Manifest for ethical governance

We are on the brink of social, moral and financial collapse.
This generalised bankruptcy has been brought about by inept self-serving politicians that consistency place loyalty to their party, financiers and friends above that of People and State.
Modern democracy has been transformed into a “system” that’s sole purpose is to perpetuate itself through force, influence and propaganda; the citizen is an impotent bystander. Manipulation of public “opinion” through social and mass media, statistics and political marketing has transformed public service into a machine destined uniquely to ensure re-election.   
 
Political disloyalty to the public which it is supposed to serve has produced apathy and mistrust in the political system. Outside of their followers, Politicians have lost all credibility with the general public.
 
Anyone holding public office is duty-bound to be a social role model. Their conduct of public affairs and their behaviour sets the tone for the citizenry but through a never ending series of scandals, elected officials have failed miserably at being moral agents.
 
Democracy, the rule of the people by the people, has become nothing more than a vehicle for unbridled greed, waste and destruction by a minority purporting to represent the people.
Democracy, the guarantor of freedom has become an instrument for the suppression of the people.
 
This debauchery must be stopped; Politicians must be forced to behave morally and ethically or be disqualified.
This will not be an easy task, but I am hopeful that the youth will look up from their little illuminated screens long enough to understand the importance of bridling the political system.
 
I believe that the solution lies in removing power and money from the political equation. The political system must be based on performance and not on popularity.
 
Today there is no moral, academic or proficiency requirements to become a Politician; anyone who can garner the support of some likeminded (or coerced) individuals can jump on the political bandwagon. And if their popularity grows they are formally invited to become part of the political system.
I firmly believe that this ineptitude and incompetence is one of the leading causes of the current catastrophic state of affairs. Politicians should be formally qualified to hold office and should be obliged to follow regular leadership and ethical training.
 
Politicians must be forced to take an Oath of Ethical Conduct. They must be made accountable for their actions. Politicians must undergo regular public ethics evaluations by independent ethics committees.
A zero tolerance attitude must be instituted for ethical transgressions; anyone found to be guilty of even minor ethical misconduct must be permanently disqualified from holding any public office.
 
In order to judge their performance Politicians must be made to make a public statement of objectives which are to be reviewed through public performance evaluations by their peers. Any substandard performance or failure to reach stated objectives must be corrected through training.
Overhauling the political system to avoid sliding back into chaos and disorder is critical to ethical governance. The root causes of our political, social and financial breakdown must be addressed.
 
A society based on perpetual debt (i.e. that will never be paid back) is certain to fail at some point. An economy based on perpetual growth (required to repay debt) is not sustainable. Strict restrictions on contracting debt must be put into place and debt based economy to be phased out. Now.
To make sure that your money is being spent correctly, all financial transactions and investments of public money must be approved by an independent finance committee and an ethics committee.
 
An ethical government that has the interest of its citizenry at heart should have complete control of the Pharmaceutical, Agroindustry and Armament industry. The only way to achieve this is to nationalise all three. This is what I mean by taking money out of Politics. And if you take money out of the game you also take power out of it.
 
Lobbying is the mechanism by which outside interests can influence government policy in favour of non-public interests.
It is the reason why the agroindustry is legally allowed to poison the public and destroy the environment for the sole objective of making profit. The pharmaceutical industry has used lobbying to extort trillions from social security coffers (i.e. paid for by you and me). And the military-industrial complex influence on government is the direct cause of millions of dead, maimed and homeless.
Lobbying in all its forms is akin to corruption and detrimental to public wellbeing and must be prohibited; any attempt at influencing public officials be punished by lengthy terms of imprisonment.
 
Once these harmful industries are under control, government should enact laws that protect the people from industrial greed - Only natural environment friendly products to be allowed in the human and animal food chain; any activity in which people purposely harm their health (i.e. smoking) should be excluded from health service allocation; and a strict defence only policy must be mandated meaning any aggressive military action outside of national boundaries to be prohibited.
 
There are many other possible improvements that can and must be made; I invite my readers to add them to the comments section.
 
We need change. Not the typical political adjustment sold as change but a real fundamental renaissance of the political system.
 
We can start by making all persons holding political office publically adhere to the following Ethics Manifest.
 
The Ethics Manifest

1. No person holding Public Office shall place private gain above loyalty to the Constitution and Laws of the State.
2. No person holding Public Office shall hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
3. No person holding Public Office shall engage in financial transactions using confidential information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
4. No person holding Public Office shall directly or indirectly solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the Government.
5. No person holding Public Office shall use that office for private gain.
6. No person holding Public Office shall engage in outside employment or remunerated activities during their mandate.
7. All Persons Holding Public Office shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
8. All Persons Holding Public Office shall protect public health and conserve public property.
9. All Persons Holding Public Office shall formulate, or execute aggressive acts or policy toward any third party, state or coalition.
10. All Persons Holding Public Office shall satisfy, in exemplary manner, their obligations as citizens.