VVA Blog

Automation and AI changes are reducing costs and reducing the number of jobs.

Some reasons the number of overall jobs is going to continue shrinking are:

1. Self-driving cars and trucks, what are the number of people doing this for a living today?

2. Self-checkouts at stores, how many less cashiers are there?

3. Online banking, prescriptions by mail.

4. Purchasing anything online, all the jobs that were involved prior to the lower number now – less stores and staff.

5. Working remotely, less office space, janitors, security, parking etc., less people going out for lunch or after work.

6. The formation of mega-companies versus the many options for stores owned by different smaller companies. Reduced “overhead” is reduced jobs. And less product choice overall.

7. Digital assistants versus people performing front-line jobs like answering the phone

8. AI to generate content for letters, art, movies, software – anything, and nearly everything, will reduce the staff-hours needed to create something,

The reason for the changes above isn’t for safety, or that humans cannot do the tasks, or even the response time to the customer. It is mostly about doing more with less staff.

What isn’t helping the problem is we generally do not NEED more things to buy that would require more people to manufacture them. Everyone with means has more items than they need, sitting in closets or donated away. You see storage building going up all over, so people can “store” they stuff, usually for a long time. This impacts the societies where the items are shipped by reducing their industries making similar items. Nearly everyone, has more than enough clothing, furniture, devices, etc. that could counter-act reductions in staffing elsewhere. Just throwing-out, or donating, what we have to buy more, is a problem as well.

We got our first taste of higher production, and profits, with less effort with software and other online applications. With a one-time investment the vendor resells the item over and over, e.g., electronic games, MS Office, websites, etc. The bottom line is -- we are headed is for more product production with less human labor. This is a BIG problem.

The quickest and easiest solution and has been done before is -- to reduce the number of hours for a full-time job. It used to be 80 hrs./wk. was standard and now 40 hrs./wk. generally is the U.S. norm. Per the Washington Post, it was Henry Ford that made 40 hrs./wk. standard for all employees in 1926, with a raise too. The 40 hrs./wk. become a national standard with a Federal Minimum wage in 1938. The path from 80 to 40 hrs./wk. in the early 1900’s is interesting, and it didn’t destroy the country or wipe-out businesses.

The bottom line is if people do not have jobs, who's going to buy all these products and services being sold? So yes, we need people to be working. And being productive. And being able to support their families. Otherwise, what are they going to do? Most likely, cause trouble because – everyone needs a job.

We see politicians making the case to cut Federal benefits, and services. With a future of less people earning income and with the very rich able to hide much of their earnings, we will have lower tax revenue. That works to the rich person’s advantage since the do not need Federal services, only Defense and Commerce.

It has been 86 years since the workweek has been reduced. Think of ALL the changes in our work environments in that timeframe. Studies show that four-day work weeks can help employee mental health, boost overall productivity, and even cut down on global greenhouse emissions. Tokyo has mandated a 32 hrs./wk. It is time to prepare to move to a 32 and later maybe a 24 hrs./week, for a full-time position, with the same overall pay and benefits. One path would be to reduce the full-time workweek 8 hrs. per decade until we believe we are at the right number. This would make a great federal ballot initiative under the VVA.

With the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) at VVA.US we can make these decisions ourselves for OUR future and OUR children’s future.

We do NOT need only representatives to decide what and what we cannot have -- or do via Federal Ballot Initiatives.

Instagram and TikTok #voters.voice #DOGE #BISC #democracy #choices #VVA #PttP #trump #breaking #AI #work #workworkwork #influenceisyoursuperpower

Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) mission is to cut Federal spending. It would seem easy for 2 businessmen to look at Federal Government spending and instantly know the best ways to remove duplication and no longer useful regulations.

Another way to accomplish this goal is the following. Use the years of experience of the Federal staff that are on, or near, the front lines of the spending. They will have more insight to waster and likely would be willing to help -- for a slice of the savings pie.

The idea is -- allow groups of Federal employees to submit focused funding reductions with estimated annual cost reductions. Submit them to DOGE and if their idea is accepted, the submitting team shares a bonus of 25% of the expected one year of annual savings for their idea.

This would likely give real results with minimal disruption of the Federal government knowing the following facts.

Per Joe Davidson of the Washington Post, using the 2023 Federal budget as a basis, indicates cutting the Federal workforce only makes sense if you are trying to stop the Government from functioning -- by not having enough staff.

