What's something we could do to change something small in CO?

[Irving]

I've been thinking about convincing the DOW to give out free fishing licenses to people who show up to clean up a local lake, stream, pond, fisherie, etc for a day.

I've also mentioned working together to write up a bill that will hold all elected officials to a higher standard than civilians. Something where there is a minimum threshold, and any crime committed (while in office or running) at or above that level will come with a MANDATORY jail/prison sentence. Politician wants to raise our taxes but is later found to have been dodging paying his/her own taxes? Immediate jail time. If they don't like the rules, don't run for office.

[OgenRwot]

I've been thinking about convincing the DOW to give out free fishing licenses to people who show up to clean up a local lake, stream, pond, fisherie, etc for a day.

Great idea

I've also mentioned working together to write up a bill that will hold all elected officials to a higher standard than civilians. Something where there is a minimum threshold, and any crime committed (while in office or running) at or above that level will come with a MANDATORY jail/prison sentence. Politician wants to raise our taxes but is later found to have been dodging paying his/her own taxes? Immediate jail time. If they don't like the rules, don't run for office.

Violates the 14th Amendment, which is a good one I might add

[Irving]

What specifically does it violate?

[OgenRwot]

Equal protection under the law. You can't have different penalties for different groups of people.

ETA:
Also check into the Civil Rights Bill of 1866. This put into law that

All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other

[Irving]

You can when the person is in a position of trust, no?

[OgenRwot]

Pretty sure that's only with minors and the disabled.

[Irving]

Hmm, interesting. That would make sense.

[IShouldDoThisAllTheTime]

I've also mentioned working together to write up a bill that will hold all elected officials to a higher standard than civilians. Something where there is a minimum threshold, and any crime committed (while in office or running) at or above that level will come with a MANDATORY jail/prison sentence. Politician wants to raise our taxes but is later found to have been dodging paying his/her own taxes? Immediate jail time. If they don't like the rules, don't run for office.

I submit that this would discourage honest people from running for office AND be a goldmine for incumbents.

Think about the tens of thousands of badly written, opaque, and selectively enforced laws and regulations on the books. Sane legal scholars across the political spectrum state that it's virtually impossible for a person to go an entire day without unwittingly committing a crime.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...keep-straight/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

Think about the O'Donnell nonsense happening in Delaware right now, and that's just because she once admitted to being a silly teenager. Think about the Whitman debacle in California, where she actually did everything right. In these cases the stakes are embarrassment and potentially losing an election. Now imagine if an incumbent DA could actually have a challenger thrown in jail for the duration of the election.

I'm already worried about the O'Donnell and Whitman cases causing everyday folks to decide that running for office isn't worth the risk. If we're truly going to be a nation of self-government, then people actually have to get out there and get themselves into the government rather than leaving it to 1) professional politicians and 2) people who don't plan to be around when things fall apart.

I draw parallels to the parts of Sarbanes-Oxley which make officers of a corporation personally legally liable for the actions of that corporation. Who's going to sign up to be liable for the actions of 200,000 employees? I suspect that the real effect is to drive away honest folks and leaves things in the hands of those who are corrupt and wiley enough to avoid prosecution.

If you want to do something small and meaningful, campaign door-to-door for someone you support. If there isn't anyone you support, run for office -- especially local office, where one person CAN make a difference. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Elections are won and lost by ground-game, so vote and get people you know to do it too.

[Irving]

Can people go a single day without going over a certain threshold of law breaking though? For example, I'm not positive, but pretty sure I've gone more than one day in a row without committing a felony. Pretty sure...

[IShouldDoThisAllTheTime]

The point of both links I provided is that you *can't* be sure. Even worse, if you state to a federal law enforcement officer that you have not committed a felony today, and you turn out to be wrong (not lying -- *wrong*) that is itself a felony. Just ask Martha Stewart.

The point is to not give more tools to the would-be Stalins of the world. They've got more than enough.