The best constitutional change?

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My suspicion grows that sortition would be the best among practicable changes to the American Constitution. How about this for a way of eliminating the pain of our three-year long presidential campaigns? Choose the president by drawing lots among the 100 US senators and 50 state governors. Have the person serve a single three-year term. Repeat.

Sure, we might get some presidents worse than those we are likely to get with an elective system. But surely we would get some better presidents as well. And just think: no primaries, no conventions, no campaign ads! That has to be worth it.

Comments

  1. Samson Corwell12:43 PM

    I like the idea, but I think I'd keep the four-year term. An interesting thing about it is that it can't be called undemocratic since it is radically different from what most Americans are familiar with. It's not monarchical nor dictatorial, but demarchical.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Samson Corwell6:58 PM

    Relating to the issue of forms of government, have encountered the term "anocracy"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gcallah10:15 PM

      Not before tonight: thanks for the tip.

      Delete
    2. Samson Corwell8:29 PM

      Oh, and one more: anarcho-monarchism.

      Delete
  3. Bobybuilder1:49 PM

    More or less how pre Medici Florence was ruled. There are worse ideas.

    Nice to see you on the Give Palin A Chance team.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bobybuilder2:23 PM

    Seriously though the worst idea is the line item veto. The last thing we need is to enhance the importance of holding the presidency. I think the best change would be getting the president out of nominating supreme court justices. That would get much of the deranged passion out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. PH4:08 AM

    Better still, the lack of esteem in which the president selected would usually be held would decrease the president's power drastically.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Samson Corwell11:30 PM

    Gene, what are your opinions on things related to the nature of federalism, states' rights, and the incorporation doctrine? Despite my support of substantive due process and dislike of states' rights, I do happen to like Randy Barnett's Repeal Amendment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gcallah1:36 AM

      Not informed enough to have much of an opinion, sorry.

      Delete

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