Thursday, February 09, 2006
no special treatment
I got an e-mail to pass along today. Not a chain letter but a letter saying that if we want to save social security we should demand that all members of congress be made to give up their "special" retirement packages and make them collect from Social Security like the rest of us poor slobs.
That way if it touches their wallets they would find ways to "fix" the problems with the system because they have the power to do so and the incentive to not be eating cat food on stale bread when they get kicked out of politics.
But I have one better plan. I want the rules changed so that members of Congress and the Administration in the White House, cabinet members and staff have to follow these rules too:
No private jets or first class. If they fly they fly coach or better yet stand by. No "VIP" passes for airport security searches either. If we have to be at the airport 2 hours early and remove our shoes when passing through the check points I think they should have to also.
I think all of them should have to give up the free health care they now have. I want them all to have to pick an HMO and prescription, dental and eyeglass plan from the ones offered to all federal employees. AND I want them to have to pay the premiums like the rest of us. I don't want them to have any more advantages than the night janitor of the Federal Building in Pittsburgh PA.
I want the members of the administration and congress to have to pay for their own transportation, or use the "government pool" cars when driving. No limo, no more gas allowance than any other federal employee. I want the president to use Air Force One for official business only, no junkets to Purdue University to sell some program. If he wants to justify his programs let him use the "liberal media" and the telephone. We don't have to have him spending millions in fuel and staff salaries because he is trying to make us feel better. I feel better being not bankrupted by excessive spending thank you.
I want Franking privlege stopped, so that every piece of propaganda and defensive explaination you get from a represenative or senator's offices has to have a real first class stamp paid for by the politician, not by taxpayers.
I want members of congress to pay to park like many people in government or in private business. I want the cafeteria for congressmen to be exactly the same as for any other government building. No sit down meals serves, no fancy foods. I want it to be "get your tray, serve yourself and the PAY for it at the cashier" kind of place.
I want congressmen to remember that they are people and I want them to feel the same pain the people they represent serve. However I just can't see Orin Hatch buying his suits off the rack at Sears or J.C. Penney's.
I don't think there will ever be reform in Congress as long as the people there are removed physically and economically from the people they represent.
That way if it touches their wallets they would find ways to "fix" the problems with the system because they have the power to do so and the incentive to not be eating cat food on stale bread when they get kicked out of politics.
But I have one better plan. I want the rules changed so that members of Congress and the Administration in the White House, cabinet members and staff have to follow these rules too:
No private jets or first class. If they fly they fly coach or better yet stand by. No "VIP" passes for airport security searches either. If we have to be at the airport 2 hours early and remove our shoes when passing through the check points I think they should have to also.
I think all of them should have to give up the free health care they now have. I want them all to have to pick an HMO and prescription, dental and eyeglass plan from the ones offered to all federal employees. AND I want them to have to pay the premiums like the rest of us. I don't want them to have any more advantages than the night janitor of the Federal Building in Pittsburgh PA.
I want the members of the administration and congress to have to pay for their own transportation, or use the "government pool" cars when driving. No limo, no more gas allowance than any other federal employee. I want the president to use Air Force One for official business only, no junkets to Purdue University to sell some program. If he wants to justify his programs let him use the "liberal media" and the telephone. We don't have to have him spending millions in fuel and staff salaries because he is trying to make us feel better. I feel better being not bankrupted by excessive spending thank you.
I want Franking privlege stopped, so that every piece of propaganda and defensive explaination you get from a represenative or senator's offices has to have a real first class stamp paid for by the politician, not by taxpayers.
I want members of congress to pay to park like many people in government or in private business. I want the cafeteria for congressmen to be exactly the same as for any other government building. No sit down meals serves, no fancy foods. I want it to be "get your tray, serve yourself and the PAY for it at the cashier" kind of place.
I want congressmen to remember that they are people and I want them to feel the same pain the people they represent serve. However I just can't see Orin Hatch buying his suits off the rack at Sears or J.C. Penney's.
I don't think there will ever be reform in Congress as long as the people there are removed physically and economically from the people they represent.
