What political party are you affiliated with? Democrat?
Republican? Libertarian? The Green Party? American Party? Registered as an
Independent or just unaffiliated? In addition to the top two, Democrat and
Republican, the United States has sixty-three national and regional registered
political parties everyone is free to join. But only two has the political
clout to do any real damage.
The Democratic Party has been around since 1828 while the
Republicans only since 1854 and has dominated every election since. The lesser
parties have fielded candidates without success even though they have many good
ideas to help America but have been prevented from reaching out to the people
on a national scale. Television networks have prevented them from joining in on
televised debates because they don't have enough followers and newspapers give
them even less coverage in favor of the big guns. Its time for that to change.
Why do we have only two major political parties in
America? The answer is as plain as a pimple on your nose, money. It "s clearly
evident that big business controls the Democrats and the Republicans through
campaign donations, it costs a lot of money to properly field a campaign and
special interests controls that money. Does anyone really believe that Obama
raised $700 million through on-line donations for one of the most expensive
presidential campaigns in history? As the money flows, the two party system
continues. It is time to change the status quo and it will be difficult to do.
It is clear that neither party has the best interests of
America at heart and it is time for change and to end the two party system. It
is time to go with the individual instead of a party platform that does little
to address the pressing issues of America. Again, the issue of money raises its
ugly head and must first be addressed before change can happen. We already have
a box to check on our income tax return to donate dollars to the presidential
campaign fund, doled out to those candidates who have a percentage of voter
support, $23 million if memory serves me correctly. Unfortunately, only two
candidates ever reach that percentage and receive that money, leaving out the
viable third parties and their candidates.
I
would recommend lowering that amount to $10 million per candidate and anything
over that must come out of their own pocket, most of them are millionaires to
start with and can afford the extra expense. Any donations, with a maximum of
$1,000 per person, must be documented and submitted to an Election Committee
for review before the successful candidate can take office. Corporations will
try to get around this requirement but a close review should eliminate this.
Every
candidate would have equal time on the networks, given the same opportunity to
reach the masses as everyone else. Locally, candidates have been given this
time to put their faces on TV and to be recognized; putting a face to the name
and it has been refreshing to see who thinks like I do. No longer would two or
three candidates be able to dominate the airways.
Will
any of this happen? Probably not because the American people are too lazy to
get involved and do something constructive about the present political system.
Too many people are content to simply change the channel whenever a political
ad starts and that is a shame for those ads can be enlightening not only as to
content but gives a glimpse into a candidates character, something they don't
want. We forget that we have the power to elect or reject at the ballot box.
Time for change.
I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I consider myself above all to be an American, above political parties in thinking and in my desire to see this country return to its former greatness. I therefore look at all issues with a critical eye, toss (
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