Proposed Congressional Reform Act of 2012

I don't know about you, but this is what I'd like to see as a part of congressional reform.

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & 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 American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

This includes the loss of their health care once they live Congress just as what happens to the rest of us when we leave our job.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/31/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

Would this be a great dream! Now this is change I can hope and believe in! Talk about moving forward!

A Ford Dealer's Report

I'm passing this message on because even though Obama is still in office, we need to make sure that no one else is allowed to keep the lazy (like this woman) in such riches for nothing!

MAKES U SICK DOESNT IT????

This is exactly why Mitt Romney said that 40 some % of the people are too dependent on the government. They have learned to work the system.

A Ford Dealer's Report

From Tom Selkis (Latham Ford)

True story yesterday at the dealership.....

"I'll try to make this as short and to the point as I can.

One of my salesmen here had a woman in his office yesterday wanting to lease a brand new Focus. As he was reviewing her credit app with her he noticed she was on social security disability. He said to her you don't look like your disabled and unable to work. She said well I'm really not, I could work if I wanted to but I make more now than I did when I was working and got hurt (non-disabling injury).

She said the gov't sends her $1500.00 a month in 1 check, she gets $700.00 a month on an EBT card (food stamps), and $800.00 a month for rent. Oh yeah and 250 minutes free on her phone. That is just south of $3500.00 a month."

I would like to break in at this point and say.... ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!

I know that people like this whine about "life's so unfair" and that rich people are "evil," but.... What I really find sad about this woman is that she used to work, but now feels perfectly fine with being totally subserviant to and relayant upon the government.

"When she was working she was taking home about $330.00 per week. Do the math and then ask yourself why the hell should she go back to work. If you multiply that by millions of people you start to realize the scope of the problem we face as a country. Once the socialist have 51% of the population in that same scenario we are finished."

The question is when do we cross that threshold if we haven't already, and there are not enough people working to pay enough taxes to support the non-working people? Riots?? Be prepared to protect your homes."

OK... I feel as though I must break in again.

And this is what has worried me about socialism coming to America. I worry that more and more people are going to look to people like this woman as an example of the way life should be. More and more people are going to be sick and tired of having millions of dependents (both within America and overseas as our government sends more and more aid to countries that like the aid, but hate us in general), yet they are unable to claim them on their taxes they pay. They will be getting sick and tired of getting up early, working longer and longer hours, and being stressed the F@#$ out simply because more and more of their neighbors and fellow Americans would rather take from them for doing nothing outside of simply living.

"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places." - Unknown

"She didn't lease the Focus here because the dealer down the road beat our deal by 10.00/month. Glad to know she is so frugal with her hard earned money."

Giving Thanks

This was shared to me by the Solders are Heroes cause group leader from Facebook Causes.

Posted by Blanka Stratford

I'd like to take the time today to thank you all for being part of this great cause and to write a little bit about one of my favorite holidays; Thanksgiving.

Being a Polish immigrant, but spending the larger portion of my childhood in the state of Massachusetts, I was not only aware of the marked differences between me and other children, but also of the concept of an entire new world welcoming me into its arms and forever turning me into what I am now; an American.

The history of Thanksgiving appealed to me because I too was a settler, and like the pioneers who inhabited this continent centuries ago, I too relied on the graciousness and welcoming of those who were here before me. Yet there is a dark side to the narration of this holiday as well, underlining an ongoing struggle that knows no boundaries and afflicts us not only as nations, but as human beings. Here's the story of Thanksgiving and how it applies to our world today:

In 1621, the Wampanoag Native Americans and the Plymouth colonists shared an autumn harvest feast that now serves as the symbol of one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations. Even prior to the arrival of Europeans to this continent, Native Americans already had a merry tradition of celebrating the food reaped from the good earth. But in terms of the colonies and states, it wasn't until 1863; in the midst of the bloody Civil War; that Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated annually every fourth Thursday of November. A bitter sense of irony could be attested to that Thanksgiving Proclamation, as the war it was founded during mirrored the initial war between European settlers and Native Americans; a war that resulted in the death of millions. Thus, the Proclamation not only proved that no country was or is without fault or susceptibility to destruction, but also demonstrated that one of the most emblematic celebrations a country could have has its roots in bloodshed.

But now let us look deeper. Thanksgiving, above any other day, proved that people could rise from the ashes of deadly discontent to give appreciation and gratefulness to the fruitful fields and the hard labor of others that allowed them to live another day. And it is not just in the United States that this sentiment is felt, embraced and celebrated. Such harvest festivals exist throughout the world and throughout time, from pagan rituals in Britain to Makar Sankrati in India to the Pahiyas rice festival in the Philippines. Who could say no to that fresh barrel of beer during Germany's Oktoberfest? Or some braised cabbage and kielbasa during Poland's Dozynki? And what of the tastes of ancient Persia's Mehregan? Or Israel's Sukkot? Wars have torn these latter nations apart. And yet within each one rest the symbols of hope, light, kindness, faith and love.

This day, give thanks for what you have, for there are others who have far less. Take the time to look around you and appreciate what you've been given, for at any moment it could be taken away. Respect yourselves and each other, for there is no one without the other. And remember; Our future generations may either honor us for our combined efforts and accomplishments, or denounce us for leaving them in a world devoid of what we had.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. And Thank You.

Blanka K. Stratford

We Support Everyone But Ourselves

Someone please tell me what the HECK's wrong with all the people that run this country!!!!!!

Both Republicans & Democrats

We're "broke" & can't help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless etc.

In the last years we have provided aid to Haiti, Chile, Pakistan, Lybia, Egypt and Turkey, and Japan.

Literally, BILLIONS of DOLLARS!!!

Our retired seniors living on a "fixed income", receive no aid, nor do they get any breaks, while our government and religious organizations pour Hundreds of Billions Of $$$$$$'s and Tons of Food To Foreign Countries!

We have hundreds of adoptable children who are shoved aside to make room for the adoption of foreign orphans.

AMERICA:
A country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed hungry, elderly going without "needed" meds, and mentally ill without treatment -etc. etc.

YET.......................

They have a 'Benefit' for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors, and medical supplies.

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave "US" the same support they give to other countries.

Sad isn't it?

Obama's President's Day

From my father.....

I was eating breakfast with my 13-year-old granddaughter and I asked her, "What day is the 20th of February?"

She said "It's President's Day!" She is a smart kid.

I asked "What does President's Day mean?" I was waiting for something about Washington or Lincoln .... etc.

She replied, "President's Day is when President Obama steps out of the White House, and if he sees his shadow we have one more year of unemployment."