Comments for Will US States Topple The Electoral College? at http://ts-si.org , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://ts-si.org Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:04:32 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-805 I have yet to hear of any congressman that left office poorer than when he started and most of them are a damn sight wealthier. Many belong to "hedge Funds" which for some reason don't get taxed on their obscene profits (they average around 87% profit) and do recall that they are entitled to full pensions (so much better than Social Security like the common folk) along with many other "perks" whilst in office. Free flights around the world and someone else to pay the bill while they are "fact finding" in various areas of the world. My Ex Brother-in-Law was an AF Ground Maintenance Officer and for a while was stationed at Andrews AFB attached to the "Congressional Airlines" also know as the Military Air Transport Service. The planes would go out on Congressional Junkets pristine and return looking like pig stys and it damn well better be well stocked with booze too; just a little perk like free parking at Washington National Airport and probably Dulles too. Get elected, probably not I'm too honest and a believer in "God helps those who help themselves". Pamela - Pamela Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:05:00 +0100 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-802 Remember that the Presidential terms only became limited after FDR. I think limitations should also apply to congress as well and for much the same reason: limitation of power. Seems that our representatives have forgotten they are representing us. And it is not just money that attracts many to elected office but the lure of POWER. That is the danger of allowing someone to maintain a political stature for a lifetime or gaining advantageous options to gain wealth after leaving office. The Electoral College as said before was a means to protect the small states from being overwhelmed by the larger populaces. I am for keeping the Electoral College as the constitutional framers intended. If that provision was not agreed to at the first constitutional convention this country would not now exist as a republic but instead as a bunch of small serfdom democracies dictated by special interest majorities much like that of Salem, Mass. Diane - Diane Kearny Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:04:23 +0100 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-800 Term limits for senators and congressmen would place too much power in the hands of the executive branch. The senators and congressmen would be transients always playing catchup with the President and his adminstration. Every congressman would be a novice in the working of government as would each new senator. If the United States were a third world power without obligations, this might work. But alas, we aren't and never were, not even in Washington's administration. We don't have the luxury of wallowing in our ideals. No one could even hope to make an intelligent decision on the budget or the armed services if they were only here for two year -- they would still be holding their getting to know you hearings and moving into their houses when their term in office ran out. There is work that must be done and it can't be done by part time employees. The money we pay senators and congressman is pauper's wages compared what they could earn on the outside. We are a world class nation with a world class capital. If you want to change how the senate and congress works, run for office. There are no prohibitions other than age and citizenship. If you don't like the government, DO SOMETHING. If you get enough votes, if you work hard enough to be elected, you will have a nice seat in the back of the building to show your constituents when they visit you on vacation. - Lisa Thompson Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:37:21 +0100 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-799 Better still than that ( Yeah, I catch your "sarcasm") would be to term limit Senators and congressmen, One 6 year term for a Senator and two 2 year terms for the House of Reps. It would keep them from building so much personal "power"; also NO pension for them and no free medical care. The Congress was NOT meant to be a career of self enrichment. Charlie, you are right, there are a lot of people out there that aren't too bright, I once saw in California, a DEAD congressman get re-elected to the Senate. Pamela - Pamela Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:21:11 +0100 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-798 I agree Pamela. We should do away with popular elections of Governors and Senators too. What do the people know anyway? - Charlie Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:07:59 +0100 http://ts-si.org/the-states/3257-will-us-states-topple-the-electoral-college.html#comment-797 Electing the President by "popular vote" has to be about the stupidest idea to come down the Pike. The electoral college was evolved and placed in the constitution so that small states with small populations had as much say in electing the President as a large state. This is an effort by one political party to win by simply registering more voters and it becomes MOBocracy not Democracy. Elections would become popularity contests much like the "rock star" type campaign of Obama. They never challenged his shaky credentials and socialist ideas and only played up the screaming mobs of people and people fainting. His ideas will drive the country into bankruptcy and greatly damage the national economy; but he won the primary; Hillary wasn't a big enough "star" and her posse was too small. Pamela - Pamela Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:47:05 +0100