POINTS EXPLAINED
1. Regulate and Break Up the Banks: Reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act.

Why - Basically the Glass-Steagall Act was created shortly after the stock market crash in 1929 which began the great depression. This act separated banks from investment firms. Having no separation of the two was a major contributing factor to the meltdown in 1929 In the 1990's both democrats and republicans were guilty of removing this regulation which left banks to again invest in aggressive and irresponsible ways leading, in part, to the meltdown of 2008. The Glass-Steagall Act must be reinstated or we are doomed to repeat the same failure.

2. Significantly increase taxes for short term gains.

Why - Investing in the stock market is good. Owning stock is becoming a part owner in a company. The purpose is to invest in a company, providing capitol to help that company grow, and in turn benefit by the growth of that company through a significant stock price increase, or through the regular payment of dividends. Day traders destroy this purpose They could care less about quality companies or investing in those companies. They are interested only in slight fluctuations that they can manipulate for short term gains. Their actions cause wider swings in the market, fear, uncertainty, and greed. Large firms and those with large amounts of cash have a much greater chance of success, where the small investor is left watching his or her mutual funds and stock prices fluctuate wildly, in part, because of day trading. One good solution is to increase taxes significantly for day traders. We would suggest a tax of 90% on gains of 15 days or less, 75% on gains of 16 to 30 days, 50% on gains of 61 to 90 days, 45% on gains of 91 to 120 days, and maintain the current rates of tax on trades of greater than 90 days. (The current rates are 35% on gains of less than a year and 15% on capitol gains over a year.)

3. Make shorting the market Illegal.

Why - Most people do not understand what "shorting the market" is. Picture selling your neighbors house without them knowing anything about it. Then hoping the price drops and buying that same house back and pocketing the money. Your neighbor need not ever know That is basically what happens with your stock when someone shorts the market. Like short term day trading, this defeats the purpose of the stock market. This very act drives stock prices down wildly at times, puts massive risk in play, and is used primarily by investment firms, hedge funds, and the wealthy. An end to all shorting of the market will not only bring stability to stock prices, but will create a more even playing field between the average investor and the investment firms.

4. Put an end to all Hedge Funds.

Why - Two words, PONZI SCHEMES. Not all hedge funds are ponzi schemes, but almost all ponzi schemes these days are hedge funds. Hedge funds all only available to "sophisticated" and wealthy investors by law, who pool their money to invest in unregulated and unwatched ways. These funds should be regulated in all ways the same as average investors. (One warning - when all hedge funds are shut down there will be a HUGE exposing of ponzi schemes. If you are investing in a hedge fund take all your money out before such legislation passes.)

5. Remove all stock options and bonus’s from executive pay and require shareholder votes for salary approval.

Why - Corporate officers and executives should not be allowed to receive stock options or bonuses as compensation. They should have a clearly defined salary which is voted upon by the shareholders. Stock options allow them to avoid a great deal in taxes but encourages them to manipulate the stock price of their company as they slowly dump said stock (i.e. Enron). All corporate officers should be forced to receive their pay as salaries the way the majority of their employees do, and thus
pay taxes like everyone. We also favor a mandatory vote by all shareholders
required for each executives compensation in the same manner the board is voted on.

6. Term limits.

Why - Let's face it, money buys elections and money buys politicians. The axiom reads, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". The longer a politician serves the more corrupt they become and the more money is spent to influence that politician. Simply put we demand a one term limit for those serving in the House of Representatives, a one term limit for the Senate, and a two term limit for the presidency - for their lifetime!

Pundits will tell you that we need quality people to serve longer, thus implying that those serving are better qualified than the average citizen. We disagree. Our country is filled with people who would perform in a much better manner than the current lifetime politicians.
Seeing our congress filled with teachers, firefighters, small business owners, housewives, baristas, and the like, would be a vast improvement to the lying narcissists who currently infest our leadership positions.

7. A constitutional amendment to maintain a balanced budget!

Why - No explanation needed here - the government should NEVER be allowed to spend more than it has! EVER. Families can't do it. Individuals can't do it. Small businesses can't do it. When they do they go bankrupt and destroy themselves. This must happen before our politicians destroy our country by overspending.

8. Change Social Security

Why - When Social Security began, the average life span of the American worker was 61 years old. Social security was designed to start paying when someone OUTLIVED their lifespan and start providing extra (not all) support when they reached 62 years old. Since then our lifespan has increased significantly. We do not suggest that those living on social security should in anyway suffer. However we do suggest that the age should be gradually increased before it's too late. A simple fix would be to increase the age one month for every year you have until retirement beginning with people who are 55 and younger. In other words if you are 55 and have 12 years to go before you reach 67 (the age for receiving full benefits)... you would now able to receive your benefit at age 68. For a 45 year old it would mean their benefit period would begin 22 months later. A 35 year old would receive benefits 32 months later - thus a 35 year old would be able to receive full social security benefits at 69 1/2 years old. This age needs to increase until it reaches our average lifespan and then capped. In addition Social Security now allows for someone to begin receiving reduced benefits early at age 62. This early retirement age also must be increased before it's too late. We suggest age 65.

9. Reduce Pork Spending!

Why - The current system is manipulated by our politicians. If one politician is needed to vote a certain way, then that politician is basically bribed by the other politicians. "Mr Senator we need you to vote for our bill. If you do so, we will add to our bill a line that gives your state 50 million to study the effects of alligators farting methane gas in Alaska." A Simple way to curb this is to give the president the line item veto power. A line item veto will allow the president to veto many pork belly projects.

10. A Congressional pay cut to match the average salary of all US citizens.

Why - Congressmen and women love to claim that they are, "public servants".
Servants should not be making 4 times the salary of those they serve. In addition congress should receive no pay if they do not pass a budget by the appointed time each year.