Only 4.3% of the Federal budget is spent on Government payroll. Also, if you think only D.C. benefits from Federal jobs, incorrect -- only 15% of the Federal workforce is in the greater D.C. area. Government Contractors collect 11.1% of the budget (2.5 times as much) and 60% of the contractor budget is for the Defense Department. Under the previous Trump Presidency, there were 2 Million new Contractor jobs added to the Federal budget.

With the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) at VVA.US we can make these decisions ourselves for OUR future and OUR children’s future.

We do NOT need only representatives to decide what and what we cannot have or do.

#BISC #democracy #choices #VVA #PttP #DOGE #trump #Musk #breaking #AI #work #workworkwork #rfkjr #influenceisyoursuperpower #IRS

Allow people to AVOID Abortions. An abortion is not the first choice of anyone.

Having sex is a natural fact of nature. One can try to outlaw it – see how that worked out for drinking alcohol -- the only U.S Constitutional amendment overturned by another Amendment.

Reducing abortions to zero is an excellent goal. A solution is making sure individuals have the means to have safe sex – condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, morning after pills – available to everyone. Of course, we should all wait until we are in a committed relationship, but knowing sexual compatibility is a key relationship factor.

We keep taking out the issue of abortion on the woman.

What about the men involved? How are they exempt from any responsibility?

The man is JUST as responsible as the woman.

Pass a law where unmarried fathers are liable for ½ of the pre-natal care, birth costs, and 18 years of child support (annual amount 5% U.S. Med. Income). If the man is underage, his parents are responsible for his contribution until he reaches 18-year-old, when he takes over.

Then see if abortion stays illegal. This could change the discussion by having abortions being illegal more problematic for men.

"We the People" should be able to pass our own laws with Federal Ballot Initiatives - as proposed in the Voters Voice Amendment.

See the text and sample initiatives at VVA.US

Purpose above Politics and Power.

VVA.us #Democracy2.0 #AbortionBan #AbortionIsHealthcare #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights

Our forefathers fought to break away from the King because of financial reasons, that likely became even more apparent when the King was across the ocean. Why did the King deserve to tax nearly everything and control everybody?

Make no mistake -- our Government was started mainly to supply defense and commerce – all that the Rich White Men needed – while removing the King.

There are some smart people in the right place and time, with a good idea, that have made a LOT of money on their concept. Their hard work, taking a risk, connections, etc. made it happen. There are others that are rich for a variety of other reasons – lucky you.

Today, it would take the average employee 200 years (over 4 working lifetimes) to make what the median S&P 500 CEO makes in 1 year (the AP and analyzed by Equilar).

However, they would earn way less if they didn’t have people working for them and people buying their products.

Enough of the thought process that the owners and shareholders are doing the employees a favor.

What is wrong with sharing more of the wealth? People would then be able to buy more or better goods. Which in turn comes back to the wealthy.

Of course, there are a small percent of the rich that realize they are privileged and still care about others that are not so fortunate.

But there are others -- 25,000 Millionaires have not filed a U.S. income tax return since 2017 (Washington Post). Also, the Republican Congress trying to cut IRS enforcement funding, even though each $1 IRS enforcement spends brings in $7 in taxes.

This attempted cutting of the IRS funding efforts is in the face of an overwhelming percentage of citizens, from both parties, who do not believe the rich and corporations pay their fair share in taxes -- and never will, if not forced to.

Why should we have over 800 citizens worth over $1 BILLION each, but also have people living in the street, begging, not being housed, and fed -- using taxpayer funds? Myself, I do not like seeing people on the street-corners begging.

Many of the new rich feel the same way as the rich have all along. They do not need, and therefore, do not want to have, or pay for, other Government services. Government services like -- Health and Human Services, Education, Social Security, Labor, and environmental law -- all the things the voters have been able to add over the decades.

Instead of trying to reduce the Federal Budget deficit by cutting government spending on people -- raise more money, by taxing the very rich closer to the historical rates and close the deficit.

The marginal tax rate on the rich in the 1980s was 70% the Government received 70 cents on the dollar for the very rich over a very high-income level. Today it is 37% almost half as much and applies to a single person earning over $609k/year and married is higher. How about a marginal rate of 45%, or 50%, and make it harder for them to hide their wealth? If they are worried about the budget deficient, the tax increase, could be ear-marked for that purpose.

