An idiot I just had to reply to

[ThomWV]

I got an Email from an idiot I used to know when I was a kid. Somehow he went nutcase right wing and some-other-how he got my Email address. So about once a week I get some sort of horseshit email from him. I used to respond but in the last year I've just deleted them without bothering to read them. Today I read and responded. I'm afraid the way its structured you get to see my reply before you see his original message, but here it is anyway:

On Jul 18, 2011, at 4:36 PM, Thom wrote:

What a load of utter horseshit. And you very fucking well know it too. You lived off the Federal system all of your working life and you should know, if you don't, that Congress doesn't get any benefit more than the lowest of Federal Employees. They do indeed pay into the Social Security System and they do not get any more or less retirement out of the system than any other Federal Employee, based on years of service and pay grade while serving. What kind if fucking hypocrite are you anyway?

Thom


On Jul 18, 2011, at 4:28 PM, Steve wrote:
.
It’s Time to Level the Playing Field – Do Your Part to Create a Tidal Wave of Support to Establish This New Amendment!

(I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean. This is something I hope you read all the way through.)

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011 (It Needs to be an Amendment)

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.

8. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.

[atreides1]

1. it is kind of disingenuous of him

But I believe that members of Congress should get the same annual/sick leave as all other Federal employees. While campaigning they should be made to use what the military calls permissive leave, you can go run for re-election, but you don't get paid, unless they want to use their annual leave until it runs out!

And if a member of Congress decides that they want to run for a higher office, like President, they can take LWOP, mainly because they are not doing their job, you can't represent constituents if you're running around in New Hampshire and Iowa.

[Obamanaut]

4. While an incumbent is campaigning for reelection, he/she should be

disallowed from using any of the equipment or staff that is normally used in the performance of his/their duties.

Incumbents should rely on volunteers and/or staff paid for with campaign donations just like the ones seeking that position do.

[krispos42]

2. I think Congresscritters' pay should be based on the minimum wage

A Congresscritter should make 8x the annualized minimum wage.


If they want a pay raise, raise the minimum wage.

[Angry Dragon]

3. I do not have a great deal of problems with the list

What do you not like??

[Obamanaut]

5. Actually, is some good stuff there. Regarding benefits - congress gets a pay

raise automatically unless they vote against it. That doesn't happen with anyone else.

They have gyms, a physician, nurses, barbershop, even their own chaplain. They, not the taxpayer, should be paying for those things.

[Aerows]

9. All of it looks great to me

We are talking about people who are by and large much more wealthy than the average American. They should start "sharing in the sacrifice" if they are honest about wanting to reduce the deficit.

[saras]

6. The only thing I dislike is the disrespect for existing law this implies

It's not perfect, but it's a reasonably sensible set of concepts. I'm pretty sure, though, that this is not the form it has to be in to become law.

But basically I don't believe in economic democracy (one dollar, one vote), so I favor anything that reduces economic influence on legislators.

I'll rewrite it and pass it on.

[Obamanaut]

10. Will you share your rewrite? I'd like to pass it along as well. nt

[Johonny]

7. I don't get why are we amending the Constitution?

[Aerows]

8. I'll be honest

That doesn't look right wing at all to me - that looks sensible. I'd vote for it in a heartbeat. If you are going to be axing Social Security and health benefits for millions of Americans, you should have a stake in it, too.

We wouldn't even be having this conversation about Medicare and Social Security if they had to agree to those terms. Why the hell should be pay for already wealthy people to get a pension and health care forever, while they vote to eliminate benefits for taxpayers?

[Contrary1]

11. Mostly false. Send this to him, not that it will do much good.

I have a right-winger aunt that sends me similar crap without bothering to check if it is true or not.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp

[pennylane100]

12. I am not sure what is wrong with his email.

It sounds reasonable. What do you find wrong with it.

[Lasher]

13. It is mostly false.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp