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Any Basis? Term Limits and Special Interests

INRM said:
FattyCatty

1.) If a Congressman and Senator cannot negotiate or make arrangements for subsequent private employment: Why does it still happen?

2.) What kind of post employment restrictions are there on Congressmen and Senators?
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INRM, I was happy to find some information and a link to more information for you. See Post-Employment, “Revolving Door,” Laws
for Federal Personnel, May 12, 2010, Congressional Research Service, 7-5700, www.crs.gov, 97-875.
  1. There are exceptions explained in the link I provided for you, starting on page 9.
  2. There is more information in the link I provided for you, starting on page 10.
 
INRM said:
Drachasor

Could a law be passed that would prohibit a politician from joining a corporation or a lobby-group for say at least 5 years that would be considered constitutional?
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Yes, but I think it is potentially problematic. I'd rather not encourage complex bribes that get around the law by imposing term limits. If someone wants to dedicate their life to serving their country as an elected official, that should be an acceptable career. It would be really hard to avoid all loopholes.

I think we'd be better served by getting big business and special interests out of fund raising and limiting their ability to advertise regarding candidates. Unfortunately, this MIGHT require an amendment. This makes it so that cozying up to big business or the like would hopefully be more of an exception rather than a necessity. That's part of why I favor public financing setting a cap on the amount of money anyone can spend on an election (and if you get enough signatures you get that full amount as part of the public financing). This also lets politicians not worry as much about raising money and so it gives them more time to focus on their job.
 
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Drachasor

Yes, but I think it is potentially problematic. I'd rather not encourage complex bribes that get around the law by imposing term limits.
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What kind of complex bribe would get around term limits? Just as an example?

It would be really hard to avoid all loopholes.
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How hard? Would imposing really harsh penalties (10-25 years imprisonment, maybe a death sentence, etc) have any effect?
 
The correct solution is to strip the government of so much power. Then it isn't as much of a prize.

But, dear reader, I'm sure that will step on your ideas of what pet projects the government should be shoving it's thumb into, and therefore you will reject this notion, much the way Christians love Muslims because at least they're not freakin' atheists.



One thing our politicians are toying with for this upcoming election in the US are simplifying the tax system by getting rid of most loopholes and deductions.

Fair enough -- until you realize they did this before. All it does is wipe away all the handouts they give out to special interests, allowing them to re-hand them out again for more donations in the future. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me for the 12th time in a row, it's a democracy!
 
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