impeachment this week or not

Anything else
srothstein
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The Annoyed Man wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:33 am srothstein, here is my logic, FWIW, IF he is convicted.....
Article 1 Section 3, Clauses 6 & 7:
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.  When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation.  When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nonetheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

Article 2 Section 4: The president, vice-president and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
I take that to mean that, if convicted, Trump would be barred in the future from "hold[ing] and enjoy[ing] any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States"......including the presidency. If you read that differently than I do, I’m open to suggestions.

Of course, as you point out, conviction would require 67 votes which the Dems don’t have. Whether or not Trump's sponsorship of a future candidate would be an albatross or a blessing is certainly open for discussion. I would hope for it to be a blessing, but given the Democrat Steno Pool (AKA “the media”), I’m not certain exactly how that would be permitted, but the language of the Constitution seems fairly clear to me regarding his own future prospects as a candidate.

Also, the GOP seems determined to step on its own crank at every turn for the past few years, so it seems to me that it really needs some new leadership blood if it intends to survive.
TAM, I agree that the way the Constitution is written, it could be taken that any conviction means barred from office too. Our Congress, maybe because of the way they write laws themselves, has taken it to be two separate votes with two separate punishments. The way they wrote the rules for the trials is that they take a vote for conviction first, then take a separate vote to bar from office or not. I say it is like how they write laws because so many crimes say you can be punished by a fine or a term in jail or both. So it is possible, and has happened with some lower level officials, to be removed from office by impeachment but still allowed to run again later.

I think that if the Democrats had left Trump alone after his term ended, most people would have stayed away from him. but by going after him like this, and especially if they had gotten a conviction, he would prove to be a boon to anyone running on the basis of being an outsider who wants to clean up D.C. They are, IMO, making him a martyr to the cause of resisting corruption.

They are also doing their damnedest to provoke a revolution in the US. I personally believe that they think it will result in their winning and being able to control the rest of the country, banning guns, and forcing everyone into a socialist state. I think they are delusional if they truly think that way. But the alternative is a break up of the US, which is also acceptable to them. They do not understand that I am an American and want to see the US survive. I will do my best to make sure it does. And that means I will be fighting to force a capitalist economic system and a constitutional government on the whole country. I support Texas and will help it gain independence if necessary, but I am not ready to give up on the two coasts yet without a fight.
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srothstein wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:15 pm TAM, I agree that the way the Constitution is written, it could be taken that any conviction means barred from office too. Our Congress, maybe because of the way they write laws themselves, has taken it to be two separate votes with two separate punishments. The way they wrote the rules for the trials is that they take a vote for conviction first, then take a separate vote to bar from office or not. I say it is like how they write laws because so many crimes say you can be punished by a fine or a term in jail or both. So it is possible, and has happened with some lower level officials, to be removed from office by impeachment but still allowed to run again later.

I think that if the Democrats had left Trump alone after his term ended, most people would have stayed away from him. but by going after him like this, and especially if they had gotten a conviction, he would prove to be a boon to anyone running on the basis of being an outsider who wants to clean up D.C. They are, IMO, making him a martyr to the cause of resisting corruption.

They are also doing their damnedest to provoke a revolution in the US. I personally believe that they think it will result in their winning and being able to control the rest of the country, banning guns, and forcing everyone into a socialist state. I think they are delusional if they truly think that way. But the alternative is a break up of the US, which is also acceptable to them. They do not understand that I am an American and want to see the US survive. I will do my best to make sure it does. And that means I will be fighting to force a capitalist economic system and a constitutional government on the whole country. I support Texas and will help it gain independence if necessary, but I am not ready to give up on the two coasts yet without a fight.
I laud your commitment to that goal, and it is a noble one. I’m just not sure that it’s possible without great loss of life. I completely agree that the left is deliberately pushing us toward a civil war. My belief (not necessarily my desire) that we are bound for Balkanization instead is based on the notion that, once people become fully aware of the volume of blood that will spilled to re-unify the nation under capitalism and classical liberalism, they will recoil from it, and will default toward Balkanization. History, according to Sir John Glubb, has illustrated this human tendency repeatedly, for 4000 years. Whenever the common bonds of shared and deeply ingrained cultural, religious, and political values between differing geographical regions are either severed, or were nonexistent to begin with; history teaches that it requires a powerfully centralized and oppressive gov’t to keep them under its umbrella.

There is ONE exception to this, and that is when that centralized gov’t treads lightly enough that it governs with the actual consent of the governed. There has only ever been one nation fitting this description: The United States of America. Although it appears monolithic, that consent is actually fragile, and it can only exist when the centralized authority does not heedlessly transgress and trample upon the sensibilities of the governed. This describes the first 84 years or so of our national existence.

Regardless of how one interprets the causes, the conduct, and the results of Civil War 1, there is one indisputable result; and that is that the gov’t in DC became even more powerful, and more centralized, and it exercised even more authority over the lives of individual citizens. It also usurped more of the sovereignty of the individual states. The Union victory didn’t so much preserve the Union as it instigated the slow roll into our present situation. (To be clear, I am NOT making a case for preserving the institution of slavery. The fact that it ended—more or less—as a result of CW1 is a good thing.) What used to be THESE United States, became THE United States. That is a hugely significant difference, and it has led us directly and inevitably to today. It became unnatural, the same way that Yugoslavia was unnatural. Once the centralized authority of the Soviet Block began to dissolve, the bonds that held an unnatural Yugoslavia together were sundered, and it dissolved into its component parts.

WE are like Yugoslavia today, with an oppressive centralized power holding us together. If our oppressive gov’t loses control over the country, the only natural result is an American Balkanization. That ONE exception would be if our centralized gov’t were to somehow be returned to a pre-CW1 status, in which it governed lightly, with the consent of ALL the governed, and the individual citizen's primary identity and loyalty reverts to their state rather than to the national government. They can then understand that there are mutual benefits to remaining in the Union, while their local and regional cultural values and autonomy are still preserved.

My argument is that we are well beyond the point where our current federal gov’t would agree to be shrunk down to that size and lack of power. It matters little if we’re talking about the DNC or the GOP. They both love a big powerful gov’t. The sniping and obstruction Trump encountered from his OWN party is proof of that. They will not tolerate either outsiders, or a populist movement. So, there are really only two remedies.

One is a CW2. The other is Balkanization. The latter would result in less loss of life and destruction of property and wealth. A lightly-stepping federal gov’t is preferable to either remedy, but it is also extremely unlikely. I’m arguing that people will naturally gravitate toward Balkanization.

I actually hope I’m wrong. I just think that history repeats itself, even in the face of the best intentioned efforts from people of good will.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

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The Annoyed Man wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:46 am One is a CW2. The other is Balkanization. The latter would result in less loss of life and destruction of property and wealth. A lightly-stepping federal gov’t is preferable to either remedy, but it is also extremely unlikely. I’m arguing that people will naturally gravitate toward Balkanization.

I actually hope I’m wrong. I just think that history repeats itself, even in the face of the best intentioned efforts from people of good will.
TAM, I want the US to survive and I agree that scaling back the federal government is the only hope for that. I have written in my mind the Constitutional amendment necessary for that several times. It includes clarifying the terms used so far (especially what is interstate commerce), returning to senators being named by the states and the president being the winner of the electoral college with the VP being the runner-up, instead of running mates, a prohibition on any form of welfare - corporate, charity, or personal (as in the only way any office of government can give money out is to pay for materials or labor received in a contract), fair taxation (as in all taxes must be levied equally with no percentage differences or exemptions), and some other restrictions on what it can do. In other words, I see it as required and I see it as having no hope of ever being passed. I just am not quite ready to give up on it yet.

