3 ms·

I think is standard practice at larger firms in the banking industry, it should be for government as well.

_lb0d 3y ago
Agreed.
ghaff 3y ago
There are significant restrictions in a number of sectors--including ones that don't necessarily compensate terribly well--that I expect many people reading this would bridle at if they applied to themselves but which are in place (usually for understandable reasons) nonetheless.
ksec 3y ago
Not just in banking industry but many other Finance or Legal industry as well. Pretty much standard practice.
- vinceguidry 3y ago
  Why would this solve the problem? They're still incentivized to make decisions on behalf of the nation in their own financial interests. The conflict of interest in the financial industry is with the companies they work with and for. For lawmakers it's with the whole country. They should absolutely not be allowed to benefit personally from legislating.
  - datavirtue 3y ago
    I wish we just called people up like we do for jury duty.
    - ghaff 3y ago
      That basically devolves all the power to full-time congressional staffs because the representatives themselves would be even less educated on issues before them than they are today. (Though this is already close to being the case in some states that only have part-time legislators who are paid next to nothing.)
      - katbyte 3y ago
        > representatives themselves would be even less educated on issues before them than they are today. i dare say politicians are far from even the smallest bit educated on any issue as it is not what gets them votes, and even an amateur in any field or profession is likely more aware and educated then them. how many times do we hear about laws the pass about technology that clearly have no idea how said technology works? perhapses having expects, scientists, and data be how we make choices would result in better outcomes then simply who is best at winning a popularity contest. i recall a study done with high school class leaders where instead of voting they did something else and it resulted in better, more capable leadership, but i can't find it at the moment
    - mensetmanusman 3y ago
      That would be amazing. Maybe have some minimum requirement afterwards with knowledge though.
      - HWR_14 3y ago
        Government tests for knowledge to participate in democracy do not have a good history.

Agreed.

There are significant restrictions in a number of sectors--including ones that don't necessarily compensate terribly well--that I expect many people reading this would bridle at if they applied to themselves but which are in place (usually for understandable reasons) nonetheless.

ksec 3y ago

Not just in banking industry but many other Finance or Legal industry as well. Pretty much standard practice.

vinceguidry 3y ago
Why would this solve the problem? They're still incentivized to make decisions on behalf of the nation in their own financial interests. The conflict of interest in the financial industry is with the companies they work with and for. For lawmakers it's with the whole country. They should absolutely not be allowed to benefit personally from legislating.
- datavirtue 3y ago
  I wish we just called people up like we do for jury duty.
  - ghaff 3y ago
    That basically devolves all the power to full-time congressional staffs because the representatives themselves would be even less educated on issues before them than they are today. (Though this is already close to being the case in some states that only have part-time legislators who are paid next to nothing.)
    - katbyte 3y ago
      > representatives themselves would be even less educated on issues before them than they are today. i dare say politicians are far from even the smallest bit educated on any issue as it is not what gets them votes, and even an amateur in any field or profession is likely more aware and educated then them. how many times do we hear about laws the pass about technology that clearly have no idea how said technology works? perhapses having expects, scientists, and data be how we make choices would result in better outcomes then simply who is best at winning a popularity contest. i recall a study done with high school class leaders where instead of voting they did something else and it resulted in better, more capable leadership, but i can't find it at the moment
  - mensetmanusman 3y ago
    That would be amazing. Maybe have some minimum requirement afterwards with knowledge though.
    - HWR_14 3y ago
      Government tests for knowledge to participate in democracy do not have a good history.