SOCIAL: contract for america

[Adrian.Cotter at sierraclub.org]

An interesting idea to issue a new contract for america.
http://www.davidbrin.com/contract.html
even if you might think--"that's a lame idea that democrats would just be
seen as imitators"--the actual contract he proposese I think is a fine one.

In case you don't remember the Republican contract, the text is in the
article... but I have placed the the opening  below -- I'm not sure if I
should laugh or cry at how far they have fallen from this...

Adrian


As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens
seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but
even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and
their elected representatives.

That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer
instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with
no fine print.

This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party
control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way
Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is
too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the
beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of
the American family.

Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act "with
firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore
accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To
make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.

On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will
immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith
and trust of the American people in their government:

FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply
equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a
comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by
one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by
implementing zero base-line budgeting.