[Sapwolf]

The NUMBER ONE amendment needed to the Constitution hands down is this:

Voters lose their right to vote upon receiving any direct or indirect compensation, loan, welfare, future promise of benefit from the federal government and its agencies.

This right to vote will be restored at two years after the last cent has been received. The only exception is that military members get their voting rights back upon honorable discharge.

Yes, soldiers would not be able to vote, but that protects against military juntas too.

Without the above reform, any new country will eventually degenerate to the situation we have today.

Look....the truth is that we cannot reform at this point and it will be probably be a war at some point.

But it all starts with a leader.

[Ohioan]

I would word the changes slightly differently, but you are on the right track--except with respect to the military, both active & on pension, etc..

See Threat To Liberty.

[Paul R.]

Ah, that’s more like what I was looking for: Long term systemic changes that do not depend on who is President at the time (etc.)

Knocking out the voters’ ability to, in effect, vote themselves funds from the public Treasury, is indeed a worthy idea. I’ve myself agreed with it for a long time, though you are correct in that it is likely impossible to push through. Also, how is “benefit” defined? I likely benefit if the gov’t builds a facility near me, and so on.

That said, you ARE addressing what many (including the aforementioned Pres. Jefferson) believed to be a fatal flaw of what are loosely termed “democracies”. I just don’t know that it prevents politicians from feathering their own nests, media collusion, and so on.

But... I like your suggestion, even though I pray that a peaceful revolution can still occur. Do you have more such ideas, more directly aimed at corruption(s) other than corruption of the voters themselves?