Why not make it that only Veterans can run for any office?

There are a number of newly elected Veterans coming into congress. There are enough women in the forces now to represent their views. Why not simply make it a rule that only Vets can nominate, proving that you have already given your country real service seems a damned good way to improve the breed to me.
(I can't claim this as my idea. Robert Heinlein proposed "Federal Service"as a prerequisite for politics in "Starship Troopers")

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

HootyTheNightOwl

How about forcing them to offer up a mix of people from different backgrounds so that you have a more equal mix of rich and poor people... that should go a good way to making the system fairer to everyone as opposed to just those that can pay for affiliation.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@HootyTheNightOwl That is an option. But there is no guarantee the scum would not rise to the surface with those groups as it has in the current system. I am looking for a way to improve the average, possibly by removing a moral deficit or two.

HootyTheNightOwl

@whowasthatmaskedman Whenever you have a group of people, you'll never prevent the possibility of cliques forming simply because of the fact that we know that there's greater safety in numbers - even in politics there's a good chance that people are voting for what everyone else wants rather than choosing the policy that they feel is in the best interests of the country as a whole.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@HootyTheNightOwl I completely agree. But there is something in Military training about duty to your nation and community. Hopeful, self interest and safety can be looked past.