I always had a difficult time dealing with dishonest people, whether in personal life or those I only know through the news, like politicians. The worst offenders to me are those that put up a false front, the two-faced hypocrites that shake your hand while they stab you in the back. I'd much rather deal with straight-up assholes or bullies.
So I was thinking, given how pervasive this problem is in our Legislature, particularly the Senate, what could theoretically be done to make me feel a little better?
The basic principle is that I want a little more honesty in the Capitol. Is Sen. X really representing Corporation Y? Well then say so, I don't want to hear all the BS.
My first thought was that we add a new chamber to the Congress - the House of Corporations and Special Interests. Members are assigned by the corporations and special interest groups based on how much money they can pay. Let's say 500 seats total, with each seat costing $10M a year. Maybe limit each entity to a maximum of 50 seats.
This way, the corporations can buy a vote in legislature legally and overtly, and we can all look each other in the eye, even if we don't agree.
The problem there is that if the seat rental is too high, they'll just keep buying the regular Congressmen like they do now. If it's too low, there will be too much demand, and how do you deal with that? A waiting list? Some sort of a rotation system?
Plus, this complicates the bill passing process. We barely have a functioning system with two chambers, never mind three.
So, I'm simplifying my request to this: I want the Representatives and Senators from now on to wear a uniform. Forget the stuffy suits, let's face it, it's tired and so last century. I want jumpsuits - red for Republicans, blue for Democrats, and whatever the hell Bernie wants. But the main deal is that these be NASCAR style - meaning they are covered, head to toe, with logos of the corporations and special interest groups they represent. And the more money they get from that entity, the bigger the logo - again, NASCAR rules.
Is my Senator so deep in the pockets of AHIP that he's playing pocket pool? I want that logo big and proud on his chest. Then I can at least respect him for the amoral but honest asshole that he would be, rather than hate him for the lying sack of crap that he really is.
Of course, I'm open for suggestions if you got 'em.