all of the advantages of the aforementioned Pharmacies and Doctors sections, but with key additions. Those additions are a guarantee that a clean needle will be used every time which prevents the spread of diseases and that the chances of surviving an overdose increase as they will only be able to use the drug on site which has the medical staff on call to help at a moments notice. On top of this, because the drug is being used at a special facility known to be used to treat addicts, it creates a stigma that people who use are sick in some way and need help. As people will not want to be viewed as victims, it will help to prevent any new people from trying drugs.

Conclusion: We have many legal drugs already with alcohol being the worst of the bunch based on statistics. On top of this, we treat many addicts as criminals by arresting them which hinders future employment by giving them a police record. Is drug use a personal choice? You are damn right it is. A good number of people quite after just trying once and others can quite at anytime. Those that cannot control the addition are truly victims of their own physiology and thus they need our help. What I have stated here in this issue is what some countries are already doing to help the drug addicted members of their populations. It is time the drug war ends and that we help the addicts rather than scorn them.