Why does the IRS destroy everyone’s tax information after 7 years. It isn’t because of me. Being a data-analyst, I can tell you, it was put in place so the IRS cannot piece together some rich people’s hidden wealth.

With the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling – the gloves came off. Per Public Citizen, 100 people are responsible for over 70% of SuperPAC funding. In the 2022 election the 100 largest donors gave more money than 3.7 MILLION small donors combined. And the total election donation dollar amounts increased 400% in the timespan from 2014 to 2022. Campaign finance is being corrupted and is in ruins.

How do we change the Rich versus everyone else dynamic? With numbers – of people. We get to vote, and we dramatically outnumber them. We can organize without their approval. We can require change by groups collaborating -- for the greater good of all of US -- for “We the People”.

Donald Trump wounded, others being injured, and one killed by a gunman at a rally.

We all have our proverbial politics in a knot.

Social media is not helping.

Politics is more important than it needs to be. The President, our Congresspersons, plus all delegates, are too important. Why?

Because the only way to pass laws at the federal level, and in most states, is through our representatives.

Back in the beginning, rich white guys wanted freedom to form a reasonable no dictatorship/non-kingdom form of government – for their needs. Blacks, women, native Americans, and most others were to poor, to busy living hand-to-mouth, and not educated enough, to vote. The vast majority didn’t pay Federal taxes.

Now, all that is different and what happens at the federal level is about us too. Therefore, if you are not rich enough, to donate a large amount, or pay to lobby representatives directly for your viewpoint, what do you have to do to be heard?

You can use your lonely voice, or maybe donate to an issue organization that will talk with representatives and say “please … please”.

The U.S. has changed radically -- and so should our law-making pathways.

The population can communicate easily and quickly. Everyone can read and write. We pay taxes as well.

However, several reasons people do NOT vote are:

They do not see changes that would make them believe their view matters.

They are aware of the power of big money on politicians and the cost to run for office.

Many live in a district that goes the same way every election.

The younger generations do not believe Democracy works. Although, I am not sure what “works” better.

But it is obvious people still care and will vote for a good reason. One great reason is their state has a ballot initiative that inspires them. Only, 24 states currently have ballot initiatives, and they are mostly out West. With the Supreme Court going wild undoing many precedents, many states are hosting ballot initiatives to put back in place, at the state level, what the Supreme Court wiped-out at the Federal level.

Unfortunately, current ballot initiatives cannot directly address federal level issues, the topic the Proposed Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) addresses.

To increase the output of laws that the citizens support, we only need Congress to initiate the process for passage of the VVA. The VVA’s eleven articles address many issues involving transparency, timeliness, funding and more. It allows voters to create federal law ideas, many that will be supported by the majority from each party’s central base -- to directly become Federal laws.

The bottom line is -- we need and desire politicians to be less important and our individual voices more important. Allow us to set the moral, system, bound parameters and have our representatives keep the day-to-day government running smoothly.

We all desire to have our taxes applied in ways that match our worldview. The U.S. Federal budget is comprised of many spending categories.

What if our IRS tax filing included a way for each of us to express what percentage of our taxes we would apply to each spending category, not to exceed 100%? It would just be a survey; the taxes would not actually be applied as one believes they should be applied. If one doesn’t specify any percentages or specifies under 100%, the difference is applied as the percentage of each category as it is funded in the current year budget.

Then have the IRS calculate the total amounts across all tax returns and calculate the combined percentage for each spending category. Lastly, post this information on IRS.GOV, the overall taxpayer category percentage alongside each actual spending category percentage.

This would allow all of us to see how closely the combined taxpayers’ overall spending priorities map to the actual spending for each category.

For example, if one taxpayer wants all their taxes applied to defense, and another person would have their taxes all go to education, so be it. Each would indicate 100% on that category and 0% for all other categories. Most likely, their individual total dollar amounts would not match. However, it would be interesting to see how closely the overall budget percentages fit the overall desires of all the taxpayers combined. If they do come close overall, then we should all be satisfied that the Government is focusing on the needs of “We the People”. If they don’t align, this might be a call for the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA.US) .

Purpose above Politics & Power

A Key MISSING Discussion is about both the Minimum Wage and Social Security Funding

Where the Presidential debate and any campaign event falls-flat for both parties.

IF they want to discuss what matters to the majority of U.S. Voters, then the following two questions come to mind.

1. When do you plan to request a bill to increase the federal minimum wage? It currently is $7.25/ hour and last increased in 2009 – 15 years ago.

