Contract From America
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]This thing is being put together by the Tea Party Patriots. Contract From America is a play on Pelosi’s Contract With America. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]In my mind Tea Party values sum up to Fiscally Conservative, Socially Liberal and truly encompasses both Democrat and Republican values. A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Here is a good chance for you to vote on the most important issues to yourself and hopefully have this interest group make sure those issues are heard by your elected officials. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[URL="http://www.contractfromamerica.com/"]Contract From America[/URL]

Re: Contract From America
 

Here are the issues for consideration:


DEMAND A BALANCED BUDGET
Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax hike. (Proposed by: Erik Carter, San Diego, CA)

STOP THE TAX HIKES
Permanently repeal all tax hikes, including those to the income, capital gains, and death taxes, currently scheduled to begin in 2011.

COMMIT TO REAL GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
Every bill, in its final form, will be made public seven days before any vote can be taken and all government expenditures authorized by any bill will be easily accessible on the Internet before the money is spent. (Proposed by: Steve Kulik, Gonzales, Texas; and Steve Hollis, San Francisco, CA)

PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION
Require each bill to identify the specific provision of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do what the bill does. (Proposed by: Brooke Storrs, Midland, MI)

PASS MARKET-BASED HEALTHCARE & HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
Make health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries.

ENACT FUNDAMENTAL TAX REFORM
Adopt a simple and fair single-rate tax system by scrapping the internal revenue code and replacing it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words—the length of the original Constitution.

END RUNAWAY GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Impose a statutory cap limiting the annual growth in total federal spending to the sum of inflation rate plus the percentage of population growth (Proposed by: Mark Meckler, Sacramento, CA).

LET US SAVE
Allow young Americans the choice of opting out of Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, creating both real financial security in retirement through the freedom to own your personal retirement savings, and reducing the long-term unfunded liabilities of the federal government

PROTECT INTERNET FREEDOM
No regulation or tax on the Internet. (Proposed by: Andrew Ian Dodge, Harpswell, ME)

GIVE PARENTS MORE CHOICES IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN
Improve American education by reforming the broken federal role through eliminating ineffective and wasteful programs, giving parents more choices from pre-school to high school, and improving the affordability of higher education.

PASS AN “ALL OF THE ABOVE” ENERGY POLICY
Authorize the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries and reduce regulatory barriers to all other forms of energy creation, lowering prices and creating competition.

PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using funds to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in any form, including requiring “localism” or “diversity” quotas. (Proposed by: Lori Roman, Annapolis, MD)

RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVT
Create a Blue Ribbon taskforce that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs, assessing their Constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states. (Proposed by: Benjamin Tessler, Washington, DC; and Douglas Mainwaring, Potomac, MD)

PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS
Block state and local governments that receive federal grants from exercising eminent domain over private property for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues. (Proposed by: R.M. House, Woodstock, GA)

REJECT CAP & TRADE
Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures. (Proposed by: Jan Heinricks, Spring, T

STOP THE PORK
Place a moratorium on all earmarks until the process is fully transparent, including requiring a 2/3 majority to pass any earmark.

AUDIT THE FED
Begin an audit of the Federal Reserve System. (Proposed by: Judy Pierorazio, Parkville, MD)

NO MORE BAILOUTS
The federal government should not bail out private companies and should immediately begin divesting itself of its stake in the private companies it owns from recent bailouts. (Proposed by: Mike Ware, Mountain View, CA)

STOP CAREER POLITICIANS & CURB LOBBYIST POWER
Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require Congressional term limits. (Proposed by: Marylou Petriccione, Raleigh, NC)

SUNSET REGULATIONS & ENACT FUNDAMENTAL REGULATORY REFORM
Sunset all regulations in order to eliminate those that are wasteful, unconstitutional, and ineffective, and place strict limits on the ability of agencies to create regulations. (Proposed by: Jim Armstrong, Morgantown, WV)

LET US WATCH
Broadcast all non-security meetings and votes on C-SPAN and the Internet. (Proposed by: Matthew Lewis, Alexandria, VA)

Re: Contract From America
 

This seems effective.


