The goal of the next election and every election should be to have a clean House. And a clean Senate, state houses, governorship, Presidency, school boards, and mayors and local boards. We can keep the county clerks and the dog catchers. The idea that the threat of replacing officeholders is enough to cause them to have the citizen’s interest front and foremost has been proven false again and again. Any time in office leads to corruption and self-serving, with the lobbyists and special interest groups buying them off. There are a few stand-outs, but far from enough of them.

In my last letter, I discussed using our connection through social media and just interactions with friends to spread the word and coordinate on who we choose to represent us. This will allow the citizens to have the power, removing the need for big money in politics. Ad blitzes and big campaign events will be unnecessary. It will also encourage the great, capable people we want in office to run because they won’t need to sell their souls to some sleazy party bosses and spend months traveling and shaking hands. They simply provide some information on what they will do along with their resume and the social networks do the rest.

Now we need to identify and get the best people to run. Political experience and knowing how the systems work is irrelevant. We are replacing the system. Congressional rules and procedures are immaterial. We’re putting citizen representatives into place, just as the founders intended and they can create whatever processes suit them.

We need people who have shown themselves capable of forming and running companies to give four years and become mayors, governors and President. We need people who know how systems and processes work: engineers, doctors, tradesmen, scientists, educators, and homemakers to give 2 to 6 years and become legislators. One term and done for all.

If you like how things are working now, ignore this letter. But if you don’t, stop doing what has always been done and make a change. 

Joseph Sheeley

Tullahoma