Did you know you can CHANGE the USA? How will YOU do it?

Question

There are many ways to change the USA. I encourage EVERYONE to vote for a 3rd party candidate in ALL elections, especially the presidential election. Break the 2-party system! That would change the USA forever and give more opportunities for everyone. How do YOU propose to change the USA?

Apparently few people are paying attention to the action question. The REAL question here is HOW WILL YOU CHANGE THE USA?
I only posted what I am currently doing. You are entitled to your opinions on my own actions. However, Please answer the QUESTION that is being asked:
How will YOU do it?

Answer 1

I notice a lot of criticism directed at your proposal (voting for a 3rd party candidate), but then after the criticism, very few solutions were given.
I too have voted for 3rd party candidates in the past (Ross Peroit and Pat Buchannon) and did not see the results I had hoped for. But I haven't given up on the hope of a viable 3rde party just yet.
In the mean time I think one of the biggest things we could do as a nation to effect change would be to hold our elected officials accountable. Make them keep their campaign promises, or at the very least make sure that they are attempting to fulfill their campaign promises (those promises in which got them elected).
A second thing that I believe would help our country greatly would be to eliminate partisanship on certain issues. There are some issues that both Republicans and Democrats can agree upon (or at least they should). So why not work together for those issues instead of saying something like the following example: "Well I agree that illegal immigration is a problem and needs to be addressed, but since such and such party isn't willing to get on the band wagon concerning such and such issue, I'm not going to work with them on the immigration issue."
or, "I believe that national security is an important issue, but since such and such party is so adamant against such and such issue then I will do what I can to stop any efforts they attempt on the other issue."

Both parties are guilty of this... There seems to be a tremendous fear that one party or the other will succeed in any prominent area and so efforts are made to ensure their failure in that area... and again this is done by both parties. And then we have rabid, partisan supporters who say, "My party, right or wrong." That's not helping our country either.
The politicians aren't going to change, and do such things as I've mentioned above unless their constituents, and voters make it clear to them that this is what they want, and if it isn't done there will be a consequince for their unwillingness to keep America's best interest at heart.

The second issue is the war in Iraq. War is a polarizing event, and there are many opinions as to what should be done, and how it should be handled. I could post my opinions on the war and get 10, 20, maybe even 100 replys that disagree with me. I think we should win it decisively and send a clear message that you don't mess with the US of A. Others would argue that we should pull out of Iraq immediately. The politicians need to come to an agreement on the issue, and then make a public address that states what that agreement is and why it was reached. For example if they came together and decided to remain in Iraq they could state that the reason for this is because we see how Iran turned out when we didn't stay the course there. Or if the decision was to withdraw completely from Iraq, they could give a reason for that (though I wouldn't know what that would be), but regardless the reason, if it was a unified decison made by both parties and they stuck with it, then only the very fringes of both parties would be ranting and raving.

The public needs to become more aware of the issues at hand, and when I say more aware I mean not only aware of their own parties views and beliefs, but also of the other parties views and beliefs, and why they have formulated them so. This should/could lead to more intelligent discussion and debate, which should/could lead to resolutions concerning those issues.

I know that a lot of these suggestions are just so much pie in the sky, becasue they are dependant upon us, the citizen voters. And so many are not looking for compromise and resoltuion, but rather conquest and supremacy. We need a two (or more) party system in America, it keeps us somewhat honest and the differing views are good (remember what JFK did when he had a bunch of yes men? The Bay of Pigs fiasco is clear evidence that you need differing views from time to time).

I'm sorry my answer is so long, in reality I could write much more on this issue, but I'll save that for another time.

Answer 2

If everyone voted then perhaps this system would indeed change. But it may or may not be for the better. Participation is key in a democracy. Even in the original democratic govts. only landholders were allowed to participate since they had something to lose and not so much to gain. When the voters decide that they should gain without returning something to the system, seems like the system will fail.

"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate." -Thomas
Jefferson

It also appears that democracies seem to fail when the citizenry realize they can vote themselves everything and take no responsibility for anything.
Government is not the answer. Less government is the answer when there is a responsible citizenry. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENRY is key.
Bureaucrats who are not voted into office or position yet have super powers are behind a lot of what we are experiencing in our society today. They answer to no one but their own pockets since they certainly seem not to answer to the voters.

Answer 3

.Too many folks mistakenly call out system of government a "democracy"! Thank God that it is a representative republic. If every numskull voted and the majority actually ruled everything, we would have chaos! The have nots and wannabees would steal everything from the productive! I think only the"'Tax Paying" citizenry should vote. The third party then would stand a better chance of being a viable force.

Answer 4

It sounds like you may have read the great new book Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government; it presents a detailed strategy for restoring American democracy, including many electoral reforms that would open the political system to third parties.

Answer 5

"Ronald Reagan is inexplicably fond of -- he is constantly quoting -- that stupendously dumb statement by Thomas Paine, 'We have it within our power the ability to begin the world over again.' Oh no we don't. Paine's statement is the most unconservative one ever issued from human lips. Conservatism is the politics of prudence, which begins with acceptance of the fact that, more often than not, and to a degree that is humbling to mere human beings, the inertia of history and society severely limit both the pace and degree of change that human willfulness can bring about. Or, as a wise man once said, in a battle between you and the world, bet on the world."

Answer 6

That would be a very big mistake. Much like the one you made when you voted for Bush twice. Elections are about money and power. Why would any person with even half a brain vote for a 3rd. party with no chance in hell to effect any change?. Republicans now tell all of America, things are fine, "stay the course", you think things are fine?

Answer 7

The way the current process is set up, a vote for a 3rd party candidate is a wasted vote. No 3rd party candidate ever has a chance of winning. If you're going to vote 3rd party, save the time and trouble and stay home.


Me, I'll vote for whichever available candidate is the least like George Bush.

Answer 8

Yes. I would like to encourage everyone to sign my petition for the Maryland elections board so I can found my Kalends party. I fully understand that your average american would have no chance in any election without partisan support and Im sick of it being either the Republicans or the Democrats.

Answer 9

I voted for Nader in 2000, now Bush is still in the White House! If you want to put another Republican in the White House then go ahead and go for a third party.

Answer 10

Be an informed voter. Study the issues before you walk in that booth. Participate in civil discourse. Whatever side you are on, stop calling the other side names, and look for common ground. And most importantly, learn to think for yourself!