"A Modest Proposal"

The paradox of modern representative democracy is that the type of person who is most apt to seek public office is exactly the type of person that we should least want to hold that office. To willingly give power to someone who is power-seeking is a form of insanity. The only way to have truly disinterested representation is to do away with the electoral system as we know it and institute something similar to selective service.

One workable scenario would be: A few "candidates" are selected at random. They complete a form very similar to a job application which details their qualifications and their opinions on a few important issues. The electorate votes for the best-qualified, based entirely on the information given on their applications. No speeches, no advertising, no BS. The "winner" serves a two-year term in a governmental capacity, and, just to keep anyone from intentionally throwing the election, the also-rans do a thousand hours of community service over the same two-year period.