Chapter 5

One Term of Office, Lobbying, Full
Transparency, Political Appointees

One Term of Office Only For Everyone

Show honor to Congress, and to the institutions of government generally, by serving only
one term. This does not require a change to any election law or to the Constitution itself, but is
simply a new rule of government enforced by citizens and political parties at the ballot box.
Citizens step forward and take power unto themselves just as they should... through the vote (JRE Link, 2017-0719 (Wed), COM-STR2).

This should be the sole issue of all future primary and general election campaigns until it
is firmly established in the nation, making all of us single-issue voters in the interim. Political
parties can assist in this effort, encouraging all who seek elective office to accept that one term is
the rule they need to follow.

Political courage is needed on the part of all Americans––courage to believe in the ability
of average citizens to rise to the occasion and do the work of self-government.

The overriding principle for voters every election day is this––automatic, across-the-
board change. It's that simple.

Average citizens––as mayors, as state legislators, as congressmen, as senators, as
governors, and as presidents––fill the offices of government for a single term and then return
home and resume their careers. It should have been done this way from the beginning of
America.

Congress has never lived up to its great potential. The practice of politicians serving more
than one term is the major reason why (JRE Link, 2019-1004 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Put a group of self-serving, career politicians into a room on Capitol Hill and just hope—
that's a terrible strategy for self-government in America (JRE Link, 2020-0604 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Federal, state, and local governments dominated by partisan politicians. Society and
culture dominated by partisan political activists. That's not a recipe for a happy America.

A system of inspired governance and inspired leaders is what we need. And we need this
not just every once in a while, but in every election cycle. The practice of all men and women

serving just one term will bring about such a system. America will be inspired in everything she
does.

We can have a unified country. We can build a stronger and stronger economy that lasts
for generations. We can balance the budget. We can take care of the poor and give them a
pathway to greater opportunity and wealth. We can educate all of our youth and prepare them for
success in college and beyond. We can provide good health care to all of our citizens and have
more and more breakthroughs in medical treatments. We can effectively fight crime. We can
have a strong military and make good decisions as to when and when not to go to war. A system
of inspired governance and inspired leaders can do all of these things and more.

One term only please for everyone––federal, state, county, and city elective offices.

435 open seats for every session of the U.S. Congress. Open seats for all U.S. Senate
seats that have reached the end of their first and only six-year term of office. One term for the
president of the United States (JRE Link, 2018-1218 (Tue), COM-STR2).

One term in office and no more––a quick touch and go (JRE Link, 2017-1016 (Mon), COM-STR2).

One term in office and no more––change becomes a permanent fixture of government.

There is nobody in America who needs to serve more than one term.

Don’t betray the trust of the American people by serving more than one term.

Men and women of good character in society––they realize in their hearts that they
should serve just one term and no more if deciding to run for public office.

History is filled with so many unrighteous kings, dictators, and politicians such that when
you finally come across a political leader who is righteous, who is sincerely focused on the needs
of the people, and who is not selfishly seeking after his or her own personal wealth and glory,
you are greatly moved. This is exactly the type of individual the American people want. The new
rule of everyone serving just one term will bring countless such individuals into Washington,
D.C. and into our state capitals across the land. America will be a changed nation forever.

If your heart is free of ambition, you will be content serving just one term (JRE Link, 2019-0110 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Personal ambition has no place in elective office. It's the enemy of true public service.

Public service ends at the close of your first term of elected office. After that, you
become a career politician and a liability to the country (JRE Link, 2017-1016 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The concept of reelection campaigns in America is wrong and always has been. There is
nothing more useless to the country than a politician in a reelection year (JRE Link, 2018-0708 (Sun), COM-STR2).

The desire to be reelected to office on the next election day is an obvious and blatant
conflict of interest for all acts done by an office holder in the current term. Therefore, reelection,
as a general principle, is corrupt on its face.

The transition from valued public servant to useless politician begins when plans are laid
for a reelection campaign.

