Fixing America

A short time ago Difster asked what we would do to fix our great nation. This is one of the things that got me to thinking I really need my own blog, so here it is. I probably will get pasted to the wall here, but this is what I think.

First, for obvious reasons, we need to basically “reset” our government back to the constitution and the bill of rights. This gives us a very good starting point. Our forefathers were quite intelligent and knew a good system when they worked it out. There are a few things I would change or clarify in order to limit the government more.

1. Clarify the freedom of religion clause so that the government cannot take away our freedom to practice our religion publicly.

2. Clarify the right to bear arms to mean if we wish to own military hardware we can.

3. Change the presidential term to five years and a two term limit, representatives will stay at the two year term but have a three term limit, and senators will have one ten year term. You will see where these time limits fit in soon.

4. Voting will be limited to one vote per household; if you live together only one person gets to vote. If you are receiving or have received in the past year any kind of public assistance (state or federal) you cannot vote.

5. This is the big change here. So far I have not said any thing I have not heard before. Every ten years each state has to vote to STAY IN the union. If a state does not hold a vote to stay in it is out of the union and becomes it own country. If a state holds a vote and decides to leave then it also becomes a new country. The only way a state stays in the union is by positive vote to stay in. The electors of each state that decides to stay in the union then choose the president. This will help maintain the autonomy of each state and limit the federal government, as it would not want to see a mass exodus. Each individual will be first a citizen of their state and then a citizen of the U.S. If a state leaves the union and an individual wishes to retain citizenship in the U.S. then he has one year to move to a state that has chosen to remain in the union. If a state that has chosen to leave the union decides that it wants back in the union then each state has to vote and if a majority of the states approve and the citizens of the state wishing to return have approved they shall be allowed back in at the time that each state votes to stay in the union. This will make the states more autonomous and the federal government won’t be willing to overstep it’s bounds for fear that there would be a mass exodus of states.


Update

Billy D had a point about the military. I thought everyone should see what I think.

I had a point six about the military but I was not quite happy with it. Mostly problems with wartime logistics if a state secedes during wartime. Hopefully something that would not happen.

Basically each state would have their own military that would coordinate with a national military in defense of the country, similar to the National Guard but full time. If someone chose to be part of the national military then he would give up state citzenship durring his term in the military.