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An Easy Way to Fix the US Government

Posted on Aug 19, 2008 by in Daily Life | 4 comments

Can we all agree that this year’s presidential election candidates are terrible? Is the good old US of A so down on her luck that we really can’t find two better people to run for our chief executive office?

No, of course the problem is that the 2-party system relies on the fact that it’s normal adherents will vote “the party line,” and so the parties choose a candidate that (a) will offend the least people, while more importantly (b) attracting the most swing votes. This, a small section of the population has great influence, the tail wags the dog, and most of us have little-to-representation in our “representative” government. This “least of all evils” system results in poor management of our nation, which is leading to the slow and steady decline of this nation’s wealth and influence.

So, I have a relatively easy fix:

In order for any candidate to win an election (including winning the vote of a member of the Electoral College), the candidates henceforth would be required to have a majority plus one of all the votes. However, in order to avoid the situation (like now) where people vote for the least of the 2 evils, we also must include on the ballots a “None of the Above” candidate. Therefore, you can’t be the least hated candidate to win, you actually must be liked by more than 50% of the population.

So, again, 2 things that would lead to better representation: (1) To win any public office, the candidate must get more than 50% of the vote, and (2) each office has a “None of the Above” selection.

This, of course, causes a few small problems. What happens when there’s a 3rd party candidate? (In the runoff campaign, only the top 2 winners compete for the final runoff.) Are there extra costs for secondary elections? (Yes, but less than the enormous sums of money that the politicians waste now.) There would be complications with the timing of everything. (So what?) And we’d have to figure out exactly how this applied to the Electoral College … but I for one would love to be EXCITED to vote for a candidate, rather than depressed that I had to vote for Idiot #2 because he/she was better than Idiot #1.

Of course, this will never happen. Both parties are only interested in achieving and attaining power, and what we, the people, want is somewhat irrelevant.

(So … which one of you is starting the “None of the Above” grassroots movement? Count me in as a supporter.)

Next time … Why I — and you will, too — completely agree with an article stating that we have NO Constitutionally-granted Rights.

4 Comments

  1. Interesting idea. I would like it, but I’m confused about a few things. A) the people who would vote NOTA probably wouldn’t bother to go to the polls and B) if NOTA wins, who runs the country?

  2. “It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by the slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out for distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving
    wilderness: Yes, we can.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

  3. and since you just got me into watching Will I Am and the Black Eyed Peas videos all morning long hehe… here is a lil’ something from us to you to bring you some sunshine and help brighten your day : )

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwWhnudZ5Nk

    classic song, samba, jazz, mixed with hip hop, a lil’ bit of capoeira, lots of dancing, happiness, oneness… it embodies everything i love and hope to surround myself with.

    hope you’re felling better!

    x

  4. Natasha —

    (a) I, for one, would feel so much more empowered if I could go to the polls and tell the parties that NO, you did not supply a suitable candidate. My guess is that in having the option to vote NTA (maybe “NTA” rather than “NOTA” as it looks like “Not A”?) we would energize people to feel excited about the candidates. Again, in order to get elected the candidate has to be LIKED, not just hated the least, and this should increase voting participation.

    (b) What happens when NTA wins? This would require careful thought, but ideally there is a new election with new candidates.

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