it is interesting to me that we are always to feel so concerned about the delicate sensibilities of leftists, and yet-when they make outrageous statements such as advocating the death of 5B(jeremy rifkin and other leading environmentalists) or advocate policies that are stalinist (eg see all mourning and wailing death of Chavez-start with Pres Carter) we are not to take offense, our feelings aren't to be hurt.

Too true, OA. It's like an onion, with layer after layer needing to be peeled away to expose the rot at the core.

Fully agree about the reds who seek to subvert our country. Disagree about the Constitution needing revision. Lack of term limits and lack of States having more power are reasons that a Ruling Class has developed in DC. In the Founder's day, people rarely lived into their 70's and 80's and public service was not considered all that desirable. They simply failed to anticipate the course of future events.

davidkachel, Please remove your last sentence. I understand your emphasis and frustration. My wife is one of those lefties, and no matter how illogical her position I still care for her.

their salaries are NOT what keeps them there. it is the crony relationship with industry and regulations which make them millionaires. term limits are an elegant solution. You must have to go back to your district after a few terms or one-I think someone else posted that in here which I thought was a brilliant idea. and you can't go hopping around districts, like Hillary did. How did she do that legally anyway??? the house in Harlem? there is no rule of law anymore
I agree with staffs and employees being limited to serving terms-heck I struggle with judges' term limits
I had to look up the 17th amendment-but I agree with you on that one. I won't say what it is, so others have to go look it up too :)

Besides their salaries, something should be done regarding their ill gotten gains by playing the cronyism game. Where their real money comes from is peddling influence. I could live with their salaries if that was the only monetary benefit they received from holding office. We only need term limits because the ignorant masses don’t use their vote as term limits for the looters. There are a few statesmen who aren’t rich but wish to serve. Granted they are too few.

I wholeheartedly agree that all elected officials receive only a stipend. My purpose on this earth is not to fund a beurocracy which I don't even approve of in the first place.

Term limits, absolutely. This whole making a of a profession from govt service has to end.

Many would say that the worst problems stem from the un-accountable bureaucrats that were hired by legislators so legislators didn’t have to do their own job. Bureaucrats and their damage remain after the officials are voted out of office.

Regulatory agencies will be abolished.

This one is huge. They have bypassed accountability by creating agencies that operate "under their authority", but without their (publicly visible) direction.

This gives the Congress an avenue to doing things they would never get away with if they had to vote publicly for it. When the people don't approve, they say "don't look at me...I didn't do it!".

We have to be very cautious of any major changes to the Constitution because it will be used to destroy it.

The States should start by using Nullification for things like Obama Care and other atrocities.

Here is what I have been pondering. This would be proof of those who want to 'serve' rather than become part of the Political Class. These people are all multi-millionairs at least so this won't be punitive.
President will be paid $100/year.
V-Pres $50/year
House and Senate $10/year.
Staffs will be regular GS workers and can serve for no more than 4 years to prevent the Bureaucrats from running everything.
Term limits for all elected officials.
Senators will be appointed by their respective State Legislatures like they were supposed to be.
Regulatory agencies will be abolished. Any regulations deemed necessary must be voted on by Congress.
If Congress doesn't do the job elected to ie: no budget etc. no pay. No product - no pay.
Repeal the 17th Amendment.

I should add that the purpose of appointing Sup Ct Associate Justices from each District is to reduce present New York City dominance on the Court. Moreover, "District of birth" is how I would define eligibility.

We are a nation of States with a capital "S." Proposed Amendments: (1) No Congressman or member of any Federal court may serve more than 12 years in the same office. (2) Pay increases for the members of the Federal Congress, President, Vice-President, and Supreme Court must be approved by a majority of the State legislatures. (3) Supreme Court justices will serve staggered terms with no more than one Associate Justice appointed from each District; and the Chief Justice will be nominated by the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and confirmed by a simple majority of State legislatures. The purpose of these proposed Amendments is to reduce the power of the Federal government and return it to the States and to the People.