I trust inmates more than I trust them.
... and those that we elect never question why that is
Agreed.
There follows a modest proposal flowing from that...
(with a nod to Sam Clemens!)
From now on we should recruit our political class from among the lifers in the pen. The cons can be bussed to their offices at morning and returned to their cells the same way at night.
The content of their character will be known before hand, removing any need for speculation.
The cost of corruption will go way down, even the common citizen will be able to afford to move legislation and affect judicial outcomes...despite the recent increase in federal cigarette taxes.
The cost of compensation will go down too, no more gold plated congressional/civil service pensions and expensive health care plans.
The lifer inmates already receive free food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medical care for life.
If we can’t get enough inmates to participate in federal service because of the perceived loss of status perhaps we could simply transfer the existing political class as a whole to the penal system.