I agree 100% that there is no way the US will survive as it is. There are only two possibilities, as you state. There will be a CW2 or there will be a break up of the country, probably as a result of the economic collapse that will result if we don't change something. My only very minor difference is that I see the CW2 as resulting in balkanization of America also. I can see how we will end up. There will be a west coast group (the coastline west of the mountain ranges from California to Washington), a Northwest group (Dakotas to Washington's eastern half, maybe as far south as Colorado), a Southwest group (New Mexico to Nevada and north to border the NW group), A Southeast group (the old south basically), a Northeast group (D.C. up to Maine), a Midwest group (most of what's remaining), and Texas. The Texas borders will change as we might take in Oklahoma, parts of Arkansas, and Parts of Louisiana). I am not sure about Louisiana going alone, joining Texas or joining the South. It will probably be split between the Southeast group and Texas. Alaska will either go on it's own or be in the northwest group and the same with Hawaii being on its own or in the west coast group. Both of these have the problem of being defended by the group they are with if someone decides to take them. I can see Alaska going on its own for a short term and then petitioning to join Canada.

I guess the end result is that I have a goal I see as more of tilting at windmills than a real possibility. I am not willing yet to give up on my goal, but I really do not see it as happening. My expectation is that the US is done and will break up into several countries. The only real questions left in my mind are whether it does it by means of a civil war or by economic collapse and when it will happen.
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srothstein wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 10:14 am
The Annoyed Man wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:46 am One is a CW2. The other is Balkanization. The latter would result in less loss of life and destruction of property and wealth. A lightly-stepping federal gov’t is preferable to either remedy, but it is also extremely unlikely. I’m arguing that people will naturally gravitate toward Balkanization.

I actually hope I’m wrong. I just think that history repeats itself, even in the face of the best intentioned efforts from people of good will.
TAM, I want the US to survive and I agree that scaling back the federal government is the only hope for that. I have written in my mind the Constitutional amendment necessary for that several times. It includes clarifying the terms....
I think it would be awesome if Congress would have the courage to clarify the language of the Constitution, with the goal of making certain that any interpretation which strays from the Founders' intent would be invalidated. My concern is that, under the current political climate, such an attempt would be coopted by the fascistic commies (there's no other name for the bastards as accurate as that one)—who would ram through an amendment which does exactly the opposite. They would wipe out the 2nd as an individual right, ascribing it only to state militias, etc., etc., etc. That's why I am extremely leery of any idea of a new Constitutional Convention. The right/libertarians would intend for it to advance the cause of liberty; but the left AND the swamp would ensure that the opposite occurred....that the convention would succeed only in locking down their current gains, and ensuring that future interpretation would protect only their position.

That said.... I would more than welcome such a convention occurring in the wake of a successful revolution/CW2/Balkanization, in which the cause of liberty is represented by the majority, and is immune to the quisling lunatics of the left. In that kind of light, I'd be very interested in how you would write that amendment....or would it require more than one amendment?
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The Annoyed Man wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 11:46 amThat said.... I would more than welcome such a convention occurring in the wake of a successful revolution/CW2/Balkanization, in which the cause of liberty is represented by the majority, and is immune to the quisling lunatics of the left. In that kind of light, I'd be very interested in how you would write that amendment....or would it require more than one amendment?
I would write it as one amendment, though it would be long. As we saw with the Bill of Rights, where 12 amendments were originally proposed, writing it as multiple amendments allows parts of it to never be passed. I kind of like the idea of a convention to modify the Constitution at the end of CW2. It might be a way to preserve the union after all.

This list contains the things I can thing of right now and may not be complete. I am sure I have thought of other things in the past that I am not remembering as I write this. I am sure that everyone will find some parts in this that they will agree with and some that they will disagree with. I am not sure of the language of all of them, but this will get the general idea across:

1. In interpreting this Constitution, always interpret the guarantee of rights in the broadest possible terms and the granting of power to the government in the most stringent terms possible.

