I think that one of factors that is blocking this is the political party system. Maybe what is needed is to abolish all political parties, and let people run on their own platform. The adherence to the dogmatic platforms of each party is a roadblock to the ideal of politics. If there were no Republican or Democratic dogma, that would pave the way for the Independent. I think the partisan bickering and the desire to show up the other party is crippling the institution that they are elected to. I know that America is too large to be like Athens and to have each citizen a part of the legislation. I also know that we do have access to effect legislation it is just that half of the population actually vote and it is less in the years between the presidential elections. I think that a way to keep that spirit is to have no parties. Each person who wants to be elected must formulate their own platform, and then sell that to the voting public. Also the current system makes it very difficult for a registered Independent to get on a ballot for any office. I think that if candidates had to come up with their own platform it would encourage reason and critical thinking skills and weed out those lack those skills. This would allow for better qualified candidates and then the debate happens between the elected as individuals who represent an area, and not between dogmas. So let's push for a partyless democracy, and at the same time push our elected officials to be exemplars. Maybe once the congress is full of Independents the congress will work together better and thereby accomplish more. That would require most Americans to reshape part of their identity. So many jump to call themselves Republican or Democrat. How would the general public respond to a partyless election? Also so many vote straight party, so the public would then have to become more aware of who is running and what each one stands for. That could do nothing but improve the system. The percentage of voters would most likely go down, because the apathetic voters who might vote straight party would now just not vote. Making those who do vote have a larger say in how things are done. This would certainly be a very interesting social study.
Sympose on!!
It would seem rather ideal if political parties were abolished, but I fear our political system has become so distorted that political parties are here for the long run. I would love to see independent candidates running on what they truly believe instead of clinging to an agenda of political parties. If people voted in accordance with which candidate’s ideology and view morality they best aligned with I have no doubt that our political systems would be so much better off.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should make voting mandatory. That might help balance out many of the extreme voters on both sides. I think that the great majority of Americans are moderate, and they do not vote. I live in a town of over 150,000 people, and we just elected a new mayor and only 5,100 people voted. This does not seem to be an accurate representation of the public.
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