They are just wired to sneak things in...kind of like the 7 year old at the grocery store sneaking a candy bar onto the conveyor belt at the checkout, hoping mom won't notice.
I'll back a % pay raise per $ spending cut with you on the condition they may not trade in private or public markets during their term, recess or not. Lobbyists or FARA governed US residents are limited in investment to the firms they personally receive their paychecks, NOT their clients. If sole proprietorships, investment beyond savings or money market funds is banned over the active registration period of that individual. If discovered as violated, 100% of proceeds, plus original deposit, plus margin borrowed, are forfeit.
Lastly, for security purposes, tie every EIN in the US to a single, individually assigned blockchain number. Identity theft THAT two part key.
I'd like to see congress treated as "insiders" and subject to similar rules. Mainly just the parts about disclosing their holdings and announcing their trades well in advance of executing them.
I just take great exception to the word budget. You can budget anything, and even if it based on a surplus, the incentive would be to raise taxes. It should say " Aaron said that they should get a $10,000 raise for every $100 billion they cut from SPENDING."
Great post Mr Carter! I also read Mr Simon's post this morning. Love that they're feeling "the earth move under their feet!" (thanks Carole King) We're living in heady times and you can feel the winds changing. Long road ahead but let's be happy, and keep our focus on the task at hand. We didn't get here overnight and we're not going to fix it overnight either!
Most of the fools in congress couldn't handle a job in the private sector. Just like us old traders. I agree their raise should be based on production. Just like pro athletes contracts should be.
It would be worthwhile for you to check out the exchange between Dan Crenshaw (R-Swamp) and Catturd on X. I’m with Catturd and so, it seems, are most people on X. Maybe the world is changing a little bit…
Real question is "who are they working for?" I remember a number of years ago my state representative (I understand this is state and not federal but are they any different?) publicly stated that the majority of her district did not support a particular bill but she was going to vote for it anyway. Why? A certain House Speaker wanted it and he provided a serious amount of her campaign funds. Until the majority of "representatives" actually represent their district instead of their party, nothing is going to change.
Good post. Some very good points in it. If I may add; I was at The CBOT we'd see see congresspeople come wandering through every so often. Some were interested others just wanted to get upstairs and pick up their checks from management. Campaigning is expensive you know. CBOT, CME were good places to shake the money tree.
You are also right. Congresscritters write the laws, but who writes the rules and regs. under the law? Bureaucrats and the industry affected by the legislation. You break those rules and regs., you have broken federal law and can be flailed alive. It is best if your industry group gets in there and participates. Cozy huh? That's also why most congresspeople do not come home after they're out. It's too lucrative being a lobbyist. It's also really good if you hire a bureaucrat who's helped write the rules and regs., maybe get a phrase inserted or excised that helps your business.
Re: DOGE. Vivek wants a political career and I'm sure he'll have one. He's seen the Trump path.
Elon I'm a little more queasy about. I don't think he wants a political career. He can do and get more from outside, which is why I'm queasy. He has huge business interests. One (Tesla) is tied to the hip to China. Batteries, manufacturing, a huge market for his product. That's a lot of competing interests to the United States. I believe he wants to do the right thing, but honestly, he's gotten a lot of reasons to trim his sails and sail close to the wind. We'll see. China has every reason to bend him and his company over the proverbial barrel. I'm sure they will when it suits them.
I'm not in favor of any raises until they not only enact and pass spending cuts, which must "stick"...i.e., a several year "earn out" for any performance bonuses. We put in place a "phantom bonus" plan at one of my large privately held clients...don't see why something similar couldn't work.
And yes, absolutely NO securities or other private trades allowed while in office.
The real improvement would be better transparency around lobbyists, donor funds and bills. Open the Books is a start but not sufficient to truly connect those dots.
The strongest argument I have heard against term limits is that it would make candidates into "front men" for political machines, much like Biden has been this term and Kamala was close to being.
I think it's somewhat compelling, so I'm curious what everyone else thinks of this argument.
Your farmer friends are apparently panicking as they need their subsidies.
The bill and the process sucks. Yet Musk really needs to grow a filter to keep the crazy stuff out. He continuously falls for and then reposts nonsense like it's Facebook 2016.
It's easy to blow stuff up. The challenge is to fix things. I hope there is someone that can actually come up with a plan.
Finally, there are a bunch of MAGA supporters for the $200b Social Security boondoggle (not part of the CR at least) that speeds up the bankruptcy of the program.
Congress men should get a raise if they put their nose to the grindstone...but prove it first. Congress know the fiscal year ends on September 30th every year. When is the last time they had a annual budget in place by then?
Alternatively, there are good Congressmen out there, who aren't just doing earmarks.
