How could we improve the American Republic?

[Carmen813]

I was talking more about how we can improve voter participation and lower government corruption rather than specific domestic policies like single payer health care or decriminalizing drugs.

I think a 48 hour election is a good idea. While I understand the sentiment behind term limits, I don't think they will work. I believe you are really opening up the door for corruption as lawmakers complete their final term. It'd also lead to more "lame duck" sessions where nothing gets done...some people might like that though.

I'm ambivalent on the fair tax...it just strikes me as a progressive tax with a new name given that it uses tax credits ect.

Lobbying is not inherently evil, it's the essence of participation in government. What we need to get rid of is lobbying w/ money, which just gives a select few the strongest voice.

How can we increase peoples interest in civics? I agree that a large portion of people do not know what policies they are voting for, but how can you change those attitudes? I personally believe media has a role to play in this.

I also disagree that local or state government is inherently less corrupt than federal. Look at Afghanistan, they have about the most decentralized government possible.

 

[Double Trouble]

Having me as a dictator for a while would surely help. I could fix a few things in a hurry

 

[dullard]

I was talking more about how we can improve voter participation and lower government corruption rather than specific domestic policies like single payer health care or decriminalizing drugs.

It is sad how quickly P&N strays off of topic. I see wish lists to change the country yet very little to address anything in your OP.

I mean come on, how can this response: "Restore the import tariff" possibly address your topic here: "I feel the root cause is apathy among voters. We have disappointingly turnout for elections." It is like P&N posters often don't even try any more. They've turned into politicians themselves. All talking points, no action, and certainly no substance in thier words.

 

[Patranus]

Enforce the 10th Amendment.
The vast majority of the problems would be solved.

 

[Double Trouble]

First and foremost, the reality is that the vast majority of the people are not well educated and/or stupid when it comes to the world of politics and the world around them. If that wasn't the case, idiotic TV ads would not be so effective.

Increased voter turnout doesn't do anything if the voters effectively don't have viable choices anyway. Apathy among voters is a result of the feeling that they're going to get garbage no matter which of the two parties they vote for. Combine that with a high level of uneducated and/or stupid people, and you end up with our political system.

Having lived in a few different countries and seeing their systems up close, I can tell you that it doesn't work much differently outside the US either.

In Western and prosperous countries, people take their ability to vote and politics in general for granted.

 

[MovingTarget]

I admit, I did get off track too, so here's a revised list:

1. Move voting to the weekend/make a national holiday
2. Remove party affiliation from ballots
3. Mandatory civics courses in high school
4. Remove $$ as a method of free speech for corporations/nonindividuals
5. Require that local/broadcast stations host live debates for local elections as part of the FCC licensing.

 

[fskimospy]

Remove federal taxes and reallocate all of it to state taxes. States get to pay the Union which breaks the authority behind centralized planning in this nation and restores parallelism. Diversity is a trait that is absolutely required for any entity to survive. This would immediately defeat the corruption in Washington.

Yeah, the Articles of Confederation worked so well the first time we should definitely give them another go.

 

[stateofbeasley]

Personally, I don't feel that the Democrat or Republican party is the problem in American politics today. I feel the root cause is apathy among voters. We have disappointingly turnout for elections.
...

Thoughts?

As others have stated, I think that ignorance causes people to either not vote, or vote against their interests.

One problem is that our world is VASTLY more complex and nuanced than it was a century ago. When people are unable to fully comprehend issues, they will invariably vote based on irrational emotion.

How many people really know what is going on in Afghanistan? How the US health care system compares to that of other modern nations? The science behind Global Warming? What issues emerging powers like India and China present? How the banking system works?

In a highly specialized society, an educated person might be able to fully comprehend one or two of these issues.

I think people become paralyzed when they don't understand issues or when they don't know the facts. Add into that media pundits who are all too happy to spread Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt all over television to boost ratings, stir in distrust of politicians, and you get a significant % of people who just give up.

The complexity of global systems has outrun the evolution of the human brain.

 

[Zorkorist]

Require a balanced budget.

 

[stateofbeasley]

First and foremost, the reality is that the vast majority of the people are not well educated and/or stupid when it comes to the world of politics and the world around them. If that wasn't the case, idiotic TV ads would not be so effective.

FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) has time and time again proven to be extremely effective.

The Anandtech community of all places knows this well. Tech companies like Intel, Microsoft, Apple, etc all used FUD to great effect to market themselves. If you're Microsoft, spread rumors that other products aren't as compatible as yours. If you're Apple, spread fear that non-Apple platforms are inherently prone to viruses. If you're Intel, spread doubt that AMD platforms are as stable and reliable as Intel platforms.

