Dale E Brown for Congress 2012
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Personal Thoughts for Septenber 2010
This area contains some personal thoughts on ideas of life and government.
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"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. " Thomas Jefferson
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09/01/2010
Money Talks
A professional politician will normally represent their supporters ($$).
Scott Brown campaign contributions
Individual Reported
| Where | Number | Total | Average |
| Mass | 9877 | $4,659,266 | $943 |
| Out of State | 18585 | $9,048,967 | $487 |
| ? | 58 | $59,710 | $2,059 |
PAC (Political Action Committee)
| Where | Number | Total | Average |
| Mass | 106 | $109,323 | $1,031 |
| Out of State | 322 | $739,380 | $2,296 |
| Total In State | $4,768,589 |
| Total out of state | $9,788,347 |
Niki Tsongas campaign contributions 2010 cycle
Individual Reported
| Where | Number | Total | Average |
| Mass In District | 1470 | $311,457 | $212 |
| Mass Out of District | 1444 | $559,446 | $387 |
| Out of State | 286 | $113,870 | $398 |
PAC (Political Action Committee)
| Where | Number | Total | Average |
| Mass In District | 106 | $109,323 | $1,031 |
| Mass Out of District | 322 | $739,380 | $2,296 |
| Out of State | 102 | $191,000 | $1,873 |
| Total In District | $319,732 |
| Total out of District | $875,866 |
* all data compiled from Federal Election Commission data
You get what you pay for.
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09/08/2010
Congressional Term Limits
Dale Brown (Independent) Yes.
- Senators: limited to two consecutive terms (and repeal 17th amendment);
- Representatives limited to five terms in any 14 year period;
- Eliminate government pensions (except military) (government officials and employees under Social Security and 401K programs) similar to private sector.
Terms limits for Congress would not require a Constitutional Convention to be implemented. An amendment to the Constitution would not be required. The amendment process is required only to change the Constitution. There is nothing in the Constitution defining the limits (or non limits) to the number of terms a representative or senator may serve. The 17th amendment was required because it changed the way the Constitution defined the selection of Senators. It has been stated that it was needed because of the corruption in the state legislatures in their selection, but I still maintain that it has opened it up for more outside special interest influence. It has weakened the states power in the federal process. The Senators are now but 2 extra Representatives instead of representing the state in the federal process where the Representatives are responsible (?) to and elected by the general population. A very good example of this is delineated in my comments on the previous question of campaign financing.
The Amend ment process may be initiated Many of the amendments to the Constitution would have only required a federal law and not an amendment. Amendments have in the past been only an attempt at political grandstanding. Granted the Constitution is supposedly the law of the land and written in granite. We have seen recently that Congress and the administration has little regard for it. It can be circumvented as easily as any federal law. How has this come about? We no longer have the checks and balances in place to make sure the process is followed.
A Congressional Committee to validate laws as far as Constitutionality is concerned might be a good idea in an advisory capacity. It would be ridiculous, though, to allow the body that passes the law be able to determine the Constitutional validity of the law. It is the responsibility of the governed to actually challenge the Constitutionality of the law. As we have seen of late the process is waking up as the various states are challenging the Health Care Reform Bill. They are also trying to force the administration to fulfill its Constitutional responsibility to enforce current federal law (Illegal Immigration Act of 1996). The administration is providing the illusion (very feeble) of making an attempt to enforce it while thwarting attempts of Arizona to protect its citizens. The states must exercise their Constitutional responsibilities to control and limit the powers of the federal government and ensure that they respect the “Law of the Land” It is the responsibility of the governed to ensure their elected officials maintain the rights of the individual states. The time has come for a revival of Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities before the governed (states) totally loss control of the federal establishment.
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” -- Thomas Jefferson
I have no doubt that term limits would never pass (unless it was imposed on them by the states). It would break the professional politicians rice bowl The professional politician knows that once elected, they will receive the support of the party and special interest groups required to maintain them in office as long as they are good little soldiers and do what they are told.
'Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. -- Thomas Jefferson
This is the best reason that I know of to automatically refresh those entrusted with power periodically.-----------------------------------------------
08/09/2010
Article V – Amendment
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,
or,
on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,
which, in either Case,
shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution,
when ratified
by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States,
or
by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification
may be proposed by the Congress;
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Vote
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I welcome comments.
Please check back for more thoughts.