2. All rights in this Constitution apply to individual people and to groups of people equally. Rights may only be restricted for people who are involuntarily confined, either as a result of mental illness or as punishment for a conviction for committing a crime.

4. No governmental agency at any level may make any law or rule that discriminates against any person in any way for any reason, including but not limited to race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age (other than having reached the age of majority), national origin, previous servitude, national origin, economic status, political affiliation, occupation, or personal relationships. All laws must treat all people equally, including applying to governmental employees and elected officials. Congress shall make a law that defines the age of majority for all federal purposes. Each state shall pass a single law that defines the age of majority for all state purposes in that state.

5. Where this Constitution uses the term "commerce between the states", it means only business transactions that actually cross state lines. It does not refer to anything that "might affect" such transactions.

6. Where this Constitution uses the term "shall not be infringed", it means that no law or rule shall be made that restricts that right in any way, including a choice of how to exercise that right.

7. When this Constitution uses the term "promote the general welfare", it refers to the welfare of the country as a whole. This cannot be used to promote any individual's welfare, either as a single person or as a group. This includes laws designed to promote the welfare of each and every individual as individuals.

8. Congress shall set rules for elections to any national office, including President, Vice-President, Senator, or Representative. These rules shall include requiring proof of citizenship and identity, registration, and conduct of the election. Elections for state offices or offices in political subdivisions of states are to be run by the rules the state sets. No federal ballot may show any party affiliation or indication of incumbency. No person who is eligible for the office as defined in this Constitution may be barred from the ballot. All rules for placing a name on a federal ballot must apply equally to all persons, whether party affiliated or not or incumbent or not.

9. The president will be the person who gets the most votes in the electoral college. The Vice President will be the person who gets the second most votes in the electoral college. States may award their electoral votes either to the person who wins the popular vote in their state overall, or by splitting the votes by who wins each congressional district with the two votes for senatorial districts going to the person who wins overall.

10. Senators will be selected by the state legislature. The 17th Amendment is hereby repealed.

11. All taxes must be levied equally on all people or companies. Income taxes must tax all income equally. There shall be no exemptions and no deductions. The tax rate must be a flat rate for all incomes. Property taxes must tax all properties at the same rate with no exemptions or deductions. Customs Duties and Excise taxes may vary by the commodity being taxed or the nation of origin, but not by the company or person paying the tax. Property, including money or anything of value, that is inherited may not be taxed or counted as income.

12. No governmental agency may give any money or anything of value to any person, corporation, agency, or other government except for in payment for goods received or labor performed under a contractual basis. This does not exclude pensions or retirement benefits being paid to employees of that government. Any currently existing program of distribution of money or things of value that is designed to aid the poor may continue for a maximum period of ten years to allow for a reasonable phase out of the program.

13. In exception to paragraph 11, the Federal Social Security program will be phased out in the following manner:
A. All people who are currently receiving benefits from the program will continue to receive their payments as defined when this amendment is ratified.
B. All contributions made by people who are over 30 years old and less than 50 years old when this amendment is ratified will be paid back to the contributor immediately. This includes both the employee's contribution and the employers' contribution. These people will not be eligible for any future benefits under the program.
C. All people who are over 50 years old and not yet receiving benefits under this program when this amendment is ratified will be given a choice of continuing to pay into the system and receiving benefits according to the current formulas (tax rates and benefits payout formulas) or receiving the payout as described in paragraph B.
D. All people under the age of 30 when this amendment is ratified will be excluded from this program in the future. They will not receive any refund of contributions and will not pay any further contributions.

14. No person may be a permanent resident of the district dedicated to the national capitol. The federal government will purchase any residences currently in existence in this area at the appraised tax value for the proeprty, plus pay the resident a reimbursement for the actual costs of moving not to exceed $10,000. After this occurs, all federal agencies will be based in offices locate in this district.

