I rarely venture into political blogs.
Why do I think we need a 3rd party?
1. Our US primaries with the 2 parties have exposed the weakness in the way we choose candidates for the President.
The system of delegates, caucuses, primaries starting in a small state and ending in a large state may have made sense before we had telecommunications, mass media, internet. Our country was way too big to even think of elections one one day. However, when we had the infrastructure to hold nation wide elections in November, we also had the infrastructure to do the same for primaries nation wide in 1 day. That way, no single state would dominate because all the voters can vote and vote for any candidate in any party. No need for closed primaries. The candidate with the largest votes in each party goes to the November election. Again, all the voters can vote as long as each voter votes only 1 candidate.
2. For a long time we had essentially 2 parties with one working for the poor and working class and one working for the rich and the rich corporations and businesses. As a result we often have grid-lock and nothing gets done.
There are no real winners.
Our medical care is the most expensive among the developed nations and yet not all the people are covered.
We have the worst public transit system in the developed world.
Our tax structure is too complicated. It should not be about taxing the rich to pay for the poor. It should be about a level playing field for all citizens and corporations.
All the citizens must have the same quality of medical care. Take a page of the airline pricing system. Regardless of economy, business or first class, every sits in the same plane and take same time to reach the destination on a given flight. Those who can pay more may have bigger bed or a suite with a fancy bathroom and fancy food. All get the same medical care.
The US corporations should not have to go abroad just for lower taxes, We should compete and take away the need for them to go abroad just for taxes.
We need reciprocal trade. If our goods and services are taxed at a higher rate by other countries compared to the goods and services produced locally, we tax them the same way. If a country subsidizes their goods and services for export, we do not buy from them.
We are not the police for the world.
We have no business telling other countries that our way of freedom is right for everyone.
We have no business in allowing our citizens to promote their religious beliefs and try to convert poor people into their religion. Religious freedom is within our country. Atheists may be offended by the idea of one nation under God. We need the idea of one national for all the citizens. All citizens need to pledge allegiance to the nation and the flag or leave the country. De-couple religion from the country. No single religion should be favored by the constitution. Citizens should be free to choose a religion or no religion.
All this is easier said than done of course. But it sure will not happen with the existing 2 parties and without amending the constitution.
I do not believe that the founding fathers meant our constitution to stagnate.
It is about time for a truly "progressive" party which progresses and evolves not only the party but our constitution and the processes to ensure real liberty and equality for all the citizens and businesses.
Why do I think we need a 3rd party?
1. Our US primaries with the 2 parties have exposed the weakness in the way we choose candidates for the President.
The system of delegates, caucuses, primaries starting in a small state and ending in a large state may have made sense before we had telecommunications, mass media, internet. Our country was way too big to even think of elections one one day. However, when we had the infrastructure to hold nation wide elections in November, we also had the infrastructure to do the same for primaries nation wide in 1 day. That way, no single state would dominate because all the voters can vote and vote for any candidate in any party. No need for closed primaries. The candidate with the largest votes in each party goes to the November election. Again, all the voters can vote as long as each voter votes only 1 candidate.
2. For a long time we had essentially 2 parties with one working for the poor and working class and one working for the rich and the rich corporations and businesses. As a result we often have grid-lock and nothing gets done.
There are no real winners.
Our medical care is the most expensive among the developed nations and yet not all the people are covered.
We have the worst public transit system in the developed world.
Our tax structure is too complicated. It should not be about taxing the rich to pay for the poor. It should be about a level playing field for all citizens and corporations.
All the citizens must have the same quality of medical care. Take a page of the airline pricing system. Regardless of economy, business or first class, every sits in the same plane and take same time to reach the destination on a given flight. Those who can pay more may have bigger bed or a suite with a fancy bathroom and fancy food. All get the same medical care.
The US corporations should not have to go abroad just for lower taxes, We should compete and take away the need for them to go abroad just for taxes.
We need reciprocal trade. If our goods and services are taxed at a higher rate by other countries compared to the goods and services produced locally, we tax them the same way. If a country subsidizes their goods and services for export, we do not buy from them.
We are not the police for the world.
We have no business telling other countries that our way of freedom is right for everyone.
We have no business in allowing our citizens to promote their religious beliefs and try to convert poor people into their religion. Religious freedom is within our country. Atheists may be offended by the idea of one nation under God. We need the idea of one national for all the citizens. All citizens need to pledge allegiance to the nation and the flag or leave the country. De-couple religion from the country. No single religion should be favored by the constitution. Citizens should be free to choose a religion or no religion.
All this is easier said than done of course. But it sure will not happen with the existing 2 parties and without amending the constitution.
I do not believe that the founding fathers meant our constitution to stagnate.
It is about time for a truly "progressive" party which progresses and evolves not only the party but our constitution and the processes to ensure real liberty and equality for all the citizens and businesses.
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