Mandatory.

Oh, the times, they have changed ...

Can you imagine if this happened today?  The tears?  The screaming? How quickly it would end, once a eunuch slipped and fell, splitting a seam in his frail-cat suit?  

I would like to put forth legislation that required the mandatory participation in such an event of all members of Congress seeking reelection, with their constituents participating as well.. It would be called "Throw the Bastards Out" and work sort of like a bicameral Surviving the Game.  Survivors would be deemed truly worthy of rejoining the election process.  

Maybe God will have mercy.