15. The United States of America shall not hold or own territories outside the boundaries of the nation. All currently held territories will hold a referendum for the citizens to decide between the territory becoming a state and the territory being granted independence. Any territory voting for independence shall be established as an independent nation within one calendar year of the referendum. Once granted independence, the United States of America shall owe no obligation to the former territory. If the territory votes for statehood, it shall be admitted as a state within one calendar year of the referendum. The citizens of the state shall have full rights, privileges, and responsibilities as any other citizen of the nation. Territory that is conquered in war after the ratification of this amendment shall be held no more than ten years before being granted freedom and may not be made states.

16. A natural born citizen is any person born within the boundaries of the nation who has at least one parent subject to the laws of the nation, or who is born outside the national boundaries but has one parent who is a citizen of the United States of America. Congress shall make laws governing immigration into the nation and granting citizenship in it. None of these laws may discriminate based on the home nation of the immigrant. No citizenship can be granted to any person who entered or remained in the nation in violation of any law passed by congress.

17. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is hereby disbanded. All land contained in tribal reservations is given to the people of the tribe, either broken up as individuals or to the tribe as a whole. All state laws apply on these lands and the residents of the lands may not make their own laws unless the state allows the land to incorporate as a political subdivision of that state. Any funds held in trust for the tribes are divided equally amongst the members of the tribes.

18. Any state may decide to leave the union. To do so, the state must hold a referendum with at least 66% of the people voting agreeing to secede. If this occurs, the secession will be negotiated and take affect within one calendar year of the referendum. Citizens of the former state must choose whether to remain citizens of the United States of America or become citizens of the new nation. In this case, dual citizenship cannot be recognized. If a secession cannot be negotiated within the time period stated, the United States of America will remove all of its employees and removable property from the state. It shall retain ownership of any currently owned non-removable property.

19. All actions taken by any office of the government are criminal actions, and all rights in the Constitution apply. No government can create or maintain any law purporting to create a civil infraction.

20. The Code of Federal Regulations is hereby abolished. Congress is stated as the sole agency for making laws at the federal level and it cannot delegate that power to any other agency. Any federal law that needs interpretation will be interpreted by the courts, not by administrative or executive branch agencies.

21. All federal laws and agencies must be specifically authorized by one of the delineated powers assigned to Congress. Each law passed must specify the power authorizing it.

22. Other than evidence to be used in a criminal trial that is seized under the Fourth Amendment procedures, no agency of any government may seize any property without a court order after a trial with the owner present.

NOTE: Edited to add 19 and 20 (as renumbered in edit #2) that I forgot in my first draft.
Edit 2: added lines 21 and 22. I forgot about them and was reminded in a post below. Also added another definition of a term, the general welfare clause, as paragraph 7 and renumbered all clauses from that point.
Last edited by srothstein on Mon Feb 01, 2021 12:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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srothstein wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 3:18 pm
The Annoyed Man wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 11:46 amThat said.... I would more than welcome such a convention occurring in the wake of a successful revolution/CW2/Balkanization, in which the cause of liberty is represented by the majority, and is immune to the quisling lunatics of the left. In that kind of light, I'd be very interested in how you would write that amendment....or would it require more than one amendment?
I would write it as one amendment, though it would be long. As we saw with the Bill of Rights, where 12 amendments were originally proposed, writing it as multiple amendments allows parts of it to never be passed. I kind of like the idea of a convention to modify the Constitution at the end of CW2. It might be a way to preserve the union after all.

This list contains the things I can thing of right now and may not be complete. I am sure I have thought of other things in the past that I am not remembering as I write this. I am sure that everyone will find some parts in this that they will agree with and some that they will disagree with. I am not sure of the language of all of them, but this will get the general idea across:

1. In interpreting this Constitution, always interpret the guarantee of rights in the broadest possible terms and the granting of power to the government in the most stringent terms possible.

