We have a number of bills and proposals floating around to modify CDS laws, all on the general topic of concentrations of power. These include
* Term limits
* Disclosures of conflicts of interest
* Prohibitions of conflicts of interest
and a few other assorted concepts. Let me mention a small handful of basic issues worth consideration, as we take up those various proposals.
1. Fairness is good. We get happy citizens, and more of them, when they feel that their environment, and its distributions of resources and priviliges, generally is fair. We get unhappy ones, and lsoe some, if they don't.
2. A government official is expected to wield their power for the benefit of all citizens. It undermines their credibility, and fairness, if they use it to benefit themselves and disadvantage others. (For example, a chancellor who only appoints herself or her boyfriend to a paying job.)
3. Sometimes, even if they aren't actually taking a benefit, government officials may appear unfair if they have a clear opportunity to do so. (For example, a candidate in an election who also serves on the authority that is controlling the election.)
4. Long-term members and leaders in a community often feel invested -- and entitled to a strong share of power in that community. Communities who wish to grow require new members and new investments. Newcomers often also wish to have some degree of power, or access to the community's controls. When making big new investments of time and money, they may assess the permeability of the existing power structure. Typically, large factors in that assesment include fairness (see above), receptivity to new input, and the degree of distribution of real power (heterogenous or homogenous; widespread and shared, or concentrated in a few hands). (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Establishment and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_elite .)
[to be continued]
