There are issues that Americans want that Congress refuses to consider.
>> A more representative party
A previous article mentioned that 58% of Americans would like a new party. But the two major parties keep a lock on state legislatures and Congress by not talking about, much less supporting, a new kind of voting that would let Americans express their approval for more than one candidate. In surveys where instant runoff voting has been adopted, voters have expressed a preference for them by 70-89%.
>> Term limits
A recent poll found that 75% of Americans want term limits for Congress. Some think term limits are too limiting. But compromises are possible.
>> Common sense gun restrictions
Close the gun-show loophole (90% – 93%). Don’t let people on the no-fly list buy guns (76%), or people on the terrorist watch list (86%). Prevent mentally unstable people from buying guns (89%).
>> Ending corruption in Congress. 80-97% favored various anti-corruption measures in this MSNBC poll. And 90-97% favored them in the represent.us poll. And 78% want Citizens United to be overturned.
>> Mandate Congress be in session for a minimum number of days each year. While most Americans will work 240 days this year, in recent years, Congress worked about 150.
>> Abolish the Electoral College, 60-69%.
>> Congress should adopt an agenda (60%): create jobs, fix social security and medicare, balance the budget, make America energy secure.
Other changes that might be popular
>> Limiting members of Congress pay to a fixed multiple of the minimum wage, or a fixed multiple of the average federal salary.
>> Ending Congressional pensions. Let them deduct part of their salary to be deposited to a 401k.
>> Budget on time and balanced. Withhold Congressional pay for every day the budget is late. Withhold 20% of their pay if the budget isn’t balanced.
>> Congress should have at least 60% of approval by Americans. If they miss that figure, the amount they miss it by should be withheld from their salaries.
Congress Isn’t Accountable To Us
I’ve written before about how surveys have significant problems in polling. Still, the polls suggest large majorities of Americans want these things. So why doesn’t Congress represent us like they’re supposed to? Because they don’t work for us. They’re not accountable to us.
Read the definition of political accountability. Or look at real examples of accountability.
Our elected officials are often accountable to other politicians. To super PACs and lobbyists. To their campaign donors. Technically our votes matter to them near elections. But we aren’t able to influence which issues are important to them. Their other allegiances that are valued over our support.
PeopleCount will help. Voters will decide on which issues representatives are accountable and how they’re rated. Please add your email address to our announcement list.