The Ideal Congress

The policies and procedures of the Legislative branch of the Government were at one time more simple, beneficial to the people and provided limitation as to how much power the Government could exert over the people.

Times change.

Now we have a set of obsolete policies that benefit no one. While they exist, the Government remains strangled by it's own set of rules. But the politicians do not suffer, it is the people that do.

So I'm going to reimagine Congress, and to some extent the Executive branch since many of those same rules apply to and affect them.

What should we remove and what should be in place to make a Government that is primarily in service to the public? Here is a short list. Note that not all of these are federal policy. Some are state policy in reference to voting freedoms. Since voting is how the President and Congress are installed I felt that this should be included.

This is what "I" want to see. It is more or less a complete teardown of the obstructions that prevent Congress really working for the people. Essentially it is unlikely. But I also do not believe that we will have any true progress until this is done, in whole or significant part.

What should we remove?

• The party system.
The two main parties have been allowed to grow overly dominant. The entire system runs as if there are only two parties and any 3rd party that attempts to form, those party members and supporters are quashed and ridiculed for their beliefs. It can even be called a localized form of fascism as it does fit the description. Dissolve all Party affiliations and let all candidates run on their own values. If you remove the labels, it will also remove many of the problems associated with our two party system. This also solves many other issues (as outlined below).

• Remove the RNC / DNC.
These committees can act as powerful candidate filters. The typical function is a platform which markets the Republican/Democratic brand. But an abuse of power allows them to remove the ability for the voter to vote for their chosen candidate. When these committees throw weight behind their candidates, it can nullify competition. Voters are siphoned into a one or two candidate choice, most of the time against their will.

• Remove the Parliamentarian.
The Parliamentarian provides guidance as to the rules and procedures of Congress in a non-partisan fashion. Therefore, the Parliamentarian would also be dependent upon a party system. Without a party system, the Parliamentarian is not needed. This job could potentially be reassigned to another position, something like a Mediator that would help work out issues between two politicians with contradictory ideals.

• Remove the filibuster.
The filibuster is a loosely defined term for action meant to prolong or delay policy debate. Just remove it. There would be no need for it without a party system and there is actually no need for it now.

• At the state level, remove all gerrymandering & redistricting.
States have too much power to strip voting rights and obfuscate the ease of the voting process. They should not have this power because it influences vital decisions at the national level.

• Removal of the practice of corporate lobbying, insider trading, and all methods and means of corporate influence.
Corporations should have no influence. They should not be able to throw money at people who can help make laws to benefit them. They are at the root of the worst of the problems for this country and because of this, our country may never recover from its multiple crises.

Now consider this. With the removal of these committees, councils and agencies, just imagine how much taxpayer money would be freed up. All of the above was originally put in place to partition the functionality of Congress. But it ended up being used as a power sink to separate the decisions and function of Congress from what the people want.

So let us say we were successful at doing everything above. Now what do we add?

• A carefully picked independent agency or council for the sole purpose of vetting potential candidates.
First and foremost, we want to get the right kind of people in Congress. This is important on so many levels because what it would do is prevent corrupt candidates from being able to run. The vetting process should include a background check, mental acuity in civics, in foreign policy, and strong intellectual capability. I will also add a strong Climate Awareness since Climate Change is now a permanent part of the choices we make as we move forward.

• Term limits and age limits in Congress.
Scientific fact. People with success and set in their ways tend to become more conservative. Decisions become more self-serving and tend to neglect public desire the longer one is seated.

• Ranked choice voting or popular vote only.
Let an uninfluenced vote determine the winner. Ranked choice voting is being tested in some locals, even some states and has shown some positive results. Popular vote is of course an unhindered method, both at the state and national levels.

• Removal the ability to stonewall or delay any introduced legislation.
The mountains of bills on McConnell's desk are an egregious insult to both the promoters of those bills and to the people that they may help.

• Anonymous Legislation
By this I mean that no political grouping should be allowed. Politicians would not be able to schmooze and bargain with each other in order to boost or destroy any potential legislation. Let a bill be offered, read and voted on with each member of Congress in a secure space, unable to communicate with their fellows for that period of time.

Vetting, term limits, age limits should absolutely apply to the presidential election as well.

These may seem like drastic changes, but this is how I would imagine it if we were to have a system that benefits everyone equally.