The other day in the car, Emily and I came up with the solution to the problem of American politics–abolishing the party system. Right now, with elections in full swing, Republicans are being pulled out of office solely because of Bush’s abysmal handling of the country–that’s not fair. It’s stupid to think that all Republicans are the same and all Democrats are the same. Instead of having party platforms, individuals should run based on their views on important issues. If someone wants to run with “typical” Republican and Democrat views, they should be allowed. The fact that people have to be “loyal” to their base is just ridiculous. The emphasis should be on issues, not party politics.
After abolishing the parties, the next step is to reform the process. People should be required to get a certain number of signatures to run for office. Then primaries should be held that narrow down those running for office to 5 or so. No individual or campaign money can be spent before the primaries. It will be based on debates and platforms. After the primaries, the remaining candidates can spend the same, preset amount of money to advertise. If a candidate lacks the funds, they can ask the government for assistance. Fundraising should be eliminated. The emphasis will be on communicating the platform effectively/creatively with a relatively limited budget.
I’m sick of money and party politics. I want to hear about issues. Now, if Bush really thinks gay marriage is an issue, he can run with it. But I’m going to listen to and vote for the people who are talking about serious matters like the Iraq War, North Korea, and healthcare reform. And since Bush will have the same funds and access to the media as every other candidate, I’m probably not going to listen to a bloody idiot who thinks that Africa is a country.