How To Save America (or die trying)

***NOTE: THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM AN OLD POST FROM 2007***

You can't fix all that's wrong with America by following the rules that have been put in place by the same system. That logic just doesn't follow. I started thinking, if I could bend or break the law just a little bit in order to return the actual state of the nation to it's Ideal, what would I do?

I came up with six easy steps that, if followed, will make America nice again, because right now, we're a bunch of assholes. In a nutshell, those steps are: 1) Lobbyists Put To Death, 2) Only "common folks" Can Be Elected, 3) Free Access To Media For All Candidates, 4) The End of the "Winner Takes All" Electoral System, 5) Government Forbidden To Touch "Moral Issues", and 6) Candidate Chosen By Lottery.

Here we go!

1. Make lobbying and the perception of lobbying (or being a lobbyist, or consorting with lobbyist in any way) punishable by death. The accepting of anything of value by an elected official (anything!!) will result in impeachment and a non-appealable 20 year prison sentence in the same secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe where the US sends "terrorists" to be tortured. No money, no gifts, no trips, no dinners, no teddy bears, no fucking thank-you cards. Nothing. Lawmakers, policy makers, government workers, or anyone who actually received a government paycheck, ever, is covered under this rule. Additionally, anyone involved with the government in any meaningful way (including politicians, their staff, contractors, vendors, even the guy that shines shoes on the subway ride to the Capitol) shall be subject to random independent financial audits of their holdings, transactions, etc, to ensure that they are not taking, hiding, funneling, or otherwise party to "influence peddling". Death for Lobbyists, horrible punishment for those who deal with or associate with them.
   
   
2. You can't have a government by and for the People if everyone elected is a power-lusting millionaire (unless, of course, you too are a power-lusting millionaire). So, we set a "net worth cap" on any individual who wishes to run for and/or attain a publicly accessible office, or an appointed position by an elected official (such as ambassadors, directors of agencies, judges, etc). The rule shall state that no one whose net worth is more than 30 percent above the national average is allowed to hold office. So, let's say that the "average American" has a net worth (you know, total assets minus total liabilities) $10, then a political candidate can have a net worth of no larger than $13. This will ensure that the wealthy do not hold office. in a disproportionate amount, if at all. Why? Simple...the wealthy look out for their interests, will consort with other wealthy people, will pass laws that benefit their positions and the positions of those that can help them, all at the expense of the "common man". By ensuring that all political workers come from the working class (and due to the above rule #1, won't be likely to get money while in office), we can ensure that our elected officials are closer to "us" than "them".
   
   
3. Since all broadcast media in the USA operates on licenses granted to them by the FCC (that is, the People own the airwaves and the FCC is charged with administering the airwaves; therefore the People have a vested interest in what goes over those airwaves), all broadcast media companies (radio, over the air television) that are regulated by the FCC must, during political campaign season, allot 2 hours of prime-time television/radio broadcast time equally to all political candidates, for free. This will eliminate candidates having to spend so much time fund raising in order to buy media time in order to get their message out. With all candidates having equal access over the airwaves, more voices will be heard. In a related move, no third parties of any kind will be allowed to run ads supporting or denigrating any candidate, position held by a candidate, or any other such message relating to the political process. The only political messages that are allowed are from the candidates themselves; no interest groups allowed (see rule #1)
   
   
4. Right now, in American elections, whichever candidate gets a simple majority of the vote wins outright. So, if a candidate wins 51 percent of an election, it's a big "fuck you" to the other 49 percent. Instead of this barbaric system of pseudo-democracy, the US government shall switch to a much more civilized form of democracy, namely multi-party parliamentary democracy. Under this system, one would vote for a party based on political philosophy, and the party would then send their best representatives to represent that party. This differs from voting for a candidate directly. Again, you won't vote for John because he's a Democrat, you'll vote Democrat, and let the Democrats figure out whether John, Jim, Tom, or Bob will go Parliament. For example, if Florida had 10 seats allotted to them for the House of Representatives, and an election was held, the votes would not be for candidate A or B, but rather for Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians, Free Lunch, or whatever party chooses to run. Voters would find a party that best represented their political ideaology and go vote for that party. After the election, you tally up how many votes each party got, then divide up the available seats, rounding down. So, if Democrats took 40f the vote, Republicans 40Ãand Greens 20Ãthen 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 2 Greens go to Congress. The actual candidates selected to represent their party would be chosen by each party internally, based on who could best represent that party's ideals. The candidates would be "common men" (see rule #2) and would remain so during their tenure (see rule #1), working only to advanced the welfare of the People in accordance to their Party's platform.
   
   
5. Leave morals to religious leaders and parents. Government officials shall no longer be allowed to legislate, or even opine, on "moral issues". That is the exclusive area of the People. What is moral and ethical to one man is reprehensible to another. This includes things like gay marriage, sex education in schools, religion and religious matters (how about actually enforcing the Separation of Church and State for once?), abortion, drugs, profanity, obscenity, etc. America is a weaker nation because we look to elected officials to legislate morality. We have lost our own ability to make moral decisions in our lives. Don't like what's on TV? Turn it off. Don't want an abortion? Don't have one. Against drugs? Don't use them. Want to pray in public school, teach religious items in public school, or otherwise endorse religion in any way public school? Sorry, but no (you're free to start your own religious school and charge people to go there, if you'd like). Any of these moral issues that have been used for the past to wedge Americans apart may no longer be mentioned legislatively. Stay out of the bedrooms and churches of citizens and stick to your job of running the nation.
   
   
6. Candidates for government office shall no longer be allowed to announce themselves as candidates for any particular office. Instead, every citizen between the ages of 18 and 80 will have their names entered into a Candidate Lottery. Candidates will be screened for literacy and knowledge of logic, rational thought, and history. Every two, four, or six years (depending on the office), names will be drawn and you will have to serve; think of it as a draft, but for politicians. The integrity of the lottery will be guarded by the same team that currently guards our nuclear missile codes to ensure nothing fishy goes on. Candidates who are selected to serve can never hold office past their term of service, and are removed from the lottery pool. They will be paid a wage equal to the national average in return for their service, and will be provided with a home while they are on duty. Other than the selection process, they will behave like regular public servants. Oh, and prior officeholders will not be allowed to serve as consultants of advisers to anyone who is currently serving or has been selected to serve. Strict conflict-of-interest rules will be strictly (STRICTLY!!!) enforced.
   

Now, I'm quite sure that the system I have just proposed has holes big enough to drive a truck through. How will taxes be handled? Will political parties be patrolled for lobbying? Who will vet candidates? Will the executions of lobbyists be televised live or on tape delay? I don't have all the answers, my friends. I just have some ideas that will hopefully get you thinking.

Remember the Declaration Of Independence? I love the second sentence, in the second paragraph of the American Declaration of Independence:

"...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive..., it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it."