How I would reform our election system.

[demigoddess]

First of all the primary season would be only 2 months. Each candidate could spend only 20 million on ads to be shown all over the US, no matter how much money they raised. This would dilute the influence of the lobbyist. then we would have a national primary and end all the wrangling. The General election campaign would be only 2 months. Each candidate would have one hour interviews, completely commercial free on say, 60 Minutes. First one candidate and the next week the next candidate. Only one interviewer would do all interviews. Other people could submit questions, but the list of questions would be the same for both candidates. The questions would be issues only, none of that 'how do you feel about your children' stuff. Then the election and that could be on the same day as the constitution requires. We would just work backwards to figure the day for the primary election etc.
This would save a whole lot of trouble and strife and maybe even keep them on track with discussing the issues, not insulting each other. Also I would really love it if we could make a rule that candidates would not have campaign managers.

[davepc]

1. so you can have free speech unless your running for president.

[question everything]

2. I think that a national primary is not going to help much

and will still give more time for the ones with money. I think that only Clinton, Edwards and Obama got $20 million.

I would like to have some sort of a rotating regional or other criteria, like size, primaries.

And I would have the process last five months, one primary per month.

We need to have some reform on how we pay for the elections. Should Iowa really make $60 million every four years for being the "first in the nation?"

I like the idea of a free time for each candidate. But not necessarily on a national program. Let the local media provide one hour for each candidate, so that they can talk about what is important to that market. This will give the candidates a chance to learn about the small items, not just the big, national ones.

Last, we need to get rid of the system where the winner of the popular votes is not the winner of the delegates. Wait and see the bizarre system that Texas will provide, with different districts awarded different number of delegates, and then a caucus.

Haven't we learned from the Gore Bush injustice?