[COLOR="Red"][I]searching for sarcasm fount...where are you....
[/I][/COLOR]

Re: Contract From America
 

I'd love all of that. I can't see any of it happening in the short term.

Re: Contract From America
 

Gee isn't that what Ron Paul has been running on since the 1980s?

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664435]Gee isn't that what Ron Paul has been running on since the 1980s?[/quote]

Exactly, another decade another silly contract. Stop pork? LOL.

Re: Contract From America
 

Holy Moley! the snow has reached Hades, Saden quoted TTE without mocking, or attacking. Lord how my heart aches for humanity!

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;664449]Holy Moley! the snow has reached Hades, Saden quoted TTE without mocking, or attacking. Lord how my heart aches for humanity![/quote]

Don't count your chickens yet. I agree with the things on the contract. He doesn't. Though I think we'd agree this is a lot of hot air from the Neo-cons trying to co-opt the tea party movement, or maybe that's just me? You'll have to ask him.

While we're at it . . . Hey Saden! Are you going to help me pay for a vasectomy or not?

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;664449]Holy Moley! the snow has reached Hades, Saden quoted TTE without mocking, or attacking. Lord how my heart aches for humanity![/quote]

Now if TTE only extended the same courtesty to Saden, hell might truly freeze over.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664450]Don't count your chickens yet. I agree with the things on the contract. He doesn't. Though I think we'd agree this is a lot of hot air from the Neo-cons trying to co-opt the tea party movement, or maybe that's just me? You'll have to ask him.

While we're at it . . . Hey Saden! Are you going to help me pay for a vasectomy or not?[/quote]

A lot of it is pure crap and detached from reality. Do you want me to list what on the contract is crap or can you figure it out all on your own?

Sure, I'll help you pay for it. How much does it cost in your area?

Re: Contract From America
 

Tramp, pilot in Austin: Sick F*ck or Marytr?

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Chico23231;664475]Tramp, pilot in Austin: Sick F*ck or Marytr?[/quote]

I posted his manifesto. I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one. I've been warning people that things like this are going to start happening.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=saden1;664453]A lot of it is pure crap and detached from reality. Do you want me to list what on the contract is crap or can you figure it out all on your own?

Sure, I'll help you pay for it. How much does it cost in your area?[/quote]

I'll have to call MCV again. The last time I checked in was 5k. You can send it strait to the hospital it you like. I really want a vasectomy so I can be a total whore.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664484]I posted his manifesto. I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one. I've been warning people that things like this are going to start happening.[/quote]

Start?

Wackos have been around since the dawn of time. And from the sounds of this one, he's been on a slow boil since the 80s.

Re: Contract From America
 

Will check out; a bit too neo-con for me, especially while they're trying to oust some of their own party for being too moderate, not that that's a surprise or unheard of.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Mattyk;664494]Start?

Wackos have been around since the dawn of time. And from the sounds of this one, he's been on a slow boil since the 80s.[/quote]

I'm just saying. There is a lot of hatred for the 'supposed' NWO out there.

Re: Contract From America
 

this is totally futile. the good old boys in Washington have it just the way they like it. you will not see change like this in our life time

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664488]I'll have to call MCV again. The last time I checked in was 5k. You can send it strait to the hospital it you like. I really want a vasectomy so I can be a total whore.[/quote]

Male vasectomy doesn't cost that much! You think me a pidgin?

Re: Contract From America
 

I would add two things --

-- Adopt a foreign policy of non-intervention. No more invading countries that never attacked us, overthrowing governments that we don't like, propping up and arming dictators we do like, etc., etc.

-- Admit that the federal government has no business dictating who can and cannot get married. Leave that and all other social issues (abortion, drug policies) to the states.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=saden1;664514]Male vasectomy doesn't cost that much! You think me a pidgin?[/quote]

It's been a two years since I called. I don't remember exactly how much it was. It's more money than I have or I'd have it done already. Tomorrow I'll call again.

Re: Contract From America
 

dmek and saden, I wouldn't take the Tea Party movement as something that's solely Republican-driven. Yes, the Democrats are probably going to get it broken off in their ass this November, but that's only because they have complete power. If the Pubbies were in control, the same thing would happen to them. In fact it already [I]did[/I] happen to them in '06 and '08. The issue then was outrage over the wars. Now it's health care and fiscal insanity.

