{"id":22277,"date":"2010-09-23T04:18:56","date_gmt":"2010-09-23T02:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turkishforum.com.tr\/en\/content\/?p=22277"},"modified":"2013-10-12T23:56:23","modified_gmt":"2013-10-12T20:56:23","slug":"a-guidebook-for-new-congresspersons-for-january-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/2010\/09\/23\/a-guidebook-for-new-congresspersons-for-january-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"A guidebook for new Congresspersons for January 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><!--more-->US Elections\u00a0 <!--more--><!--more-->A guidebook for the new Congresspersons for January 2011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0The LORD abhors dishonest scales,<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 but accurate weights are his delight <span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftn1\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>1<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congratulations!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The American public has made its choice by electing you to this public office with a mandate for the common good.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At the time of this writing it is believed by most pundits that the Republican Party will enjoy an unprecedented election victory. It is my belief that the public is fed up with all politicians in Washington and have engineered a change in philosophy and representation.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While the media is trying to figure out which party is in control and whether one is liberal or conservative \u2013 the real party in control is you and your fellow first term Congresspersons.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You and your compatriots have an opportunity to right the wrongs of decades. By banding together you can take over all committee assignments and chairs in the House.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This can be done easily by electing the speaker who won by the biggest majority. The committees will be made of persons elected whose professions match that particular committee. That way we will have legislators who know something about what their committee is all about. The House controls the funds of the government, period.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the senate there will be 67 remaining politicians and maybe a few reelected. The freshman senators still control the key votes.\u00a0 Acting as a group unified in purpose you may be able to co-sponsor key legislation with the house.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To emphatically let everyone know you mean business your first rule is that all lobbyists will be banned from the halls of Congress.\u00a0 Any lobbyist caught conferring with an elected official or members of that officials\u2019 staff will have their tongues removed. This is not funny. This means that they would have to put everything in writing.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No former politician or members of their families can be a lobbyist for 10 years after they leave office.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Congress shall adopt laws similar to those passed in the State of Florida. They are called the Sunshine laws.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Congress shall repeal all the laws passed by the previous Congress. If vetoed by the President and failed to override, then the house will withhold all funds for those programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 all the weights in the bag are of his making.<span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftn2\"><strong>[2]<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>The cures<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our society and the world at large has become enamored by great wealth; it did not matter how it was made, what mattered was how much.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you have a garden that you have nurtured from early spring, you are constantly pulling out the weeds that could over take and control your garden.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our financial weeds have grown so large that they compete with the government and even our financial system. Our financial markets are controlled by a few greedy men that have enormous power. Their exercise of these powers can be seen by the thousands of pages that have been passed by the congress without most even reading the bills they voted on. Shame, shame. The public wins!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hedge funds were started or became popular during the 1960\u2019s as a way to circumvent the strict rules passed in the 1930\u2019s. These funds operate for the rich only and should be allowed to wind down and closed. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Securities Act should be strengthened and the toughest and finest in the whole world. This will let everyone know that their funds are safe here in the USA. Nations that do not comply with our laws will not be allowed to trade in our markets. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>The Federal Reserve should be allowed to be non partisan. Margin rates should be raised across the board. Excessive margin accounts should quietly called in. This can be done by the Fed quietly raising a particular banks reserve requirements. Margin loans for securities trading in US markets must come from domiciled banks in the US. Failure to so will mean immediate liquidation and confiscation of securities. They may be purchased back at a public auction. This system has worked for hunters and fishermen for generations. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Install usury rates for all lending institutions. One of the main reasons for our deflation is that the public in paying down their debt. The high interest rates make it almost impossible to pay down the principal. This does not encourage business expansion. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ban all securities from nations whose governments are dictatorships or communist in nature. Where a central government controls how business is done \u2013 all decisions are political with little attention paid to economic consequences. The shareholder\u00a0\u00a0 will be the ultimate loser. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Try to have Fannie and Freddie disbanded. This can be done by having the mortgages returned to the originating bank. The local banker is the best judge of who qualifies for a loan. A certain percentage can be set aside for low income families who need assistance and show a positive mental attitude for self improvement. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make English the official language of the United States. The Province of Quebec Canada is a prime example. Quebec used to be the leading business area of Canada. It has everything. Today it is a second class province. Bilingualism does not work.\u00a0 If you get caught speeding you better know their French. Not France French. When Charles De Gaulle came over and spoke to a huge rally no one understood a word he was saying. .<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If 10% of a society only speaks one language, then the other 90% avoid doing business with them and all sorts of biases are created. It is an unhealthy atmosphere. The final point is that with the rest of the world \u2013 English is the preferred second language. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Commodity traders should be left to the participants of that industry. Traders who are not business people of that profession are called speculators. I can not think of a better description. Speculators should control no more than 10% of the yearly average trades.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The investment company act of 1940 should be revisited. The computer has antiquated most of the laws and the \u201cloaded\u201d funds are raping the public. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>\u00a0Differing weights and differing measures\u2014<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the LORD detests them both.<span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftn3\"><strong>[3]<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If a second stimulus bill is needed it should go to every U.S. citizen 18 or older with a mandate to be spent. All debts should be paid down on principal only. Interest is forgiven during a \u201cquiet\u201d period. This way banks and lending institutions are re-liquefied. This includes home mortgages. 10% can be saved, but excess funds must be spent on anything they feel they need. Corporations that neither do nor survive after the money is spent are allowed to go into bankruptcy. It is called creative destruction. The strong parts will survive, but the week will go bye-bye. The typewriter has gone and been replaced by the computer. IBM was a leading producer of the electric typewriter, but its superior management changed direction. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The government should set the rules, and persons caught breaking these rules should be severally punished. This would include the immediate family so that a spouse can not set up the other with illegal gains. The public wins.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In certain industries out side attorney can be hired to try cases on a fee basis where a portion of the fine could be shared by the whole department. This would scare the hell out of would be cheaters.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Flash Trading- This when a computer scans the financial news releases and seeks special phrases like positive earnings, or a certain percentage increase of decrease. Upon spotting these prescribe phrases it immediately sends an order to buy or sell hundred of thousands of shares instantaneously. Shades of 1984! We need to put a financial condom on those babies.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To bring back a true investment attitude to the markets we should institute a short term trading tax. For started, say 90% for securities held less than nine months. Long term holdings would have a 10% capital gains tax. No tax-loss carry forwards on short term trading losses. This will bring back thinking with one\u2019s mind to Wall Street.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drop the decimal trading system. All that does is encourage gambling and day trading. It allows firms to het paid for their research. Corporations should have access to research analysts. THE GIVE AND TAKE BETWEEN ANALYST AND MANAGEMENT allows them to fine tune correct rearing. No corporate officer of a major corporation can predict accurately what they will earn a year from now.\u00a0 The give and take between officer and analyst allows them to form a consensus. \u201cYou are a little hi there a little low here\u201d, allows them working together to fine tune their reports. The public wins.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Richard C De Graff\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr size=\"1\" \/><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/span> Proverbs 11:1 New International Version (NIV)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftnref2\">[2]<\/span> Proverbs 16:11\u00a0 New International Version(NIV)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-admin\/post-new.php#_ftnref3\">[3]<\/span> Proverbs 20:10\u00a0 NIV<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":746809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[750],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-richard-de-graff"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22277\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/746809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}