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| Manifesto A debate I began on this subject got cut short. I was all fired up and wrote this. Please reply with your thoughts. Keep it clean, I might post results on the web. Feel free to forward it to others. For what it's worth, here is my five point plan for restoring democracy. 1. Abolish the electoral college. Besides being confusing, to 90% of the American public, this archaic institution is now being manipulated. Districts are redrawn, election poll restlts are reported early, all to give one side or the other an unfair advantage. When the results disagree with the popular vote, they supercede it. This reduces the popular vote to an insignificant show. Knowing that your vote doesn't count must be the first symptom of a failing democracy. As we've seen, an appauling number have simply stopped participating, citing futility as their main reason. 2. Abolish campaign financing completely. Lobbying, on behalf of a special interest group, should be outlawed. Let no polititian profit from his service. Open the airwaves to qualified candidates through the internet, news programs, and public service announcements so that fundraising is unneccesary. Let the poor man have an equal chance to express his platform. If only the rich can run, we have a society that is controlled by the rich, and therefore cannot be considered to be in the serious pursuit of equality. The rich tend to protect their riches. They can never be allowed any more (or less) control of our government than the poor. 3. Abolish the IRS. Flat 15% income tax to all. No loopholes, no deductions. I'm convinced that we could pay for universal health care through this one change. No telling what else. 4. "None of the above" category on every ballot. If more people choose it, both candidates are thrown out till the next election, and the whole process starts again. The only problem I see with this is the danger of seats going unfilled until such time as a new election may be held. An independent governing body could be appointed in the interim, consisting of representatives of both parties. For state elections, the state supreme court would make the appointment. For national elections, the federal supreme court could handle it. 5. With the exception of the amendments necessary to implement the above, a return to the limitations and restrictions contained in the original constitution, with regard to going to war and personal liberty. This would constitute abandoning our so called "war on drugs" which has become a tool for warehousing a disenfranchised segment of our population. Failing to educate minorities, we have left them with few options. The criminalization of drug activity has created more problems than it has solved. It is time to realize this, and dedicate our resources where they can do some good, namely the treatment of drug abuse as a medical problem and quality public education. I'd like to add that being rich isn't an evil unto itself. Many wealthy people pay their fair share in taxes and generally try to do the right thing. Let's not demonize the rich. However, when the powerful can manipulate the system to such a degree that democracy all but disappears, some kind of leveling must take place. The special interest groups manage to push their agendas forward by throwing money at the candidates, who's main job is fundraising. They can't get elected without millions, so they can't possibly be spending time doing the business of the people. They have to find money, and once found, commitments must be made, privately and publicly, to secure the continuation of the funding. Thus our government gets sold to the highest bidder. The bidder doesn't want this to change. Regardless of your party affiliation, you are affected. When the NRA buys a politician's vote, we have more guns. When Planned Parenthood buys one, we have more abortions. Whatever your particular position on these, and other controversial issues, the battles are fought with money. What most Americans want is a politician who votes his consience. Remove the ability to profit, and all that is left is right and wrong. Most people know where to draw that line for themselves. With free and equal access to airwaves, the internet, and newspapers, the candidates could get their messages out with $0 spent on advertising. Simply go to a public web page. Learn about the candidate, see his record, decide. Enter SS#s to register. Results could be calculated and posted instantly. Through email, the public could voice its opinion directly. With these changes, I would predict a 90% turnout in eligable voters. We all know instinctively what is fair, and most of us know the current system is failing, because it isn't. If we could make it fair, as the founders clearly intended. We could all participate, create real change, re-establish our position in the world market, and solve so many problems facing our planet. Go ahead. Tell me I'm wrong. Love to hear why. Sincerely, Christopher Cortez Musician ccortez@charter.net |
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