A publication supporting the rights, safety and freedom of all motorcyclists through education and legislation
VOLUME XXI, ISSUE IV
Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Permit #1662 Phoenix, AZ
August 2012
"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.”
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, e-mail, cell phones, etc.
abateofaz.org
ABATE of AZ. 7509 N. 12th St, #200 Phoenix, AZ 85020
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure.
Usually you won’t find me passing along something I’ve read on the internet; this however will be the exception. In the past there’s been obvious discontent and frustration with much of our representation (or lack thereof) we as motorcyclists receive from our legislators. The following is an article I’d like to pass along that summarizes why we, as citizens, not just motorcyclists, feel that we’ve become nothing more than after thoughts to Congress and perhaps this offers a cure for the problem. Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:
Mr. Buffett suggested the following:
Congressional Reform Act of 2012
No tenure, no pension – A congress person collects a salary while in office and no salary after.
Congress, (past, present and 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 rest of the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
Congress may purchase its own retirement plan, much like the rest of Americans.
Congress may no longer vote a pay raise for themselves. Congressional pay will rise by the lower CPI or 3%. Congress no longer participates in their current health care system, but instead participates in the same health systems as the rest of the American people.
All contracts with current legislators are void, effective 12/1/12. These contracts were not authorized by the American people’s vote. The legislators have granted themselves these “perks”. Serving in Congress was never meant to be a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, not career politicians; they were to fulfill their terms, then return home and go back to work. In Arizona perhaps we should look at true term limits. There would be a certain number of terms allowed, period! Not moving back and forth between the House and Senate and extending your “terms” for decades! Now wouldn’t that be refreshing! Carole O’Reilly ABATE of Arizona Designated Lobbyist