2. All rights in this Constitution apply to individual people and to groups of people equally. Rights may only be restricted for people who are involuntarily confined, either as a result of mental illness or as punishment for a conviction for committing a crime.

4. No governmental agency at any level may make any law or rule that discriminates against any person in any way for any reason, including but not limited to race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age (other than having reached the age of majority), national origin, previous servitude, national origin, economic status, political affiliation, occupation, or personal relationships. All laws must treat all people equally, including applying to governmental employees and elected officials. Congress shall make a law that defines the age of majority for all federal purposes. Each state shall pass a single law that defines the age of majority for all state purposes in that state.

5. Where this Constitution uses the term "commerce between the states", it means only business transactions that actually cross state lines. It does not refer to anything that "might affect" such transactions.

6. Where this Constitution uses the term "shall not be infringed", it means that no law or rule shall be made that restricts that right in any way, including a choice of how to exercise that right.

7. Congress shall set rules for elections to any national office, including President, Vice-President, Senator, or Representative. These rules shall include requiring proof of citizenship and identity, registration, and conduct of the election. Elections for state offices or offices in political subdivisions of states are to be run by the rules the state sets. No federal ballot may show any party affiliation or indication of incumbency. No person who is eligible for the office as defined in this Constitution may be barred from the ballot. All rules for placing a name on a federal ballot must apply equally to all persons, whether party affiliated or not or incumbent or not.

8. The president will be the person who gets the most votes in the electoral college. The Vice President will be the person who gets the second most votes in the electoral college. States may award their electoral votes either to the person who wins the popular vote in their state overall, or by splitting the votes by who wins each congressional district with the two votes for senatorial districts going to the person who wins overall.

9. Senators will be selected by the state legislature. The 17th Amendment is hereby repealed.

10. All taxes must be levied equally on all people or companies. Income taxes must tax all income equally. There shall be no exemptions and no deductions. The tax rate must be a flat rate for all incomes. Property taxes must tax all properties at the same rate with no exemptions or deductions. Customs Duties and Excise taxes may vary by the commodity being taxed or the nation of origin, but not by the company or person paying the tax. Property, including money or anything of value, that is inherited may not be taxed or counted as income.

11. No governmental agency may give any money or anything of value to any person, corporation, agency, or other government except for in payment for goods received or labor performed under a contractual basis. This does not exclude pensions or retirement benefits being paid to employees of that government. Any currently existing program of distribution of money or things of value that is designed to aid the poor may continue for a maximum period of ten years to allow for a reasonable phase out of the program.

12. In exception to paragraph 11, the Federal Social Security program will be phased out in the following manner:
A. All people who are currently receiving benefits from the program will continue to receive their payments as defined when this amendment is ratified.
B. All contributions made by people who are over 30 years old and less than 50 years old when this amendment is ratified will be paid back to the contributor immediately. This includes both the employee's contribution and the employers' contribution. These people will not be eligible for any future benefits under the program.
C. All people who are over 50 years old and not yet receiving benefits under this program when this amendment is ratified will be given a choice of continuing to pay into the system and receiving benefits according to the current formulas (tax rates and benefits payout formulas) or receiving the payout as described in paragraph B.
D. All people under the age of 30 when this amendment is ratified will be excluded from this program in the future. They will not receive any refund of contributions and will not pay any further contributions.

13. No person may be a permanent resident of the district dedicated to the national capitol. The federal government will purchase any residences currently in existence in this area at the appraised tax value for the proeprty, plus pay the resident a reimbursement for the actual costs of moving not to exceed $10,000. After this occurs, all federal agencies will be based in offices locate in this district.

14. The United States of America shall not hold or own territories outside the boundaries of the nation. All currently held territories will hold a referendum for the citizens to decide between the territory becoming a state and the territory being granted independence. Any territory voting for independence shall be established as an independent nation within one calendar year of the referendum. Once granted independence, the United States of America shall owe no obligation to the former territory. If the territory votes for statehood, it shall be admitted as a state within one calendar year of the referendum. The citizens of the state shall have full rights, privileges, and responsibilities as any other citizen of the nation. Territory that is conquered in war after the ratification of this amendment shall be held no more than ten years before being granted freedom and may not be made states.

