While not exactly mainstream in the US, Mariah can sleep peacefully. I would let people vote directly on what to spend their taxes on. If they wanted to spend them on medicine for the elderly or didn't want to support unwed mothers, whatever they wanted. I think that is the only way to truly have democracy. The people you vote for, they're the last people on earth you'd actually want running things.
Politicians are all power hungry.
People who are worthy are either too smart or see what trouble you can get into. I guess the only solution is to draft people into government or something. I'm just not into hero worshiping. I don't worship anyone as a hero. King for a day - just too dangerous.