Politically unpopular topic: Changes to Federal Government

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:40:00 -0400

We should abolish or majorly restrain the Federal Reserve. I think it leads to corruption and Corporatism. Where I think it fails to meet Constitutional muster is in being insufficiently accountable to Congress. With proper oversight, I'd be in the position of having to accept is as a proper exercise of authority, I just wouldn't like it-- like the 26th Amendment.

Given the Affordable Care Act, I'd even give serious thought to rolling back the voting age to 26. People are adults and some age or they aren't. I think we have a problem with equal protection for people between 18 and 21 (now 18 and 26).

I'd like to repeal the 16th and 17th Amendments, and clarify the commerce clause, the 14th's due process and citizenship clauses.

I want term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court. A 3/5ths vote of Congress, or resolutions by 3/5ths of the state legislatures would overturn SCOTUS decisions (Judicial Review is a usurpation).

I want to require sunset of federal regulations. If they are necessary, Congress can renew them.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 11:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:17:24 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member I believe that the founders of the country would agree with you that we as people should change the things that we feel need to be changed. How is the major question. Do enough people believe in what you believe in and can vote in the right people to make these changes?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 11:27 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:27:34 -0500

My question is not that change may be coming...but what do you propose to replace each item you propose to eliminate? Just eliminating the Federal Reserve will not solve whatever ills you think are happening with the Federal Reserve in existence.

As for the ACA and changing the voting age? Whats' the goal there? People tend to vote on emotion, not reality - no matter what age they are.

As for sunset rules for federal regulations - really? Have you given any thought as to how bogged down Congress will become if they have to re-issue thousands of regulations every year? Totally unrealistic? You think Congress gets nothing done now....sheeeeeet.

I don't really have a problem with folks bringing up problems - but I usually require they have a decent solution before I'm willing to listen. In this case ... I'm hearing a lot of: I wanna get rid of......

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Nov 17 at 2014 12:00 AM

Capt Chris McVeigh — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:00:18 -0500

Change without a solution just leads to a new problem. These are all nice talking points with no solutions proposed for all the problems that would come from the change.

Changing the voting age just shifts the demographic of voters and makes the government less representative of the nation. You are also suggesting a significant portion of the military would no longer be able to vote....

Repealing the amendments I just flat out disagree with.

I would disagree with the Supreme Court, I think that is a valid part of the system of checks and balances, but that is probably an entire debate of its own (though a fairly interesting one).

Sunset rules would just lead to the nation spiraling completely out of control. No new laws would ever get passed as the government would constantly be renewing old laws.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 8:38 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 08:38:04 -0500

I didn't propose just the abolition of the Federal Reserve. Restraining it is an option. The responsibility, per the Constitution, for fiscal policy is Congress', and they can't delegate that. Make the Fed accountable to the Congress and I don't have an argument.

The point on rolling back the voting age is not to roll back the voting age, but to set one standard for adulthood. If the voting rights are that important then push tobacco sales and ACA coverage down to 18. The issue is the standard (having one) not the age.

Term limits would help with regard to cronyism and money in politics--having less time to entrench and make the buddy-buddy contacts make them less valuable later. On overturning SCOTUS decisions, an overturned decision would be overturned for the whole country--that's why it would take 31 states to accomplish it.

On sunset provisions--it need not be a huge burden as it need not be universal--set a limit of some number of dollars in economic impact per CBO scoring. As for Congress doing less--believe me when i say I'd be happy with that. The rights of free American's are never so in jeopardy as when Congress is in session.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Aug 1 at 2015 11:22 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 23:22:30 -0400

MSgt White
You have some great ideas. Get all those changes made and it would be great. All you have to do now is send those to Obama and tell him to use any / all of them and that he can claim they were his ideas! :-)