I couldn't agree more with these comments. As an Independent voter (one of the 47% or so nationwide) who lives in Pennsylvania, I can't even vote in the primary unless I change my affiliation to one of the two major sclerotic, dysfunctional parties. There is nothing "democratic" about the primary system especially when you add in "super …
I couldn't agree more with these comments. As an Independent voter (one of the 47% or so nationwide) who lives in Pennsylvania, I can't even vote in the primary unless I change my affiliation to one of the two major sclerotic, dysfunctional parties. There is nothing "democratic" about the primary system especially when you add in "super delegates", you have a real cluster.
Shorter campaigns, open primaries (with rank voting), and voting on a Sunday (like the ROW) would help immensely and while we're fantasizing, how about term limits? We have them for President, why don't we have it for other offices and the SCOTUS (give them 20 years and then be on your way!)
Amen, Chris, on those term limits! Imagine the situation right now, with a president suffering from a degenerative neurological ailment. Congress only began to move when their down ballot chances became threatened. Imagine what our legislature would be like if they only had the country -- and not their re-election prospects -- to think of. They might actually be motivated to do the right thing.
The Founders, geniuses that they were, couldn't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than two years or six years in the swamp that is D.C. (literally as well as figuratively), which is why they didn't build in term limits. They couldn't anticipate that these people would so feather their nests with perks, swanky offices, hot and cold running staff, allowances for everything, making four times the median salary in the country.
Within just a few months most of them become creatures of Washington and have more in common with their fellow martinets than they do with anyone back home, the great unwashed.
I couldn't agree more with these comments. As an Independent voter (one of the 47% or so nationwide) who lives in Pennsylvania, I can't even vote in the primary unless I change my affiliation to one of the two major sclerotic, dysfunctional parties. There is nothing "democratic" about the primary system especially when you add in "super delegates", you have a real cluster.
Shorter campaigns, open primaries (with rank voting), and voting on a Sunday (like the ROW) would help immensely and while we're fantasizing, how about term limits? We have them for President, why don't we have it for other offices and the SCOTUS (give them 20 years and then be on your way!)
Amen, Chris, on those term limits! Imagine the situation right now, with a president suffering from a degenerative neurological ailment. Congress only began to move when their down ballot chances became threatened. Imagine what our legislature would be like if they only had the country -- and not their re-election prospects -- to think of. They might actually be motivated to do the right thing.
The Founders, geniuses that they were, couldn't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than two years or six years in the swamp that is D.C. (literally as well as figuratively), which is why they didn't build in term limits. They couldn't anticipate that these people would so feather their nests with perks, swanky offices, hot and cold running staff, allowances for everything, making four times the median salary in the country.
Within just a few months most of them become creatures of Washington and have more in common with their fellow martinets than they do with anyone back home, the great unwashed.
We have to flush them out. %-)