What should we do to get a better choice in electing presidents?

Question

Unlike the choice we had when we had to choose between Bush & Kerry. Most of the people who voted for Bush said they had no choice. What do we need to do to get a choice? Common we spend so much time choosing clothes & other stuff. But when it comes to choosing president's what's happening? What should we do to change this?

Answer 1

I think we could field a better government by randomly selecting candidates from the phone book. This is for all federal offices.

Or, we could pass a law to have all ballots add to each race the following box:
o NONE OF THE ABOVE - DO OVER

Answer 2

Unfortunately it's us -- collectively.

The choice is decided during the primaries.

During that time, the media refuse to do any real reporting, and spend the time babbling about "momentum" -- which means "We all know the American voters are a bunch of mindless sheep who will vote for whoever it seems everyone else is voting for."

Unfortunately too many voters prove this to be true.

BTW, people who felt they HAD to vote for Bush were insane -- there is no way Kerry would have been worse, or even close to as damaging to this country and the rest of the world as what we had.

A lot of the mis-information about Kerry was simply a smear campaign by the Bush team.

Again, the media failed to actually report, and, instead, took dictation from Bush Co.

So enough people were persuaded to vote Bush that the Repulicans were able to steal their second election in a row.

It's true that people COULD get more accurate information.

I blame our educational system that fails to educate.

Kids get a textbook version of how the world works, and memorize a lot of stuff about government, but they never are called on to analyze, or understand, or assess, or any of the other difficult intellectual tasks that would help them see through the crud and make more rational decisions.

Never having develped these abilities, they simply give up. Either don't vote, or think only in terms of slogans and pretty graphics.

It will be interesting to see what a web-savvy generation -- more cynical than my generation, and much more able to control access to what's going on in the world -- does.

When I was young, most people got their news either from radio (a five minute reading of headlines), or from one of three networks.

Now, you can decide what YOU find worth knowing, and who's word you want to take on things -- heck, in a few seconds, I found the actual text of the Geneva Conventions; THAT'S control over what I read and therefore know.

I hope the next generation takes full advantage of it.

Answer 3

Adopt a constitutional amendment which provides structure for the primary/caucus schedule.

Look at the fact that next year New Hampshire will hold its primary in January. 40 years ago it would have been no earlier than April. Look at the fact of the "super Tuesday" that will be held in February, thus ensuring that the nominations will already be "sewn up" based on the results of that "super" primary.

Congress should propose a constitutional amendment which would prohibit any state (or territory) from holding a presidential primary or caucus before April 1. Only small states -- with 1 or 2 seats in the House of Reps -- would be allowed to hold primaries/caucuses in April. Then medium-size states -- with no more than 10 seats in the House -- would be allowed to hold primaries/caucuses in May. And then the largest states would be required to wait until June.

By having only the smallest states going first, such a system could help to steer the emphasis toward "retail politics" instead of money-raising.

Answer 4

Take Money out of the equation.
Anyone running for Public Office should have a set amount that they can spend on there campaign, A fixed amount for Local ,State and Federal elections. There is no way that with the amounts need to mount and run a Political campaign today, that you are not going to be holding to the contributors.
The American People have got to send this message to Congress and send it now. Congress will not do this on there own

Answer 5

Say on Brother. The God guided people of this great nation need to stand up and choose our candidates no matter the office!!!!! It's time for the people to fund OUR candidates not political behind the sceners and special interest groups. They own these politicians because they finance them! No financial backing, not enough exposure to get elected! Good choices; people with good hearts and minds;OUR GOOD CHOICES;WE THE PEOPLE!

Answer 6

There are always other candidates running besides the two Republicrats. Vote for the other guy, the other lesser known party. We need to stand up against the Republicrats and let them know that those parties are out of date and out of focus. Even though I would have rather seen Gore win I am glad that Nader stayed in the running.

Answer 7

First, discover oil on your property.

Then, start your own oil company.

Unlike our current president, be successful at it.

When you become a billionaire, read a book called "Lobbying for Dummies" and start buying senators and congressmen. (Don't buy female senators because they tend to be less corruptible unless they're married to a president).

Next, buy or build a major telecommunications company like Clear Channell or Fox News or ABC so you can control what news you want the American people to see and what news you don't want them to see.

Finally, make changes as you see fit.

Good luck - and don't forget your umbrella!

Answer 8

First off we got to make sure we have a president we can trust and won't lie to the people of america. Better voting machines also, we live in a time where nobody can really be trusted.

Answer 9

How about the same choice kids have on their tests?

None of the above.

Answer 10

Vote 3rd party or be more active in the partisan primaries/caucuses.