Miscellaneous

A Modest Election Day Proposal

By Anne Skove, Esq.

We at court-o-rama.org are appalled at the way U.S. citizens select our President. Whether they're paying big money to appear on primetime tv or showing up on the stagedoorstep of late-night comedy shows, politics has become, well, too political.

The money is exorbitant. The elections are nothing but mudslinging festivals. Back-room deals are made. Superdelegates steal our vote anyway. None of this leads to good choices by the people.

Look where it's gotten us!

Voters are ignorant. According to a 2007 Pew study, knowledge about politics is actually declining. In 1989, 74% of people polled could name the current Vice President; in 2007, only 69% could do so. Only 69% of people could identify Vice President Cheney, compared with 93% recognition for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Little wonder that they elected a president who couldn't identify the leaders of Chechnya, Pakistan, or India.

Citizens are confused -- just look at the number of so-called "undecided" voters at the tail-end of election season! What are they still pondering? How can they not make a choice between two radically different candidates?

Voter education isn't working. After decades of public service, ads, infomercials, a squillion campaign stops, interviews with everyone from Charlie Rose to Jay Leno, more YouTube moments than we can count, and several published books and articles about their lives, many still claim not to know enough about the candidates. Can you name the members of Bush's cabinet? We didn't think so.

How can we fix this morass before our country goes to hell in a handbasket? Is it too late? Are we already sitting wrapped and ready like gifty banana bread in Satan's mailbox?

We propose that the country do away with elections in favor of merit selection. Merit selection will take all politics out of the race. Candidates will be nominated by members of Congress, who will then vet and vote on them. The rest of us can sit back and enjoy Halloween, no worries. Kumbaya all around!

Debates will be amongst the Congress themselves, without need for moderators or downsizing our favorite programs. Portions will be shown on C-SPAN.

A retention election may or may not be held in four years. It depends on how well Floridians and Ohioans can cope without the umpteen mailings and political rallies in their area.

No door-knockers, no robocalls, no problem! (Court-o-rama's momma hollers at the robots, particularly those calling during dinnertime.)

Happy Election Day from court-o-rama! Now go vote while you still can...

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on November 04, 2008 (boomark / email).