U.S. DEFICIT REDUCTION – START WITH THE OBVIOUS

President Obama, and the leaders in Congress on both sides of the isle, recognize that the U.S. is in a BAD place. The U.S., like many individuals, has spent far beyond it's ability pay. Stripped of fancy rhetoric, the U.S. is BROKE. There are many obvious steps that can be taken to reduce U.S. debt; the real question is, does Congress have the will to confront the reality the USA is broke, and do something about it. Past Congresses and Administrations stuck there heads in the sand, raised the national debt limit, and have keep spending as if there were no tomorrow. The 112th Congress can no longer pass the buck by raising the national debt limit, now set at $14.3 TRILLION dollars.

The President as well as Congress have equal responsibilities to cut spending and reduce the debt. The Federal government is the largest employer in the U.S., if not the world. The President should require that ALL Federal employees who are eligible to retire, be required to retire NOW, or else loose all government benefits. This step, requiring all eligible Federal employees to retire now, would reduce the government workforce by 12% ( savings of roughly $37 billion ) and save the government billions in future costs.

Next on the President's list should be to close all military facilities the U.S. maintains in some 150 foreign countries. The U.S. Navy and Air Force are fully capable of deploying needed forces without shore based facilities. And remember, the most effective fighting tool today, is the predator drone, controlled from Nellis AFB, Nevada. This would yield a savings in the neighborhood of $220 billion, and save billions in future costs. Vacating Iraq and Afghanistan would save another $25+ billion in annual costs.

Undocumented and illegal immigrants cost the Federal government [ vis-a-vis reimbursed benefits to States ] around $30 billion a year. By eliminating all benefits to undocumented and illegal immigrants and their offspring, including health care, schooling, and welfare, this would save the Federal and State governments, collectively, another $40+ billion a year.

Foreign aid: it is absurd for the U.S. to borrow money, to give to foreign governments whose leaders pocket it, build private mansions in safe haven counties, and leave the U.S. holding an empty bag. You don't hear much about U.S. Foreign aide except for the occasional leak. The U.S. Government intentionally obfuscates foreign aid accounting and expenditures so both Congress and the U.S. Public have no concrete idea of how many taxpayers dollars are involved, but estimates range from $22 billion to $40 billion; lets go with $25 billion, which is likely an underestimate.

Then there are the “territories”: Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Am. Samoa and the Northern Marianas. These tiny islands are subsidized by the U.S. Taxpayer to the tune of $10 billion a year.

The budget is within the President's purview. The President/Executive Branch prepares it, and presents the budget to Congress. If one just adds the items outlined above: roughly $360 billion, it would be one small step in the right direction to get the U.S. back on a sustainable financial track. In the event the President does not have the guts to eliminate these needless expenditures and waste from the budget, Congress should bite the bullet, not authorize funding of the 2010-2011 budget, and, at a minimum, cut the above items and amounts from the Federal budget.

Transition from REPUBLIC to DEMOCRACY

As it should well be known, the United States was formed as a Republic and NOT as a democracy. During the past 60 years, the term "democracy" as been erroneously tossed around and touted as equivalent to Republic. The distinction is more then a matter of semantics. It is time the citizenry of the United States recognize that we must take the next step toward "democracy", and amend the United States Constitution to provide for an "initiative-referendum" process common to many States. The "initiative" process gives registered voters the right to directly participate in the Federal Government and laws that affect every citizen regardless of your State of residency. The proposed Amendment that follows gives each U.S. citizen the right to participate in the Federal Government ( Washington, D.C. ), a right that no individual citizen or group of citizens has under existing provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

AMENDMENT #___ ( proposed ), to the Constitution of the United States:

SECTION 1. All political power is inherent in the citizenry.
Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit,
and they have the right to alter or reform it when the citizens
may require; further, prior provisions of this Constitution that are inconsistent herewith are specifically repealed and superseded hereby, including, but not limited to Article V of this Constitution of the United States.

SECTION 2. No person shall be deemed a citizen until they attain 18 years of age. Corporations and other artificial entities are not persons
and are not entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens. Only persons who have attained 18 years of age, and are otherwise qualified to vote, shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens.

SECTION 3. Citizens who are qualified and duly registered to vote in any State of the United States inherently have and shall forever retain to power to directly change, modify, adopt, reject and/or repeal any statute, law of the United States or provision of or to this Constitution, or to adopt a new Constitution, by citizens initiative.

(a) An initiative measure may be proposed by presenting, to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, a petition that sets forth the text of the proposed statute, law and/or amendment to this Constitution and is certified to have been signed by one hundred-thousand citizen registered voters whose signatures and citizenship are confirmed by the respective Governors of the State or States where such citizen voters are duly registered to vote.

(b) Once a citizens initiative petition has been lodged with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, without amendment, it may be voted on by the full House of Representatives, and if passed by 60% vote of the Representatives, it shall immediately become and be the law of the United States.