I really believe that this is a backlash against both parties, against government in general. The system we have now, which has been in control by only two select groups for over a century, may be starting to crack. I'd like to see a break up of the two-party system into a mish-mash of many different ideaologies, all angling for something different than the same ol' business as usual, corrupt, back-room dealings with cronies who have had the ear -- and the pockets -- of both parties for far too long.

I know you two are democrats, but trust me -- the republicans are going to be a short leash this time around. If we see them going back to the ways of big spending, expanding government, and marching all over the face of the earth with a 'tough foreign policy' stance that they've always been so proud of, but does nothing but get young Americans killed, they'll be thrown right out just as fast as they got back there.

Nobody's going to get a long running free pass anymore, with the voters as apt as they've been for massive upheavals of power shifting in both directions. Only this time, I think there are some new players in the game, and that's a good thing.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664621]It's been a two years since I called. I don't remember exactly how much it was. It's more money than I have or I'd have it done already. Tomorrow I'll call again.[/quote] Why the hell would you let anyone cut you in that area .

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=budw38;664631]Why the hell would you let anyone cut you in that area .[/quote]

I'm getting tired of pulling out.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;664636]I'm getting tired of pulling out.[/quote]
Stay away from the knife .... go ... with the /low .

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Beemnseven;664606]I would add two things --

-- Adopt a foreign policy of non-intervention. No more invading countries that never attacked us, overthrowing governments that we don't like, propping up and arming dictators we do like, etc., etc.

-- Admit that the federal government has no business dictating who can and cannot get married. Leave that and all other social issues (abortion, drug policies) to the states.[/quote]


Yeah kind of wierd that neither of those things are on there. It scares me that Sarah Palin is being courted by Tea Party activist too. I hope they dont start leaning towards a conservative social agenda, then the Tea Partiers are pretty much back to where everything started going wrong for the Republicans.

Re: Contract From America
 

Exactly mlmpetert, that's why I'm still very cautious.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Beemnseven;664606]I would add two things --

-- Adopt a foreign policy of non-intervention. No more invading countries that never attacked us, overthrowing governments that we don't like, propping up and arming dictators we do like, etc., etc.

-- Admit that the federal government has no business dictating who can and cannot get married. Leave that and all other social issues (abortion, drug policies) to the states.[/quote]

-Add Have a govermnet that stays out of health care.
- have a federal goverment that does not steal my money and allows me
to save for my own retirement
- have a fed goverment that does not take my money and forces me to pay for their social issues.

I could go on and on but you get my point.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=mlmpetert;664755]Yeah kind of wierd that neither of those things are on there. It scares me that Sarah Palin is being courted by Tea Party activist too. I hope they dont start leaning towards a conservative social agenda, then the Tea Partiers are pretty much back to where everything started going wrong for the Republicans.[/quote]

Things started going wrong for the republicans when they got away from being conservative.

Re: Contract From America
 

Every dept of the government should find ways and submit reports on how they can help the overall budget reduce

Everything from less expensive furniture, travel and entertainment expenses, etc

If we expect it from the banks that we bail out, we should expect it from the fed that we're bailing out as well.. states shouldn't be exempt either

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=firstdown;664781]Things started going wrong for the republicans when they got away from being conservative.[/quote]
Exactly, we hear about dems "wasting money" but it really is no different than the repubs doing the same.

I hear too much about guns, god, abortion, etc.. I guess that it's just easier to sweep the economy issue under the rug because most people can't even explain the issues when I talk to them.. too boring for the average mind it seems

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=tryfuhl;664786]Exactly, we hear about dems "wasting money" but it really is no different than the repubs doing the same.

