Ideas For Democracy:  Goal #10

Develop rules for candidates for legislative or executive positions in order to prevent the election of destructive or incompetent persons to public office.

 

Citizens who want real democracy will actively support this policy and vote for trustworthy candidates who actively support this policy.

 

IFD - policy:  A candidate for elective public office is applying for a job.  The hiring practices of the electorate should be as stringent as or more stringent than the hiring practices of private employers.  Many corporations require a psychological test or personality profile questionnaire.  Every candidate should be required to submit a resume to the general public.  Candidates should be required to submit a written statement describing their standards of ethical behavior.  The electorate should discuss what character traits and work skills they want in a legislator, standards that are bona fide performance expectations of the hiring authority, from working hours to organization and priorities of tasks to be completed.  The tests and measures should be used to determine to what extent the candidate meets the electorates' performance expectations.    

 

Candidates may be required to make a statement regarding the level of personal privacy they feel is appropriate for them, in order to deflect or neutralize personal attacks, such as sexual behavior, that are irrelevant to the bona fide job requirements.  Any information required about physical and emotional health records must be the same for all candidates.

 

Any written statements required must include a statement of political viewpoint and goals.  Any goal or purpose or principle of public policy that is recommended by the candidate must also include specific statements about how the candidate proposes to accomplish those goals and purposes or implement those principles of public policy.