- Jun 28, 2004
- 6,983
- 17,064
I diversity of experience among elected officials is good and we need to have more of that but it needs to be BEFORE they take office and instead of them using their office to enjoy a lucrative post career in law or finance.
I agree that engineers, union leaders, teachers, clergy, scientists, members of the military as well as non finance businessmen should all be better represented in legislatures.
More broadly, I feel like this focus on length of tenure means that we are focusing on the wrong things. Most people are frustrated with the outsized role of money and special interests but we need to blame those things and not length of tenure. If someone is in elected office for 30 years or 30 days, it doesn't make much of a difference. If anything, the new guy can be even more easily cajoled, sweet talked, tricked, intimidated or bribed by special interests.
I agree that engineers, union leaders, teachers, clergy, scientists, members of the military as well as non finance businessmen should all be better represented in legislatures.
More broadly, I feel like this focus on length of tenure means that we are focusing on the wrong things. Most people are frustrated with the outsized role of money and special interests but we need to blame those things and not length of tenure. If someone is in elected office for 30 years or 30 days, it doesn't make much of a difference. If anything, the new guy can be even more easily cajoled, sweet talked, tricked, intimidated or bribed by special interests.