... Congress ineligible for reelection if the deficit is more than 3% of GDP

CNBC --
Warren Buffett, was interviewed on Thursday July seven 2011 and during his interview, he was asked what he would do about the deficit.

""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."

this is such a simple and novel idea coming from someone with a proven successful background... I'll see why we shouldn't work to implement it.

One of the arguments already is that once Congress (or anybody else) gets into office, the first thing that they do after they settle in is to start campaigning for reelection.

Congress and the president both however have too many rules and regulations that they pass for us (their bosses) that they are excluded from.

Below, there is been this little message that has gone viral around the Internet claiming that it's Warren Buffett's idea for the 28th amendment. By the way, Warren Buffett denies that he came up with these ideas... in either case, they sound good.



*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

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.

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 1/1/12. 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.

according to CNBC,An attorney in St. Louis, Jarrad Holst points out that there is actually a way under article 5 of the U.S. Constitution titled "convention for proposing amendments" to enact the idea without the corporation of Congress.

Congress's approval ratings are at an all time low... perhaps now, it's time to start looking at real change.

"stop pointing missiles at me!

The Mirror --

headline: "Navy warship order to stop pointing guns at Michelle Obama's hotel window"

"you can't point those guns that the first lady." Sources said as US Secret Service agents were spooked that sea dart missiles were pointing in the direction of the First Lady's five-star suite.

The HMS Edinburgh missiles were drill rounds used in a ceremonial routine after a 26-year-old lieutenant's body was discovered in her cabin.

Mrs. Obama is on "official visit" to Cape Town South Africa.

Oh yeah... the president ordered 100 troops into South Africa to go to seize a religious army tyrant.

oh my God!

How many wars or conflicts does it make for this president since he has been in office?

As I have stated many times on this blog, and on the radio program that in the 21st century it is way too easy with the speed of technology to have a rogue president bypass our safety measures (our safety measures are too slow and need to be updated) to get us into these conflicts.

All it takes is for a president to really push a country's leaders buttons the wrong way and next thing you know we are in World War III.

And on a what should be a minor note... waht official business is Michelle Obama doing over there anyways? Telling the Africans how to eat?

Or just another excuse for another vacation?

and speaking of the President, my cohost on the radio program asked the question, "how much damage can somebody do in four years?"

Answer: A LOT!

Occupy Wall Street Movement funny, the government just doesn't get it

Robins Commentary --

Occupy Wall Street --

"Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants."

it started in mid-September when protesters marched the streets and has turned into a nationwide phenomenon including one this last weekend in Portland Oregon.

Despite the reasons behind it, it has gotten the attention of some of our political leaders and what's really interesting is some the explanations that are leaders are stating for the reasoning behind these protests.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called the protesters a "mob" and suggested they had been encouraged by the Obama administration.{CNN}

House Democratic [clueless]leader Nancy Pelosi commented, "God bless them for their spontaneity." {MSNBC}
I am surprised that she also didn't add to the comment, "aren't all those little people cute with their little protests?"

Herman Cain called the protesters "jealous" Americans who "play the victim card.{San Francisco Chronicle}

while reading all of this, play the Carly Simon's song, "you're so vain."

Personally, I think all of the above are just clueless and I think if you look at the big picture, this is the nonviolent revolution that people have been talking about for years.

In my opinion... the government just doesn't get it the fact that the people are sick and tired of the way things are running and how they are not responsive to the people's needs anymore.

I wish I could remember who the representative was a couple months back on the Lars Larson show when Lars was referring to the November 2010 elections about the message that the voters sent.

His guests responded, "what message was that Lars?"

The bottom line in my opinion, no matter what the reasons for the occupy Wall Street, occupy Portland, occupy San Francisco, etc. the real message is being sent is that we as a nation still stand together and as a nation we will be heard.

"United we stand... divided we fall"

federal governments "selective" enforcement

Times Union --

Federal prosecutors have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries in California warning stores that they may shut down in 45 days or face criminal charges and confiscation of their propertyeven though they are operating legally under the state's 15-year-old medical marijuana law.

US Attorney Melinda Haag stated that the intent of the medical marijuana law in California was to allow marijuana to be supplied to seriously ill people and nonprofit basis however, Andre Birotte Jr., US Attorney in the Los Angeles area noted that people making money from medical marijuana is the "new California gold rush."

isn't it fascinating that the federal government will decide to throw its full force in one issue, especially when there's money involved and yet totally turn a blind eye when it comes down to border security.

Isn't capitalism great?

Steve Jobs cofounder of Apple dies at 56

The Washington Post --
Apple's cofounder Steve Jobs suffering from a rare form of pancreatic cancer and also had a liver transplant in 2009 died today at the age of 56.

Steve Jobs was proof that a 21 year college dropout entrepreneur can lead a multimillion dollar business.

Rest in peace Mr. Jobs.

elected officials don't have to prove that they have the right to work

Robins Commentary --

In the past, most presidents history have been an open book except for our current president whom it has been very difficult to trace his past in particular, the issue over his birth certificate.

notwithstanding the implications and embarrassment if in reality our president was not a US citizen but I would think that one of the lessons that we should have learned from this experience regarding president Obama's birth certificate is that with the upcoming elections, we should require ALL elected officials to follow suit like the rest of us who have to prove that they have the right to work (I-9 form)within the United States before taking office.

Currently, to my knowledge, according to a friend of mine who is a Former Lane County Commissioner, there is no such requirement.

which again is one of the reasons why it has been proposed for a 28th amendment of the Constitution which seeks to require that laws apply equally to the government as it does to US citizens.