Turn the Tables on Congress

A while back it was Scooter Libby then, recently, it was some baseball player getting hit with charges of lying to Congress. Real people who make the real world work are regularly hauled before Congress to suffer verbal abuse and criminal prosecution for problems actually caused, many times, by their inquisitors. The Congress is running a kangaroo court and it is a mockery of justice. Many of them lie every day about almost everything and do so with impunity (think Bawney Fwank). We can accurately call these people in Congress the neo-Pharisees. They put heavy burdens on others but exempt themselves. Since Obama is on a crusade to change Washington why don’t we make the following changes with respect to Congress:

First, every elected or appointed official must be questioned by an independent prosecuter once every year, under oath, about what they know and when they knew it, whether they have taken drugs, etc. Anyone caught in a lie, or even misspeaking due to a bad memory should be charged with lying to the American people and sentenced to stiff prison terms (the same as they do to their victims). They should be banned from ever holding public office again. This would virtually guarantee that there would be a quick turnover to bring in fresh blood - and the new team couldn't be any worse.

Second, Congress should be given two random drug tests per year, no exceptions. Those found to be on drugs or steroids will immediately lose their office.

Third, Congressional pay raises and fringe benefits should be voted on by the people, not just put on automatic pilot to always go up, up, up. A significant part of Congressional pay should be a bonus that is tied to a GDP index. Their retirement pay would also be tied to and very sensitive to the same index. In good economic times, this would produce extravagant bonuses (which, of course, would be capped at $500,000). In bad years, though, the index could produce a negative bonus and the Congress would have the opportunity to make a patriotic investment in America by paying money back into the Treasury. They would experience the satisfaction, like the rest of, of going into the red because of their bad decisions and over-regulation. They might even go broke and have the pleasure of experiencing first hand the bankruptcy laws they created. I believe this would do miracles in bringing our servants in Washington back to fiscal sanity.

Fourth, members of Congress should be fully audited by the IRS every year and made to pay any taxes due immediately or forfeit their offices. Any penalties and interest should be mandatory and three times the rate for an extraordinary citizen. Audit findings should be open to the public and be published in the local newspapers of record for the Congressman's state or district.

Fifth, every member of Congress should have a non-removable GPI device attached to them so their movements can be tracked and recorded. Of course, this is for their own safety.

Sixth, since they are doing the people's business and are on the clock for us, recording devices should be recording all conversations in their offices, on their phones, cell phones, home phones, in their cars, and just about everywhere . This, of course, would be to record their wisdom for posterity and provide a historical record of their great words and deeds.

Seventh, no member of Congress may publicly refer to another member of Congress as "my esteemed colleague," or the "honorable blah blah blah." We will no longer tolerate the cruel gagging effect this produces in small, defenseless maggots.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of being ruled over by a bunch of puffed up, elitist, incompetent buffoons. These people are supposed to be our servants, they work for us, not the other way around. Time to turn the tables and set things aright.