Taking our Government Back

There is only one way US voters can get their government back.  It would require eliminating all campaign contributions by special interests.  This includes corporations, unions, global criminals, environmental crazies and others.  They could express their free speech on their own websites and ads.

Only voters would be allowed to make legal campaign contributions to political campaigns.  Voters would need to be legal citizens and registered to vote.  They would be able to make campaign contributions to candidates who would appear on their ballots.

The cost of political campaigns would plummet.  If a US House Rep seat represented 600,000 citizens, including 400,000 registered voters, those voters could each contribute $1 dollar to that campaign to raise $400,000. 

All candidates would need a website with their full resume, full biography and full position on all relevant issues.  They could also post multiple videos of the candidate presenting their positions.  Those candidates with previous experience in office would need to publish their votes on bills and decisions on cases.  These websites would not cost much to construct and maintain.  The rest of their $400,000 should go to travel costs and yard signs.

Each voter might have up to 20 candidates on average each year to consider contributing their $1 dollar to.  Voters would also need to go to the candidate websites to read what they post. 

In addition to campaign finance reform, the legislative bodies need restrictions on what they are authorized to deal with.  The US federal government needs to be limited to the “enumerated powers” stated in the US Constitution (as written).  Under the 10^th Amendment, all other matters would be decided by the States and the People.

The federal government would need to either write Amendments to be ratified by the States to add to its “enumerated powers” or send all unconstitutional activities to the States. 

The federal government would need to give all federal lands back to the States. Federal parks and monuments would become State parks and monuments. States should be able to sell or lease timberland or grazing land or park land to be put to productive use. Federal courts should be limited to federal issues.

State, County and City governments should be limited to providing limited critical infrastructure and limited government services. 

Priorities for counties and cities would include providing clean water and sanitation, with sanitary sewer lines, water treatment plants, storm sewer systems water reservoirs, and clean water distribution lines. Individual land owners would be free to install water wells and septic tanks. 

In addition, State and local government would provide highways roads, bridges including maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion. State and local governments would also provide courts, police, fire and EMT services.

Federal, State and local legislators would need to write their own laws and regulations before they vote to pass these laws. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader