[Huck]

That's fine, but it's not enough, and it's not even the main problem. What we need are a)shorter terms b)US senate PAY controlled by state legislatures c)state right of recall at any time d)rotation in office.

Basically, all the things we had BEFORE the Constitution loused things up.

[rarestia]

Before the Constitution loused things up? Talking from an anti-Federalist perspective, right?

[WoofDog123]

senate pay controls are nice PR, but congressional members make the vast bulk of their income off the books, just like every representative body in the world. It is the nature of the beast. It always has been - the point of getting into government is to enrich yourself. What it ‘should’ be is kind of like arguing how communism ‘should’ work - it ignores human nature.

The idea is to get people who will represent your interests at the same time while making sure their nest is feathered. Looking for any other outcome is hopeless optimism, unless you believe candidate speeches.