Congressional Reform Act of 2011

I received the following article in an email from one of my brothers, now while I normally ignore emails that asked to be passed on or spread around to your friends and others, etc., I found this one to be a little different.  Not to be mention, an interesting idea.  It follows here:   

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified!  Why?  Simple!  The people demanded it.  That was in 1971 . . . .before computers, before

e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land . . . . all because of public pressure.

I’m asking each addressee to send this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

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 2011

1.  Term Limits.

    12 years only, and 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

2.  No Tenure / No Pension.

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

3. 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.

4. Congress can buy their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

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

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

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

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, 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!!!  If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, then just drop it.

See what I mean?  An interesting idea right?  Making our representatives live on their own salaries, like us, without having the “cash cow” that is the American Taxpayer to draw from when they feel the need (which is usually the rest of their lives)!  Nice idea!  Feel free to copy and pass this on if you want!

SparkChaser4

Singing the National Anthem

Old NFO over at Nobody Asked Me stated an opinion in an article about all the attempts by “singing stars” of this great nation trying to sing our national anthem . . . . and failing big time!  I am printing the first paragraph of his short article here.  To read the rest of this story, please go to his site at Nobody Asked Me.  I’m sure if you have ever listened to these “singers” garglers trying to find the right key, you too will agree with Old NFO and myself.  Check it out.

Singing the National Anthem…

With all the kindness I can muster, I give this one piece of advice to the next pop star who is asked to sing the national anthem at a sporting event: save the vocal gymnastics and the physical gyrations for your concerts. Just sing this song the way you were taught to sing it in kindergarten — straight up, no styling.

SparkChaser4

James Randi attacks makers of homeopathic meds!

The article titled:  Magician James Randi, skeptics launch attack on makers of homeopathic ‘drugs’.  The article found in the L.A. Times is about how the homeopathic manufacturers making cure-all pills and such for every malady imaginable, are in fact manufacturing products that do nothing at all.  The man backs up his words by actually putting his money where his mouth is, betting $1,000,000 if these manufacturers can provide proof that the use of their products actually work as described. 

He’s also asking for retailers like; CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens to remove these type products from their shelves.  You can find the complete article here.  I’ve always had my doubts about homeopathic medicine.  I think the bulk of their “cures” are more likely from placebos and the power-of-suggestion  instead of chemical.  Very interesting reading though.  I look forward to seeing if there are any takers for his “bet”.

SparkChaser4

Vietnam Vets – please don’t forget!

Every so often someone will ask me about my time in Southeast Asia. How can I condense two tours and the resulting thoughts and emotions for the last thirty-nine years down to a few measly sentences. Some of my brother Vietnam Vets in Michigan that are willing to talk of it, also have a similar problem. Most prefer to say nothing at all and to be left alone entirely on this subject. I have been social at times but as in this video here states, I too like my quiet times alone with my own thoughts.

If you would like to understand a little more about us Vietnam Veterans, you might learn something from the one mentioned here. You can also check out their website here and even help them out too, if you will. If so, I would like to give you my and my brothers, eternal thanks for your help and may God Bless You!

SparkChaser4

Bigfoot and a tree octopus?

Well according to a website located here, the Pacific Northwest known for the ever elusive creature commonly called “Bigfoot” is also the place to go to find another such critter. Known as the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus. The site goes on to show purported photographic evidence of these creatures in the wild as well as further information about them. More information may be found on them at this newer website located here. Amazing animals aren’t they?

(And parents, these creatures are as common and as authentic as when you were young and went “Snipe” hunting! If you still don’t “get” these websites, I own three bridges in Portland for sale on Craigslist! Are you interested?)

SparkChaser4