Fear sells. The whole "Death Panel" outrage was based on a lie, yet people went into a tizzy about it. Money market mutual funds and investment banks have collapsed because fear caused a run on them. We went to war in Iraq based of fear of nuclear weapons that didn't exist.

In the age of 24/7 media, those that can manipulate the fears of others win. Those who cannot control their impulses and those who give in to fear lose.

Manipulation of fear is power, whether it is fear of immigrants, computer viruses, gay marriage, Jews, or something else.

 

[MotF Bane]

Educate the masses.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Educate the masses.

this.

also, probably level the playing field somehow for campaigning, who can contribute, how much, etc. maybe give each politician X amount of free airtime or something like that?

no unrelated items may be added as amendments to bills (ie, education items on a defense spending bill or something ridiculous like that)

limit how much of an effect lobbyists can have.

 

[Craig234]

Zorkorisk, I saw your name and thought I'd mention what a coincidence, I was just talking with one of the authors of Zork. Interesting what a following the game has this long.

 

[Craig234]

A bit of imperialism would bring in money without many negative effects to Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Taxpayer.

Social services funded on the backs of those too weak to oppose our power FTW.

Assuming you are serious, it's sons of bitches like you who are the force of evil, who disgrace and threaten our nation and others. The first bullet should have your name.

 

[Zorkorist]

Zorkorisk, I saw your name and thought I'd mention what a coincidence, I was just talking with one of the authors of Zork. Interesting what a following the game has this long.

Very cool. Truly one of the designers of games, on these things we call computers.

 

[First]

There is no simple fix and it's why nothing proposed here so far would work. A lot of problems stem from ideological dogma instead of open mindedness. The lack of openness to new ideas, the lack of practicality, and the inability to admit when you're wrong pervade a lot of American culture (though I wouldn't say most, otherwise we probably wouldn't have been so successful since WWII).

Bottom line is that, generally, both sides can probably eventually agree on how to improve education and scientific research. For example, NASA has yielded $7-$9 ROI per dollar via their technological offspring. The CIA's covert Cold War research led to all sorts of technological breakthroughs that transferred to the private industry (look up Spycraft, it's a fantastic book indexing all the incredible covert tech developed at the CIA). The emphasis on research really should be a no-brainer, but sometimes ideologues get in the way; those who say we shouldn't use public funds for research, and those who say we shouldn't use private funds. In the end, a combination of both public and private funds is the best choice and neither should be blocked due to ideology, they should be blocked based on the merits of each unique case.

 

[Vic]

Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education & free discussion are the antidotes of both.

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.

Both by Thomas Jefferson

 

[First]

^ Those are great quotes.

 

[Zorkorist]

NASA is also an agency losing funding due to Politicians deciding that homeless people, or health care reform, is more important.

There really isn't any point in putting money, or faith, into Government. They will just decide that they should redistribute it to homeless people, after taking their cut.

Instead, one should minimize taxes, and invest in private enterprise, private R&D, and maximize returns.

 

[dawp]

Until we reduce the amount of cash it take to run for federal office in this country, nothing will change. Having to raise vast amounts of money just to run for and hold office will corrupt any one who runs.

 

[Colt45]

What did Jefferson say about liberty and blood of tyrants?

You guys are a little past due for a proper uprising.

 

[Zorkorist]

Until we reduce the amount of cash it take to run for federal office in this country, nothing will change. Having to raise vast amounts of money just to run for and hold office will corrupt any one who runs.

It won't corrupt everyone...

Do you remember when Perot ran as a third party? He ran on his own money, staged a hell of a fight, and lost to two dominant parties.

 

[First]

NASA is also an agency losing funding due to Politicians deciding that homeless people, or health care reform, is more important.

There really isn't any point in putting money, or faith, into Government. They will just decide that they should redistribute it to homeless people, after taking their cut.

Instead, one should minimize taxes, and invest in private enterprise, private R&D, and maximize returns.

What? This doesn't even make sense, homeless people statistically get 0% of the budget. Literally, it rounds down to 0%.

And health care is a no-brainer, why does that surprise you? Putting faith in "private enterprise" as a dogma doesn't really work either, since they collude just as politicians working in gov't do.

 

[dmcowen674]

How could we improve the American Republic?

Abolish Republicans

 

[dawp]

It won't corrupt everyone...

Do you remember when Perot ran as a third party? He ran on his own money, staged a hell of a fight, and lost to two dominant parties.

Perot didn't have to beg for campaign contributions, he had his own money from his business, unlike most potiticians who have to raise shitloads from where ever they can get it.