Anyone who has served as a board member or steward of a community or social organization learns and understands the basic rules and responsibilities of the position: 

 

-        Uphold the bylaws of the organization. They represent the rules as approved and expected by the members. The bylaws should always be followed, and if any bylaw becomes out of date or unworkable, proper procedures should be followed to change it.  

-        Preserve the viability of the organization. A board should not make expenditures or borrow to an extent that it endangers the organization’s financial position. It should not make expenditures for the benefit of current members at the expense of future members. It should not promise the membership more than it can provide. 

-        Keep dues at a level that best supports the organization. If dues are too high, you’ll lose your membership and your viability.

-        Treat all members equally. You represent all the members, not just some of them. Do not show favoritism.

 

I would like to propose that the most important board in this country, namely the United States Congress, follow these basic rules for organizations.  Surely a bi-partisan platform could be adopted to just follow these time-tested, common sense rules.  The platform would consist of the following:

 

-        If you don’t like what’s in the Constitution, get enough votes and amend it as required.  This should be readily acceptable, since all members of Congress take an oath to defend the Constitution.

-        If there is a law that shouldn’t be on the books, get enough votes to repeal the law.  If constituents know some laws aren’t going to be enforced, why would they expect others to be enforced?  

-        Don’t promise the people more than the government can afford.  You could create dependency or a false sense of security.  A lot of people relying on the government could be really hurt if payments were reduced or ceased, and it would be your fault!        

-        Don’t borrow to give people something today and expect future generations to pay for it.  It’s plainly unfair.  You wouldn’t take money from your own kids and grandkids, would you?

-        Don’t over-tax people. High tax rates hurt the economy.  Why bite the hand that feeds you? 

-        Treat all constituents equally.   You are elected and paid to represent everyone in your district or state, not just certain groups. Isn’t it discrimination to do otherwise?    

 

So it should be no problem instituting these proposals, right?  Are you kidding?  Our government hasn’t followed these basic rules for decades.  Adhere to the Constitution?  The Founding Fathers wouldn’t even recognize our country’s government today.  Enforce all laws?  Not if they are politically incorrect.   Financial viability?   50 years of deficit spending would indicate otherwise.  Equal treatment?  Every law enacted has a winner and loser.

 

There’s one other problem.  Anyone presenting this platform would be demonized as a right-wing ultra-conservative extremist!  The proposal would be decried as….radical!  By ignoring basic rules for years we have created a bizarre reality where common sense and fairness are labeled as extreme, while those calling for the continuation of an unsustainable and divisive system are called moderates or mainstream.