RI, Rhode Island

I think for us to be affective as a movement we have to be pratical and focus on the basics. As we have seen in congress, you can spend a life time arguing over exact details, yet on most of the basics we can agree, so if we start there and build off of that, than we can do something.

So the question is what are the most basic problems in the federal government.

an idea of what the problems are follows, any more and/or ideas of basic and practical ways to solve them would be helpful.

Gridlock

Too many laws (we just add and edit instead of oh that was a mistake and take it off the books)

Little real representation

Elected officials worry about re election

Political party agenda forced on individual politicians

National deficit

Health Care

Education

Politicians not being connected to every day citizens

I stumbled on this group after a conversation with my wife who had heard about it. Sign me up as long as the purposes remain as stated. Are there meetings? If so, when & where.

Perhaps we're onto something, either in its own right, or in response to the Tea Party movement, which seems to attract self-serving uneducated people who do not understand any need for government & regulations.

If the movement gets legs, maybe it can exert some influence downtown, as it's sorely needed, especially after the recent Supreme Court decision allowing businesses to dramatically increase their financial influence on elected individuals.

Ted

Fellow Citizens,

I may have stumbled upon the answer.

I have authored a book that explains a specific strategy to regain control of our federal government. Though listening carefully, I’ve heard of no other solutions being offered so far. The book includes as yet unspoken analysis, entirely unique perspectives, a full explanation of the logic leading to my conclusions and a step-by-step plan that could enable the masses to re-establish control of our Federal government. Here's a sample

Votimate Our Politics

Our country needs a new way of doing business. Under the current system politicians have many motivations. This strategy could reduce their need for multiple motivations. This strategy could help create a system where politicians are:

Votimated

Politicians Motivated for Votes Only

PREFACE

We’ve heard from the Politicians, the Pundits, the Experts and from all of those who can buy a platform from which to speak, yet nary an answer for that which ails our country. Clearly it is getting worse with no end in sight. Perhaps it is time to hear from “Joe Public.”

I can’t say that I speak for the 99%, but I come from the 99% and after losing everything, perhaps even the bottom percent. How can the 1% get away with robbing and causing such harm to the 99% when the 99% of us control the vote? Armed only with the logic of a layman and the urgent need of a pauper I drilled down deep into this dilemma and made some discoveries that might be worth hearing.

The first several chapters offer unique, unspoken perspectives, intended to expose, categorize, organize and simplify the basic core issues within the bigger issue, our politics, or more specifically, our lack of effective governance for the 99%. The next several chapters offer unique comparative analysis, completely “out of the beltway” ideas and surprisingly possible solutions to the core problems. The final few chapters include stunning, previously undisclosed analysis exposing clearly why we must take action soon - and what the result of taking action could mean for us.

This is not just conceptual. I propose specific action. This is “nuts and bolts.” This is “what’s the next step”, a potential roadmap to restoring a government that works for us, the 99%. Restoring our democracy is the only issue worth talking about. Until we adapt and upgrade our political system, the 99% will continue to lose. Until we do, nothing else matters. Without a functioning government, we have nothing.

INTRODUCTION

I’m not experienced with politics and have no education in economics. Like many, I’ve lost everything and see little happening to bring me hope while watching our country implode seemingly like never before. This is saying a lot because at 54 years old, I survived the horrific Richard Nixon 30,000-dead-to-get-re-elected-war/impeach-a-crook-Watergate era.

Many of us are in need of hope. They say that need is the mother of invention. America is in need of solutions. While most solutions to complex issues include in-depth analysis and long explanations, true also in this case, like most straightforward arguments, mine too has a short answer. So I’ll cut to the chase and work my way backward.

In January 2010, while watching the disturbing display of the four “Too Big To Fail” banksters acting innocent and clueless in front of Congress, I found myself wondering, “How can our country become as successful as these corporations have become?” Even more to the point, how can we, Joe Public, benefit from our government like their shareholders benefit from their successful banking corporations? After all, who would argue that those corporations have pimped our system and punked us all? We know it. They know it. Everyone knows it.

Simply put, it is an industry licensed by, governed by and residing in the United States of America that has become more powerful than the Federal Government of The United States of America. That’s a mouthful. Other than two senseless wars, this is the worst realization of my lifetime. It’s huge. It cannot be overstated. It is bleeding us dry and I don’t see it changing on it’s own. It has stolen our Democracy. But what on earth can we do about it?

The status quo approach would be to peck away at it with legislation that will start with good intentions, but with powerful lobby bribes end up watered down, rendered ineffective and/or reversed by the next congress and administration. First, it is: our political/governing system needs an overhaul from the bottom up. It no longer works, which begs one of many questions, “which specific part is broken?”

