Common Sense - 09-15-09

Ok, yesterday's common sense post was one that was a little personal to me, but if we can change things that are personal, eventually we will start changing things that are national, and maybe global. Today I want to talk about something that effects the whole state of PA, and that is the budget that hasn’t been passed.
I had heard this back when the budget was about to expire, and did some research since then. Gov. Rendell has yet to pass a budget on time since he's been in office. Something is wrong with that picture. How can Rendell and the other law makers get away with not doing their jobs, and still have a job? My answer is THEY SHOULDN'T......
We are now about 76 days into this whole mess, and from what they are talking about on the news, they are nowhere near passing a budget. So what happens as the budget runs out, and a new one isn't passed? Well one of the things they cut is the state workers pays, and eventually they don't get a pay at all. Is this right? I say no.
Who should lose their pays? In my opinion it should be the Governor and the law makers who aren't passing the budget. But that doesn't happen. As they argue about it, and threaten to take money from areas that it's needed, they still get paid. A way to solve this is to have a simply law passed. Give them say 30 days from when the budget runs out to pass a new one. If they don't have it passed by then, then the governor and the law makers don’t' get paid until it is. Trust me, you take away their money, and they will pass a budget really quick.
But if Rendell can't do his job why does he keep getting reelected? I really think its because he has people scared of him. I say enough is enough. I don't know if there is a better candidate out there, but we at least have to start by getting him out of office. Then maybe a budget can get passed on time.
Now let’s take this nationally. If the local law makers can't agree on how to spend out tax dollars, how can we expect the national law makers to do it. Its time we start getting people out of office that aren't doing their jobs, and try to get people in who will. The problem with that is they all lie. They will tell you what you want to hear to elect them, but once in office they will do what is best for them.
How about this. I've worked at several jobs where there was a probationary period. So when you campaign you tell me what you are going to do, and you have so long to prove it. If by the end of a probationary period you haven't at least honestly pushed to do what you promised then you are booted out of office.
How could this be done? Well we would just have to hold a few extra elections. When the end of the time period is nearing we hold an election. What happens here is people vote on either keeping the person who's in office, or electing the person that ran against them. If more then two ran in the election, then you are voting for either the one in office or the one who got the 2nd largest amount of votes. I really think this would motivate people to be more honest and do what they say.
So how can we change things? Well I say e-mail and write the law makers. Information on how to do this can be found here:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=3014&mode=2
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/governor%27s_web_site/2985

Like all my common sense posts, I am asking you to read them, think about them, and if you feel like it comment on them. Everything here is open to discussion.