I hear too much about guns, god, abortion, etc.. I guess that it's just easier to sweep the economy issue under the rug because most people can't even explain the issues when I talk to them.. too boring for the average mind it seems[/quote]
The only time I'm hearing about guns, god, and abortion is from the left trying to make everyone think thats all the right talks about.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=tryfuhl;664784]Every dept of the government should find ways and submit reports on how they can help the overall budget reduce

Everything from less expensive furniture, travel and entertainment expenses, etc

If we expect it from the banks that we bail out, we should expect it from the fed that we're bailing out as well.. states shouldn't be exempt either[/quote]

The way the goverment budgets money has to be changed first before we can expect them to save any money. They reward spending and punish saving. For example if a goverment department has a budget of 1 milion and at the end of the year they have only spent $800,000 then their next year budget is $800,000 plus a % for inflation. Now if they spent the entire 1 million then their following budget would be 1 million plus a % for inflation. There is no incentive to cut cost. We need some type of incentive or bonus plan for people who can find ways to cut cost. I say just cut every program by a certain % and they will learn to make do on what they have. We have to start somewhere but no one wants there program cut so start by cutting all of them first.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=firstdown;664781]Things started going wrong for the republicans when they got away from being conservative.[/quote]
Bingo. When a REAL Conservative runs on a truly Conservative platform they do not lose elections, period. Sadly, the last one was Reagan. He won 94/100 states in his two elections because the Conservative message resonates with every day Americans, whether they identify themselves as Conservative or not. Also, America wins when a Conservative is running the economy.

We're at a point where conditions are becoming identical in so many ways to the Carter Administration. High unemployment, mega-inflation is beginning to set in, high energy costs, problems with Iran and Islamic terrorists.

For America to survive, history needs to repeat itself as closely as it can. We may never see another Ronald Reagan, but we need someone who can use his proven principles on economics and foreign policy to turn this ship around before it sinks. The similarities between Presidents Carter and Obama are striking. The fixes will need to be similar too: lower taxes to encourage hiring and production, massively cut spending, be tough and decisive on foreign policy, etc.

Many American voters are more educated and sensible than the two political parties give them credit for. The current D.C. mindset WILL be sent packing in the 2010 and 2012 elections. We can't afford (literally and figuratively) to let them remain in power any longer.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=firstdown;664818]The only time I'm hearing about guns, god, and abortion is from the left trying to make everyone think thats all the right talks about.[/quote]
google "obama guns" or "obama take guns"

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=firstdown;664840]The way the goverment budgets money has to be changed first before we can expect them to save any money. They reward spending and punish saving. For example if a goverment department has a budget of 1 milion and at the end of the year they have only spent $800,000 then their next year budget is $800,000 plus a % for inflation. Now if they spent the entire 1 million then their following budget would be 1 million plus a % for inflation. There is no incentive to cut cost. We need some type of incentive or bonus plan for people who can find ways to cut cost. I say just cut every program by a certain % and they will learn to make do on what they have. We have to start somewhere but no one wants there program cut so start by cutting all of them first.[/quote]
Exactly, which is why finding a better operating budget is important. Making them fit within a guideline would be fine.

I have a friend whose aunt works for a state agency in VA and to keep their budget up they replace their entire office carpet and some furniture every single year. Something tells me that if you need to spend all of your budget just to keep it, you didn't really need it, so I more than agree with you.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Buster;664850]Bingo. When a REAL Conservative runs on a truly Conservative platform they do not lose elections, period. Sadly, the last one was Reagan. He won 94/100 states in his two elections because the Conservative message resonates with every day Americans, whether they identify themselves as Conservative or not. Also, America wins when a Conservative is running the economy.

We're at a point where conditions are becoming identical in so many ways to the Carter Administration. High unemployment, mega-inflation is beginning to set in, high energy costs, problems with Iran and Islamic terrorists.

For America to survive, history needs to repeat itself as closely as it can. We may never see another Ronald Reagan, but we need someone who can use his proven principles on economics and foreign policy to turn this ship around before it sinks. The similarities between Presidents Carter and Obama are striking. The fixes will need to be similar too: lower taxes to encourage hiring and production, massively cut spending, be tough and decisive on foreign policy, etc.