All elected officials need to learn this one lesson––their reelection to office does not
matter to the country. Countless others in their districts are more than qualified to take over for
them and assume their duties (JRE Link, 2018-0620 (Wed), COM-STR2).

The era of the politician in America needs to come to an end (JRE Link, 2021-0806 (Fri), COM-STR2).

We don't need incumbency.

We don't need politicians with hunger for more and more wealth and power.

We don't need talented politicians who look good in suits or expensive dresses, who's hair
is perfectly combed, who are good at starring in TV ads, who are expert at debating weaker,
inexperienced candidates put forth by the other party––candidates who have neither the money
nor the power of incumbency.

The politician who wins elections, unfortunately, has become the end product of our
political system. This needs to change. Getting the right policies for America needs to take
precedence over the corrupting strategies put forth by political consultants to win elections (JRE Link, 2019-0622 (Sat), COM-STR2).

We need people to serve, not to build their careers, legacies, and financial futures through
elected office.

Serving in government is just that––to serve––not to take power and exercise dominion
over your fellow citizens (JRE Link, 2019-0926 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Political careers are about self-promotion and power over others. Citizens elected for just
one term are about duty to God and serving the country.

Wielding power on a continual basis is what corrupts our elected leaders. Therefore,
kindly pat them on the back and cycle them out of office on the next election day (JRE Link, 2021-0711 (Sun), COM-STR2).

A citizen of America says––Like Mr. Smith, I'm going to Washington to serve, and I will
serve for just one term. The storyline of the famous 1939 movie will play itself out again if I find
corruption of any kind while I am there.

And those running in primaries for the first time should not be seeking to build a name
for themselves, speaking devisive, incendiary words to stand out and get attention. We don't need
political superstars. Just campaign in the primary as a regular citizen, offering up helpful ideas

and your good example without attacking others, and without the corruption of political ambition
already manifest in your heart.

Don't worry about wining or losing in the primary election process. If you win, fine. You
go to the state capital or the nation's capital and serve for a term. If you lose, fine. You just
continue your life pursuits as before.

Citizens serving in elective office should see themselves as having the same
responsibility to America as our Founding Fathers, setting a good example to the nation and
building a foundation of greatness for generations to come.

The political class are like the nobles of olden times. They are not needed.

Don't look to politicians for leadership. They don't have the right qualifications to lead
the country (JRE Link, 2021-0424 (Sat), COM-STR2).

A politician talks about peace in the nation, but he is not equipped to help bring it about.
His experience is in the tools of divisiveness (JRE Link, 2021-1017 (Sun), COM-STR2).

All politicians throughout America can be excused from their current duties and sent
home.

Dear Senior Politicians:

Your knowledge, experience, and historical legacy are of secondary importance to the
nation. America can do her own work, thank you. Your past contributions are appreciated, but
the time is long since passed for you to move on.

Lay aside your seats. Let those who have never served before come in and replace you.
And let that pattern of new people regularly filling the seats of Congress every election cycle
continue forever.

Dear Americans citizens:

Don't fall in love with your elected representative—in the presidency, in Congress, in the
governor's mansion, or in city hall. The media makes these senior politicians seem greater than
they actually are. In reality, they have average (and sometimes less than average) skills and are
easily replaced. Say goodbye to them after their term ends and move on (JRE Link, 2021-1227 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Seniority in Congress is a bug, not a feature of our political system.

There needs to be a political price paid for being a multi-term politician. And that price
is—dismissal from office on the next election (JRE Link, 2022-0123 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Multi-term politicians bring turmoil, gridlock, corruption, and scandal to the nation.
Single-term non-politicians bring peace, prosperity, and bipartisan problem solving to the nation.

The House of Representatives does the people’s business—an important, holy work. The
multi-termers need to depart (JRE Link, 2020-0617 (Wed), COM-STR2).

That’s all you need—a House of Representatives filled with single-termers (JRE Link, 2020-0617 (Wed), COM-STR2).

End all financial donations to multi-termers. Do that starting today. That should solve the
long-standing problem of politicians in government fairly quickly.

We need politicians and political activists to stand down and let ordinary citizens
regularly fill the offices of government.

Politicians are the hollow shells of people's hopes for a better tomorrow.

Politicians are leaders in name only (LINOs) and not problem solvers for the nation.

Politicians don't serve the public interest (JRE Link, 2017-0921 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Politicians make speeches that leave us wanting (JRE Link, 2017-0719 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Politicians lie for political and personal gain. That's how they make their living and build
their careers (JRE Link, 2019-0716 (Tue), COM-STR2).

Hi, I'm a politician. I'm seeking for wealth, power, and notoriety through my elective
office. Make sure not to vote for me in the voting booth (JRE Link, 2018-0623 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Please don't bother me with facts with respect to my public policy initiatives. And don't
talk to me about achieving meaningful results for this country of ours. Winning against my
opponent in the upcoming televised debate is what's important to me; therefore, working together
with others towards common goals and to improve society is secondary (JRE Link, 2019-0928 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The insight I receive from political consultants will improve my debating skills and help
me to gloss over the complex and serious issues of the nation with half-truths and memorable
soundbites (JRE Link, 2019-0928 (Sat), COM-STR2).

As political consultants, we teach our candidates how to shade the truth or even lie
outright to win elections. And if that doesn't work, we'll hit the opposing candidate with a large
negative ad buy in the final weeks before the election (JRE Link, 2022-1210 (Sat), COM-STR2).

We make the world a terrible place, filling the airways with nonsense ads every election
season.

A politician says to his constituents after many years in office—I never loved you. I only
loved myself (JRE Link, 2019-0914 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Politician-driven "change" is not actually change. Real change for the country requires
that they themselves—the politicians, the multi-termers—leave office.

The problem with politicians is what they think, say, and do. Other than that, they're fine.

There is no honor among politicians (JRE Link, 2018-0613 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Don't outsource the government to politicians.

Smug and proud––a person with these characteristics is not a good leader. Politicians are
smug and proud (JRE Link, 2019-0511 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Satire has been used for many generations to mock politicians in public office, and the
practice continues today in news analysis and commentary on TV, radio, and in print, on comedy
TV shows, on late night TV talk shows, in movies, and on social media and forum posts. As we
rid our nation of politicians, a new found respect for our government and leaders will be
established. Humor can still be fun and relaxing to the American people as always, but as we
start to honor and appreciate our elected officials for the first time, there will be less and less
incentive (or need) for comedians, commentators, or us as citizens, to make fun of them.

Politicians are celebrities and royalty we don't need... like the kings, queens, princes, and
princesses of monarchies. Celebrities in Washington, D.C., state capitals or city government are
no better than the celebrities in the sports, music, and entertainment industries.

We need leaders, not celebrities in government.

We need leaders, not celebrities in the business world.

We need leaders, not celebrities in the sports, music, and entertainment industries.

True leaders are filled with love for the people of America and the people of the world.
They have no greater personal ambition in life than to do good for them. A true leader of a
community, of a state, or of a nation draws power and support directly from the people, and not
from the political industry. We don't need leaders of movements or leaders of political parties.
We need leaders of men.

We don't need long-winded orators or great statesmen who fill the evening hours of the
Senate floor with speeches.

We don't need powerful committee chairmen or congressional leaders who round up
votes to pass legislation that few people have read, and even fewer understand. That is not the
leadership our country needs.

We don't need proud conservatives, proud moderates, or proud liberals. We just need
proud Americans who are ready to stand up and lead the country forward.

A career politician asks himself questions like these:

What will I do in life if I can only serve one term?

Won't I lose the comfortable lifestyle with the good salary and benefits that elective office
has always provided to me?

What he should do is ask himself questions like these:

What can I do for good in my community as its former elected leader?

