Charlie Self wrote:
On Dec 8, 4:10 pm, Just Wondering wrote:
J. Clarke wrote:
Just Wondering wrote:

Han wrote:

(J T) wrote in
:

So, maybe the thing to do would be to pick someone that's
actually qualified for the job, but doesn't want it, and just
make them president. And, if they do a good job they only have
to serve
four years.

Can't be done anymore. Who would accept that nomination? But
while
we're on the subject, who would you propose? That is a serious
question, for a change.

Make "None Of The Above" a choice on every ballot. If it gets
more
votes than any candidate, all the candidates on the ballot go on
the scrap heap, the parties have to come up with new names for
the
runoff
election, and the office remains vacant until someone can garner
more
votes than "none of the above."

So we go for the next century without a government? Who keeps the
criminals in check after the police all have to quit policing and
get civilian jobs because they haven't been paid in five years?

Not at all. Most offices will still be filled the first go-around,
certainly enough legislative offices will be to pass a spending
bill. I think the result would be a wakeup call to the parties, to
shake them up and make them offer candidates that don't make you
hold your nose when voting for the lesser of two evils.

Another proposal: Eliminate career politicians by enacting
universal term limits of no more than 16 years total in all
elective
offices (local, state, and federal combined), with no pension or
other retirement benefits.

Kill even half the benefits and most of today's group wouldn't run
again, anyway. Put the federal politicos on the same sort of
retirement plan Joe Average gets down at the distillery and, whoops.
Do the same for medical care coverage. Make them drive their own
damned cars, at what, 37 cents a mile? Allow no vehicle larger than
a
mid-size sedan for any person who doesn't need a pick-up truck or
isn't in the military. Outlaw SUVs, black or otherwise (not a bad
idea
all around, anyway). Allow NO gifts, not even a 39 cent pen. Game,
set, match. Empty offices.

Make 'em open their own damned mail so they have to wade through the
junk mail, and make them take out their own damned trash so they have
to pick out all the recyclables. And designate a team of auditors to
watch each of them 24/7 including in the bedroom--violate one statute,
just one, even if it's a ten cent fine and even if the statute has
been overturned by the Supreme Court and out they go.

Give 'em a barracks in DC to live in. No moving the family there
(well, not unless they all want to sleep in the same Army-issue bunk).
No need for them to have a car in DC either, the barracks can be an
annex to the Capitol. And feed 'em GI chow. If they need to go
somewhere besides work in DC then they can take the public transit
(wanna bet that in 5 years DC would have the best, cleanest, safest
public transit system in the world?)

Oh, and they have to recite the entire US code (or whatever body of
statute law they're liable to be adding to) verbatin and carry it in
its entirety on their persons at all times printed on 12 pound bond in
12 point type.

Rotate the sessions--don't always have them in the Capitol in DC--one
year DC, another New York, another Dallas, another Yellowstone Park
(gotta get 'em out of the damned cities sometimes) and just for fun
every decade or so put it outside the country--Congress having a
session in Riyadh or Moscow or Papeete would do wonders for their
outlook I suspect)

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)