J. Clarke wrote:

Just Wondering wrote:

NoOne N Particular wrote:


J. Clarke wrote:


Charlie Self wrote:


How about just making congress a part time organization of say 90
days a year? The rest of the year they have to be actually IN the
district they represent and they have to talk to the people in that
district. They have too much time to screw us as it is now. The
president would have the power to call them to session at times of
emergency.


Some states have part-time legislatures. The rest of the year the
lawmakers have to get out and make a living in the real world.
Seems
to work OK.

How about requiring, every legislative session, every lawmaker to
take a rigorous oral examination on the U.S. Constitution, with
special emphasis on the Bill of Rights, and allow them to vote only
if they pass with flying colors?


So they memorize the answers to an exam. So what? Knowing the
Constitution doesn't mean that one will obey it.

Hold them personally accountable if the Supreme Court knocks down on
Constitutional grounds any piece of legislation that they enacted.


Then, change the voting rules so that only people within the middle
class income range can vote. Only income from actual work counts.
Interest, dividends, stock sales, etc. don't count. No more
freeloaders and no more richies. Just the so-called "average joe".

Wayne


Sounds kinda like Heinlein's "Starship Troopers."


Nope. In the Starship Troopers system anybody could get the vote--all
he had to do was complete a term of government service. There was no
means test on government service--they _had_ to take you if you
applied, but they were under no obligation to make it easy or pleasant
for you and if you quit, which you could do at any time, you never got
another chance.

Which is a more rigorous and soul-searching requirement than just having a
middle-class income.