Announcing a Petition to Audit High Government Officials
James Madison, our beloved fourth President, a founding father, and by many considered not only to be the principle author of the Constitution but the “Father of the Constitution” is credited with the quote: "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted”. It is in the spirit of the founders, and in acknowledgment of the wisdom of James Madison and others, that we call for an annual financial audit by the IRS for specific men and women having power at our national level.
Our first amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Clearly the founders expected that Government will be petitioned for redress of grievances. In this case, the grievance is a loss of confidence in government due to the appearance of tax impropriety among many who hold or have been considered for high office, both elected and appointed. In first amendment terms, the grievance then is “We have lost confidence in the financial integrity of officials with regard to their proper payment of taxes,” and the redress required is "to be subject to an annual tax audit" to restore that confidence.
When we first considered a petition in support of this concept, the very first questions that crossed our minds were:
First of all, a petition that is workable - is actionable. Something should happen as a result of the petition (or request if you prefer). Since government typically grinds along at a lethargic pace, we have to both ask for something that can be done now, and something that will be systematic and long lasting.
So the very first action requested is that those in high office to submit to our wishes and volunteer to be audited. This requires no legislation, and no party support. It is a decision of conscience for every individual official. Unless there is a severe tax violation, perhaps the other significant implication of this decision is how the Representative, Senator, or Official would be seen by their peers. Would they be seen as “breaking ranks” with those with whom they work? Talk about peer pressure! Can you imagine one official saying to another, "Representative X is making us all look bad with this tax audit thing!"
This brand of ironic and intense peer pressure advocates not standing out as “better than the other guy”. It’s a tragic commentary that those who have competed to be best, who have run campaigns showing why they are better qualified and able than the next guy, now might be willing to settle for mediocrity in financial accountability. But none the less, the first thing we can do is ask for them to comply, and to have the summary results of the audit released.
Second, there has to be a willingness on the part of the IRS to make the release. They don't do this now, so it's something new for them. That means that the Secretary of the Treasury, under direction from the President, must make an operational plan to support both the audit and the summary disclosure. Since the President is the Chief Executive, he sets the direction, and the Treasury must follow his mandate. So the second paragraph calls on the President to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to act.
Finally, the long term. It will take some time to put this idea on the legislative agenda and to drive it through to completion. There is absolutely no way that Congress will self impose this type of mandate unless they believe is is the lesser of two evils. The worst evil for a Representative or Senator (I’m sure this sounds pretty cynical, but it’s all too true) is to lose their seat. So our elected officials need to think that they either do this, or they are thrown out. What would make them believe that? Massive public outcry. A flood of letters to their offices and emails stating that they will not get a vote if they don’t undertake this initiative.
We ask the President to make this his initiative. To take a dose of this medicine, and lead, by volunteering himself for an audit. We then ask him to draft and submit to Congress legislation making this annual audit and disclosure process the law of the land. We call for the President not to give up.
So the petition asks for immediate actions. It has a plan to actually do something. It looks to short and long term. And it specifically calls on both Members of Congress, and High Executive Branch Officials, to act now, with individual integrity, and without regard for their peers.
We’ve seen a thousand petitions. Usually, they are not as focused and explicit as we would like to see, This one is very clear, very focused, and very do-able. It only requires 60 Senators and and a majority of the 435 Representatives to commit an act of individual conscience, then follow it up with their support for their own act.
Unlike at the time of Madison, we today have a communication resource with the power to rapidly express any concept to millions of Americans, and to collect their responses. Because of this liberty, we have proposed an Internet based petition.
And we ask for your zipcode, so we can say that a certain number of Minnesotans, or Floridians, or Californians support this to their Senators and Representatives. Please rest assured we will not spam you, sell your address, or otherwise be obnoxious. We may send you a note informing you of how this effort is going, and suggesting an action from time to time. Your zip code also lets us craft a link to your Congressional Representative’s email or other address, in case you would like to craft a message to them directly, making this easier for you.
