Reforming democracy
Now I'm no Poly-sci major, just an old bricklayer.
But I believe that there is something very wrong, something broken in our
system of "democracy". To me democracy means, in it's most basic sense, that every
citizen of voting age is entitled to have a say as to who will represent us, the people.
A poor person's vote should have as much weight as a rich person's vote.
In the beginning of our country, you had to be white and a land owner to vote.
Not very democratic. Slowly blacks and women were allowed to vote. Although
blacks especially were cheated of their right to vote. It goes on today.
Through gerrymandering, through voter suppression, because of crazy registration
rules and countless things I can't enumerate, what we now have does not adhere to
the simple rule of "one person, one vote". Does your vote even count? Is it registered in the cyberworld of ballots?
Campaigns have become ridiculous. The money, the length of the campaigns, the lying and distortions, the ugly personal attacks unrelated to policies,
the Citizens United stuff--well that's not "democratic' to me either. The only word I can
use to describe it is obscene.
So what to do? Something's got to give. First, a fair way for all citizens to register to
vote, a guarantee that your vote will count. Repeal of Citizens United, the absurd idea that
a corporation has "personhood", which is an obvious bow down to the very rich. A fair redistricting of voting sectors that don't ensure a red or blue result. A limit on the
length of campaigns. Wouldn't six or nine months be enough? A limit on how much
can be spent. I'd also like to see the individual states have more uniform elections.
The way it's set up now, with caucuses, open and closed primaries--is that really necessary?
One person, one vote. The primaries should be changed too. Too many different dates,
too many ways the regional differences can sway momentum.
Like I said, I'm no expert on all of this, but I do believe the system is severely
broken. As it is, it doesn't represent my simplistic ideas of democracy. After HRC is in
office I hope we can make democracy a reality instead of the ghost it seems to be.