LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAD AS HELL ABOUT CONGRESS? THEN LET'S CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION

To the Editor:

There are many angry people in the United States. That seems to be one of many things that never change. We're angry at Congress for putting us $4 trillion in debt. Yet, the debt continues to grow and we only hear talk of slowing the growth, instead of balancing the budget.

We're angry at lawmakers who exempt themselves from the very laws they enact. Perhaps that is why they sometimes consider themselves above the law: arrogant, patronizing, self-serving, elitist. We are very angry. Yet, year after year, they are reelected. It may be that the system will never change.

But maybe we just don't know how to change it? The people who founded this country were wary of abuses of power by their elected officials. Constitutional amendments give the ultimate power to change government to the citizens of the United States.

Suppose the majority of citizens believe congressmen and women should not be exempted from the laws they enact? We propose a constitutional amendment by petition that says:

* Congress shall not exempt itself from the laws of the land.

This seems simple enough. Who could oppose such an amendment? Now let us get a little more bold:

* Congress shall not exempt itself from the laws of the land. It shall not grant special privileges to members beyond those necessary to perform the duties assigned to them by the people. All congressional pay increases must be approved by a national referendum.

Security would be a necessary privilege. Haircuts, club memberships, and free airport parking would not. This simple amendment would be a good place to start.

Are you getting a little scared to send your children to public schools? Lets give the power to make changes back to communities with an amendment:

* States shall have sole authority to develop and maintain a public school system, policy, and curriculum as long as they do not intentionally segregate schools on the basis of race or religion. Natural geographic segregation alone shall not be considered to be intentional segregation. Individual school systems shall have the power to decide whether to implement voluntary school prayer as long as it is non-denominational in nature.

The people of the states can decide how they want their children taught much better than some bureaucrat in Washington. If the bureaucrats are so smart, why are our kids routinely ranked at the bottom of industrialized countries in nearly every area? Why do a quarter of our children drop out, if they live that long? Let parents and individual school systems come up with solutions to their own problems. The elites in Washington may even be surprised by the results.

With constitutional amendments, we could dictate to congress operational procedures at all committee levels. We could limit when and how they are lobbied for legislation. We could enact tort reform that would ease the ever rising cost of health care and other forms of insurance.

Some may say that such reforms would keep the best people from public service. If the best people are currently in service, why are we $4 trillion in debt? Why are our children killing each other at schools while the administrators debate whether or not to pass out condoms? Why are so many people angry at our officials?

With constitutional amendments, we will take back the power that congress has slowly taken from us. We will set the terms for our future. We can and we do possess the power to make these changes.

The first step may be as simple as writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

JERRY CANADY

Chaffee