I think that it is even more important to impose strict term limits on office holders. Once you can make a career out of being a congressperson (or senator, or whatever) you now have a conflict of interest in that you are likely concerned about getting re-elected, which will likely lead to a compromise on principles in order to further that goal.
If you knew that once you got elected, you had one (or a very limited number of) shot at doing anything significant or effecting any sort of change, and had no reason to do something solely in order to please the people who will hopefully keep you in your political job, then our elected representatives might actually focus on the task at hand.
Another thing along these lines I'd like to see addressed is the issue of office holders with dual citizenship. How on earth can we expect them to act in our best interest when they admit up front that they claim a country other than the one they are ostensibly working for as their own. Sure, they also claim the US, but can we really trust them to act in the best interest of normal single-citizenship americans when the chips are down?
Basically, what i'd like to happen is to strip away all the non-job-related perks of being in office, it should be enough of an honor to have a chance to serve our country without throwing in all the money and other enticements offered by lobbyists, fat cat constituents, etc!
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I think that it is even more important to impose strict term limits on office holders. Once you can make a career out of being a congressperson (or senator, or whatever) you now have a conflict of interest in that you are likely concerned about getting re-elected, which will likely lead to a compromise on principles in order to further that goal. If you knew that once you got elected, you had one (or a very limited number of) shot at doing anything significant or effecting any sort of change, and had no reason to do something solely in order to please the people who will hopefully keep you in your political job, then our elected representatives might actually focus on the task at hand. Another thing along these lines I'd like to see addressed is the issue of office holders with dual citizenship. How on earth can we expect them to act in our best interest when they admit up front that they claim a country other than the one they are ostensibly working for as their own. Sure, they also claim the US, but can we really trust them to act in the best interest of normal single-citizenship americans when the chips are down? Basically, what i'd like to happen is to strip away all the non-job-related perks of being in office, it should be enough of an honor to have a chance to serve our country without throwing in all the money and other enticements offered by lobbyists, fat cat constituents, etc!