What should we add to make a new 28th amendment? (1 Viewer)

[Roycarn]

Establish an explicit right to privacy and cover the gaps in place with the 4th amendment.

 

[Rich2018]

You can't do what he's talking about even with part time jobs.
Here part time jobs are entitled to the same holiday entitlement as full time it's just adjusted to account for hours worked.

As it should be.

The US could implement such a system as it's common in Europe and yet somehow we still have companies willing to hire people.

My wife used to work for American Express where they recognized no holidays - they even had to work Christmas Day if it fell on a day that they were scheduled to work.

 

[Peter]

As it should be.



My wife used to work for American Express where they recognized no holidays - they even had to work Christmas Day if it fell on a day that they were scheduled to work.

That that's allowed is a sad testament to how bad Americans have allowed workers rights to become.
Nowhere in Europe would that be allowed.

 

[Rich2018]

That that's allowed is a sad testament to how bad Americans have allowed workers rights to become.
Nowhere in Europe would that be allowed.

Well if she worked on Christmas Day, she got double time. I think you'll find most essential service like police, hospitals, fire brigade, ambulance, power stations etc, work that way

They can't afford to be at the mercy of volunteers to work on a holiday.

 

[Fearandloathing]

If we could add an amendment, what should be in it?

America's problem is its own propaganda: "The greatest country in the world" need not change. "We are the best" prevents even looking at what may not be working (gun ownership) or what might be needed (a social contract on immigration etc.)

IMO the biggest problem is gun ownership and how that not only affects the death rate but the culture of the country; a culture of fear. (Neither I no my neighbors lock their doors hen their home)

The American constitution is neither the oldest nor the best, but it is the most out of date and out of touch with the real issues and most importantly, fails to offer solutions to the very problems it creates. The very structure, the set up of the supreme court on down is questionable now proving to be outright defective.

The only thing between democracy and anarchy is the honor of nine people, three of whom we know to be on the take and/or easily influenced with the high life. Knowing the future is in the hands of the likes of Clarence Thomas makes me really, really ****ing grateful I live in Canada.

 

[Peter]

Well if she worked on Christmas Day, she got double time. I think you'll find most essential service like police, hospitals, fire brigade, ambulance, power stations etc, work that way

They can't afford to be at the mercy of volunteers to work on a holiday.

I meant the total lack of holiday.
Plenty of people here work Christmas.
There's a legal minimum holiday entitlement here of 26 days.

 

[Rich2018]

I meant the total lack of holiday.
Plenty of people here work Christmas.
There's a legal minimum holiday entitlement here of 26 days.

In the USA holidays (like Christmas Day) are seen as different to vacation days... so if a company gives you 26 vacation days a year, they can require you to work holidays (like Christmas Day) right ?

 

[Peter]

In the USA holidays (like Christmas Day) are seen as different to vacation days... so if a company gives you 26 vacation days a year, they can require you to work holidays (like Christmas Day) right ?

In the UK public holidays are called bank holidays and we have 7 a year including 3 for christmas and new year.
They are seperate from regular holidays and added to those days.
I for instance get 26 days and the bank holidays and that's on the low end here.

 

[Rich2018]

In the UK public holidays are called bank holidays and we have 7 a year including 3 for christmas and new year.
They are seperate from regular holidays and added to those days.
I for instance get 26 days and the bank holidays and that's on the low end here.

In the UK, when someone goes on vacation for a week or more, they're said to be "on holiday"
In the USA, they're said to be "on vacation"

Vacation days and holidays are viewed differently

In the USA there are holidays that are pretty much universally recognized: Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and 4th of July
That said many companies still require you to work them if you are scheduled to....they do however pay "holiday pay" (typically 1.5 x normal pay)

There are some holidays that most organizations observe: Labor Day, Memorial Day

And there are other holidays that only some organizations observe: Columbus Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday/Easter Monday
(though MLK Day is growing in observance).

 

[The Hairy Fiddler]

Eliminate presidential pardons. One of the dumbest things ever.

 

[Rich2018]

Eliminate presidential pardons. One of the dumbest things ever.

Or just change them the Congressional pardons, that require 2/3 majority in each house.

