Plato: "Those who seek power are not worthy of that power."
I once read an Isaac Asimov book in which an excellent concept was provided. Rather than having elections, political offices were filled by random drawing. A person was exempted only if he had some emotional or physical defect that prohibited him from fulfilling his appointed office.
Imagine a president and congress that operated independent of political affiliation.
Imagine a politician who would operate knowing that in 4 years he would forcibly be dumped back into the system he made.
The congress habitually exempts itself from the rules it makes for the rest of the people. Ending career politicians would greatly reduce the stupid that comes from D.C.
At this moment bureaucrats are more dangerous than the stupid and lazy politicians. Bureaucrats should be promoted from within their agencies, therefore providing some expertise to managing that agency. (The CIA, for example, headed by a intelligence professional who understood how it works, instead of some political hack who does whatever his party dictates.) No 'crat should be allowed to keep his post for more than 5 years. (5 years because continuity is necessary while at the same time disassociating them from the election cycle.) Those politicians selected for positions that require access to classified information would need commensurate security background investigations, conducted by the military and using the exact same criteria that is used for soldiers. The punishment for violating ethical or criminal rules would be banishment to Kodiak Island with a sleeping bag and 10 pounds of hamburger. Works for me!