What can I do now, as a regular citizen again, to bring hope, happiness, and the fulness
of the American dream to more and more people in my hometown?

How does a politician find his soul again after years and years of being a cause of the
nation's problems? He lays aside his own ambitions and dedicates himself to the pursuit of pure
truth in public policy. The first discovery in that gallant pursuit is the realization that his time in
office must immediately come to an end. He has been Javert for a long time, and he needs to
become like Jean Valjean, starting anew in life. To quote Les Miserables on Javert:

He was forced to acknowledge that goodness did exist... All that he had believed in
melted away. Truths which he did not wish to recognize were besieging him, inexorably.
Henceforth, he must be a different man. He was suffering from the strange pains of a conscience
abruptly operated on for the cataract. He saw that which it was repugnant to him to behold. He
felt himself emptied, useless, put out of joint with his past life, turned out, dissolved. Authority
was dead within him.

But the former politician can be a wise and repentent Javert, one who is outside of
government, outside the levers of power completely, but one who is honest, humble, and a great
asset to the nation in the public square, helping to solve problems and serve others all that he can.

By you serving just one term, many more people in your district will have the opportunity
to serve in elective office. They can then bring that wonderful experience home with them to
share with others and perhaps inspire them to serve also.

By you serving just one term, many more women and minorities will be able to serve in
public office. The structural impediments of incumbency hurt women and minorities most of all.

By all elected officials serving just one term, we will eliminate seniority in congressional
committees and thus rid ourselves of the career politicians who hang around term after term and
who get in the way of the nation's business.

By all elected officials serving just one term, the government will finally start to work
smoothly and efficiently. Businesses will enjoy a very stable planning environment with the
proper mix of regulations and market freedoms. People throughout America will be able to feel
good about their government and what it is doing for them every day as sound policy initiatives

are undertaken, which, in turn, will translate to real, meaningful, and lasting improvement in
their lives.

Lobbying of Public Officials by Mail or Email Method Only

We don't need lobbyists—registered or otherwise—in direct contact with public officials.
All citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations, civic groups, and foreign governments can
lobby elected leaders 24 x 7 in the same way––from a distance––by sending their proposals,
ideas or requests for things they want in letters through the mail, and those letters or emails
(unless classified for reasons of national security) immediately become part of the public record
that everyone can see (JRE Link, 2019-0327 (Wed), COM-STR2).

No law changes are needed. This can be done through implementation of a new best
practices strategy for lobbying public officials that everyone in the nation strives to live by––by
those serving in the legislative and administrative branches of government, and by those working
outside of government.

Therefore, public officials should discontinue the practice of receiving lobbyists in-
person and taking lobbyist phone calls, referring petitioners to the public mail and email
communication method instead. They––the public officials––can best serve their country this
way.

And on the other side, outside of government, lobbyists, and the organizations they
represent, should discontinue the practice of visiting public officials in-person or contacting them
over the phone. All lobbying requests need to be done publicly, not privately, and with a paper
trail, electronically or hardcopy. They––the lobbyists and their organizations––can best serve
their country this way.

Lobbyists can visit government buildings as part of tour groups like normal citizens. With
few exceptions, they should no longer be physically present on the grounds of Capitol Hill in
Washington D.C. (or state capital buildings), or be seen entering the White House (or governor's
mansions) or entering the buildings of government agencies.

Lobbyists––the deeply connected in Washington. The country doesn't need their special
connections (JRE Link, 2018-0719 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Lobbyists should have no more access to public officials than normal citizens. No special
privileges should be granted to anyone.

Lobbyists, however, can be invited to testify at public hearings or provide technical
expertise to government agencies when called upon. In that context, they come as formally
invited guests in the public eye.

If a lobbying request is driving a piece of legislation (or a regulation change), that public
lobbying document (letters and emails are assigned reference #s as they are received) should be
referred to in the body of the legislation (or the regulation). This creates full transparency of the

lobbying requests coming in to government and full transparency of the lobbying requests going
out of government in any actions taken.