Many American voters are more educated and sensible than the two political parties give them credit for. The current D.C. mindset WILL be sent packing in the 2010 and 2012 elections. We can't afford (literally and figuratively) to let them remain in power any longer.[/quote]

A more conservative president would be nice but I don't know when that will happen with the way things have been going. The gov't is huge and there will be a shitstorm if there are layoffs to a significant degree, job security is amazing in the govt sector and frankly a lot of the programs need to be scaled back. It may take a steady stream of conservatism to pull off greatly reducing govt as well as taxes. Informing programs that they're getting a lot less money or getting canned isn't going to be easy, not that it shouldn't be attempted.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=tryfuhl;664867]Exactly, which is why finding a better operating budget is important. Making them fit within a guideline would be fine.

I have a friend whose aunt works for a state agency in VA and to keep their budget up they replace their entire office carpet and some furniture every single year. Something tells me that if you need to spend all of your budget just to keep it, you didn't really need it, so I more than agree with you.[/quote]

That scenario is not only commonplace in any agency that receives Gov't funding, it's the standard.

Infuriating. There are ALWAYS frivilous spending sprees in December so their next year of appropriations won't be reduced.

Re: Contract From America
 

Yeah that's just one tiny example of many no doubt, definitely disgusting.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Buster;664850]Bingo. When a REAL Conservative runs on a truly Conservative platform they do not lose elections, period. Sadly, the last one was Reagan. He won 94/100 states in his two elections because the Conservative message resonates with every day Americans, whether they identify themselves as Conservative or not. Also, America wins when a Conservative is running the economy.

We're at a point where conditions are becoming identical in so many ways to the Carter Administration. High unemployment, mega-inflation is beginning to set in, high energy costs, problems with Iran and Islamic terrorists.

For America to survive, history needs to repeat itself as closely as it can. We may never see another Ronald Reagan, but we need someone who can use his proven principles on economics and foreign policy to turn this ship around before it sinks. The similarities between Presidents Carter and Obama are striking. The fixes will need to be similar too: lower taxes to encourage hiring and production, massively cut spending, [B]be tough and decisive on foreign policy,[/B] etc.

Many American voters are more educated and sensible than the two political parties give them credit for. The current D.C. mindset WILL be sent packing in the 2010 and 2012 elections. We can't afford (literally and figuratively) to let them remain in power any longer.[/quote]

Being "tough on decisive on foreign policy" usually means a military presence, which means more troops on the ground, which means spending money we don't have.

That's not exactly fiscal restraint.

Re: Contract From America
 

[quote=Beemnseven;664622]dmek and saden, I wouldn't take the Tea Party movement as something that's solely Republican-driven. Yes, the Democrats are probably going to get it broken off in their ass this November, but that's only because they have complete power. If the Pubbies were in control, the same thing would happen to them. In fact it already [I]did[/I] happen to them in '06 and '08. The issue then was outrage over the wars. Now it's health care and fiscal insanity.

I really believe that this is a backlash against both parties, against government in general. The system we have now, which has been in control by only two select groups for over a century, may be starting to crack. I'd like to see a break up of the two-party system into a mish-mash of many different ideaologies, all angling for something different than the same ol' business as usual, corrupt, back-room dealings with cronies who have had the ear -- and the pockets -- of both parties for far too long.

I know you two are democrats, but trust me -- the republicans are going to be a short leash this time around. If we see them going back to the ways of big spending, expanding government, and marching all over the face of the earth with a 'tough foreign policy' stance that they've always been so proud of, but does nothing but get young Americans killed, they'll be thrown right out just as fast as they got back there.

Nobody's going to get a long running free pass anymore, with the voters as apt as they've been for massive upheavals of power shifting in both directions. Only this time, I think there are some new players in the game, and that's a good thing.[/quote]

While it could be a backlash against both parties, their views, "principles", and rhetoric are mainly aligned with Republican ideology. There's no question about that. I would also ask myself, where was the Tea Party when the previous administration grew the size of government, passed legislation (namely Medicare Part D) without paying for it, and funded the Iraq war almost entirely through debt and budgetary supplements? All of which added significantly to the current deficit. So for them to suddenly come out and rail against big governement, the ballooning deficit, and universal healthcare is curious at best.

On a separate but somewhat related note, it appears as though Sarah Palin is making her bed with the Tea Party, which is just fine by me. The only problem -- a major problem -- with that strategy is that at some point she's going to have to tact to the middle on some issues be considered a serious candidate.