2. Do you plan to request a bill to ensure the Social Security Trust Fund stays solvent? The last plan addressing it was in the mid-1980’s – 40 years ago.

Congresspersons are complaining they have not had a raise in 15years since 2009 (Washington Post).

Their salary is stuck at $170,000/yr. Good but not great considering they having to maintain 2 households.

I almost feel as bad for them as another group of Americans that have also not had a raise since 2009 – those making the Federal minimum wage.

It has not been raised since 2009 and is a whopping $7.25 an hour.

For a 40hr/week, 50 weeks a year job, that would total to $14,500 annually.

Seriously? Lucky, many States have raised their own minimum wages to compensate.

Regardless, stop having to vote on these things. Don’t waste your time, ours, and stop knuckling-under to the big money donors that want it to remain as is.

!!!! Raise the Federal Minimum Wage annually, or every couple of years, by the annual cost-of-living (COLA). !!!!

If Social Security was not raised regularly, representatives would all be kicked out of office.

Please do the same for the people making the minimum wages.

Then your constituents may be amenable to Congress also being allowed an auto-increased wage.

Purpose above Politics & Power

By passing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing National Initiatives to be voted on and passed by the electorate — without the involvement of Congress or the President. In many ways such an Amendment could remove some of the pressure on our representatives to address legislation that is too controversial, or not on the radar of our representatives.

The Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) is non-partisan, and sets the bar to passage high enough so only straightforward and widely accepted laws will be passed. Democracy 2.0 = Voter Empowerment

This initiative will take a committed effort by many organizations to convince Congress to allow consideration of the Voter’s Voice Amendment, plus coordinated backing on the State level to get it passed. It may require new legislators elected on a platform of supporting the Voters Voice amendment to get it enacted.

The magnitude of this effort should not deter us from the opportunity to change the dynamic in our U.S. Democracy, it is needed more that ever. We CAN bring democracy into the 21st Century. There is disruption ongoing in many businesses. Political Disruption, possible today with 24×7 communication, and the Internet, allows what was not possible on a National Scale previously. We should have — and require, more choices than voting for every 2, 4, and 6 years for a representative to speak entirely on our behalf on all political issues. They have their roles to play, but often the electorate priorities are not their priorities, and sometimes even if they do align, our representatives are not able step up because of deals they must cut to get their highest priority items addressed. We do not have this limitation and are not beholden to fund raising needed to get re-elected. A major consumer of our legislators time versus working on legislation.

Your Association is committed to improving the lives of Americans, and is the type of organization critically needed to put its power behind the Voters Voice Amendment.

The IRS knows everything regarding most people’s income and deductions. All this info is submitted by employers, banks, etc. directly to the IRS. Additionally, most people’s tax returns do not change appreciatively year-to-year just the amounts.

It would be simple enough for the IRS to do each taxpayers return when they make below a certain threshold -- like the bottom 75% of filers. The IRS could send the tax return to the taxpayer for review, and if there are not any issues, they agree and obtain the stated refund, or pays the additional taxes due, without doing a return themselves.

Then the IRS could focus its energy on investigating the returns of the top 5%. The ones with “soft” income that is harder to track by not being directly reported to the IRS, as is that of all normal employees.

To ensure the richest citizens income is fully reported, not hidden or move to shell companies, and their full taxes due are paid.

With the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) at VVA.US we can make these decisions ourselves for OUR future and OUR children’s future.

We do NOT need only representatives to decide what and what we cannot have or do.

#BISC #democracy #choices #VVA #PttP #DOGE #trump #Musk #breaking #AI #work #workworkwork #rfkjr #influenceisyoursuperpower #IRS

Here we are again. October 1st is around the corner, and that is the first day of the new federal fiscal year.

Today, days away, and the political parties are still messing around, some representatives threatening to shut down the government.

Now, the very rich don't care if the government is functioning, so long as the military is not furloughed. That's their only big concern.

It's the rest of us, you know, that need those government services. We need our Social Security checks on time. We need the Department of Education, we need Health and Human Services, we need Department of Labor, etc.

When you shut down for any period-of-time, it costs US a LOT of money, it doesn't any have to be a long shutdown. The game has to stop.

One way you can make that happen is with the proposed Voter's Voice Amendment (VVA.US).

Congress has two main jobs. That's all they must do. One of them, is to confirm nominees for various government positions. But the big one is passing the Federal budget. They've got the whole year to make it happen.