(c) In the event the House of Representatives fails to pass the citizens initiative, then in any such event, the initiative shall be placed on the ballot for the next general election, and if passed by 60% of the citizens who vote at the general election, it shall, within 30 days of such general election, become the law of the United States;provided further, each Representative who voted against said initiative in the House, shall be immediately terminated and removed as Representative for the respective Congressional District, and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled by appointment by the Governor of the respective State, for the remainder of the term of the Representative so terminated and removed.


SECTION 4. The House of Representatives shall have the power to submit any matter or issue directly for vote by citizen registered voters at a general election or special election. This shall be known as a referendum, to be voted on by the citizenry, to approve or reject statutes or parts of statutes that the House of Representatives may not agree on or be deadlocked on. The Senate shall not have the power or authority of referendum.

(a) A referendum measure may be proposed by 60% affirmative vote of the House of Representatives, after which affirmative vote the referendum shall be placed on the next general election ballot or on the ballot of a special election called for such purpose. Special Elections of referendum issues, shall only be called, if an emergency is declared by the President of the United States. Any Declaration of War, or for the deployment of troops on foreign soil, shall be submitted to the citizenry for vote, by referendum, at a special election called for such purpose.

(b) Referendum issues voted for by 60% of the citizens who vote at a general election, shall, within 30 days of such general election, become the law of the United States without further vote by the House of Representatives, Senate or signature of the President of the United States.

(c) Referendum issues voted for by 60 % of the citizens who vote at any special election, without further vote by the House of Representatives or Senate, shall become the law of the United States when signed by the President of the United States.

SECTION 5. No court, including the United States Supreme Court, tribunal or officer, shall have any power or authority to review, alter, suspend, enjoin or modify any law, statute or Constitutional provision or any part or parts thereof passed by vote of the citizenry by or through the initiative or referendum process.

IS IT RIGHT FOR ONE FEDERAL JUDGE TO NULLIFY MILLIONS OF CITIZEN VOTES - THE U.S. CONSTITUTION NEEDS TO BE AMENDED

The are many recent rulings by Federal Court judges that nullify millions of votes cast by individual citizens on issues of concern. This anomaly, finds its root in 1788, on the ratification of what is know recognized as Article III of the United States Constitution. A Constitution adopted for 13 colonies, with a total non-slave population of 2.4 million, framed by 17th century political views. This outdated document, contrary to popular notion, did not establish a Democracy. Times have changed, the population of the U.S. is estimated to top 350,000,000 million, 37 States with there own Constitutions, voting rights and Government structures have been added; and, all citizens regardless of sex, race, national origin, color or creed now have the RIGHT to vote, and their votes counted.

Enter Article III from 1788: Article III essentially nullifies the vote of every citizen of every State; further, Article III invalidates the process and orderly governance of every State. Article III gives one appointed Federal Judge the authority to invalidate any State law and the ten’s of millions of votes cast by citizens. Essentially, Article III creates the Kingdom of Federal Courts, with the sole authority to legislate how every citizen should live. Article III guarantee’s that the United States will never be a Democracy and that elections and votes are nothing but theater. Article III is an obstruction to Democracy and citizens voting rights.

Recently, by the use of modern technologies, it was discovered that the
July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence, was penned with the word “subjects”and later changed to citizens. The truth was first written, all persons in the U.S.are mere “subjects” pursuant to Article III; subjects to Federal Judges, who in the likeness of Gods, are appointed for life, but who’s determinations extend far beyond the actual life of any Federal Judge.

It is time for the States and citizens to wake up to the fact that the United States is a dictatorship ruled by non-elected Federal Judges. The time has come for States and citizens to stand-up for and take back their rights, including the right to vote and have each vote be counted. The U.S. Constitution begs to be Amended and Article III be repealed. The following is one suggestion for a change that will bring the U.S. closer to a democracy, where citizens votes count.

“ AMENDMENT 28 :

Section 1. Article III, Judicial Branch, of the Constitution of 1788-9,
is specifically repealed, null and void. Neither the Supreme Court nor any inferior Federal Court, as my hereinafter be approved by vote of seventy-five (75%) of Congress,shall have any authority whatsoever to adjudicate any matter voted on and/or approved by the citizens of any State pursuant to State Constitutions. Article VI , General Provisions, of the Constitution of 1788-9 is amended as follows, Section 1 is repealed; the language of Section 2 is stricken and replaced by new Section 1 as follows: This Constitution, as amended, and the laws enacted pursuant hereto, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the laws duly enacted by any State, shall be the general law of the land, and each State and all State officers shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce Federal laws, rules, regulations, directives or orders within the respective States. Article VI , Section 3 - Oath of office, is repealed and replaced with new Section 2 as follows: The President , Vice-President, Department or Agency Secretaries, all Federal officers and officials including all members of Congress shall swear on written oath that each shall fully read, and, by initial endorse each any every bill, rule, regulation, directive or order, before the passage or adoption of the same; and shall fully enforce all Federal and general laws; further, in the event any Federal officer or official violates their oath of office, that person, including the President, Vice-President, Department or Agency Secretary, shall automatically forfeit and resign from office, or be forcibly removed from office and imprisoned for a period of not less than the remainder of the term of said office.

