An electoral solution for government reform
These goof balls are our best and brightest? Another
Election Day, but it seems worse this year (written in 2010 before I officially
started this blog). There are none
running to get us excited. To say that we can choose from the lesser of two or
more evils does not seem to accurately describe this year’s elections. In one
local race, I know both candidates. It’s a choice between the devil I know and
the devil I know. In fact, it is this race that prompted me to begin this article.
I am angry at the future I see for my children based on the
actions of so-called adults looking to govern our nation. In SC we’ve had:
1.
Our governor admits an affair after first
reporting he was going to hike alone on the Appalachian Trail.
2.
A political outsider running for US Senate that
suggested that an action figure of him might kick start our failing economy.
3.
A Congressman that shouted, “You’re a liar!” to
our president during his State of the Union.
4.
A lieutenant governor that could neither drive
nor fly.
5.
A state treasurer was sentenced to prison
cocaine possession.
6.
The state agriculture commissioner go to jail
for ties to a cockfighting ring.
7.
Lt. Governor resigns after pleading guilty to
mis-use of election funds.
South Carolina is not alone. Almost every state has an
elected embarrassment or two (or more). From fiscal mismanagement, questionable
ethics, affairs, and some prison time, we seem to have a dearth of quality,
elected officials and candidates. Where are those who understand that when you
are a public servant, you are the one to serve the people? The people are not
there to serve you.
Being elected does not make someone instantly wise, just, or
right; it just makes you a representative of a constituency. Also, you are not
to represent just those who voted for you but everyone in your district.
I’ve heard people say, “Kick the bums out!” What if we just
elect NONE OF THE ABOVE?
I heard of the idea of NOTA decades ago, but I think it’s
time has come. Our nation is a democratic nation and we are ensured of republican
(meaning representative) state governments by our US Constitution (Article 4,
Section 4). We are not ensured of good government. It is up to us to elect good representatives
to get good government.
This begs the question: “How do we get good candidates?” or “What
are our options if no one good runs?”
If you elect the lesser of two evils, then something evil is
elected. Why should we have to settle for something so important in our daily
lives? Businesses don’t have to hire the lesser of two evils. Why should we
have to HIRE the lesser of two evils? Why do we have to hold our nose with one
hand as we vote with the other hand?
This is why we need NOTA on the ballot. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above for more information). Spain and Bangladesh
have this option. Should we take a back seat to these countries?
The idea is simple: for every elected office on a ballot,”
None of the Above” would be a choice. Then if NOTA “wins” more votes than the
other candidates, the election for that office is held again. NONE OF THOSE
CANDIDATES CAN RUN. Parties will have to re-nominate. Maybe that way more seats will be contested
and better candidates will come forward.
So if Smith runs against Jones and NOTA wins, the election
is re-held and other candidates must run. Smith and Jones cannot run. Can you
imagine a sole candidate for an office being beaten by NOTA? Surely not many
things could be more embarrassing.
Why he or she may never run for any office again! How could
having lousy candidates not run be a bad thing?
It’s often said that anyone that want to be elected to
office should be disqualified from running for that reason. We need patriots on
both sides – left and right – who set aside short-term gains for long-term real
solutions.
Some may say that this will be more expensive due to the
cost of having more elections. I counter that having better candidates will
cost us less in the long run. They will be more responsive to our will and
spend only what is needed, keep government salaries in line, etc. Maybe instead of paying for cost overruns,
they will penalize companies for not delivering on time or meeting quality
standards. Maybe they will be more inclined to represent all constituents and
not just those partisans who elected them. Maybe they will be more inclined to
see that companies treat employees and customers better and are better stewards
of resources because we can vote and corporations cannot.
As a practical matter, NOTA will rarely be invoked: much
like recall and initiative. But it will be a democratic solution to government
reform.
The Palmetto Bug throws out this challenge to both major
parties and all the other parties: Have the courage to put NOTA in primaries
and push for NOTA in every election. The party that adopts this platform will
truly be the party of reform.
Transparency, yes. Accountability, yes. Ethical behavior,
yes.
NOTA, heck yes! Power back to “WE, the people.”
The Palmetto Bug
You have a good point here.
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