03-01-2016, 05:30 PM
(03-01-2016, 03:28 PM)Benton Wrote: The biggest thing, though, would be to open it up to more parties. A lot of people don't vote because they don't feel represented by any candidate running, let alone a party. If you're hungry and somebody presents option A- free patio furniture or option B- discounts on new carpet, you aren't interested in what they're selling.
This x 1000. But the two big parties have a stranglehold on the system and there will be no viable third parties until the rules are changed.
1. Publicly funded elections would help alternate parties because they would have the same resources as the big two. There would have to be some minimal level of support to keep the crazies off the ballot, but we could still have a wide range of choices for each position.
2. Having more Representatives run "at-large" and letting more than the first place finisher in. For example each State would have at least 3 at-large representatives. There would be an election with a lot of different candidates and the top 3 finishers go to congress. I think this would do a lot for voter turnout because too many people don't vote because they live in a district where they already know which party is gong to win.
3. Even if no third party ever controls a major portion of Congress it might make it possible for these small parties supply a crucial "swing vote" that could get Congress working again. Right now it is frozen in partisan gridlock. And I am not saying that "more laws" is always a good thing. I am just saying that this country has some serious issues that need to be addressed and our federal government is failing us all.
