Politicians this year have echoed the sentiment of the American people
that we need substantial change in the way that politics is working in
Washington and around the nation. The fact that “the system is broken”
is widely accepted. But no new President -- or Congress -- elected in
2008 can change much as long as corruption prevails. Bribery of public
officials and the corruption of public office must be stopped. Let’s do
just that!

Do not for a moment believe those who say “but bribery is already
illegal.” In fact, it has been institutionalized by corrupt
politicians. Most specifically, corruption has been legalized in the
way that political campaigns are funded and conducted “under prevailing
law” Real change can only come if the power is returned to the people,
rescued from the hands of lobbyists and special interests motivated by
greed rather than the public good.

We therefore propose the below Constitutional Amendment to prohibit
bribery and the sale of public office. But, how can we get such an
amendment passed under the prevailing system? It would seem impossible
-- but it is not.

We suggest that you forward this amendment to ALL of your elected
officials (national, state, and local) and ask them to support it. If
they do not respond, or if they try to argue that prevailing law is
enough, refuse to vote for them -- ever! Vote only for candidates who
are pledged to support this idea. Remember that Constitutional
Amendments must pass the proper number of State legislatures as well.

We suggest that you forward this amendment to each candidate for the
Presidency (or any office where you vote) in all political parties, and
say that you intend only to vote for persons who supports the REAL
change that this amendment can make. Do not vote for anyone, even the
candidate of your favorite party, if that person is unwilling to change
the present broken system.

If you have not been voting due to disgust with the system, register
now! Register as “independent” if you wish, but put good government
before political affiliation.

Constitutional Amendment against Bribery

1) Bribery of any public official of the United States or of any of
the several States shall constitute a felony. The solicitation or
receipt of bribery by such persons shall constitute a felony and is a
high crime against this Constitution. This amendment shall not be
construed to lessen the seriousness of any crime covered by existing
legislation.

2) The public offence of bribery includes the offering or giving of
payment in any shape or form that it may be a motive in the performance
of official functions for which the proper motive is a conscientious
sense of duty as accepted by such public official by his or her Oath or
Affirmation to support this Constitution.

3) The same laws against bribery that currently affect appointed
officials in each jurisdiction, shall also affect elected officials and
judges. Bribery may not be disguised in the form of gifts to family
members or associates, campaign contributions, or commitments for future
employment.

4) Public office involving policy-making functions or policy
implementation, may not be bought or sold. This applies to governmental
positions of the United States and of the several States. The buying or
selling of such a public office shall constitute a felony under this
Constitution. Persons seeking elective office shall not spend in such
pursuit of election a sum of personal funds that is more than half of
the salary to be earned while in that office; to do so shall constitute
an effort to buy public office.

5) Honest government, being necessary to the security of a free State,
elected public officials shall be paid salaries that are independently
adjudged to be commensurate with their responsibilities.

6) The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.

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For purposes of Googling, etc., this amendment is cited as the
“gilroyinitiative”
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vivi
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