 

[Terryj]

I’m more concerned that “as we evolve our democracy” the federal government gives itself ever more powers, ignoring the clear intent of the 10A, without need for any constitutional amendment(s). We seem to have reached the point where anything, deemed to be ‘important’ by congress critters, can become a (new) federal government power (by simply passing federal legislation).

That time has already come, we now have a federal government that views itself as the "Crown" and the states as it "Colonies" and the people as it "Subjects", this is just backwards as to the intent of the Constitution. The framers of the Constitution saw an hierarchy in the formation of this country which flowed from the People to the State and finally to the Federal Government. The Federal Government was suppose to be subservient to both the People and the States. Through the lack of an educated electorate this is where we find ourselves today, we can't say we were not warned, In a number of Thomas Jefferson letters he stresses the importance of an educated society to maintain a free country. "experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large" https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/58

As far as an 28th amendment: Require a balanced budget

 

[Ganondagan]

If we could add an amendment, what should be in it?

Nothing, no new amendments. Stop attacking the ones we already have.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

And you need a license for every worker who works on a holiday. (Emergency services and the military excepted).

Why should they be exempted? Don’t people in the military have a right to recreation? Why not police officers? In fact the police should just be paid to not work because they’re just racist people extending out of racist slave patrol system and all they do is oppress women and PoC so we need 365 days of holiday for them

 

[EMNofSeattle]

That time has already come, we now have a federal government that views itself as the "Crown" and the states as it "Colonies" and the people as it "Subjects", this is just backwards as to the intent of the Constitution. The framers of the Constitution saw an hierarchy in the formation of this country which flowed from the People to the State and finally to the Federal Government. The Federal Government was suppose to be subservient to both the People and the States. Through the lack of an educated electorate this is where we find ourselves today, we can't say we were not warned, In a number of Thomas Jefferson letters he stresses the importance of an educated society to maintain a free country. "experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large" https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/58

As far as an 28th amendment: Require a balanced budget

The balanced budget will never happen, to fire government workers or reduce entitlements will cause the collapse of the entire regime. Too many entitled who would literally starve if they had to work for their bread in the private sector. What skills can someone who works for EEOC use? Their job is purely parasitic

 

[Safiel]

Number of structural amendments, though I would eschew any policy amendments.

For example, the following age limit amendment.

Amendment ???

Section 1. Effective the first general election held at least 18 months subsequent to the ratification of this article of amendment, no person shall be eligible for election to the offices of President, Vice President, Presidential Elector, Senator or Representative, who shall attain to the age of seventy five years prior to the last day of the term sought, December 31st immediately subsequent to the election in the case of Presidential Electors. This shall include appointment to any vacant senatorial office. This section shall not be construed to apply to individuals elected or holding office prior to the effective date of this section, for the remainder of such term of office.

Section 2. No person shall hold any office of honor or profit under the United States who shall have attained to the age of seventy five years prior to appointment and any person holding such office shall relinquish it on the day they attain to the age of seventy five years. The operation of this section shall be deferred until 18 months subsequent to the ratification of this article of amendment. For purposes of this section only, an office of honor or profit shall include Judges appointed under Article I and Article IV of the Constitution, as well as United States Bankruptcy Judges and United States Magistrate Judges, but shall exclude Justices or Judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution of the United States to serve during good behavior.

Section 3. Justices and Judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution of the United States to serve during good behavior shall retire from active service on the day their whole year age plus their whole year combined terms of service under Article III shall equal to eighty, provided they shall have served ten years in combined service under Article III and shall have attained to the age of sixty five years. Justices and Judges who are retired from active service under this section shall be entitled to assume senior status and remain in service, but in no case shall any Justice or Judge remain in service after attaining to seventy five years of age. Justices and judges in senior status shall receive one hundred percent of the salary of an active service Justice or Judge. Retired justices and judges shall receive an annuity equal to one hundred percent of the salary they were receiving at the time of their retirement.

Section 4. Justices and Judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution of the United States to serve during good behavior, who shall have accumulated fifteen years of combined service under Article III, but who have not attained to sixty five years of age may take deferred retirement. They may terminate service, and upon attaining to sixty five years of age, shall receive an annuity equal to one hundred percent of the salary they were receiving when they terminated service.