With the VVA in place, Citizens would be able to pass federal level ballot initiatives. One ballot initiative idea that would prevent the Budget fight shutdowns is; if we are two weeks before the next federal fiscal year, and no FULL year fiscal budget has passed Congress with the President’s signature, then next year’s budget equals the current fiscal year budget, with automatic increases equal to the cost of living from the previous year, applied to each of the budget categories. That will comprise the full year, next fiscal year federal budget.

So, if they don't get their act together two weeks prior to the start of the next fiscal year, this rule kicks in automatically.

No government shutdowns. No time, or our tax money, wasted restarting everything. If Congress can't get the job done, we'll do it for them.

Purpose BEFORE Politics and Power

The Party of We

Democracy 2.0

Pic courtesy of incharge.org

#BISC #democracy #choices #VVA #PttP #biden #Harris #trump #breaking #AI #work #workworkwork #rfkjr #influenceisyoursuperpower

#shutdown

CEO median compensation at the top S&P-500 firms rose 12.6%, to $16.3 Million/year, according to the AP and analyzed by Equilar.

Last year’s wages and benefits of surveyed private sector employees only increased 4.1%.

Again -- more of the rich getting richer – more quickly. Raise their pay and lower their taxes. To them, the Government is an annoyance, to the rest of us -- it is a lifeline.

The Washington Post today reported that Walmart is instituting a bonus up to $1,000 per year for its 100,000’s of employees. This is a good start at allowing employees – that make the company function day-to-day – to take part in the company’s success.

They are the company’s face to its customers. The employees pay a MAJOR role in the company’s success.

What if companies were required to compensate employees similarly, albeit with lower numbers, like the CEO? With salary, but including bonuses, stock, and/or stock options?

Plus, have a seat on the Board of Directors?

The role employees play collectively is more important than the CEOs.

Today, it would take the average employee 200 years (over 4 working lifetimes) to make what the median S&P 500 CEO makes in 1 year.

This is wrong. This is minority rule. Join Power to the People (PttP.us) to change it. Join the team to pass the Voter’s Voice Amendment (VVA.US) to the U.S. Constitution. To institute majority rule by we the people, for the people, a.k.a. Democracy.

Purpose above Politics & Power

Today, it would take the average employee 200 years (over 4 working lifetimes) to make what the median S&P 500 CEO makes in 1 year (the AP and analyzed by Equilar).

Of course, there are a small percent of the rich that realize they are privileged and still care about others that are not so fortunate.

But there are others -- 25,000 Millionaires have not filed a U.S. income tax return since 2017 (Washington Post). Also, the Republican Congress trying to cut IRS enforcement funding, even though each $1 IRS enforcement spends brings in $7 in taxes.

This attempted cutting of the IRS funding efforts is in the face of an overwhelming percentage of citizens, from both parties, who do not believe the rich and corporations pay their fair share in taxes -- and never will, if not forced to.

Why should we have over 800 citizens worth over $1 BILLION each, but also have people living in the street, begging, not being housed, and fed -- using taxpayer funds? Myself, I do not like seeing people on the street-corners begging.

Many of the new rich do not need, and therefore, do not want to have, or pay for, most Government services.

Instead of trying to reduce the Federal Budget deficit by cutting government spending on people -- raise more money, by taxing the very rich closer to the historical rates and close the deficit.

With the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling – the gloves came off. Per Public Citizen, 100 people are responsible for over 70% of SuperPAC funding. In the 2022 election the 100 largest donors gave more money than 3.7 MILLION small donors combined. And the total election donation dollar amounts increased 400% in the timespan from 2014 to 2022. Campaign finance is being corrupted and is in ruins.

How do we change the Rich versus everyone else dynamic? With numbers – of people. We get to vote, and we dramatically outnumber them. We can require change by groups collaborating -- for the greater good of all of US -- for “We the People”.

Join Power to the People (PttP) as we try to pass the Voters Voice Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (VVA).

The VVA is to allow Citizen created and voted-on and pass Initiatives – that become law without representative’s being involved.

We cannot have laws to please everyone, but if all people are created equal in God’s eye’s – shouldn’t the simple majority get their way? That is Democracy.

Purpose above Politics & Power

With the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) at PttP we can make these decisions ourselves for OUR future and OUR children’s future.

We do NOT need only representatives to decide what and what we cannot have or do.

In a democracy you get what you vote for.

