Responsibility #5

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>NATIONAL SECURITY--Structural,Moral,Economic,Domestic,International</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NATIONAL SECURITYStructural,Moral,Econom"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility Contents"><U>Responsibility Contents</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 1"><U>Responsibility #1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 2"><U>Responsibility #2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 3"><U>Responsibility #3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 4"><U>Responsibility #4</U></A>   |   <B>Responsibility #5</B>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 6"><U>Responsibility #6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 7"><U>Responsibility #7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 8"><U>Responsibility #8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 9"><U>Responsibility #9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 10"><U>Responsibility #10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 11"><U>Responsibility #11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 12"><U>Responsibility #12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 13"><U>Responsibility #13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 14"><U>Responsibility #14</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 15"><U>Responsibility #15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 16"><U>Responsibility #16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 17"><U>Responsibility #17</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 18"><U>Responsibility #18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 19"><U>Responsibility #19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 20"><U>Responsibility #20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 21"><U>Responsibility #21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 22"><U>Responsibility #22</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 23"><U>Responsibility #23</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 24"><U>Responsibility #24</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 25"><U>Responsibility #25</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 26"><U>Responsibility #26</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 27"><U>Responsibility #27</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 28"><U>Responsibility #28</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 29"><U>Responsibility #29</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 30"><U>Responsibility #30</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 31"><U>Responsibility #31</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 32"><U>Responsibility #32</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 33"><U>Responsibility #33</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 34"><U>Responsibility #34</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 35"><U>Responsibility #35</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 36"><U>Responsibility #36</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 37"><U>Responsibility #37</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 38"><U>Responsibility #38</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 39"><U>Responsibility #39</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 40"><U>Responsibility #40</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 41"><U>Responsibility #41</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 42"><U>Responsibility #42</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 43"><U>Responsibility #43</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 44"><U>Responsibility #44</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 45"><U>Responsibility #45</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 46"><U>Responsibility #46</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 47"><U>Responsibility #47</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 48"><U>Responsibility #48</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 49"><U>Responsibility #49</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 50"><U>Responsibility #50</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 51"><U>Responsibility #51</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 52"><U>Responsibility #52</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 53"><U>Responsibility #53</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 54"><U>Responsibility #54</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 55"><U>Responsibility #55</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 56"><U>Responsibility #56</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 57"><U>Responsibility #57</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 58"><U>Responsibility #58</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 59"><U>Responsibility #59</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 60"><U>Responsibility #60</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 61"><U>Responsibility #61</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id95.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 62"><U>Responsibility #62</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 63"><U>Responsibility #63</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 64"><U>Responsibility #64</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 65"><U>Responsibility #65</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 66"><U>Responsibility #66</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 67"><U>Responsibility #67</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 68"><U>Responsibility #68</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 69"><U>Responsibility #69</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 70"><U>Responsibility #70</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 71"><U>Responsibility #71</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 72"><U>Responsibility #72</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 73"><U>Responsibility #73</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 74"><U>Responsibility #74</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 75"><U>Responsibility #75</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 76"><U>Responsibility #76</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 77"><U>Responsibility #77</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 78"><U>Responsibility #78</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 79"><U>Responsibility #79</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 80"><U>Responsibility #80</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 81"><U>Responsibility #81</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 82"><U>Responsibility #82</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 83"><U>Responsibility #83</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 84"><U>Responsibility #84</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 85"><U>Responsibility #85</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 86"><U>Responsibility #86</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 87"><U>Responsibility #87</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 88"><U>Responsibility #88</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Health Care Letters to President, et al,"><U>Health Care Letters to President, et al, 8/24/94</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arguments for Delay in Enactment of a He"><U>Arguments for Delay in Enactment of a Health Care Bill</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post WORLD WAR IIPost COLD WAR Deja Vu"><U>Post WORLD WAR II--Post COLD WAR Deja Vu</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 89"><U>Responsibility #89</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 90"><U>Responsibility #90</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 91"><U>Responsibility #91</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 92"><U>Responsibility #92</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 93"><U>Responsibility #93</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 94"><U>Responsibility #94</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 95"><U>Responsibility #95</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 96"><U>Responsibility #96</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 97"><U>Responsibility #97</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 98"><U>Responsibility #98</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Structure of Our Nation is Unsound"><U>The Structure of Our Nation is Unsound</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ltr. to Editor, 3/19/96, Property Taxes "><U>Ltr. to Editor, 3/19/96, Property Taxes and Education Funding</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Responsibility #5</div> <div> (written prior to July 1992)</div> <div> To the People of the United States of America:</div> <div>      In the last paper we deplored the immense costs in time, money, and talents expended in the present national election process.  