It has become increasingly clear that members of BOTH parties have decided that Corporate interests should be put above the interests of Americans. This requires legitimate change and change that our representatives will NEVER undertake. The only solution to move this forward requires that all Americans both left and right march, rally and protest to enact the desperately needed change that is required.
If a General Nationwide Strike were to occur it would force our government to take notice. It CAN be done; the citizens of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen have shown us the way. It all comes down to rising above the "slacktivism" mentality and actually doing something.
I'm desperately trying to get some momentum behind this along with other online communities to plan and organize a general nationwide strike and a march and rally on Washington for November 5th, 2011.
The reality is it only really requires 3 fairly simple changes to our laws and ones that are actually already rooted in our constitution.
The Emoluments clause, U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 (art. I, § 9, cl. 8), provides:
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Emolument: the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites.
Whenever any Person "holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them" i.e. Congress members receives campaign donations from any non-US citizen they have violated the Emolument clause of our Constitution and would be eligible for impeachment and removal from office.
I propose 3 amendments that anyone right or left could generally support.
1. Term Limits
No member of Congress shall be allowed to serve more than 12 years in any combination of the House or Senate. Congress members who have already served any combination of 12 years in office are not eligible for federal elections
2. Campaign Finance Reform
Only United States citizens who are registered voters may contribute to political campaigns. Campaign donations can ONLY be made within the district the voter is registered. The total annual contribution to political campaigns cannot exceed $2500. The total cap for campaign spending CANNOT exceed FEC guidelines for Public Funding. Political Action Committees, Public Companies, Private Companies, Charities, Unions, Churches or other entity are hereby fully barred from interacting directly or indirectly with Federal Election campaigns. Any entity violating this provision will subject their executives and board members to a $1,000,000 fine and 30 days in prison for each violation.
3. The People's Money Bill
Any company, corporation, firm, union, association, university, charity or other business entity using Federal money in the form of subsidies, tax breaks, loans, grants or other financial relief shall ensure that NONE of their employee's including subsidiary employees shall earn, in total compensation, more than the President of the United States minus 10%. This includes executives, board members and officers of the company.
Corporations are NOT people and until we actually rise up and do something about it we will remain voiceless and powerless.
Please help pass this along and get some momentum behind this.