We Can Learn A Lot From the Iraqi Elections

[maxrandb]

I think this is an absolute "watershed" moment in American history. I would like to propose that we institute many of the reforms, and the "lessons learned" from the Iraqi elections into our own electoral system.

I mean, just imagine the possibilities.

a. No Election Year Advertisements: Wouldn't it be great? No bombardment of ads from politicians or independent 527 groups. No political debates where one politician can declare victory in the media as long as he doesn't drool on himself. Hell he can declare victory even if he DOES drool on himself. Gone would be the "Swift Camels for Truth" folks who run ads saying that candidate "B" didn't earn his medals in the Iran-Iraq War, or that his injuries were either self-inflicted, or he got them tripping over a rock in the desert. Also gone would be the ads saying, truthfully, that candidate "A", "used his political and family connections to land a cushy job in the Kurdistan National Guard to avoid combat in Iran, and then left early when he failed to take his Cessna physical". No Zogby polling telling me that 52% of likely voters don't like candidate "B"s hair. No polls telling me that 67% of likely voters would rather have a beer with candidate "A". Think of how fantastic that would be. No one calling you to tell you to vote for "A" because he will keep those "uppity" woman and gays in their place. No reason to put an anti-gay marriage amendment on the ballot in 11 provinces, because you would have no idea who stood for what. I mean it would be great! Kind of like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or Elephant or whatever. Like opening a present. We all love surprises.

b. No media saturation telling us how we should feel, or what the candidates stand for. We wouldn't even know who was running, or what their positions were until the day of the election (if then). No reason to tell us that candidate "B" wants to "take all your money and give it to brown people". No stories of "family values" from the "Focus on the Harem" folks. Hell, we'd just elect people by the way they look. "That looks like a nice guy, I'll vote for him." No stories about how we should spend 300 billion to liberate the Kurds, or because the Kurds have WMD, or how the Kurdish leader was a "really bad guy who tried to kill my daddy", or how it will all be paid for by turning Kurdish sand into micro-chips. Hell we'll just be able to make up reasons for war as we go along. No Dan Rather with forged documents. No Sean Hannity bellowing from the radio to his listeners to "get out and vote or your city will be obliterated under a "mushroom" cloud". No Rush telling us that a "vote for Alawi is a vote for the terrorist". No sir, just silence for the entire election year. We'd have to make up our minds by doing research and learning about the candidates without the help of our "beloved" media. Maybe then we would learn the ramifications of electing a fool, and what it would mean to our country, and our precious freedom if we allow that fool to run around "un-checked".

c. We could use paper ballots and hold the election on a Sunday, vice a Tuesday morning in November. That way we wouldn't have to rely on the benevolence of a company like Diebold to ensure every vote was counted. People wouldn't have to risk losing their jobs to vote, because voting would be on a Sunday, or a holiday. We wouldn't mind standing in line, because we'd have all day to do it. We could have plenty of polling places, and ensure that we have sufficient ballots for everyone. Hell, we could even let people register on election day. The ballots and the counting would be the same in every province throughout the land. No more butterfly ballots, no more optical scanners in this county, and punch cards in that county. Wouldn't that be great!

Maybe, on second thought, we could just implement the changes in paragraph "c". It's the least we could do for Democracy!

I would love to hear some other DUers thoughts on this. What other lessons can we take from the Iraqi elections?

[w13rd0]

1. Can we also require...

...that people vote to eat?

[maxrandb]

2. If It Would Improve Turn-out

then ab-so-effing-lutely!

Don't we already have to vote to eat? I mean if we don't vote these neo-con nutcases out pretty soon, workers in America are going to starve.

Painful as it may be, we may need to have the same thing happen in this country that happened the last time Repukes controlled all three branches of government and the courts.

Of course, wishing the Great Depression and World War II on anyone is kind of crass.

[underpants]

3. That is a very good point

but if Americans only had to check a box next to a picture of a Donkey or an Elephant I doubt the results would be any less close.

[Tracer]

4. While I agree that a ban on political advertising would be refreshing ...

... you are quite wrong in thinking that there were no political ads in Iraq.

The TV channels were stuffed full of non-stop ads Ñ mostly from Allawi's party, whose ads (heard on the NewsHour) were WELL FUNDED.

Gee. Funded by whom, I wonder.

[maxrandb]

5. I was being a little "cheeky"

in my post. I also understand that most of the candidates did not appear in public, there were not "whistle stop" train ralleys, most hid their identities to avoid being targeted. I think I am also correct in assuming that there were no televised debates, or "self-serving" interviews on "Meet Al-jazera(sp)". No candidates holding hands and spouting platitudes on "30 Minutes Sunday".

I for one think it would be great. My bigger question however was why Iraq could have paper ballots, same-day registration, plenty of polling places and ballots, vote on a non-workday, or holiday, but we in America can't?

[Astrocytoma3]

6. They did have campaign ads on TV

They were shown alot the week before the election. Al Jazeera broadcasted and interpreted them. They looked alot like ours!