Alas, these wastes are but the proverbial "tip of the iceberg"!  There are much greater misappropriations due to the abuses and usurpations of the offices of Congress and the Presidency.  Our emphasis at this point is the indirect costs of these failings associated with the election process.</div> <bR> <div>      Days have long since passed, when our national elected officials need only devote parts of a year, to the service of their country.  In the manner that we are presently governed, the Congress cannot get its work done, despite the fact that it is more or less in session year round.  Until and unless reforms are instituted, we must require that members of Congress (and their staffs) devote full time and attention to the proper national legislative interests of their constituents.  A similar statement holds for the President (and his administration).  (See Responsibility #2)</div> <div>      Not so, not so, at present!  As stated in shortcoming no. 4, to one degree or another national election campaigns never cease. Many of our members of Congress wear second hats.  Some of the functions of some of these hats are legitimate and necessary to the national legislative process.  Others serve ends that are outside the purposes for which the members were "hired".  Of particular note are the chairmen and members of the Democratic and Republican Campaign Committees.  They spend much of their time year round soliciting, managing, and doling out political contributions; and keeping special interest contributors happy. The hours and mental and physical exertions, devoted to these extraneous activities, are a misappropriation of the salaries and benefits paid by their employer (the American taxpayer).  There is also the ethical question, of the influence that these committee members have on other members of Congress, to whom they are doling or withholding campaign contributions.</div> <bR> <div>      From the day that they are elected or reelected, each member spends much of his time soliciting campaign contributions, and keeping contributors happy.  Since World War II, Congressional staffs have grown astronomically.  Much of the staff's time is devoted to soliciting, managing, reporting, and paying out campaign contributions.  Additionally, much member and staff time is devoted to so called "constituent service."   A great deal of constituent service is actually the gaining or retaining of votes for the next election.</div> <div>      To this point we have discussed the first twelve of the seventeen shortcomings of the national election process as enumerated in Responsibility #2.  Shortcomings no. 13 through 17 are broader in scope than their election process effects.  So we make the transition at this point to discuss them within the more encompassing subject of abuses and usurpations of the Congress (and later the Presidency).</div> <bR> <div>      Reference shortcomings nos. 15 and 16.  In exasperation and disgust, with the performance (or more particularly the nonperformance) of elected and appointed officials at various levels of government, initiatives were prepared in many states in 1990 and 1991 to limit terms of office.  Although this approach to disciplining our leaders has some merit, it is a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water.  It is a case of treating the symptoms instead of the sources of the problem.  It is the usual hope that there is a simple solution to a many faceted enigma.</div> <bR> <div>      Term limitations would come at a high cost.  It has been written that our new members of Congress spend their first term (or two years), merely learning the ropes of office.  They are of limited use to the institution of government, and to their constituents, until they have become sophomores.  And despite the current warranted obsession, with incumbents reelection rates, there is a high turnover of freshman Representatives and Senators who prove unsuitable, or who choose not to seek another term.</div> <bR> <div>      When they are found, the country needs every dedicated, moral, qualified, productive, elected or appointed office holder it can retain.  If we institute reforms to control their access to <B>MONEY and POWER</B>, no obstacles need be placed, to their desire to devote their talents to the service of their country. Hopefully and confidently, the implementation of the election and other reforms proposed in these papers will result in the nomination, election and retention of a great many more of such office holders.  These reforms will not come for free.  There will be ramifications down through the levels of government, even (and most particularly) to each citizen.  To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy: ASK NOT WHAT YOUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOUR STATES (counties, cities, neighborhoods) AND YOU SHOULD (and should not) DO FOR YOURSELVES!  </div> <div>      </div> <div>      As a democratic republic, it is essential that we remain as close to a pure democracy as possible.  This means, among other things, that we keep in force one person, one vote.  This translates into one Representative, one vote; one Senator, one vote.  Unfortunately, to have anything but chaos, there must be organizations to manage a house of 435 Representatives, and another house of 100 Senators.</div> <div>  </div> <div>      These organizations consist of officers and positions (from Speaker and Senate President down to committee members), whose functions are intended to be, to efficiently and effectively facilitate the conduct of business.  Unfortunately they also offer power, and opportunities for abuses and usurpations.  For example, members of committees (and especially the Chairmen) can gain continuing subsidies or other benefits for their districts or states, or for a lobby or special interest group to whom they have an allegiance or obligation (election shortcoming no. 13). Committee Chairmen and other officers can delay or expedite action on bills, for purposes other than facilitating the conduct of business.  These actions may be at the behest or benefit of political party, lobby or special interest group.         </div> <div>      </div> <div>      A number of years ago there was a "revolt" in Congress, that resulted in some relaxation of the seniority system, for assignment of committee posts.  We must insist that Congress purge its internal power system, to limit time in positions, to preclude seniority and political party as overruling selection criteria, and to guarantee that abuses do not occur.  Regular audits by an independent agency may be requisite. </div> <div>                     Publius IV</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility 6"><U>Responsibility #6</U></A></div> <div> Back to: <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Responsibility Contents"><U>Responsibility Contents</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>