There have been different versions of the idea of a 28th Amendment floating around the internet since the last government shutdown in 1996 (I can't take credit for all the text here, but some of it). Somehow we become complacent and end up doing nothing about it. This last shutdown just serves as another example of how "we the people" are the furthest things from the minds of our representatives. Let's take the power back by creating a very specific amendment to the constitution that gets ratified by the states and doesn't need congressional approval. This has NEVER been done before, so let's make it happen for the 1st time! This is America after all - as Lincoln said: a "government of the people, by the people, for the people". 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. The Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in options provided by The Affordable Care Act. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/31/13. Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

The across-the-board cuts set to go into effect at the end of the week will hurt the economy, and they should be stopped. But if Congress insists on cutting anyone's salary, they should cut their own paychecks first. In fact, they have proposed a 20% across-the-board pay cut for 800,000 federal employees--all while leaving their salaries safely intact. If hardworking employees will see an unexpected pay cut because Congress can’t get its own job done, shouldn’t our Congress members also see a pay cut? After all, we pay their salaries. As a family member of several government employees, I am seeing firsthand the devastating impact these cuts have on our local communities. Why should our congressional representatives and our President not make the same sacrifice, if they're really representing the best interests of their constituents? The least they can do is cut their own salaries first. Because of the 27th amendment, Congress can't change their salaries until 2014, but if the sequester happens, it'll cut public services for the next ten years. So Congress needs to make sure that the next Congress, and every one after that, also feels the cut. Instead, they specifically exempted their own salaries.

Give the people a greater, louder voice in and on what is happening in our Congress, other than what is communicated by corporate media and pundits. We stand with President Obama! Put all people in our government back to work!

Convince our Congresspersons to think for themselves. End grandstanding "Games" that only play with governing and GOVERN.

The effects on the economy from the government shutdown are much further-reaching than most people realize. We are in the process of selling our home. The purchaser is getting a federal FHA loan. The sale of our home has been stopped as no loans are being processed due to the shutdown. The shutdown is damaging our already fragile economic recovery. The forfeiture of pay is the least Congress can do to prove they are sincere in their efforts to provide a government worthy of our citizens and to prove that we are all in this together. It's time they start making decisions that not only affect us but also them.

The government shutdown has cost 800,000 individuals their paychecks. Lawmakers should not be able to furlough other government workers while being paid for their political tantrum. Locally, here in Colorado, the government shutdown has significantly slowed our rebuilding efforts after a devastating flood. The shutdown has also made access to Estes Park--a town hard hit by the flood--even more difficult by closing one of two two-lane roads left by the flood for access. Personally, my husband was hired into a government position after a year and a half of almost no employment. He was working his government job for six weeks before the shutdown. If government officials want a shutdown, they should have to experience what a shutdown means to all the lives they are affecting.

I, like most of the citizens of the U.S., have an overall dissatisfaction with our elected Senators and Representatives, with little to no recourse when they do not perform their responsibilities at a high level. As shown in public opinion approval polls, Congress receives 10-15% approval ratings with no accountability other than to not re-elect them 2-6 years during elections. The citizens of the United States should be able to fire elected officials who continue to not work for their constituents.

Closing the government affects tens of thousands of honest, hardworking employees, and their families, and because their services are unavailable, the security and economy of the nation is being put at risk.

This petition is designed to help put our government back to work and to right the wrongs created by the recent shutdown of the federal government. Our country's security is at risk and too many people, including children and families, have been hurt by the recent shutdown, which needs to end immediately.

The members of Congress are out of touch with the people of the United States. The pains of delays in Social Security payments, National Guard furloughs, and farm payments are ones that the members of Congress should be feeling.

To whom it may concern, As I prepare to file and pay my Federal United States taxes I find myself contemplating all of the resources and fundamental services that federal taxes are funded and supported by, including our beautiful national parks, United States Congress, Federal assistance and food programs, Veteran benefits and many, many more. Much of what makes this county prosperous and productive is funded through our federal budget and, of course, through the taxes of hard-working Americans like myself. However, in October of 2013, the government “shut down” at the expense of the American public and these necessary services which US citizens need and enjoy. As a result of this shut-down, people’s needs, desires, and plans were compromised and destroyed because members of congress, those of which we pay their salaries, could not compromise with each other, therefore allowing the American public to suffer at their expense. Weddings were canceled, long-term plans ruined, benefits restricted, and availability of American pastimes and monuments were cut off, even for America’s bravest heroes. Since the US Government was shut down for this period of time and these services were not opened, there is not a need for them to be funded during this time. Federal employees could not work and need to be paid for the time they were not permitted to do their jobs, however there is no reason why members of Congress should receive their larger-than-life salaries for these days, and alternate taxes which pay for the maintenance and upkeep of these services which were cut do not need to be paid for. Therefore, it only makes rational sense that US citizens should NOT have to pay ANY federal taxes during the time of the shut down. It only makes sense, we have to pay our electric or water bills based on the amount we use, since we’re not using Federal services, we should not have to pay. Tax filing for the year 2013 needs to include tax-free or extremely low taxes for the days the government is shut down in order to pay the salaries of federal workers who are the ones suffering here, NOT for those in Congress who forced the American public to suffer through their stubborn bickering. We as American citizens stand together to say NO federal taxes during the shut-down. When the government re-opens we will also re-open our wallets and enjoy the services funded by them however until then there is not a reason we should have to pay taxes. If we are forced to pay taxes during the days the government was shut down, in order to fund programs and services that have been suspended, it is STEALING, which is punishable by our own Federal laws. We will not serve as Pawns in a game controlled by a few which influences most Americans rights and services. Regards, The American Public

Mr. President, This letter is to let you know that I support your decision to hold your ground in the current round of budget negotiations. I am appalled by the tactics being utilized by some in the GOP to use the funding of the government as leverage against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). My issue is actually beyond the ACA. What is at stake are the fundamentals of how laws are made, challenged and upheld in this democracy. This is critical to the operation of our government as we know it. The ACA was created from the result of a collaboration of efforts in Congress, and subsequently passed by Congress and signed into law in 2010. This is the typical route a bill takes to become the law of the land. The ACA was further legitimized after it was challenged and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012. We understand that the law is legitimate. We also understand that many people may not support the law. This is part of the democratic process and is to be expected. However, detractors in Congress should not be able to hold the government hostage just to express dissent against a law they disagree with. There are other avenues to propose alternative bills to modify the one that is already in place. What the GOP is advocating sets a dangerous precedent for our democracy and for our country. Therefore, I ask you to not cave to the pressures of the GOP. While they are entitled to their opinions, their tactics are wrong, not American, and might even be considered treason. Stand your ground and fight to keep the law (in its entirety) that was properly upheld by both branches of Congress and the highest court in the land. We are ready to hunker down and fight. We support you. Your courage at this most pivotal time will ensure that the democratic process remains intact for our posterity.