Some needed changes
Instead of lamenting endlessly about the abuses and inefficiencies of Congress and the Presidency it might be time to consider some small changes which could beget big results.
One major problem has been the profligate spending and waste fostered by congressional practices and poor management.

Firstly, we need to give the President a line item veto, a power employed by many Governors to limit wasteful spending by Congress. Since the Supreme Court has ruled that this cannot be achieved by legislation we should begin, at once, to enact a constitutional amendment to create such a power. This will destroy Congress's power to sandwich bad proposals in necessary legislation and make it veto proof.

Congress must give up the power to "earmark" appropriations, a device which advances pet projects ahead of the generalized needs of the country. Also, a high visibility is needed in special legislation so that we stop appropriating millions for bridges to nowhere and tea cup museums which bleed dollars needed elsewhere out of the budget.

The practice called "logrolling" a legislative "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," has to stop. It is nothing less than selling one's principles and office for a short term profit. Government and
Congressmen should not be for sale, not to special interests and not to one another.

The practice of congressman, congressional and white house staffers leaving office and going to work as lobbyists at astronomical salaries has to stop. It is merely another way of selling their office and then selling their insider positions to the highest bidder. It is the government equivalent of "insider trading" and must be stopped. Legislation which would prohibit, even criminalize, such employment for say four or five years after leaving government would go a long
way to achieve this end. So too should the custom of "floor privileges" a custom which gives former legislators access to the floor of the Senate or House be prohibited. It is nothing less than a devise to provide these gentlemen with an opportunity to use leverage on behalf of interest they represent informality although they are not registered as lobbyists.

The practice of letting one Senator or Congressman put a "hold" on legislation, keeping it from going forward to committee action or a floor vote is equally corrupt and should be outlawed. The process of considering and passing laws should not be subject to being frustrated at the whim of one legislator. No such power is granted by the constitution and no reason exists to support such a rule. Congress must stop acting like a private club and remind itself of its higher
obligation to the nation.

A system similar to medical triaging is necessary to prioritizing legislation so that issues important to the nation are not put to one side while issues like apple pie day memorial resolutions and the like consume congressional attention. The last few do nothing and accomplish less sessions give ample proof that this is necessary. The "touchee feelee" crap to amuse the constituency should only be done on a time available basis.

The committee system whereby the majority party completely locks out the minority from excersing any power to act is damaging and counterproductive. Unable to call hearings, issue subpoenas, introduce legislation or schedule business, the minority, often representing 49% of the people, rather than 51% have been completely frozen out of the act. This only encourages arrogance and provides a cover for partisan greed and corruption. This is the basis for
charging a member of the minority party seeking reelection that he has failed to enact any meaningful legislation, when in fact the opportunity never existed.

We have far too much secrecy in government where we need transparency and light to inform the public and regain their confidence. Of late, the administration is classifying information at a dizzying rate, not to protect the interests of the country, but to keep the public from
being made aware of information which might be politically embarassing. This was never the purpose of the classification system and its use in this fashion creates secret government and
opportunities to mislead the people and other corrupt opportunites.

Lastly, we must explore a possible constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court's ruling that spending huge amounts of money is but a manifestation of free speech. Without workable restrictions on campaign contributions and lobbying the government remains for sale to
the highest bidder, a putrefacation of the ideals of democracy and an invitation to an oligarchy of the rich, a danger which has come perilously close to succeeding in recent years.

I would suggest that the sum total of these suggested changes would once again restore confidence in government and produce a system of which we can be proud .

These are not the suggestions of one who is naive in the ways of the world, but rather the suggestions of one who sees the utter necessity of such changes less the cynical money grabbers change us into the world's largest banana republic.