If he can solve some of the basic structural trust issues, then he can leave most of the operational changes to others and still have done more to change things for the better than almost anyone else in the recent past.
Three somewhat modest, incremental changes come to mind:
1. Fundraising
Donations create obligations in the political process. Taking your money in small increments from more-or-less anonymous donors makes Obama beholden to the people directly, and strengthens him enormously in Washington. I think he should extend his own fundraising principles to the whole Democratic party. And the Republicans would hopefully feel the need to mirror what he does.
2. Earmarks
There's more to earmarks than meets the eye. So expose them even more clearly. And have them put into legislation earlier, so they can be discussed in the public domain before they go into the parliamentary process. You need to create enough of a gap so that journalists have time to let rip.
3. Senate
I'd double the size of the Senate. The more senators there are, the harder they are to herd. And the more independent they are, the better.
The aim should be to throw light into the shadows and to remove dark corners. Not to change human nature, which is evolution's challenge more than our own.
I'm not against lobbyists making arguments. That's a good thing, in fact. Experts and partisans make important points and add perspective. But one doesn't want legislators being beholden to anyone in particular. And although it is probably almost impossible entirely to prevent that happening, at least you can reduce the incentive to do so.
Fix these kinds of little things and hopefully, breakfast will taste better. In Washington, at least.
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