We all start paying Social Security (SS) and Medicare taxes on the first dollar we make. The current tax rate for social security is 6.2% for the employer and 6.2% for the employee, or 12.4% total. The current rate for Medicare is 1.45% for the employer and 1.45% for the employee, or 2.9% total. Or 7.65% for employees or 15.5% for self-employed1.

We always hear about how our income taxes are progressive, but this is largely offset by the regressive SS and Medicare taxes.

Whenever the pundits discuss taxes they only refer to income taxes, not Social Security and Medicare. So, from day-one the lowest paid individual is taxed 7.65% -- not zero as others would have you believe.

The median hourly wage—the wage at which half the workforce is paid more and half the workforce is paid less—stands at $19.33 per hour. For a full-time, full-year worker, this would translate into about $40,000 per year2.

It would be more equitable if the SS and Medicare taxes started at a higher income level and is collected above that income until the annual SS and Medicare funding targets are reached. This could be estimated ( percentage and start and end income levels) at the end of the year prior.

In 2019, $944.5 billion (89 percent) of total Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability (OASDI) Insurance income came from payroll taxes. The remainder was provided by interest earnings $80.8 billion (7.6 percent) and revenue from taxation of OASDI benefits $36.5 billion (3.4 percent)3. The hospital insurance (HI) program, or Part A of Medicare taxes totaled $277.6 billion4.

For 2020, maximum taxable earnings for SS taxes are $137,7004.

In 2019, OASDI taxes totaled about $914 billion and represented 26.4 percent of total federal receipts4.

What if we started collecting SS and Medicare taxes at 3 times the median National income level and above?

This would remove the largest taxes (other than sales taxes) that are hitting the least able to afford it.

To make SS and Medicare taxes even more fair, it would make sense to include Capital gains above the median National income as well. Why should people that do not need to work be able to skip SS and Medicare taxes? If you stay, you need to pay.

1. IRS Social Security and Medicare Tax Rates

2. Median Hourly Wage in the United States

3. Sources of OASDI Income

4. Federal Payroll Taxes and Earnings

5. Household Income Distribution in the US

The judge found the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) exceeded its authority. This decision is ironic on many levels. First that the judge thinks he has the right to challenge the FTC’s mandate. Second that the government is not allowed to interfere with negative business practices that the Chamber of Commerce and its members concoct. Like, geographic monopolies to reduce competition, choice, and cause increased prices.

Chamber of Commerce quote “This decision is a significant win the Chamber’s fight against government micromanagement of business decisions.“ Washington Post 22aug24

Why should a company be able to prevent the future employment of somebody because they worked for them? I get it, and a reasonable middle-ground is if you are key personnel agree to not share the company proprietary info and only for a few years after leaving.

23Aug24 the Washington Post indicated the Federal Labor Regulatory ruled against Amazon, stating instead that Amazon drivers are Amazon employees. This was the same trick used by Uber and even Microsoft, to claim employees work for a separate contractor, or are independent contractors (implying they sell their services to many customers in the course of business), so the real employers do not have to treat them as regular employees and follow the laws and labor agreements that pertain to their employees. Things like vacation time, health benefits, and sick leave.

Wealth is how things get done. The largest source of wealth is income. So why haven’t businesses, or either political party, supported raising the Federal minimum wage? It has been 15 years, and counting, since 2009, the last time the minimum wage was increased and only up to $7.25/hour or $14,500/year (before taxes) for full time job – pathetic. Most apartment rentals cost more than that a year.

We can do better with the VVA.

So, business can micromanage employee’s lives -- but these entities, that do not exist in the electoral process, are allowed to dictate laws?

Purpose above Politics & Power

Voters create and pass laws -- ourselves

Put term limits on the Supreme Court justices equal to 2 years times the number of justices (currently 9 justices therefore 9*2=18-year term limit) so every two years a justice must be replaced by a new candidate. They may reappointed to another seat or after the replacement Justice term limit expires.

The process occurs starting in February of a non-federal election year and must be voted on by Congress by the end-of-June that year. If the justice is not confirmed, or if a justice leaves the bench before their term ends, their replacement justice’s confirmation becomes the next upcoming reconfirmation, and reconfirmation for all other justices will be extended 2-years.

To initiate the process, the first justice to be reconfirmed will be the longest serving justice. The process will occur during the next non-congressional election year and proceeding sequentially for each justice by years served longest to shortest being last to be reconfirmed, then continuing forever.

