How about a different vision then?
People should be compelled to government like jury duty. A pool of prospective candidates is chosen. And like jury duty you need to show good cause of hardship or inability to perform to be excused. You could allow some number of citizen nominations. Each candidate answers questions about their stand on issues and among other things is rated on an ideological spectrum. An effort is made to cover a wide and diverse spectrum of views and experience. Wealth, celebrity, or criminal activity are some of a very few things that can disqualify someone. A citizens committee winnows the choices.
The field would then be presented online and in print with their questionnaire answers and ratings and a brief introductory video one month before elections. After a week, interviews on TV presenting (and maybe elaborating a little on) answers to the questionnaire and an opportunity to make any other comments and interact with other candidates. (They could claim a party identity if they chose to) These would be archived for web viewing and also played in a loop on public access. Candidates would be available for several days for anybody to come and meet and discuss issues. After two weeks, voting opens.
Voting is compulsory. You can vote at most Government offices, schools, fire stations and police departments, libraries, DMV, toll booths and traditional polling places or you can vote by mail or online. If you can’t get out to vote and don’t have internet, don’t worry because the Votemobile will come to you. You’re automatically registered when you reach voting age and wherever you vote it registers at your residential district/ward/etc. (if you have one).
Districts are drawn with equal representation as a goal and without regard for partisanship, and there are more of them. People should be represented by people like themselves.
Elected reps are provided information and research on anything they need and are not subjected to professional lobbyists or campaign fundraising. (All campaigns are publicly financed and professional lobbying is illegal) Reps are paid an excellent salary with full benefits and free housing. The job they left (if they had one) is guaranteed by law to be waiting for them after their service is complete. The majority of their schedule is open for constituent contacts. For their service to their country they’re provided with a pension to ensure their retirement security.
They are not allowed to seek re-election, but can be re-nominated by constituents and participate in the election along with the new candidate pool if they choose. They could only be compelled to serve one term. There could be some kind of term limit implemented if it proved necessary.
Their votes on every issue are made publicly and easily available along with analysis on the extent that it represents their constituents’ interests.
Representing the people should come to be seen as a solemn duty to be taken very seriously and maybe even at some personal cost and disruption. But it should be an honor. You are, after all, being asked by your fellow citizens to help to form a more perfect union and shape all of our lives and our future for the better.
To have government of by and for the people, we need to somehow get back to the perspective of regular people to guide our government and its policies.