On Aug 24, 2009, at 12:45 AM, Joseph Catron wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 12:10 AM, Michael Pollak <mpollak at panix.com>
> wrote:
>
> I suggest that all US senators and representatives should be picked
> at
>> random among the adult population. Like jury duty. Except that if
>> you're chosen you can say no.
>>
>
> I'm not sure I care for this last bit. It seems to me that the best
> candidates would also be among those most likely to decline. I know
> San
> Marino will jail anyone elected as a Captain Regent who refuses to
> serve;
> perhaps other precedents for this exist?
Well, Plato argued that the best--if they are best--would be forced to serve under threat of being governed (as they are today) by the worst.
The Roman Senators were known as "Conscript Fathers" (though the word conscript didn't have quite its current sense then).
Shane Mage
> This cosmos did none of gods or men make, but it
> always was and is and shall be: an everlasting fire,
> kindling in measures and going out in measures."
>
> Herakleitos of Ephesos