To that purpose, I analyzed the differences between how the Wall Street banksters and health insurance providers do business from within their system – the free market corporate model – and compared it to the way the U.S. Government, does business from within our current political/governing system. I drilled down deep and what I found astounded me and might surprise you too. They are very different. Ergo, it’s the differences in the two structures/systems that allow the banksters and insurance providers to be so successful while operating from within theirs and what makes our government fail while operating from within ours, which allows private industry to dominate us.

By comparing the structures side-by-side it became obvious; the deficiencies in our system of governing are glaring and alarming when compared to their adapted, efficiently incentivized system. Upon identifying it the ultimate question arose, “how can we fix it?” The answer to fixing it is surprisingly obvious and has been readily apparent all along, despite the requisite in-depth analysis and long explanation disclosed herein.

My argument’s short answer is to propose applying elements of their successful free market corporate model to our system of politics and governance and we, Joe Public, should be rewarded like shareholders of a successful corporation. Once you go to this simple, logical perspective fantastic advantages naturally arise benefiting the citizens of America, not just the chosen few as it is now. On the following pages I will propose specific, step-by-step methods to reigning in the parasites.

Paradigm Shift

In my view, we can’t expect this type of “system overhaul” perspective and change to come from – or to be driven by – politicians fighting for their careers within our broken system. Ever since special interest groups have been counting profits in the billions, maybe even trillions, they’re far too powerful and already own our political/governing system.

If ever a “grass roots movement” were needed, it is for this “paradigm shift.” The 99% must conceive and drive this change and do it soon or our beloved country will implode from the unintended consequences of insatiable special interest capitalism. So let’s take a page from those who are doing it to us and make it work for us. With the strategy outlined herein, “we the shareholders” can take our government back from special interests.

United and armed with this plan, we can simply insist.

To find out more, visit votimate.com. I have lowered the cost for the “download” format to my cost only, $1.49, through Friday, March 12. You can find the “download” option just under the “Add to Cart” button on the right side of my publisher’s page. By Saturday, March 13th, the price will go back to $10 for the immediate download and Ebook versions. You won't be disappointed.

Best wishes, JP Sayles

I'm thrilled about this movement - I recently started a political discussion among my friends on Facebook, trying to nail down some basic common ground principles that I thought most people could agree on. The hope was to make it a starting point for building solutions we could all respect, if not fully embrace.

Here are some of the principles I listed in my FB discussion:

1) Adult human beings are responsible for their own lives, actions, and choices.

2) Adult human beings are also responsible for the consequences that may result from their actions and choices, whether or not said consequences were foreseeable.

3) Adult human beings are free to make the choices they feel are best or right for themselves, their own lives and their families, to the extent that such choices or actions do not harm or infringe on another human being.

4) Adult human beings are free to disagree with the choices of others, and to express opinions and objections to said choices; however, they may not impede the choices of other human beings unless said disagreeable choices infringe upon their own freedoms.

5) Adult human beings have a responsibility to protect those beings (both human and otherwise) who are vulnerable and/or do not have the power to defend or take care of themselves.

6) There are aspects of life that are beyond the scope of control or choice; adult human beings are responsible for making their best feasible responses to such actions, consequences, or situations.

7) There are life necessities that a single adult human being, or a family, can produce and/or provide for themselves; then there are things which are beyond the means of a single family to provide for themselves.

8) There is a mutual benefit that can be attained by all members of a society or community if each member contributes something to the common pool of resources and then those resources are organized and distributed back to all members of the society.

9) It is voluntary to be a member of a civilized society; any adult human being can make the choice to withdraw from society and live in isolation completely independently, losing nothing to the common pool provided that said individual also does not take anything from said pool.

10) In general, it is good for the continued existence of our species if each human being acts in a way that is beneficial to other human beings and not detrimental; if each human being gives more than he or she takes, then the overall trend will be prosperity and good will.

11) At times it is necessary for human beings to act in the interest of self-preservation, either for the self alone or for the self and family members/loved ones. If such actions are limited to emergency situations and are outweighed by benevolent acts in the course of a lifetime, then an individual will make a positive contribution to society rather than being a negative drain on the system.

12) A form of government and a rule of law are necessary to maintain order in a society; these establishments should serve the common good of all citizens, which may necessitate the limitation of some individual actions in order to preserve the safety and wellbeing of all.

I do realize that not everyone agrees with all of these, which is why I'm interested to know what you all think and why. I have found my own belief system shifting a bit as I think about these things in depth and debate them with other people.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

-The Rock Diva