Most of How to "Drain the Swamp" and "Make America Great Again"

Everyone knows that the federal government has indebted America ($19.9T), and the Federal Reserve's inflation creation along with Labor Unions have destroyed the Middle Class. Labor Unions have caused businesses in the private sector to either go out of business or move and build plants offshore to take advantage of non-union workers who work for realistic wages and salaries not a socialist "living wage" such as $15/hour for burger-flipping. Government Employee Unions are causing the same general problem in government, but their political power wields great influence in CONgress and the other branches.

One very important part of "draining the swamp" is limiting the number of TERMS that Representatives and Senators can "serve" us citizens. Much of today's over-priced "swamp" was created by these "Swamp Directors" (hereafter, "Swampers"). Many, many, many agencies and departments were created by Swampers using questionable logic and hyper-emotionality during emergency situations, either real or manufactured. If D.C. were really a swamp, the EPA would declare D.C. the largest "wetland" in the world. Before and after July 16, 1790 ("Residence" Act), D.C. was a literal SWAMP. Eventually, it was developed.

Another seemingly fickle promise made by then candidate D. J. Trump was his enduring support for CONgressional Term limits. Twelve years is a number divisible by 2 and 6. (mis)Representatives can be wooed by lobbyists for only 6, 2-year Terms. Senators can endlessly chatter, drivel, and drool about how to throw away more money for only 2, 6-year Terms. All federal Justices and judges' Terms (including SCOTUS) should be limited, not by life, but by 12 years. All federal employees terms should be limited to 20 years. Such an Amendment to the Constitution would go a very long way toward draining the swamp, but later in this article, proposals are presented to alter government employees' reasons for termination and appeal.

President's already can "serve" only 2, 4-year Terms. Why? Because presidents' Terms are LIMITED by constitutional amendment. Yes! FDR "served" the country for 4 Terms creating many of the agencies that are the foundation of today's agencies that help the entire federal government "central plan" the U.S. economy and much of American life. FDR's reign reminded many Americans of Kings of the European monarchies. So, the States ratified the 22nd Amendment to limit presidents' Terms. We the People have endured economic disaster at the hands of our remaining elected dictatorship.

The CONgress (by Article V of the Constitution) has proposed and States have ratified many new amendments to the Constitution, some that increase their power over us citizens. CONgress can propose amendments, and the alternative method to CONgressional proposals can come from States via Article V. When "We the People" — meaning a very large majority — are opposed to Acts of CONgress like the INCOME TAX or ENDLESS WARS or the FEDERAL RESERVE, Acts that restrict and regulate our LIBERTY, Acts that are a waste of money, Acts that have caused unrecoverable indebtedness, then through local representaatives of our States WE can propose Amendments to be ratified by States just like CONgress.

STATES and the PEOPLE of America are very angry at the federal goverment's violation of its constitutionally-defined boundaries. States created the federal government in 1787 with LIMITED powers defined in the Constitution. All powers not given by States to the feds remain with the States by Article X. The feds have through deceit, distortion, and falsification rearranged the entire contractual agreement between States and the federal government. The feds have become a very powerful, all consuming force in American government. The time has come for States to rein in the federal government, to take power back, to limit the federal government's power, and to add some detailed restriction to the definition of CONgress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.

In 1787 a central government was (is) necessary only to provide for the common defense and ensure equality under the law for all Citizens, to provide a final arbiter for the resolution of unsolvable problems among States and People. Most laws and regulations that the federal government has wreaked on the States and the People are unconstitutional. States are independent, sovereign countries who realized the need for a limited and defined central government to prevent wasteful duplication of effort. The federal government, in 2017, is OUT OF CONTROL, infringing and interfering with State sovereignty and their separate economies. A problem arose in 2012 with Arizona's attempt to secure their border with Mexico. An article is here. States can prevent infringements by the federal government with an Aricle V Convention of States to not only reverse past federal government "power grabs" but prevent future federal government violations of their Constitutionally-defined boundaries.

A new, well-organized group of volunteers in all 50 states have gathered to restore America to its roots by limiting all 3 branches of the federal government with a Convention of States (CoS) organization (alternate site, CoS Action). This is a Convention of States to AMEND the Constitution — NOT rewrite it! Recently, CoS held an Article V, Convention simulation with appointed volunteers from all 50 States. The simulated Convention demonstrated how a well-organized CoS can vote for proposed amendments to the Consitution that are popular enough to be ratified by the necessary 3/4ths of States (38). Obviously, only proposed Amendments that are likely to pass both Houses of the legislatures of thirty-eight (38) States, that is, the required 3/4ths of States to ratify an Amendment to the Constitution should be proposed. See the Final Report here. The purpose in a Convention of States, simulated or real, is to PROPOSE AMENDMENTS that give power back to the People. The proposed amendments must reflect the thinking, objectives — the goals of people of States — who want to restore our Constitutional Republic to one that represents the people.

