My co-blogger “Patroon” posted the following intriguing idea on “non-partisanship:”
I registered my disappointment at the upcoming election in my last post but starting this month I will be in the process of a little activism which I hope will improve our nation’s politics.
I’m going to try and convince my county board to approve a resolution to call for non-partisan state legislature i.e. members are elected without party designation, just like county board members and other local government officials are across the state. If they approve it, hopefully it can become a resolution at next year’s Wisconsin County Association state convention. Ideally, Wisconsin state legislature would like Nebraska’s which is non-partisan or would be like Minnesota and Nevada’s legislatures used to be.
What dominates our politics now is akin to parlimentary system without a parliment. Party-line voting and political tactics within legislative systems has wrecked good public policy and made it hard for independent lawmakers to do what’s right when they are so worried about maintaining the “party line”. Such thinking, truly is a socialistic methodology that has crept into our nation’s governance and is the kind of threat George Washington warned us about in his Farewell Address, the so-called “spirit of the party” crippling government. Its why I’m supporting Michael Krsiean, independent for Congress on Tuesday and I’d like to thank Mike for influence on my thinking on this matter.
@7- I see what you’re saying – my point being that all candidates should have the same simple path to ballot access… and all candidates should be included in debates!
True, but all candidates would have he same hurdle – no one must “high jump” while his opponent is given a miniature hurdle.
Sure, but keep in mind that political machines would still exist which would make such things trivial for establishment candidates. However, the ballot labeling which allows those who may wish to vote for less organized minority viewpoints to identify their candidates would be gone.
So, whereas the unions and corporations may have the money and/or manpower to let voters know who their candidates are, libertarians, greens, constitutionalists, etc., are far less likely to have that advantage.
Paul “Candidates could still be required to meet signature thresholds to get on the ballot ”
True, but all candidates would have he same hurdle – no one must “high jump” while his opponent is given a miniature hurdle.
“and polling requirements to get in debates”
I said they SHOULD be in the debates- I’m sure someone somewhere will always find a way to exclude a candidate from a debate
Not necessarily. Candidates could still be required to meet signature thresholds to get on the ballot and polling requirements to get in debates, but without the labeling that allows a brand such as Libertarian, Green, etc., to build from one election to the next and advertise itself on the ballot.
Solomon, the advantage that you’re ignoring is that with non-partisan elections; all candidates are treated equal for ballot access purposes & all candidates should be included in debates
I’m a hard core independent… but I can tell you, non partisan state legislatures don’t make a damn bit of difference. We have them here in Nebraska… Everyone knows who’s in what party… all this does is make it so they don’t put it front and center when they campaign. Honesty is better.
Kim – I think when the trumpet blare, rather than set up the chairs, I think we should mount our horses. It’s time for action.
I am going to think more about this, because it is interesting.
What are parties for, anyway?
Are they needed?
When Ralph Nader – a true American hero and public discourse celebrity – wants to run, parties kind of build around him. He gets a core group of admirers that will work for his campaign. And, then the Green Party gets excited and folks kind of spring to action around his cause.
Does having a party, or parties in place help mobilize a national campaign, when the citizens need to mobilize?
One thought I have is: Someone needs to set up the chairs and gather the e-mail lists.
But, maybe there shouldn’t be a small or large bureaucracy waiting to do those things. Maybe we are all just over-organizing and over-planning because we are afraid we won’t be ready.
When “the big strike” comes, or “the great leader”, or “the perfect race”, does having a party structure in place help or hurt that cause?
Sometimes I don’t know.
But, I did learn that a creative, energetic, free spirit like me could waste a lot of time inside that party bureaucracy. If committee-person and/or party hack is a needed job, it must take very certain and special people to do it well — or maybe everyone should only be forced to do it a short time.
Maybe we should only start setting up the chairs when we hear the trumpets?…