ทวีตที่ปักหมุด
The parties are the problem.
Every two years, the entire house, and 1/3 of the senate, are up for reelection. This means every two years, there is a new congress. The day after the election results are in, every lobbyist from every organization knows exactly which senators and representatives to target. They know who will chair, and be on, the committees relevant to their interests. This is because every senator & representative is a chess piece, whose rank is determined by a combination of party seniority & party platform loyalty.
Term limits don't fix this.
The solution is to turn those chamber member chess pieces into checkers, every member an equal, and take the parties out of the committee selection process.
On Day One of a new congress going to session, each chamber makes all committee appointments via lottery. Every member, regardless of party affiliation, is eligible. Any member who declines serving on the committee they've been drawn for becomes ineligible for all committees during the two year duration of said congress. Committee chairs would be chosen by lottery within the committee. Declining a chairmanship carries no penalty.
This accomplishes five important things:
1. Lobbyists don't know who to target.
2. Voters can vote for the best candidate, because without seniority, incumbency becomes much less relevant.
3. Third party members get to be a real voice for their constituencies, by having a chance to serve on, and chair, important committees.
4. Senators & representatives put the people of their states & districts ahead of their political parties.
5. Congress is restored to the people, and the parties are weakened.
At this moment, America needs the republicans to be an 800 pound gorilla to stop the rampaging rabid 800 pound gorilla that the democrats have become, but when the dust settles, both monsters need to be caged.
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