Section 2. Federal Judicial Authority - The Judicial Authority of the Federal Government shall be limited to : a) matters in dispute between States; b) matters in dispute between citizens of different States; c) laws passed by Congress, and rules regulations, directives or orders of any Federal agency including the U.S. military; d)disputes between citizens and any Federal agency; e) franchised entities including corporations are not citizens but artificial entities and shall not have standing in Federal Courts except in limited matters where a Federal agency rule, regulation , directive or order is specifically addressed to a particular corporation or artificial entity; f) except as provided herein, no non-citizen or person shall have standing before any Federal Court; g) The Judicial authority shall not extend beyond internationally recognized territorial boundary of 12 nautical miles from U.S. States and extended seaward economic zone ( 200 miles ) and any person or entity violating U.S. or State laws, rules, regulations, directives or orders applicable within such territorial boundary or extended economic zone.

Section 3. Federal Judges. There shall be one Federal Supreme Court, known by the aforesaid title. The Federal Supreme Court shall consist of nine (9) non-appointed Judges selected by public blind draw lot to serve for a term of no more the six years (6). All other Federal Judges shall be non-appointed and selected by public blind draw lot to serve for a term of no more then four (4) years. No Federal Judge shall serve for more then one (1) term. Any natural born citizen of citizens of the United States or any State, who is at least thirty-five years of age and has at least a four year degree from a recognized college or university in any State of the United States; is a duly registered voter in a State of residence in the United States; has not been convicted of any felony criminal offense, or aggravated misdemeanor; is of good character and not a member of any recognized terrorist organization; may upon affidavit of credentials, have his or her name placed in the lot for blind public drawing to fill Federal Judgeship positions including Federal Supreme Court positions. Federal Supreme Court judges selected by lot shall, each year, vote for one of the lot to act as Chief Judge for one year of the selected judges six (6 ) year term. The Federal Supreme Court Chief judge shall have the authority to promulgate administrative rules to provide for the orderly administration of the Federal Courts, so long as said rules do not compromise due process, individual, civil and voting rights as otherwise provided for in the U.S. Constitution as amended.

Section 4. Federal Judges shall be personally and individually liable for violation the individual, Constitutional, civil, or voting rights of any citizen. ”

The above is an example of the type of Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that is needed to stop the dictatorship by Federal Judges, where a single Federal Judge can invalidate the votes of millions of citizen voters. Citizens are entitled to have their votes count.

PERSPECTIVE IS LACKING IN THE OBAMA "STIMULUS"

President Obama does not need to tell main-street U.S.A. that the U.S. is experiencing HARD TIMES and that their immediate future is bleak. The average U.S. citizen is living the nightmare. Everyone understands that something needs to be done; accordingly, citizens look to Washington for answers. But lets look the data that President Obama is presenting: an $800 billion, now $900 billion, and, with interest carry, over $1.3 to $1.6 trillion "stimulus" on top of the $700 billion passed TARP program of 2008, added to the $126 billion 2008, AIG bail-out.

Some perspective is needed: it took George Bush 8 years to run up the U.S. National debt to $1.2 trillion dollars. President Obama has been in office for 21 days and proposes that we MORE THEN DOUBLE the national debt. So, rhetoric aside, what does this mean. It means, among other things, that the U.S. dollar, your and my savings, Social Security and other benefits have been devalued, i.e., it will take more dollars to buy the same food, fuel, medical and health services then it did in 2008.

President Obama, and Congress will not pin-point the number of private sector jobs that will actually be created by DOUBLING the national debt. Rhetoric should not be confused with actual private sector job creation. Government jobs, because they are directly taxpayer funded, actually add to the national debt, and do not contribute to the economic growth of the U.S. We are headed to 15% nationwide unemployment; Obama pontificates that the "stimulus" will create 4 million jobs. If we take a slim $800 billion as the proposed "stimulus" package base figure, and assuming that 4 million jobs will be created, that means that it will take $200,000.00 for each job created. Wouldn't be much simpler to pay each unemployed head of household $50,000.00 to pay off their debts and bills ? That would amount a treasury expenditure of a mere $ 200 billion and it actually help troubled homeowners, plus save the taxpayers over $600 billion. Another thought, would be to suspend the payment of Federal Income taxes for everyone making under $250,000.00 a year, for one (1) year, a tax holiday ? No treasury expenditure required; yet talk about "stimulus ".

We all know Washington is not composed of the best, brightest or even those with common sense. That is why the Obama/Pelosi "stimulus" consists of over 650 pages, of loop holes, so persons and business other then the average main-street U.S. citizen (we are the one's suffering) and those with political influence can get the "big" pay-off. The "stimulus" bill proposed by the Obama/Pelosi team is nothing more then a ruse, to direct taxpayer funds to privileged persons, corporations, States and Cities with the right political connections, just as the TARP bail-out of the Bush administration was designed to benefit those on Wall-Street and in the banking community who pushed the U.S. economy off-the-cliff. In short, it is Washington doing business as usual.