78 Age of Aquarius

I have been half the night, debating the antiquation of the two-party system. The friction and strife that has been created, the division between peoples, is unconscionable. There is too much bickering going on, too much time being wasted, when bills and laws should be being studied and judged. So today, I put to you a new constitution. Mind you, it is only the beginning. Only a base start. The details could be hashed out by someone a little more qualified. This is not to say that "someone more qualified" is a current office-holder, it could be someone with some common sense. Good luck, right?

Rule 1--Individual Freedom - We are free to work and live in any legal manner we see fit.

Rule 2--Religious Freedom - We are free to worship as we see fit barring hate-mongoring or persecution.

Rule 3--Right to a Trial by Your Peers - Every accused will be tried and judged by an odd-numbered jury, the judge will provide fair and adequate sentencing. This will be reviewed by a group of 5 peers. Upon sentencing, terms will be carried out to their full extent barring new evidence that may clear the defendant or reduce thier sentence. Murderers convicted of such that would require a life sentence will be allowed 1 appeal with new evidence. Barring such an appeal, the convict shall be put to death.

Rule 4--Taxation - Every individual not on retirement or government aid pays ____ percent.(To be determined by total governmental need and not to exceed 10 percent of total gross income) All state and federal programs will be paid from this. Businesses will be taxed a similar amount based on the owners or shareholders net profits.(taking into account the gross is used to pay wages and operating costs). There will be no State tax as the comprehensive tax is used to pay state and federal programs). Corporations and businesses will not be given exemptions unless they are in bankruptcy. The Infernal Revenue Service will be revamped to calculate said revenues. (This should be easy enough for a few monkeys and one or two certified public accountants)

Rule 5-- Representation - Every state will be audited and counted (census). Programs will be based on need and paid accordingly. Representation in state and federal government will be based on population.

Rule 6-- Free Speech - Everyone will have the right to free speech and freedom of the press. The only exception to the rule is hate crimes, inciting riots or unrest will be illegal.

Rule 7-- Right to Bear Arms - Citizens have a right to bear arms and defend their homes and lands. Convicted felons will not have this right. A standing army will be maintained for the defense of the country and aid of our allies.

Rule 8-- Foreign Policy - Courteous relations will be established with any country willing to do so. All other countries will be observed and guarded against aggression towards our nation.

Rule 9-- Immigration - Any person desiring of immigrating to the U.S. will first register, apply for citizenship and prove they can effectively speak english and hold a job.(upon acceptance) Any questions should be referred to the Statue of Liberty.

Rule 10-- Accountability - A fair tribunal will be appointed for each block of government to determine accountability and conflicts of interest in a given situation. This system will apply to everyone, no exceptions.

Finally, I would only ask that before any of you PETA-esque or bleeding hearts start yelling at me, Only consider the concept of what I am saying. Simplification is what we need, not more laws. We have allowed exception after exception for as long as there has been a U.S. These exceptions have driven us to the state we are in. We listen to politicians that have a personal interest in big business tell us how we have to give ungodly amounts of money to save them because they are "too big to fail". We watch criminals with no hope of parole clog our prison systems with useless, endless appeals when the money spent keeping them for life could be used for other programs. We have rampant illegal immigration and a military that is fighting useless wars, both costing us untold billions of dollars. We have a complicated tax system that favors big business and the wealthy with ridiculous breaks when small business and individuals pay the lion's share. We sink money into programs that are a bottomless pit while people go hungry, live on the street and single parents struggle to survive.

It is time to wipe the slate clean, start fresh with simpler, comprehensive rules that can be overseen by a better system of checks and balances. Control our borders, control spending on programs the public cannot fathom, even when we see them on the news and control the politicians that use our government as their own personal playground, twisting and contorting the rules to suit themselves.

Fairness and common sense are dead concepts in America. We have devalued ourselves and allowed a once-glorious government concept to become a travesty of itself. Laugh at me if you will, but we must experience a revolution of one kind or another, yet again. The people trying to "change" and "help" now are only putting bandaids on bullet wounds.

Planted seeds, nurtured and guarded, one day grow into great, sheltering trees. You know my favorite quote from Jefferson:" The tree of liberty must be refreshed, from time to time, with the blood of patriots." This doesnt necessarily mean literal blood. He meant it that way, but it can be applied to sacrifices made by people using their voices and being cast down for it.

So, my friends, as I announce my 2012 candidacy for president, I run on the "Gladiator" platform: I will fight for a complete government overhaul and when my sword is red with the blood of the last tyrant, I will hand the keys to the kingdom back to the public. America was founded as a Republic, after all, "for the people" and "by the people". Wouldnt that be something? A cursing, drinking president that worked menial and intellectual jobs both? Who has actually TALKED to folks from all walks of life and knows a bit about the struggles that real people have? Well. Wouldnt that be a novel concept? Hail to the chief, he's the chief and he needs hailing......(sing it, you'll get it)