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Comment by dmitrygr | Hacker News Reader

A good idea. We should also add strict term limits and bar them from ever working for any [large] company after holding office. That would prevent the existing revolving door of the "you help me with this law and we'll give you a cushy do-nothing consulting gig when you retire." Give them a good pension and bar them from any non-volunteer work.

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Incentivizing legislators to hold on to their positions, by guaranteeing a painful exit, is definitely a bad idea. In fact, that was cited as a reason that Ford pardoned Nixon, to ensure that peaceful transfers of power would continue to be the norm. Countries that are eager to lock up past rulers slide into dictatorship more often.

> Countries that are eager to lock up past rulers slide into dictatorship more often.

Are there historical trends that show this? If true, South Korea may be in trouble. Out of the 3 most recent ex-presidents, 2 have been jailed and 1 committed suicide due to bribery charges.

> would prevent the existing revolving door

It would also limit higher office to the otherwise unambitious or independently wealthy.

Sadly, that limit already exists. And I did say "nice pension"

Intuitively and not as a constitutional scholar, but would that survive a pursuit of happiness constitutional challenge? It seems like you probably can't put too many additional requirements on the role without needing an amendment.

> Intuitively and not as a constitutional scholar, but would that survive a pursuit of happiness constitutional challenge?

Yup.

For one reason, because the federal courts don’t tend to mistake the Declaration of Independence for a part of the Constitution that limits express powers like the Commerce Clause.

Haha oh shoot, you're right. So the government could pass a law that anyone who is elected must give up all their wealth upon quitting office and there is nothing in the constitution that would prevent that?

so they'll just open a "consultancy" and "consult" ?

The members of congress will receive lots of gifts from family members who get strangely wealthy for no reason at all.

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