Choosing representatives for federal positions

It's been an exciting few days in the national spotlight if you are (1) a democratic strategist who says that women who are stay-at-home moms can't possibly understand the trials of working women, (2) you are a community organizer who has never held a private job, or (3) work for the Secret Service. There are other examples that come to mind. Would you want to be part of GSA or the Department of Energy? Scandal runs rampant in Washington DC. We, the American taxpayer and voter, need a new perspective on filling those positions needed to run our nation in a fiscally conservative way.

Have we lost all perspective?

People who go to Washington are public servants. We expect them to act like it.

Constitutional changes needed.

So how best to change the Constitution to send people to Washington in the three branches of government. Perhaps they should be chosen from the voter list by lottery, doing away with election for the Executive, Legislative, and and appointments to the Judicial  Branches at the Federal level. For example, every four years the voter lists would be randomly used to select a President. It might be Ms. Sally Jones. Could Ms. Jones do a worse job than our community organizer? Probably not. Let's replace our Vice President by lottery each four years. Get rid of the professional politician. For members of Congress, select by lottery from the voter list of the state so represented for a four-year term. For senators, select from state voter list for six years. For judges of the Supreme Court, Appeals Courts, and other federal courts of record from the voter list for the District for a four year term.

Term limits.

Term limits should be imposed. Once you have served a single term, selected by lottery from the appropriate lists, the incumbents would be forever barred from serving again.

Compensation package, benefits, and living arrangements.

Payments should be at the rate of $40,000 per year of term for each incumbent in whatever branch they serve. No retirement and other benefits would be provided by the public. Congress would be in session only 40 calendar days per year unless called into special session by the President for matters of national emergency. Living arrangements would be made in a dormitory setting with cafeteria meals.

Staffing.

Staff would be limited to 1 person for each member of Congress or Senate. The presidential cabinet would serve as staff for the President. Judges in any federal court would provide their own law clerks at no expense to the public.

Radical you say. Maybe so, but we need to overcome the idea that you can live at the public trough forever and spend our money anyway you like in Washington DC.

Do you have a better idea?