Over the last 10-15 years, I have seriously reconsidered whether ending the Spoils System was a good idea. When you consider the leaks, unprofessional behavior, and downright insubordination of large numbers of Federal employees, it’s no wonder the Spoils System was common sense to the early nation. One final point: The Founders probably never imagined a Federal Leviathan like what we have today. I wonder sometimes if a return to a Spoils System would allow a reformer like Trump to purge unnecessary fat from the Federal bureaucracy.
Ending the spoils system was a very good idea. Andrew Jackson put us on the path toward bigger government in his era and for that reason was not a good president.
The problem is that the end of the spoils system led to the creation of a bureaucracy of its own: the Civil Service Commission.
What the Founders set up is what we should have re-implemented, which was based on experience and talent. Instead of going with the already tried and true, the new way forward was a nebulous “qualifications”, or expertise.
This is a good rundown: (the first several paragraphs)
The Federal Beaurocracy has awesome power, that can be abused. We all see that. It’s tempting to give POTUS authority to replace people who won’t implement his agenda with more “like-minded” individuals.
This is an even bigger danger IMO.
I might trust Trump with this power, but probably not the next POTUS. How about being able to hand-pick every member of the FBI, CIA, IRS? Who would you trust with that ability?
A spoils system would create a hyper-partisan bureaucracy in the run-up to every election. That would be much much worse !
Steps: Things that can be done immediately !
1. Issue an EO rescinding JFK’s EO allowing federal unions.
2. Actually enforce the Hatch Act. Republican administrations pretend to, Rat administrations pretend it doesn’t exist.
3. Reduce the scope and responsibility (If not disband it completely!) of the Federal Election Commission. Elections are a state responsibility. Remove the charity-like tax status of political organization or causes. If it raises money it pays taxes on it. That takes away the federal ability to reward or punish organizations because of their political creeds. Or push the decision making down to the states. If the state says this political organization meets it tax-free requirements the IRS can’t argue otherwise it must accept it.
I’ve toyed with this idea. Unfortunately it would likely require a Constitutional Amendment. You come to work for FedGov, you give up the right to vote in federal election. You can vote in state & local but not FedGov. Also it might require state & local elections to occur on different days. Federal elections would be defined as President, Senate & Congress. (Note I would repeal the 17th Amendment and put selecting senators back in the hands of the state legislators.)
Also move as much of the bureaucracy that can be moved into the interior of the country. With today’s communication\transportation technology it doesn’t need to be concentrated in one spot.
Raise not lower the ages that you can start participating in politics. Aspiring politicians need to go out and experience life first. Actually show you can be successful at something other then saying the right things, kissing babies & shaking hands. Show you learned something from having “Skin-In-The-Game”.