Quality Control Of Elected Officials

From T.S. Khanna, Alamo, CA

At the time the American government was established, the country was mostly rural.  The Founders did a great job of integrating the rulers’ desire for power expansion and the control of the rulers’ power by the ruled.  Political problems of that time were simple.   The Founders believed that every person, as a public official, could perform their duties equally well.

In the history of nations, certain periods create the need for a renewed public vision of life that transforms some long-held values.  America is passing through that period now.  Political problems have already become far too complex to be handled by the “Model A” form of the democratic system established by the Founders.

To meet the present-day challenges, the quality of political leaders must be improved.  There is a clear need to establish educational and training programs as prerequisites for different elected positions, discussed elsewhere.

Besides the education and training, here under some requisites are suggested to start improving the quality of our elected officials:

· Age Limits; Min 25 Yrs., Max 70 yrs. (max age limit will start softening the political party’s animosity).

· Elected officials may be only U.S.-born citizens in good standing.

· Must have worked and paid Federal tax for at least five years for eligibility for an elected position.

· Must have a record of good personal and public character and credit rating.

· Exclusion of the mentally challenged, alcohol or drug addicts and felony convicts.

·All elected positions may be for a 6-yr. term, and no one may be eligible for the second term.

·Freedom of speech may not allow wrong, misleading statements, fabricated facts, and indecent language.

(This submission is not edited)