Peoria's Darin LaHood is sponsoring legislation to stop the double-taxation of expat earnings. Completely self inflicted problem in the US tax code where someone from Cat working in Netherlands pays US Taxes and Dutch Taxes, then you file a bunch of BS paperwork and it gets netted out at the end of the year.
USA and Eritrea are the only countries which do this. Only makes money for lawyer and accountants sorting out the idiotic accounts.
LaHood also on Ways and Means, so this might go through.
I'd accidentally skipped over this one before reading the previous and following one but I'm going to post this here because I know you will appreciate it and it is a truly remarkable article that reads almost like a short story:
This is, without a doubt, the single greatest article I have ever read with regard to the Obama /Axelrod influence on American culture, World politics and cultural changes.
You'll need to think of it almost like a 60-75 pages short story, because it is a 20 to 30 minute read for most people, yet well worth it, because I have never seen it expressed quite this way.
Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have all contributed in significant ways to likely saving America and our way of life and freedom remaining our most important attribute.
"Constructing a giant permission structure machine that would mechanize the formation of public opinion through social media was never David Axelrod’s intention. Axelrod wanted to help make society better by allowing white voters to obey the better angels of their nature and elect Black mayors, despite being racists. Everyone can agree that racism is bad, just like they can agree that poverty is bad, or disease is bad. The question is whether a given instance of racism or poverty or disease is so bad that, when it comes to eliminating or reducing their ill effects, all other human values, including the value of independent thought and feeling, should be trampled. If the answer is yes, you have placed your trust outside of the nexus of contingent human relationships into the hands of a larger, crushingly powerful machine that you believe might incarnate your idea of justice. That is totalitarianism, or as George Orwell put it in 1984, the image of “a boot stamping on a human face—forever.”"
What bothers me more then anything is why can’t the pass a clean bill with nothing attached!
They are just wired to sneak things in...kind of like the 7 year old at the grocery store sneaking a candy bar onto the conveyor belt at the checkout, hoping mom won't notice.
I'll back a % pay raise per $ spending cut with you on the condition they may not trade in private or public markets during their term, recess or not. Lobbyists or FARA governed US residents are limited in investment to the firms they personally receive their paychecks, NOT their clients. If sole proprietorships, investment beyond savings or money market funds is banned over the active registration period of that individual. If discovered as violated, 100% of proceeds, plus original deposit, plus margin borrowed, are forfeit.
Lastly, for security purposes, tie every EIN in the US to a single, individually assigned blockchain number. Identity theft THAT two part key.
I'd like to see congress treated as "insiders" and subject to similar rules. Mainly just the parts about disclosing their holdings and announcing their trades well in advance of executing them.
Announcing immediately following execution, not before. Front running is no bueno.
I just take great exception to the word budget. You can budget anything, and even if it based on a surplus, the incentive would be to raise taxes. It should say " Aaron said that they should get a $10,000 raise for every $100 billion they cut from SPENDING."
Correct! I made an error
Great post Mr Carter! I also read Mr Simon's post this morning. Love that they're feeling "the earth move under their feet!" (thanks Carole King) We're living in heady times and you can feel the winds changing. Long road ahead but let's be happy, and keep our focus on the task at hand. We didn't get here overnight and we're not going to fix it overnight either!
Most of the fools in congress couldn't handle a job in the private sector. Just like us old traders. I agree their raise should be based on production. Just like pro athletes contracts should be.
They think becoming a lobbyist is private sector!
Lol
It would be worthwhile for you to check out the exchange between Dan Crenshaw (R-Swamp) and Catturd on X. I’m with Catturd and so, it seems, are most people on X. Maybe the world is changing a little bit…
I hope so.
The language that Crenshaw felt comfortable spewing is such a picture of DC.
They claim such superiority over the likes of Trump or average republican voters, and yet…
Real question is "who are they working for?" I remember a number of years ago my state representative (I understand this is state and not federal but are they any different?) publicly stated that the majority of her district did not support a particular bill but she was going to vote for it anyway. Why? A certain House Speaker wanted it and he provided a serious amount of her campaign funds. Until the majority of "representatives" actually represent their district instead of their party, nothing is going to change.
Good post. Some very good points in it. If I may add; I was at The CBOT we'd see see congresspeople come wandering through every so often. Some were interested others just wanted to get upstairs and pick up their checks from management. Campaigning is expensive you know. CBOT, CME were good places to shake the money tree.
You are also right. Congresscritters write the laws, but who writes the rules and regs. under the law? Bureaucrats and the industry affected by the legislation. You break those rules and regs., you have broken federal law and can be flailed alive. It is best if your industry group gets in there and participates. Cozy huh? That's also why most congresspeople do not come home after they're out. It's too lucrative being a lobbyist. It's also really good if you hire a bureaucrat who's helped write the rules and regs., maybe get a phrase inserted or excised that helps your business.
