Whew! The elections are over, and now we must live with the results for two more years. With the campaign ordeal behind us, we're free to watch television, listen to the radio, and open our mailboxes again...at least for a few weeks, before the 2016 race begins.
The idea for today's Blix comes from my daughter, Katy. She has decided that before anyone even thinks of running for public office, the candidate-wannabe should be required to do three things; only after completion of these tasks could a candidate move forward.. These requirements would give him or her an inkling of how things really work. And what needs to be changed. Not from a cozy office in Washington, DC, protected by layers of like-minded staff. But from first-hand experience--successful navigation of common challenges in their future districts.
Here's Katy's list:
1. Apply for unemployment...then try to find a job.
Ever been to an unemployment office? Had to talk to the weary state employee who has heard every sad story in the world, and is unable to do much about it? I applied for and received unemployment compensation in 2011. The process is embarrassing and cumbersome. Once the initial paperwork is done (by the weary state employee) then comes the documentation of the job search.
Oh, the job search. The endless online applications, entering the same information over and over and over. Only to be screened out, because that's what Human Resources software is designed to do. It's a huge victory if you manage to actually speak to a human. You just want to explain how you really are qualified for the job, that you learn quickly, you're a really nice person, and how much your clients and coworkers loved you. Sometimes there is an automated email rejection ("We appreciate your application. However...") or other times, there is just nothing. Radio silence.
If potential politicians had to slog through the hell of unemployment and job search--no cheating--perhaps it would make them less judgmental of Americans who would love nothing more than to go to work.
2. Try to use Medicaid.
Here's another task that is nearly impossible. First, the application. Which requires access to a computer and the Internet. Many folks who need Medicaid don't have these essentials. Assuming the process goes well, now comes the true challenge: Finding a physician and getting an appointment within the next decade.
This is not a slam against doctors. They are busy--overwhelmed--these days. Documentation, Electronic Medical Records, HIPAA. (You and I could be married, but if I am not on your "approved" list, I will not be able to get a smidgen of information about you and your condition.) Terrible reimbursement rates that take forever to be paid.
Most doctors are really good people. They went into medicine to help others. Their good intentions are lost in the quagmire of paperwork (now electronic work), regulations, and performance standards. They don't mind accepting Medicaid patients at all. It's just that doing so takes more time and paperwork...and only 61% of the Medicare reimbursement rate. So, Mr. Politician, go ahead and try to find a doctor that will take care of your heart condition, blood sugar, and lack of sexual performance. Ms. Politician, good luck finding a qualified gynecologist for your endometriosis. The wait for appointments is months. No string-pulling allowed.
3. Take your pick.
Trying to renegotiate your student loan at a lower rate? Does your child need specialized assistance at the public school? Are you trying to preserve a landmark? Keep a river clean? Get funding for a disability or disease? Train low-income workers for your new business?
Here, we give potential candidates an "elective." The only rule is that they have to choose something they are unfamiliar with. And then work like a maniac to get their cause 1) noticed, 2) acknowledged, and 3) funded or legislated. Easy, peasy, right?
No matter what candidates say during their campaigns, they fail to provide. I have a congressman who, while on the campaign trail, loved to talk about how he and his wife relied on food stamps when they were struggling young-marrieds. Then, after being elected, proceeded to vote against any kind of relief for the less fortunate in his district. Maybe if he--and all the others--had been forced to navigate the bureaucracy that everyday people encounter, he--and all the others--might gain some insights.
If Katy's idea took hold, at least we'd know that people seeking public office had acquired some common knowledge. We could point to their "Common Good" certificate hanging on their wall and remind them that they were elected to represent all their constituents. All. Of. Them.
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