Public servants should not belong to or actively support a political party. This is the opposite of the situation in a communist or fascist country where all positions of power are reserved for members of the ruling political party. This principle is given force in the United States by the Hatch Act (1939), under which Federal Employees may not:
- Be a candidate in a political election in which any candidate represents a political party.
- Raise money for a partisan political campaign.
- Allow their names to be used in any fundraising appeal on behalf of a partisan political campaign.
This should be extended to prevent former elected officials from subsequently holding office in the public service. This will address the entrenched system of corruption whereby politicians bribe one another with appointments.
