We have, at state and national level, complex problems of a complex society. But with legislators spending between 1/3rd and 2/3rds of their waking hours on fund raising (by necessity), where do they find the time to read the lengthy bills, do the research, absorb the briefings? The answer is: they don’t. Just when we need them to work full time on our problems!
What would help? Shorten the campaign season. Radically. Ban ads; they’ve become mostly corrupt twisted lies spreaders. Don’t discourage debates, sure. Encourage forums and town halls for direct questions, yes. But also, especially, encourage written (truly thoughtful, non-sound bite) answers to questions put forward by journalists, academics, League of Women Voters, etc.
It would be a start in the right direction away from the spectacle that passes for our political process.
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