Re “Is Democracy an American Dream or a Nightmare?”
I find it strange that the election process for a prospective President takes two years, plus millions or billions of dollars. The money could be spent in better, more productive ways to help the country.
It would be sensible if each party decided on their leader to cut out the waste of money and time.
This would stop personal battles between rival candidates, hopefully prevent them running down their opponents. When they lose, they would say how nice the other guy is.
It would be interesting to analyze large donations to political parties, especially those over $1 million. My guess is they are from the people who complain about paying more taxes but would be happy to gamble millions on who might win.
Is it because they think their donations will earn favors?
Another strange hurdle: The President initially is in office for a four-year term. Yet halfway through, elections to Congress and the Senate could take away his majority for the remaining two years. This creates a hiatus and does no good for the country, as we see in the current situation.
The President does not have a majority in Congress to get through the agenda he wants. Does this make sense?
Impediment to Progress
The most incredible part of Washington is the filibuster. Who invented it? How does the House allow this ridiculous gimmick to continue in a democracy?
Further, why is there such a long post-election delay,2½ months, before a new President takes office?
This creates a needlessly long sterile situation, which does not help the country.
All European countries change presidents or prime ministers on the day they are elected. They take over the government offices and seamlessly continue with their plans.
In the USA and most countries with open elections, voters are firmly committed to a party well in advance.
I find it amazing that people decide who they are going to vote for, far in advance of Election Day, irrespective of the projected plans of candidates and their parties. Surely voters should remain neutral until they have had an opportunity to hear what the candidates are proposing in case the plans will be good for them, for their businesses, for their families and the country.
Listening to prospective candidates, I wonder why they spend so much time attacking the opposition. I don't care if candidates made a mistake 20 or 30 or 40 years ago.
I only am concerned with what they will do tomorrow. We have all made mistakes. We have dealt with them and moved on.
Most people have a skeleton in the cupboard. When a candidate does, he or she should state it from the start of thr campaign. This way the opposition will have nothing to say.
They Aren’t Related
Why must families of candidates come under scrutiny? World leaders openly have had mistresses and illegitimate children. This did not stop them from running their countries.
Many countries think it makes them a stronger person, one who can handle a private life without allowing it to interfere with his job.
Since we do not live in a perfect world, we must forgive, forget.
Remove the personal lives of candidates from politics. Concentrate on what counts, what the candidates and political parties are offering you and your family.
I know changes to the Constitution will be major, but many things that are old and tired need to be updated to keep pace with the growth in this millennium.
Mr. Green, author of the recently published “How to Succeed in Business – by Really Trying,” may be contacted at info@howtosucceedinbusiness.com
