One of many emails circulating

I got this email from a brother today.  I'm sure the person who wrote it was and the people who forward it are sincere and it would be nice if it would have an effect but the sad truth is, unlike what the email says, this is not the way Washington changes.  It could, possibly, though not likely, start the change but by itself, the following things just won't happen.  Herewith:

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests”.  -Patrick Henry-


I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean. This is something I will fight for and I hope you all read it all the way through. You will be glad you did.


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 forward 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, 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 purchase 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 1/1/12.


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!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete
You are one of my 20+. Please keep it going
 
I think that most of us "average Americans" would like to see the gravy train that is Congress ended, sure.  And we'll still need campaign finance reform so we can get corporate and wealthy people's money out of our government but all that said, I have to say, I think most of us, too, would also like to see at least a lot of the above done, if not all.
 
I wonder how many people who receive the above email then forward it on to their member in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
 
Very few, if any, I'd wager.