The following document originated from my personal thoughts due to the current discord and lack of civility and problem solving in the U.S. House and Senate. As citizens of the United States, we are responsible for understanding our roles as well as the rights everyone so zealously proclaim they have. The reason why nothing seems to get done, why one side is always ultimately angry at a decision, why every 4 years the general population is foaming at the mouth to get the current party "out of power," why the party that feels like it is losing always tries to find any way to throw the other party/ies under the bus--even if it takes lying and planting evidence--and why everyone is chomping at the bit as they wait to see if a new Justice will bring with them liberal or conservative strength is all one and the same. The reason why all of these frustrating circumstances exist is this: we, as citizens of the U.S., vote based on emotions and the dramatic hateful slander and libel the media consistently throws our way. If we truly wanted a system that works together and strives to resolve concerns instead of having an "all or nothing" attitude (which gets us absolutely nowhere), we would avoid biased news sources like the plague and look toward sources that only have one single agenda: to report facts without adding their personal views.
Simply the tone of one's voice and selection of vivid verbs and adjectives have the power to take someone from impartiality to the same level of bitter hatred the presenter has, which does not help anyone at all! In short, we are at fault for the problems in leadership, because we voted for them! It's not completely our fault, however! We've been trained...programmed...to approach politics in the same way we approach other things: by snap judgments when something or someone doesn't agree with us. Why? Because we are afraid! Fear!! People, bills, opinions....they have potential to offend our personal values and views...so we are afraid and our automatic response is to fight! It's simple biology. Literally!!! We can, however, solve this problem. It will not be solved overnight, but I propose that we start the process of solving this gigantic problem by retraining ourselves to think calmly and rationally even in the midst of emotional turmoil. If we want leaders who lead like the boss we wish we had instead of the arrogant, controlling, angry, my-way-or-no-way bosses we have all had at one point, then we need to tell them what we expect of them and vote for them based on their ability to communicate, help solve problems by being open minded, seek additional insight from professionals the decision will affect, and truly try to be unbiased in their counseling.
The following is a draft of my free-flowing thoughts on what we should expect from our elected representatives. It includes some policy changes or additions (none of which are against the Constitution that I'm aware). My intent is to help citizens to see the candidate selection process differently than ever before. We should not just be voting for the person who touts that they will do everything that agrees with our individual values and morals. We should be voting for the person who is willing and able to work well with others. If they can't do that then nothing else they have learned to do in their education really matters. As a teacher, I can personally attest that a student's ability to work well in a group can have a great impact on that individual's future. Let's make sure the future impact is positive and strongly correlated with our ability to select sound selfless leadership. We, the citizens of the United States of America, are the bosses of our representatives. So let's make it clear in the next elections what we expect of our employees who are chosen to make good decisions and, if necessary, fire the ones who are not showing they are able to play well with others. Tell your candidates what you need from them in order to get your vote and feel free to take any ideas from below. It's not always about getting everything we want. It's about making the best decision with the help of others.
State Senator/State Representative
(THIS IS ONLY A DRAFT)
Original date: 8 March 2019 by: Heather Kirkpatrick (Texas)
Employer: The
people of your State (hereto after referred to as “Employer”)
Job Title: State
Senator, U.S. Representative
Number of Openings:
House Reps: varies by State
population, minimum of 1 Rep/State
Senators:
2 per State.
Length of Term:
TBD, no to exceed 4 years, sessions held in D.C. will not exceed 184 days/year
Salary: Varies by
State, determined by the following equation [(average individual salary for
your State + median individual salary for your State)/2].
Salary Increase:
Varies by State, eligible for Employer evaluation every 2 years
Location: Primarily
within your State of hire, housing
will not be stipend during your time in office-your primary location will be
within your own State of residence-we encourage you to be financially
responsible as you consider and agree to the terms of this civil service
position
Benefits: Equal
healthcare benefits to all other State employees, 401k benefits same as all
other State employees, tax filing status equivalent to individuals and families
in your State, possibility for salary increase after 2 years and a one-time bonus upon exiting
office (4 years), coach air transportation (if necessary) to and from scheduled sessions of Congress/House.
**Note: all government benefits will be forfeited upon completion of your time
in office. As this is a limited term position, all representatives are
encouraged to seek fulfilling opportunities to lead in the community in other ways
upon release from office.
