Here's a petition I think America can, and should, get behind

If only there was enough time to give this thing some teeth:

An online petition seeking to hold the President and Congress accountable by withholding their paychecks and healthcare benefits until the “Fiscal Cliff” is avoided, and an agreement solving the agonizing crisis is reached, was created on the White House website on December 3, 2012.

The section of the White House website called “We the People” allows user-generated petitions from members of the American public to suggest specific policies and proposals to President Obama’s administration. If a particular petition receives 25,000 online signatures, then the proposal will receive a review from the White House and an official response from President Obama.

The petition to withhold the pay and benefits of members of Congress and the President is conditioned on a requirement that they reach an accord on the so-called “Fiscal Cliff”, which is a punishing combination of much higher tax rates across all income levels, newtaxes on 26 million Americans in the form of the Alternative Minimum Tax, the expiration of the payroll tax, dramatic increase in the “death tax” on estates, and deep cuts in defense and Medicare. The crisis must be resolved by President Barack Obama and the Congress by January 1 to avoid the fiscal cliff, which will total $100 billion of spending cuts and $400 billion in tax hikes in 2013.

The petition specifically suggests withholding the paychecks and medical benefits – as well as permanently reducing the pay - of all members of Congress and President Obama until the fiscal cliff is solved, stating:

“Congress and the President must forfeit their pay and healthcare benefits until the fiscal cliff is resolved. And they must pass a solution, not a stop-gap. And, if they miss the Jan 1 deadline, all of Congress and the President must take a permanent 15% pay cut. Their pay cannot be raised for two years. ‘The American People’ that both sides constantly regale live in this sort of world (do your job or don't get paid). If it is good enough for us, it's good enough for them.”

In order to receive a review and official response from President Obama, the petition must receive 25,000 online signatures within 30-days, which is January 2, 2013. Ironically, that is the same day the tax hikes and spending cuts in the fiscal cliff would be due to go into effect, following the New Year’s holiday.

It's got It needs 21,159 at the time of this posting.  You will need to register on the White House site to sign it.

If only.

Comments

[Tom Madden]

"It's got 21,159 at the time of this posting." Looks like that many more are needed. I just signed it and these were the stats displayed:
SIGNATURES NEEDED BY JANUARY 02, 2013 TO REACH GOAL OF 25,000 = 20,910
TOTAL SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION = 4,090

[Rick]

You're right Tom... I misread the petition... correcting post...

[General P. Malaise]

the fiscal cliff is a leftist word play to screw over the conservatives.

there is no cliff just a debt problem manufactured so the the liberals win and conservative lose ..and they will lose. why? because the engage the liberals instead of saying no more spending. but the conservatives (who aren't really conservatives as in GOP) will try to meet the liberals half way ..every time the conservatives try to compromise and the liberals never do.

the petition should be where is the birth certificate and followed by where is the fraud conviction followed by conviction for high crimes. PERIOD.