If the number of justices is increased, the new justices will be added into to the reconfirmation process in their order of confirmation.

There are no specific rules or laws preventing our Congressional Representatives from using privileged information learned on-the-job from being used for personal gain. One key method is by buying or selling stocks before privileged corporate, or other economic information, is made available to the public, i.e., insider trading. Martha Stewart went to jail for doing the same thing. One cannot use privileged corporate information for personal gain by trading ahead of the public announcement of the information. This should be made explicitly illegal for Congress, and to prevent abuse, our Representatives while in office, should not be allowed to trade in individual stocks, or else, have their portfolio controlled by an executor. Thanks to John Stewart for making this point.

Purpose above Politics & Power

Voters create and pass laws ourselves

It turns out that a very large study, using 100,000 volunteers, finding 1.8M pieces of plastic, showed 56 companies are responsible for about 50% of the plastic found. The most common plastics found lying around are containers from refreshment companies, with Coke-cola leading the pack (Washington Post 26Apr2024).

Also, the EarthBreeze.com website indicates the numbered “recycle” symbols on the bottom of plastic containers are only plastic classification codes – not recycle codes. Of the plastics that are turned in to recycling centers, only 10% are eventually recycled --and 90% are not. Considering the other plastics going directly to landfills, or worse, we have at least 95% of plastic containers used are single-use -- and NOT recycled.

A newer discovered issue is microplastic, very fine chunks of plastic are permeating our environment – land, sea, air, and bodies. It is estimated each adult has about a credit-card size amount of microplastics in their body. As a biochemist I will say, that is not a good thing.

1. Let’s go back to buying powered products, in cardboard containers, and then at home refilling a plastic/other container, or spray bottle, with the powder dissolved in water.

2. We should go back to a few decades ago, and require deposits on refreshment containers, back then glass bottles -- to be directly reused. We could do the same thing sort-of, require a deposit to ensure the bottles are returned to be recycled into some type of product. Ten cents a bottle and 3 cents for the cap should do it. Return to a designated location to get your deposit back. The deposit back-in-the-day kept containers off the streets, out of trash cans, etc., as a kid, I made money finding and returning them myself.

If the VVA was in place today, we could turn ideas like one and two above into initiatives and possibly laws.

Purpose above Politics & Power

What an idea. Yes, you can still jump on, just leave your conscience at the door. Roth IRA retirement plan, that people over a modest income must pay taxes on their money up-front to place money in. The Government gets more revenue today, the tax boost from people stashing their money in a Roth – but NO future tax revenue — FOREVER on that money. Zilch, nada, you will be gone when the tax pooh-pooh hits the fan. Roth was billed as helping low-income people, as if they have extra money to save in an IRA making minimal wage, or better yet their employer offers a retirement plan, but of course that was only a sliver of the truth.

Roth IRAs offer many benefits—including tax-free growth and tax-free distributions—assuming you are age 59½ and you’ve held the account for at least 5 years. There are also no required minimum distributions (RMDs), making it easier to leave a tax-free inheritance to your heirs. If you want details find them yourself.

So, if all the Rich are allowed to use the Roth IRA to hide their income from taxes FOREVER. Yes, the Federal Government gets a near-term boost as people pay taxes to move money into the Roth, but then it is NEVER taxed. So, who pays? The future unfortunate decedents that do not have Roth funds from their ancestors. It is a win-win for the rich since less money means we must reduce federal spending with less taxable income. But that is okay since the rich only need Federal defense and commerce support anyhow, not to help those other people needing federal assistance with education, health, the environment, etc.

According to Investopedia, nearly 25% of the U.S. Population has a Roth IRA. The train has left the station and of course NO politicians are discussing this problem. They know it will be a different politician’s problem in the future.

Therefore, when less and less income is available for taxation (Roth retirement and benefactor revenue cannot be taxed), we will be back where we have been most or our existence – the rich have everything and everyone else has much less.

Purpose above Politics & Power

Voters create and pass laws — ourselves

Democracy is NOT winner take all.

We pay taxes — we deserve a say in how they are spent

The Rich are not always right.

In a democracy you get what you vote for.

Sample initiatives on webapp https://VVA.US

With the Voters Voice Amendment (VVA) at VVA.US and Power to the People at PTTP.US we can make these decisions ourselves for OUR future and OUR children’s future.

We do NOT need only representatives to decide what and what we cannot have or do.