Upright Men and Women in Government

Public office is not for self-aggrandizement. Have the purest of motives if you want to
serve the people through elective office (JRE Link, 2019-0110 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Eye the voters squarely. Be upright men and women in public office with altruistic goals.
Establish truth in the nation as best you can.

Be good. Set a good example for citizens and other public servants to follow.

As you enter the halls of Congress each morning, show reverence to this great institution (JRE Link, 2017-0714 (Fri), COM-STR2).

Walk in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln (JRE Link, 2018-1227 (Thu), WSE-MAIN).

Trustworthy like Lincoln. Honest like Abe.

An honest man's impression is always well-regarded. Restore honesty to public debate on
Capitol Hill and the process of making laws for the country will be blessed immeasurably (JRE Link, 2018-1207 (Fri), COM-STR2).

The ideal of America is not just to eliminate corruption in government, and in the
corporate world, it is for all citizens and their leaders to live high ideals (JRE Link, 2018-0208 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Corruption in government is bipartisan. Left and Right both need to repent (JRE Link, 2018-0830 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Get thee behind me––political corruption (JRE Link, 2016-1016 (Sat), WSE-MAIN).

Political leaders should shun evil, not embrace it. Political corruption is among the
greatest of evils in society. The damage done is sometimes insurmountable and it can take years
or even decades in some cases to repair the sanctity of government in the public eye (JRE Link, 2022-0730 (Sat), COM-STR2).

No more trick or treating in Congress, please. Buying the Speaker or other House leaders
is an old lobbyist trick to help pass, amend or stop legislation. Let's bring this wicked practice to
an end (JRE Link, 2018-0901 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Cast out the moneychangers and the merchants from the halls of Congress (JRE Link, 2019-0214 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Dirty money in politics––the ill-gotten gains of politicians (JRE Link, 2018-0322 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Politicians are always safe and sound in their comfortable lifestyles, but that surely is not
the case with their constituents. The truth is that politicians and their constituents live in
completely different worlds, far removed from each other (JRE Link, 2019-0518 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Don't be fooled. Politicians are not spokesmen for the middle class or for the poor (JRE Link, 2018-0527 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Selfishness in building up one's political career year after year does not help the nation's
poor escape poverty.

We need real courage in our nation's leaders––courage to choose the right––not political
courage related to one's political career.

Courage is not casting a vote yea or nay on a piece of legislation sitting before Congress.
Nor is it calling a press conference to make public one's position on a controversial issue that
may come later as a referendum before the voters in one's home district.

Courage is what members of the armed forces display on the battlefield in defense of our
country. Courage is what members of the intelligence agencies display every day as they put
themselves in danger to build up our knowledge about terrorist networks and crime syndicates.
Courage is to be a policeman, a firefighter, a border control agent, a prison guard or a dedicated
social worker in the inner city. Courage is to work with the local police to fight against street
gangs in one's neighborhood.

Service to the nation is not to take up residence in an executive-style office in the Capital
Building, take in a six-figure salary every year, or put on a tuxedo and go out on the town to
experience the nightlife of Washington D.C.

True leaders are surely needed in all capital cities of America, including the nation's
capital itself. And service to the nation in public office by patriotic Americans is also something
that is surely needed. But the loss of a politician's high paying job over the next ten or twenty
years is not a chief worry of the American people... nor should it be. The political career, the
high salary, the generous benefits, the pension, the celebrity status, the public notoriety, the
connections to important people, the perks of elected office, all of these things should be of
secondary importance to one who truly desires to serve his or her country.

New laws passed by Congress won't change hearts. Goodness of character is what the
country needs, and this goodness comes from within us.

Political Appointees Are Not Needed in America

We don't need political appointees in any area of government, neither at the federal, state
nor local levels.

