by Mel Rodriguez

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 12, 2009

It is common sense to read a contract prior to signing it. The reason is simple. If you do not read the contract prior to placing your John Hancock on it, there is a fair possibility that you could be agreeing to something that you do not believe to be necessary or place your personal wealth in danger of being taken due to some clause in that contract.

This is common sense and that is what is lacking in the legislature. Those that we have elected to office do not approach their jobs as we do. Carefully applying our skills to create a product or service that will eventually secure our employ.

There are standards to be met and consequences for not meeting the standards set for by your employer. What standards do legislators have to follow? What are the consequences if they do not follow those standards? These are not questions about ethics, morals, code of conduct etc.

This is about doing the job that this elected official was sent to do at the office he or she presides over. The work that legislators do would have to be accounted for and minimum requirements should be enforced with financial penalties attached.

If you or I were absent from work for a predetermined amount of time our employment would be terminated. If the public at large did not perform the tasks set forth by thier employer, they would be terminated. Most employers require a certain amount of hours be spent working to collect wages for the work performed. These are basic principles that apply to the majority of people that have some type of employment.

Legislators should be required to at least be present and vote on 85% of the legislation presented to the legislature. Where does 85% come from? That's a ball park figure of the amount of time anyone cannot perform their job and still be employed. To ensure that legislators read the bills they are voting on, there must be consequences for not reading the bills.

Maybe, if it is found that the particular legislator has not read the bill he or she has voted on then that vote does not count. Maybe, a system can be put in place for those who did not read bills where, after a certain number of instances, that person would not be allowed to run for reelection.

The point to this is that there are no consequences for those who don't do the job that they were elected to outside of losing reelection. Too much damage can be done with lazy legislators getting reelected time and again. The bottom line is that we all have standards to meet at whatever job we do. There should be a minimum amount of standards set forth to those who supposedly are serving the public.

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