How do we fix the politicans?

[svp]

Put them in prison when they are caught lying. The rape prison, not the resort they get sent to nowadays. Punish them. Punish them. Punish them.

[Michael P]

Punish them. Punish them. Punish them.

You know, some of them would probably pay you good money to say this to them in a husky voice.

[Nick Soapdish]

Term limits have their pros and cons. I've come to think it really wouldn't make a significant difference in things, just change the specifics. It gets old, entrenched politicians out but it makes it easier for the "manipulators" to squeeze in new toadies so you end up with a null sum. We have governor's term limits here in Michigan and we have an obvious fascist sitting in the capital.

I think that it would shift a lot of power to lobbyists. Congressmen already go to lobbyists on issues because the lobbyists have a lot of (usually one-sided) expertise on the issue. This would encourage them to lean on those lobbyists for that expertise even more.

[Arvandor]

I think what's needed is some way to impartially measure the ability of politicians to keep their promises.

The biased media is ineffective. We need some kind of truly independent department that can give annual reports on the promises made and kept by all parties.

[Shellhead]

I think what's needed is some way to impartially measure the ability of politicians to keep their promises.

The biased media is ineffective. We need some kind of truly independent department that can give annual reports on the promises made and kept by all parties.

And then we would need some way to get voters to actually pay attention, instead of wallowing in reality tv shows and celebrity gossip.

[Charles RB]

Except that's still reliant on the media, which we've apparently thrown out as completely ineffective. Maybe the independent department sends a leaflet out.

And you'll probably need someone to act as watchdog over that department.

[king mob]

In the UK they seem to get a slap on the wrist all the time, tax dodging, expenses!

There's some simple ways to help our position.

Any MP found guilty of fiddling expenses has to stand in a By-election on top of any criminal action they face.

You can't accept any work outside of being an MP, so no media jollies or directorships or cosy deals with lobbyists.

I'd also like there to be a way for more working class MP's because the reams of middle class and exceptionally wealthy MP's in the Commons don't represent this country at all.

[o1pickleboy]

Except that's still reliant on the media, which we've apparently thrown out as completely ineffective. Maybe the independent department sends a leaflet out.

And you'll probably need someone to act as watchdog over that department.

They would have to be independently elected to have power without worrying about "burning bridges" it would have to have power equal to the justice department almost like a internal affairs division works in a police department.

Side note on policing the politicians is stuff that isn't illegal but is abuse like granting there own pay raises. Congressional pay and executive pay needs to be decided by the states. Either acting as a whole.(pay raises have to be ratified by the majority of the states) or each state takes care of there own.(Michigan's reps get one pay and Texas gets another)

[Charles RB]

I'd also like there to be a way for more working class MP's

Time and money to spend on campaigning.

[Shellhead]

The heart of the problem with politicians is the election. If they are elected officials, they will need to come up with cash to make a serious run for office, and they will tend to feel obligated to the people who gave them a lot of money. And if they are going to run for re-election, they will need to spend a lot of time on fund-raising and incur more obligations. If they aren't running for public office, like the Justices of the Supreme Court, they don't feel like they owe anybody anything and won't necessarily do things for the good of the people.

This would also apply to any hypothetical non-media watchdog organization. Who watches the watchdogs? Who picks them and who pays them and who makes sure that they do their jobs?

[Charles RB]

It's not so much obligation as to get the money in the first place, you have to attract people with money by saying what they want to hear - which is supposed to be how it works, the candidate attracts supporters and donors from the constituency by appealing to them. It's not a fault but a feature that gets severely degraded.

[Monty_Cristo]

You know, some of them would probably pay you good money to say this to them in a husky voice.

then Rorschach would drop them down an elevator shaft.

[o1pickleboy]

I added a poll based on the suggestions in this thread.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I added a poll based on the suggestions in this thread.

But where are the options for hangings and having politicians ripped apart by hungry jackals?

[Slam_Bradley]

I don't see my recommendation that we have the countries veterinarians fix them.