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Speaker John
Boehner is continuing to stand firm on his refusal to agree to President Obama’s
debt reduction plan; his stubbornness reinforced by Tea Party activists and “ideological
freshman” in the Republican caucus. “In West Chester, Ohio –Tea Party activists
demanded House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner deliver on budget cuts
at a rally on Monday at his Ohio offices, urging the Republican leader to “stand
strong” in debt negotiations” (MSNBC, 2011). No wonder he is standing his
political ground, if he falters in his position he may lose his seat. “The Tea
Party movement, which advocates limited government, was vital to Republican
gains in last year’s congressional elections, helping them gain the majority in
the House that resulted in Boehner taking the speakership” (MSNBC, 2011). This
firm stand however, may cost the GOP the 2012 election.
The reason for
this analysis is: President Obama is taking pain-staking measures to publically
blame the Republican party for the stalled debt talks; making sure the American
people see him as willing to compromise for the ‘sake’ of the American people. If
one thinks of this in terms of election 2012, most of America’s population is
middle class, poor (on entitlements or government programs), or military –that is
a majority vote in the eyes of a future Presidential candidate; moreover, the
rest of the population is minority votes that usually sway Democrat. “Neither
party is blameless,” said the President” (MSNBC, 2011). This was a smart political
statement for Obama; history has proven that the American people
respect responsibility. Similarly, continuing to stress that the Republican
Party wants Medicare and Medicaid cut to the extreme, causing hardship for the
biggest majority of Americans is equally strategic.
Boehner
obviously peeved at the Presidents blame game and accusations tells the media
Monday night, “I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the
President…even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the President’s
demands changed” (MSNBC, 2011). Boehner clearly holding the President
responsible for the debt talks breakdown, he goes on to suggest, “The sad truth
is that the President wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank
check today…that is just not going to happen” (MSNBC, 2011). One thing is
certain however, if the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2, 2011, America
will default; this will cause widespread consequences that the American people
and Government are not ready to deal with.
With all the
cutting, raising, debating, and promising that is done in Washington, these
politicians have never once suggested a pay cut for themselves, or layoffs in
the political genre, or cutting out paid insurance for them and their families.
Well, this writer received an e-mail today and I found it interesting to say
the least; it is one certain way to save the taxpayers’ money and help balance
the budget. I am not certain of the original author, but, in the e-mail it said
“if you agree pass it along”; this is my way of passing it along –as I believe
this is a viable start. Let me know what you think of this idea and why.
“Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No
Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay
when they are 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 are void effective 1/1/12. ****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, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.
*
*If each person
contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most
people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
*
*THIS IS HOW YOU
FIX CONGRESS!!!!!*” (unknown author, generated e-mail, 2011)