I don't believe in party politics, at every election, brilliant, competent people get left out due to their party affiliation while incompetent idiots gain a seat. The most important quality is integrity. Although I have always known how far short our system is from the ideal, I have been utterley shocked at what has come out of the mouth of what I thought was a reasonably intelligent, educated person (our pm) et al. We do not need two houses of parliament, just one made up of annually elected representatives of the people supported by experts in every field, who have not sold their soul to big pharma or other organisation. The criteria for electing someone should be integrity, intelligence, common sense, impartiality, etc. MPs would be paid subject to attendace on debating issues that need deciding either in smaller committees or by the whole house. Presumably in future these debates could be carried our by video conferencing. The mandate should include the eradication of obscene extremes of poverty and wealth, and a fair system of basic welfare that requires some form of work from those who are fit and able. Hard work and success should be rewarded but within reasonable limits . I think it was Socrates or Plato who is reported to have said that the richest should not earn/own more than eight times what the poorest have. Dream on.
