If I Ruled The World

[poliphilo]

The very rich are very largely lifted above the exigencies of every day life- they don't have to worry about the price of food or petrol, or losing their jobs or being harrassed by officialdom; they can live- and keep their money- where they like; they don't have to use public services or state schools or even pay taxes at the rate others do- and for that reason (if I ruled the world) anyone worth over a certain number of millions (the exact sum to be fixed by accountants) would be declared inelligible for public office. They would be barred from standing for parliament or sitting on quangoes or any of those things. Only those who are subject to society's rules should be able to make and administer them. 

Comments

[basefinder.livejournal.com]

I agree!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Cheers!

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I could settle for them having any assets above the median frozen, and unavailable for their period of office, alongside safeguards to ensure no other external funding. Should their income be fixed at the median, or minimum wage? (Needless to say, expenses would be limited to those sensibly required, per any reasonable business, rather than Westminster's unlimited feeding trough)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'd also want to make it illegal for any retiring minister to take a paid position with a company or corporation with which he or she had had official dealings.

I reckon they should be reasonably well paid. I don't want to punish them. The median wage would be perfectly acceptable.

[matrixmann]

Sounds like a nice idea.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Implementing it may not prove entirely straightforward.

[w. lotus (from livejournal.com)]

I wholeheartedly agree with this proposal!