Here is my idea for a pledge that we should demand from our elected officials:

I, as a candidate for elected office, pledge the following:

I will only serve for 2 terms in this office. After my service in this office, I will return to the private sector and work in the private sector for at least the term of my elected service so that I will clearly understand the effect of the laws and regulations I helped pass.

I will not benefit financially from my public service by accepting lobbying, consulting, or media jobs that are the direct result of my public service.

I am free to be involved in advocating positions or candidates; I just will not receive financial gain for those activities.

I will not vote “yes” for any bill that I have not read and that has not been properly debated.

I will disclose publicly any meetings I have with lobbying or advocacy groups and the content of those meetings.

I will treat you, the people, as my boss. You will know where I spend my time, who I meet with, and what I’m working on. I will submit to you an expense report each month that shows where I spent money for which I was reimbursed with taxpayer funds.