We have had long term politicians serving since the beginning. John Quincy Adams served 26 years in Congress AFTER he was president. Henry Clay, John Calhoun Lyndon Johnson, Nicholas Longworth all served many years and with distinction. There is a need for maturity and a long term view. It also should be levened with youth and new blood to keep it fresh. Looking over the long term it is multiple strong political parties with grass roots power and organization that may work best. To aid that first the gerrymandering of all political districts must stop. Second somehow campaign funding needs to go back to flowing through the parties. Strong parties can help develop leaders and responsible policies. Third parties have tended to make political discourse continue between elections which allows ideas to be developed and either accepted or rejected between elections. One other consequence is that parties must be strong throughout the country. This forces the radicals on both sides to the fringes and creates a more moderate environment. Only when you have honest competition in the battle of ideas do you have the potential for good leadership. Today it doesn't exist and both parties are equally at fault. History has shown that under a stronger party environment the body politic has been stronger.
The buying of elections must stop. Campaign reform must go back on the front burner. Lobbyists must be banned from Congress. Our representatives need to be working for their constituents, not lobbyists. Let the special interests lobby the public and we will tell our representative what to do.
Lobbyists and lobbying must be controlled. we've had lobbyists since the beginning. However unlimited contributions to individuals is the root of the problem. I can accept contribution to parties as they would have the interest of being strong everywhere and no just forwarding personal interests.
