How to get money out of politics

I was thinking about supporting a bill that would effectively take money out of politics.

This is how it would work,

Any public official would not be allowed in office if their assets were above 1 million dollars.

So, a public official that wants to get into office or stay in office would have to either donate the excess or resign.

If any public official is found to have assets totaling more than 1 million, in violation of the bill, they would have all assets seized and sentenced to 20 years in supermax prison.

Basically, any public official who would accept lobby money would be risking life in prison. It would be a deterrent to any public official seeking office solely for the purpose of getting rich and/or richer.

What do you guys think, I know it would have a good chance for petition, but actual passage would be impossible if it is up to politicians.

a reply to: GodEmperor

That is being a bit discriminating isn't it? The problem isn't the politicians personal assets, the problem is it costs a fortune to run for office. The simplest most effective way to take money out of politics is to shift the burden from the candidate to the public.

a reply to: GodEmperor

I would say ban anyone who has ever had a million or more dollars/pounds, no matter what they have in their account on the day.

A requirement for any position in government, ought to be that the only legitimate working life experience should be one of near destitution despite constant legal employment. It's only people who know what REAL life is like, who have any idea what is really required in order to improve the lot of others in the same position, and given that the majority of people in any developed nation, are getting screwed by the monied few, it's someone who has been screwed their whole life you want running the show, not someone who has been screwing everyone professionally since they left university!

a reply to: TrueBrit

Wouldn't matter.

Most aren't rich UNTIL they get to Washington.

Lobbyist money in the form of "legitiment" jobs for family members and the like.

While in office, you can insider trade on the stock market and make decisions that positively impact your bottom line.

Then the REAL payout is after office in the form of Lobbyist kickbacks, speaking fees, books nobody wants to read, lobbyist positions, think tanks, contributor, adviser, etc.

Former Speaker of the House Tom Daschle example:

Defeated for re-election in 2004, he took a position as a policy advisor with a lobbying firm, and also became a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. He co-authored a book advocating universal health care.

Daschle was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy, and was offered the position of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after the 2008 election. He was President Obama's nominee to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Cabinet,[1] but withdrew his name on February 3, 2009, amid a growing controversy over his failure to accurately report and pay income taxes.[2] He is currently working for The Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson,[3] a large law firm and lobbying group.

billmoyers.com...

Thus, the plutocrats continue buying government by picking up ex-members of Congress like so many players in fantasy baseball, using them to keep smashing up what’s left of both democracy and a middle class nurtured by organized labor and decent wages. “The corporate campaign created a political consensus that churns out business-friendly policies no matter which party is in power,”

a reply to: infolurker

So the restriction would have to extend beyond political office. One term in public office, and forever barred from excessive wealth. Doesn't sound very popular, or practical but that excess fat could be used to pay off the national debt.

I guess to add to it, since most bills end up being lengthy tomes:

A public officials life would be 100% public, like reality t.v. Everything they do, would be monitored and publicly accessible.

"Secrecy is repugnant to a free and open society". Right?

How to get money out of politics? That's easy. Just substitute money for something else. Which doesn't really fix anything. The problem is not solvable.