2012 Job Exchange

Yesterday I read an article where a U.S. Representative from California, Kevin McCarthy, advocated an idea of mine.  Of course he didn't credit me -- he thought of it himself... -- He said Candidate Mitt Romney should live, during the campaign, more like a regular person -- instead of staying in upscale hotels, he should stay overnight at local Republicans' houses (hmmmh -- is Mitt allergic to cats?; does he have problem with Fleetwood Mac playing on stereo past 11pm?...WELL past 11...??...he may have to take his knapsack over to the neighbors'...)...

Rep. McCarthy also suggested the candidate should take out the garbage, and if the bag breaks, he should clean it up.

It was in the New Yorker, I think.
The concept was similar to the idea I had last fall which was, all members of Congress should take their turn working at a regular person's job, for two months at a time to give the experience some realism...and during the two months the Congressman would work as a janitor, or whatever, and earn the same salary & benefits as the janitor, & meanwhile the janitor would occupy the congressman's chair in the House, and earn THAT salary-and-benefits.  The purpose of these exchanges would be to achieve greater understanding on the part of voters and lawmakers.

Like where they have exchange students, between countries.
And -- my dad went to Germany in 1971 with a "band" of ministers, while West Germany sent group of theirs to U.S....

If students and ministers can be exchanged, there would be no reason not to exchange members of Congress with working members of the public.  For the purpose of General Education and Increased Understanding.

When I outlined the idea to a retired state legislator he became rather ruffled and claimed that such a move might provoke a "constitutional revolution."

[puzzled frown]
A constitutional revolution.
Over -- taking out -- garbage.
Hmm.

It's like -- what you hear some people comment about others -- "They just don't WANT-TO-work!!!!!!!"

Is it possible that some of our elected officials "just don't want-to-work" ?

...anyway, was somewhat gratified to read an idea containing same principle as mine, coming from a congressman.

Probably lots of people have some version of this idea....

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