Kamal S. Prasad

A democracy is defined by the right that it accords its citizens to choose its leaders. As such, anything that interferes with that process is, by definition, designed to undo that democracy.

To that end, anyone who commit voter or elections fraud should be considered a traitor and prosecuted for treason. The penalties should be equivalent to someone who would provide national security secrets to a foreign country or would commit acts of violence against his or her own countrymen.

Elected officials are paid for by tax-payer monies, making them public employees. With the lifestyles that some public officials enjoy, some might be inclined to think that either they are overpaid or making money moonlighting.

If they are overpaid, they should be ashamed to live so lavishly while even one of their constituents does not have a roof over their head, adequate healthcare, or the ability to provide their children with world-class education.

If they are moonlighting, their commitment to public service is compromised because it means they are accountable to others besides the people who elected them to service.

This idea of mine comes from Plato’s Republic. It would work for the national level and I have not given much thought about local levels. I propose that when a person is elected, that they be prohibited from working for any entity other than the office to which they were elected. This includes personal projects such as authoring a book for profit. The elected official will, in turn, be provided with public housing, transportation, healthcare and education for all immediate family members at a level that is accessible to all middle-class families.

This would ensure that only those who have the best interests of the people run for office.