Election rant...
Ah yes, another election year in which I am reminded of the sad state of our political system. It is the same every four years for me. It starts with optimism that a candidate might represent true change and moral fiber, and ends with the sobering realization that our political system sucks. I consider myself an intelligent guy, so why I let my optimism get the best of me I may never understand…
Below are a couple of the things that I strongly believe need to change ASAP:
- Abolish the party system. I am registered Independent for two reasons. 1: My beliefs don’t lie fully with either party. 2: I disagree with the party system altogether. The party system we have today is nothing but a divisive concept that polarizes legislators and enables an “easy way out” of making real tough decisions. Instead of arguing the merits or detriments of issue X, all one simply has to say is “It doesn’t align with my party’s beliefs”. I think each candidate should stand for his/her values, regardless of whether they align with any group’s tenets.
- Eliminate the electoral college. This is such an antiquated construct and is just one more contributor to poor elections. Most people don’t even understand the process, and when it comes out contrary to popular vote it is jaw-dropping to many.
Both of these items definitely served their purpose in the past, but are now obsolete due to the advances in communications and technology today. For the party system, there are too many areas to pick strictly republican or democrat … I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. As for the electoral college, this made a lot of sense when the communication was via horse or train. Now, however, this vestige of the past serves only to confuse and skew the public’s vote.
