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2018-2020 Platform for an informed electorate — Part 6 — Government
Good Men Project Political Activism Social Interest Group, lead by Lisa Hickey, Publisher of the Good Men Project, and me, Carol Bluestein, has been working to develop a platform which supports a governmental agenda that includes basic human rights, equality, and justice for all.
In the short term, we are looking to educate our voters about the issues for 2018-2020 elections.
In the long term, we are looking at a change in our election strategy, moving from a primarily two-party system to Proportional Representation, and from a one choice vote to a Ranked Choice Voting / Instant Runoff- as proposed by FairVote. This would give all voters a voice and a group of people that represent them seated in Congress. The result would eliminate the possibility that our government would be controlled by any one party.
The GMP Platform is non-partisan and seeks to ensure:
- All human beings shall have equal access to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
- The Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches of government remain separate.
- The separation of Church and State.
- No human being, for any reason, be subjected to persecution, subjugation, and/or discrimination.
- Facts, science, and research matter.
Part 6 of “We the People…,”: GOVERNMENT
Each week, Good Men Project Political Activism Social Interest Group will post another section of the GMP Platform. We are in support of advancing the conversation to help define the ideology and philosophy for our elected officials and in our courts.
Reforms to think about
The reforms below are in a direct response to our new understanding that many of the procedures that have been followed to protect the voters and their interests are simply suggestions and expectations — not actual laws or legally enforceable actions. Going forward, we suggest we hold our elected officials accountable to the law as well as the people. We can no longer expect or assume our leaders will follow any moral or ethical guidelines.
We can no longer implicitly trust our institutions
It is true that we never could. Many of us, however, felt we could without any major inconvenience to ourselves. We relied on the separation of our three branches of government and believed they would balance each other to make sure the interests of the people were paramount. We were wrong then and we’re wrong now. We can see, first-hand, what happens when our government’s checks and balances fail. New executive decisions and legislation are selling our country’s resources to major private corporations and putting the health and welfare of the people at risk.
Change is up to the people
To counter this behavior at the grassroots level, we must consider changes to the way our government operates. To do this we must elect representatives at all levels who believe the government is for the people by the people. It is only then that we can make changes so that we, the people, regain control of our country.
Part 6 of the GMP Platform: Government
- Mandate Term limits for Congress: Senators (2-6 yr terms), House (6-2 yr terms): 12 years of service and out.
- Establish and maintain Independent Non-partisan Ethics Commission.
- Establish a rule that every elected official must take an oath represent their constituents, first and foremost.
- Create law stipulating candidate requirements to run/be appointed to office
- Full financial disclosure taxes, investments, gifts, quid pro quo
- Super PACS, lobbyists, Donations over a certain amount
- Qualifications re ethics, influences, goals
- Create Law requiring all Elected officials to divest portfolios
- Eliminate conflict of interest
- Emoluments Enforcement – immediate suspension of duties
- Create Law requiring all appointed cabinet members to have expertise in purpose of their department
- Limit power of Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader
- Every vote/approval/bills must have a percentage of both parties. (80/20)
- Proportional representation which forces compromise as well
- Committee chair appointments must meet criteria for that committee
- Executive orders must undergo a review before being executed if they affect the health and welfare of United States citizens and/or target specific states or populations
- State governors/Attorney Generals
- Special bipartisan committee
- Executive orders and Congressional bills must favor public trust over special interests.
- Put in place a mechanism for National & States Referendum
- Raises for Congress
- Healthcare for Congress
- Suspend congressional pay if government shuts down
- Full five-day work week while Congress is in session.
- Other perks Congress may request at taxpayer expense
- Budget oversight and pre-approval for spending
- Monthly approval for any excess over budget.
- No bill may be presented without Budget Office review and approval
- Increasing debt above annual ceiling for a national debt
- Review and update process for how war is declared
- Two out of three branches of government must agree.
- In an emergency, a triumvirate: president, Senate majority leader, Senate minority in unilateral agreement
- Poorer states get federal equalization payments to re-distribute wealth and stimulate industry
Next: LAW AND ORDER/JUDICIAL SYSTEMS/RIGHTS
Part 1: Human Rights
Part 2: Social Welfare
Part 3: Jobs, Income, and Social Security
Part 4: Education
Part 5: Environment
Part 6: Government
Part 7: Law and order/Judicial Systems/Rights
Part 8: National Security and Infrastructure
Part 9: Taxes
Part 10: Election Overhaul (final)
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“Here’s the thing about The Good Men Project. We are trying to create big, sweeping, societal changes—–overturn stereotypes, eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia, be a positive force for good for things like education reform and the environment. And we’re also giving individuals the tools they need to make individual change—-with their own relationships, with the way they parent, with their ability to be more conscious, more mindful, and more insightful. For some people, that could get overwhelming. But for those of us here at The Good Men Project, it is not overwhelming. It is simply something we do—–every day. We do it with teamwork, with compassion, with an understanding of systems and how they work, and with shared insights from a diversity of viewpoints.” —– Lisa Hickey, Publisher of The Good Men Project and CEO of Good Men Media Inc.
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