This is not a political blog.� That said, almost all writing on economics and business embeds a political point of view.� I recognize that my view is relatively libertarian with respect to economics/business, but conservative with respect to ethical issues.� There are a few things that I think would get wide agreement from many parties, aside from those entrenched in DC.� That is what tonight’s post is about.� I think that I will not post like this often.

1)� End gerrymandering — all congressional and state districts should follow the following rule: The ratio of the square of the circumference to the area of a district should not exceed 30. This would make representatives less partisan than is common today, because they would have to be elected by groups closer to a random sample of the people in a given area.� Exceptions would be granted for non-negotiable boundaries, like state and national boundaries.

2)� Make them read the bills publicly.� We have a health bill that is 1990 pages long.� Make them read it, and make the legislators listen.� Whip those that fall asleep.� Further, let the bills fully express the changes made in a plain english manner.� Amendments to existing laws must be written out in entire, rather than referencing a code, and saying that it has been deleted, amended, etc.

3)� Limit the length of bills.� The Law of God through Moses was far more comprehensive, and is far shorter than even most narrowly focused bills.

4)� Flesch-test all bills.� Make them simple enough to be understood by ninth-graders.� Hey, they force this on insurance companies!� Do you suppose that laws which should have universal application should be different?

5)� Publish an abstract of all major laws that affect citizens once every five years.� Give a copy to every adult citizen.� Let this be done in every state as well.

6)� Re-emphasize the ninth and tenth amendments to the Constitution.� Those amendments are supposed to maximize liberty for states and individuals.

7) Amend the Constitution to make Federal and State laws superior to treaties.� I know what mischief this would do, but I would rather be ruled by my local peers than by foreigners who have no understanding of what our American system is like.

Would that we would do this.� Our government is less and less understandable to the average citizen.� If we want our government to exist for a long time, we need to put into place reforms that will cause the government to be more responsive to its citizens.

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