Until we realize that the kleptocracy will rule regardless of which major party controls the Presidency and Congress; any changes to be made will be for the worse.
Given this reality, there are only two ways out:
- Form a effective and Constitutional third party (preferably by merging a lot of the little groups: Libertarians, Greens, Constitution Party, Reform Party, etc., into a party to be reckoned with), or
- Bring government down to a more human scale by removing Ohio from the union.
You know which way I lean. Attempts at third-party movements have consistently failed for over 150 years -- the Republican/Democratic duopoly will ensure that they will continue to fail.
3 comments:
Harold, based on historical precedents, I wouldn't say the third party option is outside the realm of possibility.
It all depends on just how far the Republic has degenerated, and how much farther it can go before events such as led to the Republican Party forming can be replicated.
Would the high levels of income inequality pose as serious a threat as slavery to the social fabric of this country? Maybe...
The two are not that dissimilar, although in this case, there is no large segment of the population outside of the situation to come to anyone's aid as occurred during the 1840's and 1850's.
Which is why I must agree that it is always good to have a back-up plan (and neither I - nor anyone else - can help but know which way you lean on that)!
3rd parties can also organize at the state level to remove state laws that have been erected over the years to hamper the development of 3rd parties. For example, in Ohio, there is a law that states any political party that fails to get 5% of the vote in a gubernatorial election, shall cease to be recognized as political party. Ohio also outlawed ballot fusion many decades ago.
A well organized effort to amend the Ohio constitution to remove barriers to 3rd party development, would, I believe, pass by comfortable margins.
A movement should be made in Ohio to adopt Maine's campaign finance laws. Maine (and some other states who have copied Maine) has a very successful public financing system. Candidates can voluntarily enter the public financing system or choose the traditional route.
There are many people in the state legislature who have been successful with the public financing route.
The law has survived a challenge that went all the way to the Supreme Court.
It's interesting to note that McCain, long a supporter of Maine's "clean elections" campaign finance law as a model for federal elections, has done an about face and has dropped his support.
Anonymous:
The good news is, your statement is no longer true. Following hearings July 15, the Libertarian Party successfully sued in Federal Court to gain ballot access, striking down Ohio's law on minor parties as unconstitutional. (At least this is one time when the Federal courts got it right!)
The decision may be found at the OSU Moritz College of Law site.
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