GR

Corporations are considered legal persons, pay taxes and are subject to the rule of law. Look at what happened to BP, they were told to hand over $20 Bil without Due Process. Since Corporations are not Real Persons and have no individual vote they still need a way to protect their interests. It is our job to see that those corporations are treated fairly, and not given undue advantage, restriction or punishment. Voting Rights were originally for those who paid taxes. If you owned property you paid taxes and there fore you voted no matter your race or sex. I have long believed that the right to vote should not be restricted by age or the courts due to felony prohibition. Either all can vote, or they should be exempt from taxes. We may not like the ends, but if we pursue the means and keep politicians in check by being aware of their actions we can help to keep a fair legal balance. I have argued on several occasions in court over traffic violations that I live in a statutory state and we follow the letter of the law, not what someone assumes is its intent. We should never go down the road saying that it would be easier to abandon the law, then to do our due diligence at the polling place, as well as prior to our vote. I could go on for pages about the folly of great regulation as it only leads to intrenched corporations with little chance of new competition, but all you have to do is to remember Tucker.

GR

This is another reason that you should see 135 candidates for governor.lol We should do all we can to make public officials uncomfortable in their positions. "When the people fear their government there is Tyranny, when the government fears the people there is Liberty" Lately some have felt uncomfortable over large issues and the pressure placed on them by the people, but it is the small issues that are collectively a greater threat. What might happen if we educate our selves on each bill, then ask the Congressperson who supposedly authored the bill specifics in the bill. Then when they have no idea what you are talking about as them who really wrote the bill. Then when that is answered ask them why they should be sent back to Washington if they are not doing the work. Do this on all issues large and small, and ask them about amendments they authored and to explain why they did so. If they dont know what they are doing or why, it will shine light on the roaches. We can put the fear of civilian life in them, and it is honest, logical, and powerful. Spread these ideas to all your friends, practice them as well and the news will eventually catch on and show the tactic, then the light of truth will shine.

GR

Frank, it seems that we are on the same page when it comes to the problem, but there are many snakes in Arizona and through my years I have shot some and walked around others that were sunning them selves on my path. I would like to find a solution to the problems before it descends to dissolution or violence. As you have pointed out many elected officials are lazy and stupid, so why not use that to our advantage? Stupid usually denotes fear and the threat of making politicians write bills may get them to show their true colors and further disenfranchise them from their populous base. If such an amendment were passed we prey on their sloth and in doing so less s written which in the end costs less, and also opens up more for challenges through litigation. The alternatives are less attractive. Secession and revolution lead to a potential new system that could be ever more oppressive or even worse...

GR

Frank, I am not looking to secede just to point out that the logic of socio-political diversity is flawed as it is our own diversity from district to district that throws new ideas into the ring. Special interest groups have one agenda and if that conflicts with your views your representative is beholding to them and not you. They write the plan, submit the legislation, work to prevent challengers from arising, including but not limited to the topic here, Ballot Access. I vote for MY representative, I do not vote for the NRA's Rep or SEIU's Rep. If Ballot Access opens so that anyone can get on the ballot with little effort and cost the special interest groups are fighting an up hill battle financially with little return on investment. To run now you need to have large financial backing to get out petitions just to get on the ballot, then you need the funding for registration and advertising and this is mostly funded by special interest groups including the Democrats and Republicans. Special interests fund candidates, write legislation and work to prevent others from running in opposition. All I was suggesting was that Congress actually writes the bills, that is what we hired them to do in the first place....

GR

There is a place for group interest in government, but these days how many are writing the current legislation? If we elect a person to serve us should that person represent us, or another group? Do you know who authors each bill, and if it is not our duly elected representative what the hell do we need them for? How about this idea; a Constitutional amendment that requires all bills on a Federal level to be written in ink on the floor of either the House or Senate with at least three witnesses... We vote for people to represent us in our district and in our interest. Or do you actually vote for a candidate to represent someone else's interests? Voting for a politician that serves special interest is as worse than voting for the opposing party! Remember the courts are designed to handle the inequity in life, and hiring a politician to serve special interest is like hiring someone to work for a competing company and paying them out of your pocket...

GR

Wane, to quote Rousseau the "Social Contract" is a double edged sword that can take man to the despot, king or where ever he chooses. "Under bad governments, this equity is only apparent and illusory; it serves only to keep the pauper in his poverty, and the rich man in the position that he has usurped...." It is our diligence that keeps the balance, and logic that cuts through the demagoguery used to enslave the population. The second part of that quote goes to the use of rules to prevent people from rising up in power and wealth. Without rules there is no corruption, and the greater restrictions the more the populous is kept in its place... The first step to change is to ask why, to doubt and question as we apply logic and reason. From there we can see what change is necessary. We choose what "Social Contract" we have and can choose to change it as we see fit. Our Founders changed it from King George, but have we gone back down that road?