Originally published on Facebook, 3/8/10
I'm back.
And continuing from where I left off, I think we've established that the system is broken, smoke and flames are coming out of the ship of state, the proverbial iceberg is looming dead ahead and we're in deep doo-doo. So what, as one goateed dude once asked, is to be done? Nothing too radical- and certainly nothing communistic or socialistic in nature. Part of the very long list of problems I have with the Left today is the tiresome need to frame everything in terms of varying shades of socialism, Marxism or even communism. Have you looked at the government we have? Have you listened to some of these people? Why on Earth would government be the answer to the problems we face today? It's just beyond me.
But whatever. That's an argument for another time and probably another note. Now, I just want to float some mild suggestions for things we can do to maybe fix the mess we as a nation have found ourselves in. Five of them. I have no idea if any of these things will help at all and freely admit that I am, quite possibly completely full of it. But at this point, I think every little suggestion might honestly do some good. So here goes:
1. Renegotiate the Social Contract: Or rethink it at the very least. The fundamental problem America faces is this: we want things like education, health care, medicare and social security, but we don't actually want to pay for them. So we need to fund these programs while not raising taxes to pay for them- so where do we find the money? Well, I know this may sound like 2 + 2 = 4, but you pay for 'em and find the money by reducing the bloated size and scope of the government. Programs that don't work? Screw 'em. Silly pork projects? If they don't bring some tangible benefit or jobs to your district, they shouldn't be allowed- or at the very least they should be strictly limited.
2. Reform the Senate: First of all, leave the filibuster alone. The problem with the filibuster isn't that everything is being filibustered, it's that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster. If the Democrats would grow a pair and make them actually filibuster, well, I think they may change their tune. The Senate is full of some remarkably middle aged, wrinkled politicians and if they think they can stand up and speak for 24 hours straight on nothing much at all without food or a pee break, I would love to see 'em try. They don't make Senators like they used to and the way to see if your opponent is bluffing is to, I don't know- call the bluff. Secondly, attack the real problem: end this bullshit practice of anonymous holds. No one Senator should have the power to hold anything (you should be able to break the hold with a 2/3rds majority) and it certainly shouldn't be anonymous. Their fellow Senators and every single American should be able to call them up and tell 'em what a tool they're being (or congratulate them for bravely standing on principle. Whichever is appropriate.)
3. Give Everyone $100: It's kind of frightening how, in the wake of Citizens United, people from the left end of the spectrum were so quick to propose a constitutional amendment which would have essentially undermined free speech in the name of allowing the government to regulate political speech. Scratch that- it was very frightening. Let's try a little creative thinking, shall we: ban all direct use of money for political speech (the money is the problem, not the speech) and instead, every midterm and national election year, give every citizen eligible to vote $100. Corporations, political parties, candidates and interest groups would therefore be able to solicit citizens for donations to fund their political speech. The power to fund our elections would be in the hands of individuals and no one's right to speech, whether interest group, corporation, political party or individual would be infringed. (Oh and by the by: people could just use the $100 to buy beer or something if they don't want to donate.)
4. Educational Reform: The entire concept of the American High School needs to be rethought. Probably ditto for Universities, though a good University should be able to cater to two year, four year, technical and graduate degrees and serve all comers- especially a state-funded public one. But when I think back on my high school career, I realize I was bloody lucky to go to the school I did, but there are still problems: more and more we are asking less and less of high school students. They wander into college, some of them self-assured and with a plan, others (like me) completely clueless about what to do with themselves. In high school (when it's free) people should be grabbing students by the scruffs of their necks, shaking them and saying 'Hey kid, what are you gonna do with yourself?' The emphasis should be on rigorous college preparation, to be sure- standards should be high, pay should be merit based- all to be sure, to be sure- but at the end of the day, kids should have a clue as to where their passions and strengths are. They don't have to have all the answers by the time they get to college, but they should have a good idea of what they want to do with themselves. (Oh and let's instill some critical thinking, shall we? If nothing gets challenged, nothing gets changed- and students should emerge from whatever education they get ready to figure out how to do everything- and I do mean everything better than Mom and Dad did.)
5. Political Reform: Time to break the monopoly the two parties have on power. The FEC should be replaced by an independent, non-partisan commission. The Commission on Presidential Debates should be abolished and ballot access laws need to be reformed, so they don't serve as an effective barrier to free and fair competition in the political marketplace. Does this automatically mean that we're going to be awash in political parties leading to chaos and more gridlock? Nope. The voting system we have (a single member district, first-past-the-post, Westminster style system in poli-sci speak) is not designed to support a bajillion political parties. It just doesn't happen. One can get 25% of the vote, but not 25% of the seats- reform doesn't guarantee us a better system, but it does open the door to the possibility that a main stream third party can emerge and allow voters a real alternative to the Feckless Democrats and the Obstructionist Republicans.
Voíla. My plan for America. Or my weird, strange ideas for America- whatever you like.
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