Congress should have to live in dorms in DC and not be allowed to have apartments there unless they are from DC itself.
And they should have to eat in a cafeteria. Together. Once a day when congress is in session.
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I think we as a people need to get a lot more serious about reminding elected officials who they work for, and that it ain't giant corps!
Put me in charge of congressional "summer camp"
@futurebird eat family style with a different congress person serving every night. Rotating who is at each table so they have to meet, interact with and serve their fellow members. Too cognitively frail to remember orders, then you are definitely too cognitively frail to be in congress.
@futurebird The models of the Oxbridge College may be more suitable, and similar to those of a military mess and other purposeful groups.
@futurebird but they can’t be from DC, because DC has no congressional representation!
They have a rep who can't vote but who sometimes tries to cause trouble. But that is just another thing that needs to be fixed.
@futurebird not a representative, a delegate! DC does elect two shadow senators and one shadow representative, but they have no official role other than to be ready to be seated in Congress should the District become a state or otherwise be granted representation.
Well until they can vote they don't need to stay at the dorms.
@futurebird Congress critters and presidents should not just be required to divest of all commercial assets before taking office, but then accept a pension (a reasonable multiple of median income, adjusted annually as is appropriate) and full health coverage, etc. Also travel and housing provided - but they are allowed *no* outside income. No investments, no salaries from private companies. They get to live, basically, "free" - no need to get rich because they don't need to be rich, basically, but they're also just not allowed to try to get rich.
It would be a rather different, and much better, class of people willing to take that deal.
@futurebird Yes, this, please.
@futurebird And take public transit.
@troublewithwords @futurebird and use healthcare.gov
@futurebird i think that congress should not exist if its this detached from the rest of material reality
This would be a step away from the nonsense. And it would make them easier to supervise.
@futurebird
A couple of information bits.
The DC Delegate to the House does actually get to vote, but the vote cannot effect the outcome (i.e. be a tie-breaker)
The House is usually only in session 3 day a week, Tues, Wed, Thur, so the members can travel back home every weekend.
Many sleep in their office on a sofa and shower in the Fitness Center.
This way they avoid having a residence in Washington so they can tell their constituents they are "not part of Washington".