Aging Capriciously

We the people and citizens of the United States of America want to return this country to responsible, ethical and efficient government.  Over the years, inevitable creep has occurred in all branches of government leading to situations that are no longer consistent with the principles and values of our Founding Fathers.  These “Ten Points for Effective and Efficient Government” would be a start to restoring the Democracy that this country was founded on.  You do not have to believe in all of these points to sign this petition, but if you believe in at least seven of the points, we hope you will sign this petition for a Government that once again is By the People, For the People and of the People.

1. Term Limits

Over the years, our population has increased in life expectancy.  Term limits would help insure that new blood and vitality is injected into our political system.  Ideally, two terms of six years each would help an elected official achieve their stated goals and aims.  These term limits would apply to all elected officials holding seats in any legislative office of the country.

2. Illegal Lobbying

Lobbying is legal bribery.  An official is given campaign money if they support the lobbyists agenda.  In other areas of business, this would be called bribery and would be illegal.  We need to make lobbying illegal in all of the government and make those trying to use money to persuade politicians guilty of bribery.

3. Limits on time in office for Supreme Court Justices

No one of the Founding Fathers ever thought that the average judge would live to 80 + years.  We need to cap a Judges tenure at 20 years.  Anything more than that puts our law in the hands of people who are no longer in touch with the average citizen.

4. Non-Partisan selection of all Federal and State Justices

The system of allowing a politician to select our Judges distorts the law and puts a bias in courtroom decisions based on political affiliations.  We need to have a non-partisan panel of legal experts who select our Federal and State Judges based on specific criteria related to professionalism, ethics and the ability to render judgements irrespective of political affiliations.

5. Campaign Spending Limits

If campaigns can be won or lost based on monetary expenditures than we do not have a government of the people.  We have a government where he or she who has the most money gets elected.  It becomes the Golden Rule:  “Whosoever has the most gold makes the rules.”  We need to have campaign spending limits and get corporations out of the business of funding political campaigns.

6. Limits to holding elected offices consecutively

It will not do any good to have term limits if elected officials can simply jump to another government position either elected or appointed.  We need to insure a turnover of all elected and appointed government officials.  This can only be assured my limiting the number of political offices that they can hold consecutively whether appointed or elected.  We do not need lifers in Government but people who bring new visions and new skills.  We should limit the number of combined elected or appointed political positions that can be held to no more than three positions for a total of no more than 18 years which would combine both appointments and elections.

7. Funding for Elected Officials during Government Shutdowns

When Congress cannot do its duty by funding the government and employees can not receive a paycheck, than Congress should also have their paychecks suspended for the duration of the shutdown.  As they say, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

8. Compulsory National Service for all US Citizens

Every American Citizen at the age of 18 must elect for National Service of either two or four years.  This obligation can be satisfied by either military or civilian service such as the Peace Corp or other civilian programs.  Two years would be the minimum for compulsory service.  Two years of National Service would earn two year of paid education benefits.  Four years of National Service would earn four years of paid education benefits.

9. Caps on all budgets including Military, Education, Health Care

Government cannot be fiscally responsible when politicians are free to print all the money they want to spend.  We need mandatory caps on all budgets to insure that good financial policy is followed.  It is too easy for money to be allocated when there is no ceiling to how much can be spent.  Can you imagine what would happen in your home if you were free to just spend as much money as you wanted to?

10. Campaign Communication Integrity

There is a myth that Free Speech means you can say anything you want to.  This is not true.  Our democracy depends on truth and respect.  Today’s campaigns too often rely on misinformation, personal attacks, and division.  We call for stronger accountability for knowingly false or defamatory statements and a return to fact-based, civil debate.  This is not about limiting free speech—it is about restoring trust, honesty, and integrity in our elections.  We need to restore civility and open mindedness to the campaign process.  We have demonized other parties, slandered opponents, descended to lies and name calling to the extent that they have become commonplace in our elections.  We need to restore human decency to elections.

Petition Summary

This petition represents a call from citizens who believe that the strength of the United States lies not only in its founding ideals, but in our willingness to renew them.  Over time, the structures of government have evolved in ways that many feel no longer reflect the balance, accountability, and ethical standards envisioned at the nation’s founding. This proposal outlines ten practical reforms designed to restore trust, improve efficiency, and reestablish a government that truly serves its people.

These reforms focus on limiting excessive concentration of power, reducing the influence of money in politics, ensuring fairness and impartiality in the judicial system, and promoting shared civic responsibility. They are not intended to favor any political party or ideology, but rather to strengthen the integrity of the system itself.

If you support the majority of these principles, we invite you to sign this petition and join in a constructive effort to help guide our nation toward a more accountable, effective, and unified future—one that lives up to the enduring promise of government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

If you want to add your name to this petition.  Send a copy to me at persico.john@gmail.com.  I will compile as many names as I can to eventually send to media and elected officials. 

If you are comfortable doing so and can support 70 percent of the ideas in this petition, than would you please help share this petition.  Names can be sent back to me at Persico.john@gmail.com  I will compile as many names as I can to use in contacting media and elected officials.  I have no naïve beliefs that in the short term this will change anything.  However, if over time we can all stand up for the things that really matter, we may eventually have a tidal wave that will sweep away the old system and usher in a new era of peace, justice and equality for all.