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I found this article interesting. It would be nice if it gained traction. Though the article focuses on his proposal of changes to limiting filibusters, the part of the article that really caught my attention was this:

He will propose eliminating anonymous holds, banning private-sector earmarks, freezing pay and budgets for members of Congress, and barring lawmakers from lobbying for life.

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Though this will probably amount to nothing and get defeated, I hope there is enough populist appeal to get the ball rolling on some of these. Especially the lobbyist proposal.

The hardest thing for a politician to do is limit his own power. I wish there were a system in place that could most seriously consider this kind of change.

MindDetective said:

The hardest thing for a politician to do is limit his own power. I wish there were a system in place that could most seriously consider this kind of change.

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Maybe if we created a group of elected representatives that represented the people they could over see the two groups of elected representatives that are supposed to represent the people.

I am completely for this, but I don't believe for a second that it will pass.

Espy;348614][QUOTE=MindDetective said:

The hardest thing for a politician to do is limit his own power. I wish there were a system in place that could most seriously consider this kind of change.

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Maybe if we created a group of elected representatives that represented the people they could over see the two groups of elected representatives that are supposed to represent the people.[/QUOTE]

It's elected officials all the way down!

Representing the country should be made like jury duty. Pick random persons from the roll of eligible voters. Absolutely no volunteers. You *want* the job, you're out. Staff will be selected from career civil servants. Brothers in law or nephews need not apply. You live in a dorm with the rest of your state's delegation. Family stays where they are. At home. After your ONE term is up, you go back to whatever it was you were doing before you got tapped. No perks, no pensions.

DarkAudit said:

Representing the country should be made like jury duty. Pick random persons from the roll of eligible voters. Absolutely no volunteers. You *want* the job, you're out. Staff will be selected from career civil servants. Brothers in law or nephews need not apply. You live in a dorm with the rest of your state's delegation. Family stays where they are. At home. After your ONE term is up, you go back to whatever it was you were doing before you got tapped. No perks, no pensions.

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Yeah because I want 'Cliff' the mailman doing foreign relations...

Chazwozel;348875][QUOTE=DarkAudit said:

Representing the country should be made like jury duty. Pick random persons from the roll of eligible voters. Absolutely no volunteers. You *want* the job, you're out. Staff will be selected from career civil servants. Brothers in law or nephews need not apply. You live in a dorm with the rest of your state's delegation. Family stays where they are. At home. After your ONE term is up, you go back to whatever it was you were doing before you got tapped. No perks, no pensions.

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Yeah because I want 'Cliff' the mailman doing foreign relations...[/QUOTE]

I agree with Chaz. I understand the motive behind your idea, DA, but you would end up with far too many gibbering morons in positions of power. I'll take a corrupt bureaucrat over an uneducated fool.

I'll just have to stick with one of my favorite Douglas Adams quotes:

Douglas Adams said:

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

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I hate that saying that those who want power don't deserve it. It takes a lot of effort and desire to get to a position of power whether it be a CEO of a company or president of the U.S. I'd rather have someone do it who wants it over some bumfuck who gets lucky. I think that mentality is a delusion from movie culture. You always see the evil, seedy antagonist vying for power and by the end of the story the humble protagonist reluctantly takes the mantle. Grow up.

I am going to have to agree with Chaz on this one. I want somone who worked for the job, and has the qualifications from that work, to run things. This romanticized shit that is being spewed just is not good.

---------- Post added at 09:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 AM ----------

DarkAudit said:

Representing the country should be made like jury duty. Pick random persons from the roll of eligible voters. Absolutely no volunteers. You *want* the job, you're out. Staff will be selected from career civil servants. Brothers in law or nephews need not apply. You live in a dorm with the rest of your state's delegation. Family stays where they are. At home. After your ONE term is up, you go back to whatever it was you were doing before you got tapped. No perks, no pensions.

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I loved John Stewarts rebuttal to this concept in the Daily Show book. it basically went along the lines of: see the retard doing kegstands, , believing biased news,etc. Those idiots we all hate, but form a portion of the populace? With this theory, guess what, they have jsut as good a shot as an educated person to get power and run shit. NOT. FUCKING. GOOD.

Replace eligible voters with qualified people and maybe it might work...

With this theory, guess what, they have jsut as good a shot as an educated person to get power and run shit. NOT. FUCKING. GOOD

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Nucular...

@Li3n said:

Replace eligible voters with qualified people and maybe it might work...

With this theory, guess what, they have jsut as good a shot as an educated person to get power and run shit. NOT. FUCKING. GOOD

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Nucular...

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Hahahahahahahahaha.

@Li3n said:

Replace eligible voters with qualified people and maybe it might work...

With this theory, guess what, they have jsut as good a shot as an educated person to get power and run shit. NOT. FUCKING. GOOD

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Nucular...

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Well played, sir. I was thinking something similar.

Its pronounced nu-clear. NU-Clee-er.

We've long since gone from deserving people who were good at the job.

DarkAudit said:

We've long since gone from deserving people who were good at the job.

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I'd rather have this guy in power:

over this guy:



even though they probably share the same ideals.

C'mon! Business in the front, party in the back!

Krisken said:

C'mon! Business in the front, party in the back!

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Well you raise a good point...

That right there is a perfect foreign policy. Worked for Reagan.