A lifelong hereditary appointment is an affront to democracy imo. It is regrettable we have a monarchy, but their power is very limited. The Lords however have a regular say in the production of laws. A second house is good. But hereditary appointment is only one degree removed from some divine right.

But I entirely agree about political appointments. You only have to look at the last set from the Tories/Boris to see that the system has been abused.