WE HAVE PERMISSION TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM
The Revolution of 2013
230+ years later..."representative of the people, with checks and balances" has become "gridlock and compromised solutions favoring special interests." Politics is broken. Our system of government was designed in the 18th century and to say it's inadequate for the 21st century is an understatement.
This revolution is about changing a lot of things at once, in an instant...designing a new America.
The organization chart of our federal government needs to be reorganized to facilitate efficient and effective government FOR the people. WE HAVE PERMISSION TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM !
ICELAND is doing it right now !!! "...To write a new constitution, the people of Iceland elected twenty-five citizens from among 522 adults not belonging to any political party, but recommended by at least thirty citizens. This document was not the work of a handful of politicians, but was written on the internet. The constituent's meetings are streamed on-line, and citizens can send their comments and suggestions, witnessing the document as it takes shape. The constitution that eventually emerges from this participatory democratic process will be submitted to parliament for approval after the next elections."
The Constitutional Council - General Information
Submitted Proposal for a new Constitution
First, let's get a nasty word, "revolution" on the table. The word "reform" would be change from within*. The word "revolution" would be change from the outside. This revolution is all about quick and large-scale action. It will require at least 65 million votes of citizens who are voting for the platform, not voting for "me" the candidate. If you believe that politicians will reform the political system themselves, or that citizens can pressure politicians to reform the system, then you won't vote for me !
*"We live and do business in the information age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black and white TV."..."But we need to think bigger. In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America."..."A 21st century government that's open and competant."
~ President Obama, State of the Union speech, 1/2011
So even President Obama acknowledges the system needs reform - I wonder how that proposal is going ???
Jeff Block for President 2012 (for 100 days - I'll resign on day 101)
For me this started when I watched this 20/20 report, "Guide to Politics", with John Stossel, where he states "people do talk about their candidate as if he'll perform 'magic'!"
It seems our voters really want a benevolent dictator, so why don't we give our elected Presidents the tools, systems, and power to accomplish "magic" ??? The answer turns out to be "because of our Constitution". Articles 1, 2, 3, and 4 created in the late 1700's define how we run things today, in 2011 !
Then there's the 1976 movie "Network" known best for the line, shouted:
"I'M MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE !".
I hear and read that lots of CITIZENS during the past 35 years since that movie was made are "as mad as hell", but, but, but...NOTHING CHANGES. Why ? The answer turns out to be "because of our Constitution". Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 basically say if we (the people) don't like whatever our government does, our only recourse is to just vote in who we want and vote out who we don't want in the next election. How's that been working for US lately? OUR "power of the vote" is powerless - does it make any difference how mad we get???
We seem to think that if we only vote in the "right" people, then all will be well. I believe we have voted in lots of the "right" people and yet all is not well. Are we just not good at voting in the "right" people? Maybe it's not the people that are the problem? Maybe the problem is the election system that chooses them, and the political system within which they serve? With the current system we seem to spend lots of time arguing who or what is right, and who or what is wrong, but we end up "doing stupid" anyway!
WE have to STOP DOING STUPID !
Most citizens think of the Constitution in terms of being about free speech, right to own guns, right to vote, etc., but few realize that our Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government are defined in OUR Constitution as well as State's Rights and Powers. Why does our organization chart for the federal government look today like something designed in the 1700's ? Well, it was designed in the 1700's. I think highly of our Founders, but I highly doubt any of them could envision a USA with 300 million citizens, with Senate and House floors broadcast live on TVs in every citizen's home. I doubt any Founder could envision the information available to every citizen via the internet. I also doubt any Founder could envision the daunting job description of the President of the United States today in 2011. George Washington only had to govern about 4 million people - same size as many cities or metropolitan areas today! For example, do you really think our Founders would say today that a 4 year term for President today is enough time to do what needs to be done? Do you think our Founders would create a system that spends $BILLIONS on elections and re-elections of Representatives, Senators, and Presidents? No? So at least you're on the same page with me as far as extending terms and eliminating re-elections completely. Yes?
So the revolution begins: Vote for me and the first thing I'll do as President-Elect is to ask the Supreme Court to do whatever they have to do to authorize President Obama's government to stay in place for an additional 100 days. President Obama and I will work together to transition to a new government system.
My Presidency is only to be YOUR transition man.
This "new system of government" will be changing based on YOUR input up to the week before the election. As with Iceland, you will witness the document as it takes shape.
So, here's what we're going to do in my 100 day term as President of the USA:
THE REVOLUTION
Article 2 of the Constitution defines the Presidency:
So how do we give the tools, systems and power to the President to achieve his/her "magic"? To just do whatever he/she thinks needs to be done? Be our benevolent dictator? Well, we can't. We just can't.
How would we control the power of just one person?
So how about we give the tools, systems and power to 3 Presidents? Three co-Presidents!
That's right, a triumvirate "Office of the Presidents" requiring 2 votes to agree to sign or veto anything.
3 Presidents each serving 12 years without re-election, a new one voted in every 4 years and 1 leaving every 4 years. Anything and everything they do requires a 2 of 3 vote for agreement among the Presidents. I'd like to see Bill Gates, Barack Obama and the Dali Lama running this country together! What triumvirate would you like to have running the country? We would immediately hold a popular vote election - top 3 become Presidents (or are offered the Presidency) for 12 years, 8 years, and 4 years respectively.
If you're stumbling right now about the concept of 3 Presidents, thinking it could never work that way, that 3 people can't be in charge of an organization, then try re-labeling them as Senior Vice Presidents. 3 Senior VPs will run our country reporting to only one boss: YOU and 300 million Citizens! Also note that we currently have a triumvirate: President-Senate-House, and it's a disfunctional triumvirate. Many might object saying, "we need one person to be 'in charge'", and I will reply that our Presidents are only "in charge" when it comes to waging war and/or launching nuclear weapons.
Article 1 of the Constitution defines the Legislative Branch
The House of Representatives will be closed.
150 elected-Senators will be tasked with drafting all legislation.
Senators will serve 8 year terms without re-election.
The Senate is also the place where ordinary citizens will fulfill their service on the "Board of Directors" of the USA. 151 citizen-Senators will be called upon, like jury duty, to serve as Senators.
Citizen-Senators will serve 4 years, once per lifetime. (more about this in Discussion section)
301 Senators become the "States Advisors to the Office of the Presidents".
Article 3 of the Constitution defines the Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court remains the same but with term limits - 12 years. 3 of them go every 4 years and 3 new Supremes appointed every 4 years by the Office of the Presidents by at least 2 votes, and confirmed by the Senate with at least 151 votes. Supreme Court co-operation during the transition is essential.
Article 4 of the Constitution defines State's powers and limits.
Governors run their States. The Governors of each State become a much more integral part of the Federal government. The House of Representatives was established to give citizens in districts in each State a direct representative in the Federal government. Making sure districts in each State get their fair treatment from Federal programs will now be the job of the Governor and 3 Senators of that State. The Governor will be the conduit for all Federal programs impacting his/her State.
SUMMARY
So WE have:
3 Presidents (Office of the Presidents)
9 Cabinet Secretaries (see Discussion tab)
9 Supreme Court Judges
150 elected-Senators
151 citizen-Senators
50 Governors
372 of the "right" people running our country. WE give them the tools, systems, power and mandates to do the job WE want them to do.
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