The Democratic Change Commission met in Washington, D.C., on October 24-25, and will meet again on December 4-5. This is the group that is mulling over how to improve the party’s presidential selection process. See this story.
The Democratic Change Commission met in Washington, D.C., on October 24-25, and will meet again on December 4-5. This is the group that is mulling over how to improve the party’s presidential selection process. See this story.
Jim Clyburn of South Carolina suggested that increasing the number of delegates would not be enough incentive for States to move their primaries back. He suggested that instead that they be given better hotel accommodations.
Of course the simplest way would be to go to a direct primary. A large state could simply hold a primary, and place the winners on the general election ballot.
A more advanced version would let other states holding their primary on the same day include their votes in determining the winners.
Simple — ABOLISH the entire EVIL timebomb system of having the extremist party hacks in caucuses and primaries.
Uniform definition of Elector in ALL of the U.S.A.
NONPARTISAN Approval Voting for all elected executive officers and all judges — vote for 1 or more, highest win.
Ballot access via equal nominating petitions.
Otherwise — how soon before there are hardcore Stalin and Hitler clones nominated by the Donkeys and Elephants — with flamethrower mouths against the opposition ???
See Europe in 1929-1933 — Great Depression I.
As Ross Perot would say, “here’s the dealâ€: It is very complicated. That’s the bottom line. Many of us might like to think that it is simple but, in reality (not in our fantasies), it is complicated. Unlike, Gabe [who wrote a separate article about the Democratic Party], I have not been a life-long Democrat. I have been a Democrat for four different episodes (the last two were fairly close together) in my life, if I am remembering correctly. I thought about looking it up in my files and writing about it. However, that would be a lot of work and too time consuming – especially since I would probably be one of the very few people with actual significant interest in the subject (most of us find ourselves to be interesting; the real challenge, is to find others that way too). Currently, I am registered “I Decline to State a Political Party†(that is how one registers independent in California), and I plan on voting in the Democratic Party Primary Election next year (in the Golden State, some of the political parties let independents vote in their primary elections).
The way that I see things, the “inside-outside strategy†is the most logical method to apply to this sticky situation. Just this past Sunday, I issued a call for a national, Progressive Party that would contest some local elections in 2010, 2012, and 2014 – and will, hopefully, be strong enough in 2016 to nominate a viable presidential and vice-presidential ticket (and we should not help the Republicans in the 2012 presidential race, either directly or indirectly). I had no illusions about there being a lot of interest in this but I thought that it was something that was necessary to do. When necessity calls, there has to be at least one person willing to stand up and be counted. At least, I will be able to tell myself that I tried, even if I fail. Like Jesse Ventura asked a couple of years ago or so, “Do I Stand Alone?†Thirty-three years ago this month, I was one of a significant number of people who stood up to be counted on this same thing. It was at the national convention of electors for Eugene J. McCarthy’s 1976 independent presidential campaign, in Madison, Wisconsin (what a beautiful time of the year it was in that city). A large portion of the people gathered at that convention believed that there should be new, continuing, permanent organization. We went on to create the Progressive Coordinating Council, which was to be become the new, Progressive Party. Alas, the new organization only lasted a few years (and mostly in Sacramento, California, at that, for the latter part). There just was not enough interest back then, even though I gave it everything that I had. This time, I do not carry the expectations that I did back then. The necessity for this clarion call, though, is there. If we are to save this planet on which we live, we need to create a new Party. The many, small, progressive organizations have shown that they are unable and/or unwilling (for the most part) to work together to create something larger than their own little Parties (“too many big frogs in little ponds†– you don’t have to wear the shoe if it does not fit). That just will not do. I think that the Republican Party will be minor-sized by 2012 (as I have been saying for many years now). It would be nice if the new, large, party that rushes in to fill the void is progressive. That would be the best way to keep the pressure on the Donkey Party to do the correct things. And, who knows? We might even emerge victorious in our own right!
For both Democrat and Republican–1) Have all the states change to primaries where you only need five percent of the vote to begin getting delegates. 2) First, Iowa, then New Hampshire, then regions of states, all every 2-4 weeks holding their contests. 3) If you qualify for matching funds you go on all the ballots automatically. 4) No contests before February 1st. 5) To prevent running for re-election as soon as you win, have a single eight year term for president.
How about ONE year terms for ALL executive officers and all legislators — along with 24/7 recall elections — to remove the growing number of arrogant powermad MORONS in public offices ???
Perhaps max of 4 year staggered terms for all judges — all of whom should be elected.
MORE Democracy — not less.