I think we can all agree that it’s time to see a bit more personal integrity in action. Please support this initiative. Let’s get this one done for America. Sign Here: www.ipetitions.com/petition/AuditCongress/index.html
Pete Langlois
Our first amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Clearly the founders expected that Government will be petitioned for redress of grievances. In this case, the grievance is a loss of confidence in government due to the appearance of tax impropriety among many who hold or have been considered for high office, both elected and appointed. In first amendment terms, the grievance then is “We have lost confidence in the financial integrity of officials with regard to their proper payment of taxes,” and the redress required is "to be subject to an annual tax audit" to restore that confidence.
When we first considered a petition in support of this concept, the very first questions that crossed our minds were:
For what is the petition asking?Let’s decompose some of the problems regarding how a petition can really do some good, and see how the petition meets these questions.
Who is the petition asking?
First of all, a petition that is workable - is actionable. Something should happen as a result of the petition (or request if you prefer). Since government typically grinds along at a lethargic pace, we have to both ask for something that can be done now, and something that will be systematic and long lasting.
So the very first action requested is that those in high office to submit to our wishes and volunteer to be audited. This requires no legislation, and no party support. It is a decision of conscience for every individual official. Unless there is a severe tax violation, perhaps the other significant implication of this decision is how the Representative, Senator, or Official would be seen by their peers. Would they be seen as “breaking ranks” with those with whom they work? Talk about peer pressure! Can you imagine one official saying to another, "Representative X is making us all look bad with this tax audit thing!"
This brand of ironic and intense peer pressure advocates not standing out as “better than the other guy”. It’s a tragic commentary that those who have competed to be best, who have run campaigns showing why they are better qualified and able than the next guy, now might be willing to settle for mediocrity in financial accountability. But none the less, the first thing we can do is ask for them to comply, and to have the summary results of the audit released.
Second, there has to be a willingness on the part of the IRS to make the release. They don't do this now, so it's something new for them. That means that the Secretary of the Treasury, under direction from the President, must make an operational plan to support both the audit and the summary disclosure. Since the President is the Chief Executive, he sets the direction, and the Treasury must follow his mandate. So the second paragraph calls on the President to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to act.
Finally, the long term. It will take some time to put this idea on the legislative agenda and to drive it through to completion. There is absolutely no way that Congress will self impose this type of mandate unless they believe is is the lesser of two evils. The worst evil for a Representative or Senator (I’m sure this sounds pretty cynical, but it’s all too true) is to lose their seat. So our elected officials need to think that they either do this, or they are thrown out. What would make them believe that? Massive public outcry. A flood of letters to their offices and emails stating that they will not get a vote if they don’t undertake this initiative.
We ask the President to make this his initiative. To take a dose of this medicine, and lead, by volunteering himself for an audit. We then ask him to draft and submit to Congress legislation making this annual audit and disclosure process the law of the land. We call for the President not to give up.
So the petition asks for immediate actions. It has a plan to actually do something. It looks to short and long term. And it specifically calls on both Members of Congress, and High Executive Branch Officials, to act now, with individual integrity, and without regard for their peers.
We’ve seen a thousand petitions. Usually, they are not as focused and explicit as we would like to see, This one is very clear, very focused, and very do-able. It only requires 60 Senators and and a majority of the 435 Representatives to commit an act of individual conscience, then follow it up with their support for their own act.
Unlike at the time of Madison, we today have a communication resource with the power to rapidly express any concept to millions of Americans, and to collect their responses. Because of this liberty, we have proposed an Internet based petition.
And we ask for your zipcode, so we can say that a certain number of Minnesotans, or Floridians, or Californians support this to their Senators and Representatives. Please rest assured we will not spam you, sell your address, or otherwise be obnoxious. We may send you a note informing you of how this effort is going, and suggesting an action from time to time. Your zip code also lets us craft a link to your Congressional Representative’s email or other address, in case you would like to craft a message to them directly, making this easier for you.
I think we can all agree that it’s time to see a bit more personal integrity in action. Please support this initiative. Let’s get this one done for America. Sign Here: www.ipetitions.com/petition/AuditCongress/index.html
Pete Langlois
Comments