A real CoS, requires that 2/3rds of States (34) send an "application" to CONgress requesting that CONgress schedule a CoS. State Legislatures are composed of an Assembly and Senate. Each "house" must pass a bill separately and send the resolution to their Governor. Then the State sends an "application" to the CONgress. When the federal CONgress receives applications from 34 States, the CONgress is required to set a date for the Convention of States. CONgress is NOT involved otherwise. The States have the Convention, propose amendments, and dispatch the precisely worded amendments to their respectives assemblies and senates for ratification. CONgress only schedules the Convention.

The following is the SHORT DESCRIPTION of past failure(s). If "We the People" are the real object of CONgressional representation by Reps. and Sens., then Lobbying should be banned in D.C. CONgress currently gives more weight (and money) to Lobbyists with their bogus arguments than to the average person of their State of origin in the form of LOCAL projects to improve infrastructure or LOCAL projects to support education both college and vocational. This doesn't mean direct federal involvement in States. Specifically engineered Grants to State governments along with accurate metrics to measure improvement is the definition of real representation. However, CONgress has already tried ventures like this in a haphazard fashion with no controls and no detailed definition, direction, or requirements. If CONgress really represents the people of their States instead of themselves, then metrics measuring general improvements of life in their State should show an increase. If not, then either change the Grant or do not renew it. DID THIS STRIKE YOU AS FAMILIAR?

Interference in markets destroys markets. Making people dependent on government destroys the incentive to build, create, and expand. Government promises to deliver (later failing to deliver) eliminates the impetus and motivation to solve problems, to create and construct. The best method for "draining the swamp" and "making America great again" is cutting government, in effect providing the opportunity for people to solve their own problems. Rescinding most regulations that have remained effective from the time of JFK, repealing laws from the Progressive Era (1894-1914) that tax incomes or create obsolete agencies or the Federal Reserve. Reinstate a modified Gold Standard.

A major goal is to CUT SPENDING, and make it more difficult to spend and raise taxes, make new laws approvable by States, make regulations more easily nullified by States. Term Limits not only for CONgress but for the entire federal judiciary. Supreme Court decisions should require input from States and the legal profession before finality. The federal government should limit activities to providing for the defense and ensuring equality under the law for all Citizens — American federal government's purpose. [Editor's Note: "Swampers" need help managing and draining their Swamp! In 1996, Swampers passed a law, the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. § 801-808), which enables very easy, rapid swamp-cleaning. The law has only been used once to rescind regulations. See Wikipedia: CRA and Stars Align for the Congressional Review Act. ]

Along with a Lobbying ban, members of CONgress should spend only 6 months in D.C. and 6 months at home in their State meeting with real people there. This is a relatively big change, but AirBnB or favorite realtor will make rental housing available for our real representatives unless they want to own 2 (or more) houses.

Next, if Trump REALLY wants to "drain the swamp", then he should find real ways to pay for his programs(s) by selling unneeded government properties (vacant, unneeded buildings and unused land) and rewriting employment contracts ensuring that:

• negligent and non-performing employees can be fired
• the agreement contains a lay-off clause for an agency with reduced importance or inactivity
• the agreement contains a shortened length of service (20 years maximum). Those who have already exceeded 20 years must retire immediately
• DECLARE A WRITTEN PHILOSOPHY AND CREED FOR THE ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYEES.
• invoke a hiring moratorium throughout government

If former government workers have real skills and education, then the private sector will hire surplus workers who resign or work the 20 year limit. Government people and TV shills say that government is not a business and can't be run that way. So, why pass a budget (Obama's Senate didn't) for departments and agencies providing expenditure guidelines if everyone knows they can get more money next year by spending ALL of their allocation in August and September every year. It would be nice to read reports of agencies returning excess funds EVERY YEAR! Also, agencies should have strict spending controls if not already in-place.

This is the kind of disrespect and disregard for the people who support government that was once ascribed to kings and their nobles.

I've always said: If you want to get rich, get elected! Fifty-percent of the federal governent is a SLUSH FUND! The Government Employee Unions control government causing a massive capital shift from private enterprise to wasteful socialist government. Socialism has failed miserably worldwide. Salaries are 30% higher and benefit plans enable government 'make-work jobbers' to retire as millionares. Who pays for this extravagance? Guess! Campaign funds and expense accounts for fraudulent expense reports. The government has 50% more employees than it needs!

