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or, as some astute British observers have put it, the US suffers from a “truly loathsome political class”.
Change to a draft system.
All net taxpayers over the age of 21 are eligible. Senators must live in the state, Representatives must live in the district. The President and Vice President are chosen from eligible individuals nationwide.
When an individual’s number is chosen, he must pass checks on physical and mental health and basic education level (be able to read, write, and do math at, say, a minimum of an eight grade level. The draftee must also pass a basic examination on the U.S. Constitution) and must also pass a security background check.
If a draftee fails any of these checks, he is discharged and his number removed from the draft.
Draftees who pass these checks are conscripted to server in a formerly elected position in the US Federal Government where they must complete one term.
Housing and expenses for senators and representatives will be provided by their respective states and/or districts. The Federal Government will provide housing and expenses for the President and Vice President. Other compensation is at the discretion of the several states but yearly compensation may not exceed the individual’s highest yearly wage within the five years previous to them being drafted. The President and Vice President will be compensated by the Federal Government at minimum wage levels (look on the bright side - they get it 24/7 AND overtime - with no living expenses it could be quite a pile...).
Upon completion their term, conscripts may request to remain in the position. In this case, there will be a vote of confidence held in the state or district; if the individual fails to garner a majority, then the conscript is discharged and a new draft for the position is held.
Otherwise the conscript is discharged and his number removed from the draft. The President and Vice President may not serve more than one term.
Individuals demonstrating extraordinary performance in office may have time off for good behavior.
Just think - no more campaign seasons and no more parties. Just a selective service lottery for each district, two for each state and two nationally; at total of 537; of course we can always let the several states go back to appointing their own senators, reducing it to 437.
/humor
AMEN!
I don’t think term limits have accomplished anything very useful. If you find a good politician, keep him; and if you have a rotten politician, throw the bum out.
Otherwise, you just get a procession of up-and-coming pork guzzlers, who change the rules so they can leave with lifetime retirement benefits.
I can’t think of a single state where term limits have done any real good.
Amen to Ronaldus Magnus and Peter Schiff!!!
Make this man KING /sarc.
Actually, he’s right.
A great platform would be:
All politicians make GS-12 pay, get PPO-2 option and they have to pay their contribution. Pay more, you get PPO-1.
No pention. They go on a combo defined comp/defined benefit plan.
You can’t go to work for any company that you regulated while in office. Example - if you were on the House Banking Subcommittee, you can’t work in that industry when you leave.
Congressional staffs? Can’t work on the Hill for more than 6 years at a stretch. If you leave to work for a lobbying firm, you can’t work on a staff for five years after leaving the firm.
All House and Senate rules are suspended.
House and Senate rules are made by a committee of sitting State Governors.
Your spouse cannot have a job as either a consultant or board level position in a company in an industry which you regulate.
No more Senator’s wives making $600K a year consulting for an industry they have zero experience in. Both sides of the aisle do it, and NO journalist has ever publicized it.
Frankly, it’s the only way their Congressional jobs become close to lucrative - the jobs their wives get.
Here’s another - your ‘war chest’? When you leave, you can’t take it with you. It goes into the presidential campaign fund, and then the idiotic contribution check box on your IRS form goes away.
Here’s another - lawyers cannot make up more than 20 percent of any congressional class. They rest have to be from other industries.
Shame our founding fathers didn't think of that! Opppppps I think they did.
"Political parties"? Shame our founding fathers didn't warn us against aligning ourselves with political parties! Oppppps I know they did. Even our first President upon leaving office warned of the dire consequences should we align ourselves with Political parties.
It's really a shame most Americans don't have a clue concerning the founding of our Republic and upon which principles "we the people" would govern ourselves.
My tag line’s second part has said it for quite a while. Soon enough there will be a funeral which will make room to expand it.
I purge a politician every morning.