The tax bill currently being put together in the US Congress is a Christmas gift for the rich. Loaded with loopholes andconcessions to big corporations it make up for some of the cuts in tax rates at the top by taking more from 'mom and pop' businesses and the American middle class while blithely ignoring the final effect on the national debt. The people of the US need to wake up and exercise their sovereignty to call for changes that will make officials and lawmakers more responsive to their needs. The heads of major branches should be elected, 1/4 of all lawmakers should face election each year, and top officials should be limited to one 5-year term and barred from running again for 6 years afterwards. For details, see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development. §5.3