All non-elected employment positions in government, including cabinet members and
department heads, should be wide open to any citizen of this country through a normal hiring
process administered by a non-partisan Administration Staffing Office (ASO) that would be
much like the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in how it operates and the oversight it
receives. States and cities would have similar offices at the local level.

Serving in these administration positions for up to a maximum of four years at a time,
public servants with the proper skills can be hired who serve only the American people and not
the administration currently in power.

Communication directors (like those of the White House, State Department, Pentagon,
and Justice Department) will no longer be advocates for their department heads, but rather
clearinghouses of information to the public. There is no need for battles between reporters and
administration spokesmen. All questions asked of the people's government should always get
straight answers unless such answers are classified for reasons of national security. All questions
about sensitive issues will be answered forthwith and accurately, and most particularly those
questions that may have answers unfavorable to the administration currently in power.

We don't need silver-tongued White House spokepersons spinning the facts every day to
suit a chosen narrative.

Training and skills in public relations are not the priority qualifications needed for
government communication leaders and staff. Honesty, integrity, and truthtelling is what
America needs most in these positions.

The size, scope, and influence of the political industry will be greatly reduced when we
rid the country of political appointees and the inherent corruption in government that they bring.

Government officials don't serve at the pleasure of the President, the Governor, or the
Mayor. They serve at the pleasure of the American people.

Full Transparency in Government, not Partial Transparency

Full transparency in government has never been implemented before by any country, not
even by us in the United States. It is the next frontier in successful self-government for America
and all nations (JRE Link, 2017-0801 (Tue), COM-STR2).

Even partial transparency in government––like what we have in the United States today–
–would quickly end any and all autocratic regimes of the world. So, that should tell you a lot
about how much more successful we will be as a people after full transparency in government is
implemented (JRE Link, 2018-0518 (Fri), COM-STR2).

The practice of elected officials holding meetings off-the-record should be discontinued.
Unless there is a national security requirement, virtually every meeting of our elected officials,
whether in their offices, in conference rooms, or in committee rooms, should be recorded on
video or broadcast live and added to the public record.

A private, off-the-record meeting of any kind raises questions as to what is being
discussed that needs to be confidential.

Is the privacy needed in order to hide in-person meetings or conference calls with
lobbyists? If so, those kinds of meetings should be eliminated from government anyway
(replaced by the mail/email process previously mentioned) and not be a problem.

Is the privacy needed to discuss political strategy? If so, why? To round up votes to pass
a piece of legislation, or to tag one or more members of the opposing party with a scandal?
Having these kinds of political strategy meetings recorded and visible to the media, to the public,
and to the opposing party would be very instructive––showing us how true problem solving in
the nation gets undermined by political silliness and backroom deals. Expanding the
transparency of elected officials to include virtually all of their meetings will help to solve this
problem.

We certainly don't want meetings of the people's business to be switched to other venues–
–in hallways, in restrooms, or offsite somewhere––in order to avoid having it on the public
record. And we don't want these meetings to be hidden from the elected official's public
calendar. That's not the point. Invading the personal privacy of individuals working hard every
day in the public workspace is not the goal of transparency in government. The point is this––we
want to change what elected officials think about and do every day for us in government. Why
not just meet in public, discuss in public, strategize in public, and solve problems together in
public? That's all we really want. This takes power away from the political parties and political
leaders in regular meetings off-camera, and returns it back to the American people on-camera.
Full transparency demands this.

Come one and all and work together on camera in the public eye, providing full
transparency in all that you do. Make incremental gains on the nation's problems and then see
these small gains add up to larger gains as policy truths are discovered and acted upon by
everyone, citizens and leaders both.

Meetings with campaign strategists and campaign staff should be similarly recorded and
made public. What is there really to hide when discussing your hopes and dreams for the country
or are handling routine campaign business day by day?

Win elections with full transparency. Serve in office with full transparency.

Elected officials should lead exemplary lives during their single term of office and do so
in public view. Perfection is not expected and is not required. Doing one's best and providing full
transparency is.