Why not fire the Legislature?

[Untamed1972]

You mean they would have to get a real job? Outstanding idea!

The other thing I have thought is that if they are full time on the Leg (this could go for US/Fed Leg. as well) They may not have income from ANY other source other then their govt paycheck.

I say this because for example I know that some federal agencies like the DOI for example....DOI employees cannot own certain oil, gas or mining stocks and may not hold and active real estate license, as it is deemed a possible conflict of interest because the DOI handles minerals contracts and so on. Even if you work for a Dept. of the DOI that doesn't have anything to do with mining or land deals you still can't own those stocks or have an RE license.

So would it not all the more so be for a senator that has the ability to make, propose, vote for, or influence any new law that might benefit himself in anyway? So just make it so they are not allowed to have income from anywhere else but their gov't paycheck while in office. It would make finding corruption much easier because you should know exactly how much income they had during the year. And they must submit receipts, proof of personal payment for any travel, vacations and so on that they do.

Make being a leg./senator much less lucrative and the people you have signing up to do it will more often be there for the right reasons and not to line their own pockets.

[Rivers]

So would it not all the more so be for a senator that has the ability to make, propose, vote for, or influence any new law that might benefit himself in anyway? So just make it so they are not allowed to have income from anywhere else but their gov't paycheck while in office. It would make finding corruption much easier because you should know exactly how much income they had during the year. And they must submit receipts, proof of personal payment for any travel, vacations and so on that they do.

Make being a leg./senator much less lucrative and the people you have signing up to do it will more often be there for the right reasons and not to line their own pockets.

That might be swinging the pendulum too far in the other direction. If we make it that burdensome to be a legislator, we will just get more of the ones we have today. Granted, today's legislators are motivated for "life after the Legislature" with perks and retirement, and to exploit the connections and power they've generated while elected officials. If we don't pay a reasonable amount, no competent businessman or civic-minded Californian will dive into poverty to be a good citizen. We need to strike a worthy balance to get respectable representatives who will actually work for us.

One thing about the movie "Dave" (Kevin Kline) is the oft-forgotten concept that "It's only a temp job" and not to forget that the People are the employer. Our elected officials, and even those appointed by those elected, are working FOR the People, not the other way around!

[CCWFacts]

Call me crazy, but with an approval rating in the teens, how in God's name do they keep getting re-elected?

Because people in this state will vote for anyone with a "D" next to his name. The "R" party is evil.

For example, SF is having massive layoffs and cuts in services. What could be the cause of it? Could it be related to the 480 retired city workers or their survivors who are knocking back $100,000 or more a year in pension money? Yes it could! And yet, SF's voters continue to be fanatically devoted to the various public employee unions who have bankrupted many cities, and perhaps the state itself, with these insane compensation packages.

The highest-paid is Bruce Malkenhorst, who, as the former city manager of the tiny industrial town of Vernon (Los Angeles County), earned $600,000 a year.

His retirement pay: $499,674. Which he continues to collect, even as he's under indictment for allegedly stealing city money.

By the way, Malkenhorst's son, Bruce Jr., now has his dad's old job.

You would think that the tiny industrial town of Vernon would ask itself, how did we end up paying this guy half a million dollars a year FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE (total benefits could easy be $10mil to $20mil FOR ONE GUY). Oh, and this is a city with a population of 91 (2000 census). Yes, that's not a typo. 91 people live in Vernon. So, assuming this guy lives for 40 years after his retirement (maybe a bit high, but just approximately), and collects his $20mil in pension, that means that the 91 people of Vernon have paid $200k EACH for this ONE EMPLOYEE. Each resident of Vernon, from the little babies to the old grandmothers, basically contributed a house, or a Bentley, or a full college+medical school tuition, to this ONE GUY.

The answer is, the Democratic political machine that is based in public employee unions and has a lock on state politics.

But that machine is good because they're Democrats!

That's how it works.

[PatriotnMore]

No one is asking them to be paid at a level of poverty however, if the job were part time, and paid as part time income, we would entice people that are civic minded and more interested in serving their communities than those looking for a golden parachute and career in politics.

As it is, we don't have any civic minded businessmen in the legislature, we have a bunch of flunkies/politicians who are ruining the State, and the same at the Fed Congressional level.

We can not continue doing the same things, and expect different results.

That might be swinging the pendulum too far in the other direction. If we make it that burdensome to be a legislator, we will just get more of the ones we have today. Granted, today's legislators are motivated for "life after the Legislature" with perks and retirement, and to exploit the connections and power they've generated while elected officials. If we don't pay a reasonable amount, no competent businessman or civic-minded Californian will dive into poverty to be a good citizen. We need to strike a worthy balance to get respectable representatives who will actually work for us.

One thing about the movie "Dave" (Kevin Kline) is the oft-forgotten concept that "It's only a temp job" and not to forget that the People are the employer. Our elected officials, and even those appointed by those elected, are working FOR the People, not the other way around!

[Rivers]

We can not continue doing the same things, and expect different results.

Absolutely agree! We also can't go to the opposite extreme, as happened with our national politics. Is the left extreme any more effective or fair to middle America than the extreme right? I very much doubt that.

Whatever we do, we must plot a path that holds to the wisdom shown by the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution. Foreseeing the pitfalls and enabling a means to self-right the ship of government is hugely important.

[yellowfin]

How short should sunsets on all budget items be set? 5 years? 10? Or maybe 2? Make them have to revote on every item and every tax no less often than 10 years like Florida does.

[dychen]

I'm thinking this whole national Army deal is a shame. ....

Per the constitution the army is suppose to be national. That is one of the few things the federal government is suppose to do.

The key is getting the federal government back into doing the things its suppose to do per the constitution, and having the states deal with the rest.

If new york wants socialized health care, great, it can pay for it (and fail miserably) as a state. If Utah wants to ban alcohol, great thats there deal. If california wants to legalize marijuana but Mississippi doesn't, leave it to the states.

[Bugei]

Yeah, baby!

I prefer we fire them all and never allow them to assemble again. I say proposition to ban the governor and the legislature, hell while we are at it ban the courts as well, start all over.

Go! Go! Go!