Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

Five changes in the American political system are essential for the realization of a democracy.  Our democracy is yet incipient.  It needs growth.  That growth will be recognized by the adoption of the following characteristics of a true democracy.

1.  The elimination of wealth as a powerful influence on political decisions is the most crucial.  Lobbyists and donations to election campaigns must be contained.  Public funding of elections is crucial.  

Most all corruption can be traced to money.  The rest most likely to advancing one's status and power.  Campaigns should be limited to 3 months, payed for by the public, and be direct with openly aired broadcasts of debate on contemporary issues.  

2. Elimination of the Senate, Electoral College, and redistricting by any dominant group.  The Senate is an unnecessary expense and an impediment to urgently needed legislation. Further, it is recognized as an elitist group of wealthy politicos.  This country needs trustees.  

The Electoral College is an institution that is destructive of the very democracy that we claim.  It denies the will of the people by placing the choice of political individuals out of the hands of the citizens and into the hands of typically biased elites.  

Redistrictin with its tendency toward the gerrymander has been flagrantly used a large number of times in our history. It should only be allowed when population changes dictate, and be designed by demographic specialists, sworn to legitimate application of laws.  

3.  Proportional Representation is essential to true democracy.  It assures that all groups with their varied interests will at least have the opportunity of a spokesperson in government.  The winner-take-all system now in place denies many of the citizens representation.  Other countries have demonstrated the facility of this mode of power distribution.  

4.  Multiple Parties are, as with proportional representation, crucial to the viability of our incipient democracy.  The two-party system grants too much power to too few, and is not really much better than a one-party system, which is anathema to freedom and democracy.

5.  Just as important as the above traits of democracy is the adoption of the IRV (instant runoff vote or ranked choice ballot).  This factor assures a much greater degree of representation for the unrepresented, and lends great support to the four above suggestions.  

Intense and virulent resistance to these suggestions is anticipated.  Those in power or hoping to gain power do not want to share it with others.  Unfortunatel, that is a cultural characteristic, directly related to the insecurity and immaturity that predominates.

I've always said, "The best leaders, shy away from positions of power".  The reason is simple, they feel in advance the tremendous weight of responsibility and reliance of the followers on wise and compassionate decisions.  

I've given intense study and observation to human actions and always reflect on why people do the things they do.  Separation of Powers, Diffusion of Powers, and Distribution of Powers will be more certainly assured with these elements promulgated in the American Democracy.  From my perspective, these five changes in our nascent democracy would greatly improve the quality of life for all citizens by assuring a more proximate position to true democracy.