15. A natural born citizen is any person born within the boundaries of the nation who has at least one parent subject to the laws of the nation, or who is born outside the national boundaries but has one parent who is a citizen of the United States of America. Congress shall make laws governing immigration into the nation and granting citizenship in it. None of these laws may discriminate based on the home nation of the immigrant. No citizenship can be granted to any person who entered or remained in the nation in violation of any law passed by congress.

16. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is hereby disbanded. All land contained in tribal reservations is given to the people of the tribe, either broken up as individuals or to the tribe as a whole. All state laws apply on these lands and the residents of the lands may not make their own laws unless the state allows the land to incorporate as a political subdivision of that state. Any funds held in trust for the tribes are divided equally amongst the members of the tribes.

17. Any state may decide to leave the union. To do so, the state must hold a referendum with at least 66% of the people voting agreeing to secede. If this occurs, the secession will be negotiated and take affect within one calendar year of the referendum. Citizens of the former state must choose whether to remain citizens of the United States of America or become citizens of the new nation. In this case, dual citizenship cannot be recognized. If a secession cannot be negotiated within the time period stated, the United States of America will remove all of its employees and removable property from the state. It shall retain ownership of any currently owned non-removable property.

18. All actions taken by any office of the government are criminal actions, and all rights in the Constitution apply. No government can create or maintain any law purporting to create a civil infraction.

19. The Code of Federal Regulations is hereby abolished. Congress is stated as the sole agency for making laws at the federal level and it cannot delegate that power to any other agency. Any federal law that needs interpretation will be interpreted by the courts, not by administrative or executive branch agencies.

NOTE: Edited to add 18 and 19 that I forgot in my first draft.
Can we abolish most of the federal departments and agencies not provided for in the original text (I’m looking at YOU, Dept of Education!)? If we’re going to have any kind of federal taxes, then the Treasury Dept must remain. But with a simplified tax code, there will no longer need to be any kind of auditing/collection/enforcement arm, and we can do away with the IRS.

Other than that, you have my vote for POTUS.

I’m currently rereading "An Act of Self Defense" right now—a novel about a plot to force congress to vote for a congressional term limits amendment to the constitution.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
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I agree with the part about abolishing any federal agencies not specifically allowed in the Constitution. Look for my next edit to add line 21. But with any kind of taxing authority given, which I feel we must have, that agency has to have a collections and enforcement arm. Audits are part of the enforcement. Unfortunately, even if we went to a 10% flat tax as I describe above (no exemptions, no deductions, and all income counted), there is bound to be someone who does not report all of their income and tries to cheat. It will be way less than it is now, but it will happen. But you did remind me of two other parts to add. No such thing as asset forfeiture and no seizing property unless ordered by a court as a result of a criminal trial. Make that line 22 in the edit. I also added a definition of general welfare (which it might be easier to delete that clause) and renumbered from 7 on.
Steve Rothstein
powerboatr
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OK so we have TAM and Steve to run as our first new potus and vice potus
i am pretty much onboard with 1st draft

maybe limit congress to only being paid while in DC doing nations business and build a dorm for them to live in.
Retired Navy (1983-2004), Native Texan living in the piney woods
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bblhd672
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Term limits for Reps and Senators?
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Jusme
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bblhd672 wrote: Wed Feb 03, 2021 11:07 am Term limits for Reps and Senators?
Yes, but lifetime appointments for TAM, and Steve, to head oversight on the new Constitution, with dismissal authority, for those who try to veer off track!!! :D
Take Away The Second First, And The First is Gone in a Second!!

:flags-texas: :flags-texas: :flags-texas:
:violence-pistoldouble:
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