Re: DOGE. Vivek wants a political career and I'm sure he'll have one. He's seen the Trump path.
Elon I'm a little more queasy about. I don't think he wants a political career. He can do and get more from outside, which is why I'm queasy. He has huge business interests. One (Tesla) is tied to the hip to China. Batteries, manufacturing, a huge market for his product. That's a lot of competing interests to the United States. I believe he wants to do the right thing, but honestly, he's gotten a lot of reasons to trim his sails and sail close to the wind. We'll see. China has every reason to bend him and his company over the proverbial barrel. I'm sure they will when it suits them.
Elon is Elon, the guy has more money than God, his 715 million shares of TSLA have skyrocketed.
I love how both he and Vivek have stirred the pot. The looting of the taxpayers has to stop and it's great to see some push back.
Let's give Congress persons a raise, but contingent on fiscal performance. Want a raise? Cut spending and reduce taxes.
I'm not in favor of any raises until they not only enact and pass spending cuts, which must "stick"...i.e., a several year "earn out" for any performance bonuses. We put in place a "phantom bonus" plan at one of my large privately held clients...don't see why something similar couldn't work.
And yes, absolutely NO securities or other private trades allowed while in office.
The real improvement would be better transparency around lobbyists, donor funds and bills. Open the Books is a start but not sufficient to truly connect those dots.
The strongest argument I have heard against term limits is that it would make candidates into "front men" for political machines, much like Biden has been this term and Kamala was close to being.
I think it's somewhat compelling, so I'm curious what everyone else thinks of this argument.
Totally agree. It is hard to argue with the estimable Roger Simon, but I remain cynical like you, sir.
Totally value your posts, Jeff - it is wonderful hearing from people who are connected to Sodom on Potomac. Keep spreading the words.
I am in favor of many opprobrium-based congressional snot bubbles.
Make them forget what political day it is.
Your farmer friends are apparently panicking as they need their subsidies.
The bill and the process sucks. Yet Musk really needs to grow a filter to keep the crazy stuff out. He continuously falls for and then reposts nonsense like it's Facebook 2016.
It's easy to blow stuff up. The challenge is to fix things. I hope there is someone that can actually come up with a plan.
Finally, there are a bunch of MAGA supporters for the $200b Social Security boondoggle (not part of the CR at least) that speeds up the bankruptcy of the program.
They are panicking because they built businesses upon them. Solar is like that but I don't think Tesla demand will change if the subsidy ends.
Looks like the farmers are going to get their subsidies. Expectations of DOGE success down big.
Congress men should get a raise if they put their nose to the grindstone...but prove it first. Congress know the fiscal year ends on September 30th every year. When is the last time they had a annual budget in place by then?
Alternatively, there are good Congressmen out there, who aren't just doing earmarks.
Peoria's Darin LaHood is sponsoring legislation to stop the double-taxation of expat earnings. Completely self inflicted problem in the US tax code where someone from Cat working in Netherlands pays US Taxes and Dutch Taxes, then you file a bunch of BS paperwork and it gets netted out at the end of the year.
USA and Eritrea are the only countries which do this. Only makes money for lawyer and accountants sorting out the idiotic accounts.
LaHood also on Ways and Means, so this might go through.
I'd accidentally skipped over this one before reading the previous and following one but I'm going to post this here because I know you will appreciate it and it is a truly remarkable article that reads almost like a short story:
This is, without a doubt, the single greatest article I have ever read with regard to the Obama /Axelrod influence on American culture, World politics and cultural changes.
You'll need to think of it almost like a 60-75 pages short story, because it is a 20 to 30 minute read for most people, yet well worth it, because I have never seen it expressed quite this way.
Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have all contributed in significant ways to likely saving America and our way of life and freedom remaining our most important attribute.
"Constructing a giant permission structure machine that would mechanize the formation of public opinion through social media was never David Axelrod’s intention. Axelrod wanted to help make society better by allowing white voters to obey the better angels of their nature and elect Black mayors, despite being racists. Everyone can agree that racism is bad, just like they can agree that poverty is bad, or disease is bad. The question is whether a given instance of racism or poverty or disease is so bad that, when it comes to eliminating or reducing their ill effects, all other human values, including the value of independent thought and feeling, should be trampled. If the answer is yes, you have placed your trust outside of the nexus of contingent human relationships into the hands of a larger, crushingly powerful machine that you believe might incarnate your idea of justice. That is totalitarianism, or as George Orwell put it in 1984, the image of “a boot stamping on a human face—forever.”"
Thnx CA👏
https://www.tabletmag.com/feature/rapid-onset-political-enlightenment?fbclid=IwY2xjawHYh3JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcatL_f6Lvosgfh-rCqyW69uAt-Q1_391en2jbdeg5EjLNhzRZrS-7W1EA_aem_-LeWb-mBCbUR9Jk3hyAfeg