Put simply, there is a point beyond which economic inequality in its
own right complicates electoral control. The appropriate comparison is perhaps with a
powerful magnetic field. When The Force is with them – when, that is, Congressmen and
women, their staffs, presidential aides, and federal regulators can be sure of walking out
of their offices to become multimillionaires when they retire or step down – expecting
them to act consistently in the public interest is idle, even if all representatives were
elected on 100% public funding. Thomas Ferguson--
Legislators Never Bowl Alone:
Big Money, Mass Media, and the Polarization of Congress
When politicians fall from power, it is usually due to either sex or money. I don't have any ready solutions for the likes of Anthony Weiner or John Edwards. To paraphrase Montaigne, I have never had the temptation that comes with power, so I cannot boast of my moral strength.
But I do know one way in which politicians in Washington can lessen the corrupting influence of money. Every candidate who runs for Congress and every political appointee in the executive branch should be bound by a
non-compete clause. This is fairly common practice in the private sector. The basic purpose is to keep an employee from using knowledge gained from an employer in ways that disadvantage that employer.
That is exactly what happens when a member of Congress, a congressional staffer, or executive-branch staffer leaves and takes a high-paying lobbying job. While all lobbying does not disadvantage every citizen, the most influential and best-financed lobbying entities are truly "special interests" that do little to benefit the greater good. Why should citizens, the employers of elected officials and their staffs, "train" people who turn around and work against our interests. No Fortune 500 corporation would stand for this. Why should we?
The non-compete clause should remain in effect for 5 years after service in Washington ends. This would ensure that our elected officials and their staffs are doing the work we send them to do. Otherwise people we pay will continue to focus on working the system and making connections. Because in reality much of what happens in Washington is preparing and auditioning for high-paying lobbying jobs.
Congress is not going to implement this. We must demand that candidates commit to having a non-compete agreement in place before they take office.
"Neither I nor any of my staff will become a lobbyist, work for a firm whose primary function is lobbying, or take a position that relies on institutional knowledge for at least five (5) years after service in Congress has ended."
The "institutional knowledge" wording can be thought of as the Newt Gingrinch clause.
Many other things need to happen to restore citizens' faith in Washington. Other folks are doing great work trying to close the Pandora's Box that is Citizens United. But those are big efforts that will take several years to complete.
You can ask the candidates in your district to commit to a non-compete agreement in this election. So if you attend any debates or candidate events ask each candidate
present if they will commit to serving only their constituents. Or write to your local newspaper and ask them to publish the agreement and have candidates respond.
I think Professor Ferguson is correct--until the revolving door is shut even public financing is idle.
