Outline for Proposed “Sustainable USA” Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
- This first amendment is a mandate (like a balanced budget amendment) for the nation to maintain an adequate water supply; in perpetuity.
- Amendment 2 adopts, nearly verbatim, the 1994 Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights. – This creates the feedback mechanism for interactive public website access to debates concerning environmental issues.
-
Tax credits for individuals, businesses, and municipalities converting to
energy and water efficiency systems.
- In support of amendment 3 it will be necessary to establish criteria for energy and water efficiency levels. Many engineering resources are available. Ex. Rocky Mountain Institute and Japan for Sustainability.
- In support of amendment 3 it will be necessary to mandate new plumbing codes for the utilization of ‘grey’ water and other water efficiency techniques.
- Each unique ‘area’ of the country will work, in conjunction,
with the federal mandates to create and implement a structure for
increased resource efficiency.
- The structures for increased resource efficiency should make use of every applicable alternative energy source (including, but not limited to: wind, solar, wave, bicycle powered generators, the human foot, etc.)
- At the heart of every resource management program is the reduction in non-essential energy consumption.
- Wherever possible, municipalities will establish centrally located (organic) farms to decrease the need for long distance transportation of produce. – (Organic to decrease the toxic load on the water cycle)
- The government shall aid in the research and conversion of all farms,(small and large scale) to organic practices.
In addition to these proposed amendments: We, The People:
Need to create new incentives, like tax-defferred Government Bonds, for the wealthy to invest in the future of this country. And, to aid that incentive, we will also need to get realistic about a graduated tax that reaches towards a very high rate for incomes in excess of 300 times the poverty level.
This is the basic substance for these proposed amendments. In the weeks ahead, we will be incorporating editorial suggestions we receive from individuals and businesses. We will be contacting environmental and fair-practice watch dog firms. Also, legislators of the highest integrity who have experience with congressional rules and ethics committees. Together we will push to introduce a comprehensive proposal that is both substantive and protected from the corruption of special interests.
Who we are doesn't matter. What we do matters.