Check this: how many agencies does the government have? NOBODY KNOWS!

Why do very few politicians, media, and journalistic polemical writers talk and write about CUTTING SPENDING instead of their pet new programs to waste more money, eliminating tax deductions to increase revenue and/or raising taxes?

WHY NOT ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX ALTOGETHER? WHY NOT REDUCE GOVERNMENT TO TWO (2) AND ONLY (2) PURPOSES: DEFEND THE COUNTRY AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS EQUAL UNDER THE LAW? Equality under the law is the only possible equality achievable by government. Attempts by democrats (Spiteful Socialists) to legislate a "living wage" is a precept of all failed socialist governments throughout history. One must earn income to support a lifestyle.

The absolute best way to restore the economy is to CUT THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT and rescind regulations, i.e., get government OUT OF THE WAY! Stop saying that nothing can be done to stop these nonessential, unnecessary indulgences of the feds who parasitically live on ballooning debt — the Federal Reserve buys 65% of the auctioned Notes. Focus on repealing as many laws creating agencies that continually, year after year, waste resources. This is where unions expand their ranks, their dues balances, and their political power to effectively control government functions.

Check this EXAMPLE

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it recently received expense records from the Department of Homeland Security revealing that Secret Service expenses for the Obama family vacation to Honolulu during December 2013-January 2014 cost taxpayers at least $316,698.03. These new expenses bring the total for the Hawaii Christmas vacation trip to $8,098,060.33. The Secret Service waited nearly two years to produce the requested numbers to Judicial Watch.

The heavily redacted records were obtained on December 28 in response to a January 6, 2014, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. According to the records:

• $91,751.78 in car rental expenses were paid
• $224,974.05 in accommodation expenses were paid to Cabana Girl, LLC and Paradise Luxury Rentals

The documents are heavily redacted and the Secret Service is withholding 28 pages in their entirety.

Saying he was “eager to skip town” Obama took his family to Honolulu on December 20, 2013, for a 17-day Christmas vacation. As reported by The Washington Post:

The presidential motorcade ferried the Obamas across Oahu, the state’s most populous island, to the well-to-do oceanfront neighborhood of Kailua, where as in years past they have rented a private home for what this time will be a 17-day holiday vacation.

For the sixth straight year, Obama plans to spend Christmas and New Year’s in Hawaii, gathering with extended family and friends — and, yes, perfecting his golf game.

In March 2014, Judicial Watch released flight expense records from the U.S. Department of the Air Force revealing that for this Hawaii vacation the Obamas incurred $7,781,361.30 in flight expenses alone (36.9 hours at $210,877 an hour).

This was the first Judicial Watch FOIA request about Obama’s security costs the Secret Service has answered since July, 2014.

Last month, Judicial Watch separately sued the Department of Homeland Security for ignoring 19 other FOIA requests. The FOIA lawsuit asks the court to enjoin the Secret Service from continuing to withhold responsive documents from Judicial Watch (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:15-cv-01983)).

The known total expense to the American taxpayers thus far for all Obama travel is now $70,880,035.78.

“It seems our lawsuits finally got the attention of the Secret Service. It is easy to see why the Secret Service, reeling from its own scandals, covered up these outrageous expense numbers for just one of Obama’s luxury Christmas vacation,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The $317,000 in Secret Service expenses are only the tip of the iceberg for the true cost of Obama’s 2013 vacation in Hawaii, which has now skyrocketed to $8,098,060. It is nice to know that Obama’s ‘tradition’ of Christmas vacations in Hawaii comes courtesy of overburdened taxpayers.”

FROM The Crux

A new Congress has been seated, and it brings the prospect of perhaps, maybe, potentially, in a possible way doing something about the runaway federal deficits. And in other news, several New York area bridges are for sale, which you can acquire at a bargain price.

IMAGE FROM Citizens Against Government Waste

[Editor's Note: The 'Warfare/Welfare State' needs to sober up and get some financial planning/budgeting and establish spending priorities so the greatest country in the history of the world won't become a historical joke that the future looks back on and laughs. Cut Spending by 50%! Focus ONLY on necessary expenditures.]

Editor's Note: the following is from the Libertarian Party Platform

2.4 Government Finance and Spending

All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes."

[Editor's Note: If YOU think that WE need the federal government — as is, THINK AGAIN! I am absolutely sure that expenditure cuts — EVEN AGENCY ELIMINATIONS and REGULATION RESCINDMENT — can be found here! Of course, the feds have inflated the currency and choked-off nationwide production of goods and services (foundation of the dollar) with taxes and regulations such that the feds have parasitically destroyed the host (us) that feeds them.]