If I were President and could fix three things, here’s what I would do. Number one, every American would be required to work in a government office at the local, state of federal level for two years with full federal pay and health care. It may sound like a hare brained idea, but if you want to know how government works, you can even as as a lowly civil servent.
I worked as a clerk in the office of the local community college and it was an eye opener to see how dysfunctional management can be. I also worked in the college print shop and near the end of the term I noticed them spending a lot of money. Turns out if they didn’t use their budget it would be reduced, instead of letting the savings roll over to the next term. It was distressing to see frugality punished while waste rewarded. It’s the kind of insight into the working of bureaucracy you don’t see unless you are in it and learn how things operate.
Number two. Most people are hired based on their experience except, it seems, at the executive level. Federal or cabinet positions candidates should be required to have some experience related to that job. Not a TV news show host, a generous donor, or a teenager -someone actually qualified for the position, you know like in real life. That kind of favoritism always backfires and it’s embarrasing.
Number Three. Repeal Citizens United immediately. Get big money out of politics; with hefty pensions, insider information and connections members of Congress can enrich themselves once they leave office but not while they are paid to serve the country as an elected offical.
Lastly, just as a simple voter who wants a change, what we really need is a third party, one that is actually in the center instead of the lesser of two evils we have between coke or pepsi. Unfortunately Democrats and Republicans loath and fear that because they would lose votes. No kidding, why should we vote for your extreme narratives instead of moderation which I believe a third party would create.
Ah, if only I had a magic wand.