<...Bill Buckley once said something to the effect that he'd rather be governed by people chosen at random from a phone book than by the faculty of Harvard. I think he's right.

I have often thought that we would have a much better country if our leaders were drafted rather than volunteers. Like jury duty, qualified people (subject to Constitutional age and residency requirements, at least able to count on his toes, not a convicted felon, etc.) would be selected at random to be candidates in national elections, all the way up to President. Pick out enough of them at a time to give the electorate a reasonable choice in the final election. The incumbent would be booted out.

I'm not quite cynical enough to take one of these congressional draftees and just dump him directly into the office, although the results probably wouldn't be any worse.

Maybe some state will have the guts to try this for its state offices. Of course, the concept will be received by the existing political power structure like an elephant turd on a banquet table, but what the heck.

The hard truth is that anyone who wants to be in charge of a government with almost limitless power over its citizens is probably exactly the person you don't want in charge. Our current electoral and vote-buying system selects for power lust, and it really shows.

"Greeting: You have been ordered to report as a candidate for Senate for the state of California. Report to the office of induction at your state Capital on the following date...."