Comments on: Should Politicians Go on Trial for Economic Negligence?

By: A Libertarian Quandary: Should Drugs Be Legalized if It Means Bigger Government? | International Liberty

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:44:04 +0000

[...] it appropriate to put politicians on trial for economic [...]

By: You Be the Judge: Were Mr. and Mrs. Hakken Right to Take their Children and Flee to Cuba? | International Liberty

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:18:56 +0000

[...] it appropriate to put politicians on trial for economic [...]

By: David Majors

David Majors — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:45:28 +0000

As a general rule- common sense prevails. Except it isn’t so common.
But a few rules of thumb are in order-
“Pass it in order to know what is in it” is a clear case of deliberate malfeasance. Voting for it without knowing what is in it is a case of stupidity.
Letting Bear Stearns go under while using taxpayer funds to save AIG is influence peddling. Voting to increase taxes because you think it will bring in enough revenue to save your worthless behind- in spite of 10000 years of history proving exactly the opposite- is just dumb.

By: You Be the Judge: Should the Law Discourage People from Becoming Vagrants? | International Liberty

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:11:57 +0000

[...] it appropriate to put politicians on trial for economic [...]

By: You Be the Judge: Should Troublemakers Be Segregated from the General Population? « International Liberty

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:20:30 +0000

[...] it appropriate to put politicians on trial for economic [...]

By: dale neff

dale neff — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 19:41:08 +0000

If politicians were held accountable for incompetence or negligence in office, we they would all be in jail. I think the legal costs to tax payers would be excessive. I would however like to see a law where politicians were fined one years salary if any of their laws were found to be unconstitutional or reversed by voters. I think that would stop many of the nanny state laws and politicians would be less likely to push the envelop when infringing on liberties.

By: Is This a Case of Government Overreach or an Example of Proper Law Enforcement? « International Liberty

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 14:51:53 +0000

[...] editions of this game include: Putting politicians on trial, vigilante justice, brutal tax collection tactics, child molestation, pay levels at [...]

By: Fred Groenke

Fred Groenke — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:28:10 +0000

All funding for candidates should come from the Treasury. No other funding should be allowed under penalty of 20 years in the “Pokey”. No lobbying. No three martini lunches,etc. Make them responsible to the people not the special interests.

By: New Jokes about the Idiots in Washington - OBAMA-B-GONE

New Jokes about the Idiots in Washington - OBAMA-B-GONE — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 11:08:43 +0000

[...] these jerks, and if they complain, we should remind them that they’re lucky that we don’t copy other nations and put them on trial for economic [...]

By: New Jokes about the Idiots in Washington « International Liberty

New Jokes about the Idiots in Washington « International Liberty — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 20:22:59 +0000

[...] jerks, and if they complain, we should remind them that they’re lucky that we don’t copy other nations and put them on trial for economic [...]

By: You Be the Judge: Should Executive Pay Be Capped at Government-Owned Companies? « International Liberty

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:35:08 +0000

[...] editions of “you be the judge” include: Putting politicians on trial, vigilante justice, brutal tax collection tactics, child molestation, sharia law, healthcare, [...]

By: drrik

drrik — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:19:54 +0000

Make their pension proportional to the net change in national worth. Increase the debt and instead of collecting a pension, they get to make payments.

By: Eitan

Eitan — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:44:29 +0000

Dan, that’s a very interesting moral dilemma you pose and I agree with your thoughts on the matter. Most politicians are pretty evil judged on their actions, not their intentions, but even the use of the state force to “punish” the ones who are corrupt needs to be accorded under the rule of law with due process.

As for Andrew M Garland’s suggestion that we just pay politicians more money, I find it naive. There is no limit to the ambition a person with access to power will have. The problem is the over-broad power they have, not the wages they don’t otherwise earn. After all, congress critters get paid pretty well.

By: Andrew_M_Garland

Andrew_M_Garland — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:33:22 +0000

I think congressmen(women) are underpaid. Each should receive $1+ million per year.

Congressional seats inspire costly and determined campaigns. This is not because people are willing to spend fortunes to serve in honor and principle. Most issues affect business interests, and most congressmen leave congress quite rich.

A truly honest and principled man is rare in Congress, because he must trade favors to make a big income. The path to success is there for the dishonest man, but not for the honest one. Pro rata, the US spends about $5 billion per congressman in taxes raised. $1 million per year is cheap for a good thinker and administrator handling that flow of wealth. Current fraud and pork costs about $5 million/year, and those other billions are misdirected. A large salary would make each congressmen more independent from bribes and schemes, and would allow people to run for congress who are not already millionaires.

A million/year would identify a congressman as a privileged member of society, as he truly is. He would be watched more closely, and any fraud would get no sympathy. We should make the job of congressman a directly profitable job to hold, for the best and honest people, rather than a job which pays that million only to the dishonest.

By: Michael Murray

Michael Murray — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:14:36 +0000

“Cigar Man” Bill Clinton, Charlie Rangel, Tim Geitner, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Eric Holder, Nan “The Harpy” Pelosi, “Worthless Warbucks” Harry Reid, Barrack “Transparent” Obumma, and the list could go on and on. What they all have in common is a series of shady deals, lies, cover ups, obfuscations, and outright criminal conduct… oh yes, and a “D” after their name. Whether or not they belong in jail is a moot point. They have no fear of it. They have willing accomplices… the media, self interested voting blocks, union bosses, crony corporate interests, and party hacks who will support anything to keep access to power.
The “public servants” with the “R’s” have some of the same things going for them, but are much more likely to be booted out and/or jailed for their transgressions. What the “R’s” lack most is a willing, massive, media and discipline in the ranks.
There are not many John McCain or Arlen Spectre types among the “D’s”.
Worse yet, the government is now able to call in a drone strike on anyone they do not like (including American citizens), and justify it! If you combine that with the language in the NDAA of 2012, “we the people” are screwed. As if Fast and Furious, the Libya intervention, ACORN, TARP, Solyndra, Keystone Pipeline, Cap and Trade by fiat, and the Panthers at the polls was not enough! (That’s just what comes up as random thoughts!)
Finally, look at the re-election rates among incumbents. Where are the consequences when you run for election in a gerrymandered district?
The law has become whatever those in power say it is.
(Depending of course upon what the definition of is is.)
Until (if ever) the average American wakes up and defends individual Liberty, and not Party, the oligarchs will rule as they see fit. And with no consequences.

By: AntónioCostaAmaral (AA)

AntónioCostaAmaral (AA) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:06:57 +0000

if you violate other people’s rights, you are punished.
if a politician does it, he might get removed from office.
sounds legit.