Someone brought this up on another political forum I post on.... interested to see your comments on my "fix."
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I wish we could totally revamp the whole election process and go back to something that in my opinion was more like the founders envisioned:
You decide to run for political office. Let's say it's your district's congressional representative. Once you get enough signatures of registered voters to do so (20% of your proposed district's registered voters), you file your candidacy. You're given $100,000 of taxpayer money for your campaign. You are forbidden from accepting any other funding from either outside sources or your political party. You can use your $100K to hire staffers, you can use it to print up signs, and/or for ads in local media. You get one free mandatory media appearance (we'll pick television because that's still a thing) -- but so does your opponent. It will be mandatory for the highest-rated TV station in your jurisdiction to provide this air time. Your usage can be you speaking live to an interviewer, you putting up a video ad, you speaking directly to voters. Thirty minutes should do it. Same for your opponent.
Yay, you got elected! Now the hurt really begins. You go to DC. You get a few perks like a housing allowance of $30K in addition to your salary because DC costs a lot. You get four free trips/year back to your district but these are strictly for visits pertaining to your constituents and to your position as lawmaker. While on such a trip you *must* schedule opportunities for them to meet with you, such as town hall meetings. Other visits home are on your dime.
You may not entertain lobbyists or accept anything of value from them for any reason. "Value" pertains to not just cash, but vacations, clothing, gifts, eating out on their dime, tickets for shows, flowers -- nada. They have no more access to you than do your constituents. If you violate this, you lose your job and you go to prison. We'll have a handy sentencing chart that will determine your time, based upon how much graft you accepted.
You will spend a minimum of 95% of your time in DC working while Congress is in session. "Working" means you are present at the Capitol for voting, listening to others give speeches, and addressing the issues your constituents have presented to you and issues that concern both your district and the nation as a whole.
Your term as Rep will be limited to three cycles (six years). If concluded successfully and w/o scandal and violations, you will be entitled to a pension of $5000/year. You will also be forbidden from working for any lobbying, public opinion, think tank, or any other firm trying to influence legislation for the remainder of your time on Earth.
I think that oughta do it. Your thoughts?
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I wish we could totally revamp the whole election process and go back to something that in my opinion was more like the founders envisioned:
You decide to run for political office. Let's say it's your district's congressional representative. Once you get enough signatures of registered voters to do so (20% of your proposed district's registered voters), you file your candidacy. You're given $100,000 of taxpayer money for your campaign. You are forbidden from accepting any other funding from either outside sources or your political party. You can use your $100K to hire staffers, you can use it to print up signs, and/or for ads in local media. You get one free mandatory media appearance (we'll pick television because that's still a thing) -- but so does your opponent. It will be mandatory for the highest-rated TV station in your jurisdiction to provide this air time. Your usage can be you speaking live to an interviewer, you putting up a video ad, you speaking directly to voters. Thirty minutes should do it. Same for your opponent.
Yay, you got elected! Now the hurt really begins. You go to DC. You get a few perks like a housing allowance of $30K in addition to your salary because DC costs a lot. You get four free trips/year back to your district but these are strictly for visits pertaining to your constituents and to your position as lawmaker. While on such a trip you *must* schedule opportunities for them to meet with you, such as town hall meetings. Other visits home are on your dime.
You may not entertain lobbyists or accept anything of value from them for any reason. "Value" pertains to not just cash, but vacations, clothing, gifts, eating out on their dime, tickets for shows, flowers -- nada. They have no more access to you than do your constituents. If you violate this, you lose your job and you go to prison. We'll have a handy sentencing chart that will determine your time, based upon how much graft you accepted.
You will spend a minimum of 95% of your time in DC working while Congress is in session. "Working" means you are present at the Capitol for voting, listening to others give speeches, and addressing the issues your constituents have presented to you and issues that concern both your district and the nation as a whole.
Your term as Rep will be limited to three cycles (six years). If concluded successfully and w/o scandal and violations, you will be entitled to a pension of $5000/year. You will also be forbidden from working for any lobbying, public opinion, think tank, or any other firm trying to influence legislation for the remainder of your time on Earth.
I think that oughta do it. Your thoughts?