Last time I got called for jury duty (but didn't get chosen), I forget what the per diem rate was but basically it wouldn't have covered parking (or at least not by much).

Jury Duty is not the same as being served a subpoena for the prosecution.

Then we end up with a jury that has only people that have nothing better to do

I purposefully decided not to attempt to use a bunch of excuses to get out of it actually, because I was interested in the experience.

And without lying / perjuring yourself either. Telling the selective truth is enough :)