About your Employers:
Your employers have existed since the Independence of the
United States on July 4, 1776. The U.S. Congress was established on March 4,
1789. The House of Representatives was established on April 1, 1789. *You may
want to take notes on these facts, due to the requirements in the “Necessary
abilities” section to follow.* The Employers believe the foundation of a free
and civil society is based on communication, respect of both self and others,
hard work, and the ability to compromise without compromising morality and
ethics. All dealings as a representative of your State are expected to be
accomplished with the utmost care and highest moral and ethical standards. This
position is a paid service position,
which is intended to serve the interests of the Employer, not your own personal
interests. All terms will be limited to 4 years as we understand that the
salary for this service position is not luxurious, and you will need to find
other employment to support your family and yourself as you look forward to
retirement. We thank you for your interest in serving the people of your State
and the United States of America as we all strive for integrity in forming a
more perfect union, to establish justice, and to ensure domestic tranquility. We
look forward to working with you in the near future!
Essential qualities:
Must demonstrate self-respect and respect of others.
Ability to collaborate in a civil and respectful manner (Emotional Intelligence)
Must have a “helping” attitude.
The ability to think outside yourself (problem solve and
offer suggestions to help others’ goals and not just your own).
Necessary abilities:
Ability to accurately interpret the United States
Constitution, Bill of Rights, and current Amendments without bias.
Receive a passing score on the U.S. Citizenship exam before
being sworn into office or acting in any administrative duties in connection to
the duties of that office.
Must be able to read at the 12th grade level.
Must be able to compose professional correspondence.
Must be able to verbally communicate succinctly,
professionally and calmly.
Must be able to recognize and contribute to resolving the
concerns of members of Congress/House with opposing views with positive
alternatives on all issues.
Ability to understand and apply the principles of having an
Open Mindset, as described by The Arbinger Institute.
Job Duties (all to be
fulfilled with integrity):
Provide for the common defense.
Promote the general
welfare.
Secure the blessings of liberty to the people of your State and other
States, and their posterity.
Uphold the law.
Ensure all deliberations are in line with the Constitution
of the United States of America.
Create laws that uphold the general and specific ideals of
the constitution.
Ensure other branches of government are performing their
functions with integrity and in accordance with the laws and position
requirements for their stations (checks and balances with integrity).
Keep within the bounds the Constitution sets for creation of
federal laws (Ex: Row vs. Wade is a moral issue not covered in the
Constitution and should be voted at the State level, if at all).
Adhere to basic moral and ethical behaviors and decisions in
all aspects of negotiation within the Congress/House and without, including but
not limited to: respecting all views, communicating in a civil manner, avoiding the harm of individuals and groups for another individual or group’s
gain, and personal or group bias.
Upon application
acceptance and hire by the Employer, you will be expected to:
Come to appropriate agreed upon compromises within the time frame
given for the session at hand. If this is not done, your Employer may file
complaints which will affect the
possibility of a raise at your 2 year review. At this time your Employer may
choose to warn and/or fire due to the severity of the unacceptable actions in
this position. Any issues not resolved within Congress/House during the
scheduled session will go to the States for a general majority vote. This
result will constitute a strike on your record. Two strikes are grounds for
immediate termination.
Comply with all investigations of relationships that may
lead to termination (including review of relations with lobbyists, government
and corporate/business affiliations/donations, etc.)
Adhere to all State and Federal laws as any other
citizen-including paying all fines and tickets without bribery, extortion, or
blackmail. *We encourage that you avoid
all appearances of ill behavior*
Grounds for immediate
termination of employment:
Acceptance of monetary or gift gratuities that exceed $15 in
value for self, campaign, or any member of the family in return for any job-related decision.
Refrain from receiving any amount (monetary or other) of
donation for your vote on any issue (no receiving gifts from lobbyists for your
vote).
Any and all illegal behaviors that constitute impeachment.
Two strikes gained from forcing majority vote to the
citizens of the United States due to unresolved issues at the end of a session.
Government shutdowns do to unresolved issues (Note:
Representative pay will be frozen due to any government shutdown until a
resolve is agreed upon or your Employer has deemed you fit to be removed from
office).
**Your State is an Equal
Opportunity Employer (EOE). Acting in accordance to the standards of
integrity and respect we expect of you in office, we do not discriminate by
race, sex, age, or religious affiliation in the hiring for this position. This
position is at “At Will” position-
you may terminate employment at any time and for any reason. Your employer
(people of your State) may also terminate your employment at any time and for
any reason following legal and appropriate impeachment protocol. All position
responsibilities, duties, and expectations are subject to change with written notice 60 days prior to effective date.**
