Maggie's Farm

Sorry for being late to this but there is a clear and simple remedy for the plague of life-long, career politicians. The "profession" of politician should be considered as the same as a call for jury duty. While it would be tempting to send out "summons" for participation in local, state and nation legislative bodies (who btw would elect the executives to manage the bureaucracies and the executives would be subject to term cancellation upon the will of the legislature), I guess I would issue public announcements for volunteers interested in serving a term in a municipal board, state legislature, or Congress one year prior to the election. Each volunteer would then be required to obtain x thousand signatures of support within a designated period of time. A primary would be held say one month after the petitions were reviewed and qualified. The top 2 or even three, or even all candidates who received at least 30% of the vote, would be listed on the election ballot. Each candidate would then produce one 30 minute video for placement in the media and accompanying written "policy statements" every two weeks during the six weeks prior to the election. Three public debates would be held and broadcast on internet and television, also every 2 weeks during this run up period. The ONLY other permissible print or media campaigning would be based on independent reporting on or attendance at rallies open to the public. All the campaign expenditures and contributions would be published in real time at a designated web site and audited also in real time. Failure to comply would result in civil and criminal consequences. The next election period would be conducted in this same manner, with offices open to all citizens EXCEPT the previous incumbents. Just sayin'.