Section 5. Justices and Judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution of the United States to serve during good behavior who are voluntarily or involuntarily certified as disabled shall immediately be retired from active service and shall receive an annuity equal to the salary they were receiving at retirement, provided they have served ten years or more of combined Article III service. A Justice or Judge who has served less than two and one half years of combined Article III service shall be separated with no retirement annuity. A Justice or Judge who has served two and one half years to five years shall receive an annuity equal to fifty percent of the salary they were receiving at retirement. A Justice or Judge who has served six, seven, eight or nine years of combined Article III service shall receive an annuity equal to sixty, seventy, eighty or ninety percent, respectively, of the salary they were receiving at retirement.

Section 6. The operation of sections 3, 4 and 5 of this article of amendment shall be deferred until the first day of the first presidential term of office subsequent to ratification of this amendment.

Section 7. The terms of all Senators shall expire at the first general election held at least 18 months subsequent to the ratification of this article of amendment, regardless of when they were previously scheduled to expire. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of this election, they shall be divided equally into two classes, with the Senators of each individual State in separate classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year and of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, so that one half may be chosen every second year. Thereafter, Senators shall serve for the term of four years.

 

[Rich2018]

Why should they be exempted? Don’t people in the military have a right to recreation? Why not police officers? In fact the police should just be paid to not work because they’re just racist people extending out of racist slave patrol system and all they do is oppress women and PoC so we need 365 days of holiday for them

The hint is in the name: EMERGENCY Services
They are required to deal with situations that present an EMERGENCY

But you raise an interesting point; should the Constitution be amended so that America's enemies can not invade the USA (or take any form of hostile action against it), on a recognized holiday ?

 

[EMNofSeattle]

The hint is in the name: EMERGENCY Services
They are required to deal with situations that present an EMERGENCY

But you raise an interesting point; should the Constitution be amended so that America's enemies can not invade the USA (or take any form of hostile action against it), on a recognized holiday ?

We have no enemies capable of invading America

 

[The Stars Tremble]

In Europe they don’t even have district boundaries, seats are apportioned by the party’s share of the vote

And in New Zealand they have both. There are local members (elected one per district) but extra members (from party lists) are added to Parliament to make the resulting representation match the national popular vote. There is a minimum of 5% which is about 6 members.

The NZ model is more appropriate for the US, because States will insist that most of the House represents districts within their borders.

Another possibility is proportional representation state-by-state. Single district states (6 states, 1.4% of population) would have an identical result, because they'd still be single member constituencies. Most controversially, two district states (7 states, 3.1% of population) would usually elect one Democrat and one Republican. But from there on up, and for the House as a whole, representation would be close to popular vote, including representation of independent voters. For example, in Oregon (6 representatives in either system), a Libertarian or Green would only need 15% of the statewide vote to be elected. In Texas it would be only 2.6% and probably be subject to a minimum (like 5% of popular vote.)

 

[The Stars Tremble]

How does that idea work? Do folks vote for a party and then the party decides who fills their allotted number of seats?

It's possible to have individuals on the "party list" run against each other, however to avoid vote splitting you'd need preference voting. Ireland's parliament and Australia's Senate use preference voting (aka instant runoff or 'ranked choice') WITH proportional representation. Very few voters will rank another party's candidate above the top of their preferred party's ticket, and it's a fair assumption that they're educated voters who understand the risk that their vote won't count for the preferred party at all.

US parties could use the primary elections (which they're going to use for Presidential candidates anyway) to decide the order of candidates on the party list. Whoever gets the most primary votes goes top of the list, etc.

Party list is more usual. You vote for a party, then names from that party's list are elected from the top down.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

Most controversially, two district states (7 states, 3.1% of population) would usually elect one Democrat and one Republican.

Turns out this is barely true. Using vote totals from 2022, Republicans would win both seats in ID and WV, Democrats would win both in HI, and the remaining 4 states (ME, MT, NH and RI) would split one each way.

 

[Rich2018]

We have no enemies capable of invading America

I said:
"But you raise an interesting point; should the Constitution be amended so that America's enemies can not invade the USA (or take any form of hostile action against it), on a recognized holiday ?"

Is reading comprehension a frequent failing of yours ?