Anyway...I got sick of this and shot one back to all the people she sent it to. Here is the offending email and my response below:
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"The Proposal"
When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers must find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.
Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus .
Our government should not be immune from similar risks.
Therefore:
Our government should not be immune from similar risks.
Therefore:
Reduce the House20of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members.
R educe Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State).
Then, reduce their staff by 25%.
Accomplish this over the next 8 years
Accomplish this over the next 8 years
(two steps/two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting.
Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:
$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)
$97,175,000 for elimination of their staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year)
$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion/yr )
The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!
We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.
Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)
Note:
Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ m onths (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.
Summary of opportunity:
$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining hou se members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining sena te members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members..
$8,073,383,400 per year , estimated total savings. (that's 8-BILLION just to start!)
Big business does these types of cuts all the time.
If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits, tax payers could save a bundle.
Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:
$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)
$97,175,000 for elimination of their staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year)
$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion/yr )
The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!
We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.
Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)
Note:
Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ m onths (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.
Summary of opportunity:
$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining hou se members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining sena te members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members..
$8,073,383,400 per year , estimated total savings. (that's 8-BILLION just to start!)
Big business does these types of cuts all the time.
If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits, tax payers could save a bundle.
Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE <> term .
IF you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, delete this message. Otherwise, then I assume you know what to do.
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IF you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, delete this message. Otherwise, then I assume you know what to do.
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I have a better idea than messing with the government. Sure it is not perfect...but how about the CEO's who make $20million plus per year and cut their pay by the percent that their stock dropped on their watch. Take the financial industry for instance. These are the bozos who are largely responsible for the mess our economy is in. Yet they are passing out bonuses to themselves and their employees like candy. And worse yet...their companies are receiving TAX PAYER $$$ to keep themselves from going under.
So many "conservatives" talk about fiscal responsibility in government and their disgucst at "pork" in the legislation. While I am not fond of the pork myself (bridge to nowhere anyone?) the amount of money spent on pork annually is far less than the money you and I are giving the banks to keep their party going. They live it up with trips and million dollar bonuses while the average Joe and Jane are being kicked out of their home because they do not have an income to pay their mortgage. At the same time we suffer because they do not want to lend money to businesses that need it and homebuyers who can actually afford a home or need to refinance their home. The "Conservatives" only want fiscal responsibility with government but not with the businesses. Let's get real here folks. You cannot have it both ways.
So...let's talk about fiscal responsibility. LET US DEMAND THAT THEY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US (the Reps and Senators and President Obama) FORCE THE BANKS AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE GETTING ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (including corporate welfare) TO OPPERATE IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. THIS INCLUDES ONLY LAYING OFF PEOPLE AFTER THE CEO's AND EXECUTIVES HAVE TAKEN MAJOR PAY CUTS BECAUSE THEY CAUSED THE COMPANY STOCK TO TANK. The money they are no longer getting paid will save a fair number of jobs and give us all hope that our jobs will also be secure. On top of that the millions they save in trips and bonuses that they are not taking will help balance their bottom line.
Lastly...financial responsibility begins at home. Americans are running debt at record highs. We need to get our house in order by paying down our personal debts as well. Let our example only spending based on cash we have and not running credit card debts beyond what we can pay back on a monthly basis. Once we have our own house in order we can further demand the government also follow our lead.
America is a country of the people, for the people and by the people. We need to remember this. The majority of this country (the middle class, not the moneyed class) need to hold ourselves and the people who represent us responsible for the messes we create and not leave them for the next generation to clean up.
Nuff Said!
Kyra
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