We can say this, in a year we will be done with Bush. What I say is, in a year I hope we do not see Hillary. We need new blood and new ideas. What we get from Bush and Clinton will just be more of the same old same old.

A lot can happen in a year. Those at the top now may very well be at the bottom. The next election is going to be a shocker.

Thanks. It's nice to see I'm not the lone voice crying in the wilderness any longer. I don't believe a new Constitutional convention is necessary or desireable. My idea is to take their toys away. I have been convinced for some years now that, due to the corruptive nature of money and politics on both sides, that elective government has ceased to be representative government.

My idea is to take all executive and legislative offices at the state and national levels and replace elections with random selection from IRS tax rolls according to constitutional requirements. Just as there is no taxation without representation, the reverse should be true. Those selected by the lottery would be on the equivalent of National Guard duty giving them a leave of absence and a guarantee of a job on their return. While serving the state or nation, their expenses are paid by taxpayers. They serve one term of office and return to their lives. I would also pass a companion law forbidding lobbying by anyone who doesn't live in your district with summary execution as a penalty.

In this way, you avoid the seniority system of Congress as everyone would be equal. Committee chairmanships would also be decided by random drawing among the Congress and State Legislatures, so corporations wouldn't know who to try to bribe as each Congress would have new chairmen.

So what do you all think?

In my opinion, we should damn the Electoral Vote system and replace it with a simple "One person, One vote" deal, not all this "You must win such-and-such state and gain so many votes to win". That's what stuck us with Bush as it is.

Gore won the Popular Vote (which really should be the only thing that counts), but lost the Electoral Vote. If we had Gore as president today, I think we could safely say that our country would not be as messed up as it is at the moment. We're literally selling ourselves out.

The United States' popularity with other countries is declining due to our poor decisions and idiotic movements. This fool of a president that we currently have has nearly destroyed all that the Founding Fathers built, and it's going to be a long and hellish trial for the next person to inherit the Democratic throne of our country to pull our asses out of it.

The Stock Market is a mess, our priorities are out of line, and we are making very strong enemies. Bush mocks the Iranians with a THIRD world war. As a veteran of the Iranian military and the Iran-Iraq War, I can honestly say that my countrymen would be MUCH harder than the Insurgents to fight. We could take a million deaths, but inflict twice that number on our enemies; but lo to the Chinese! It's a very dangerous game that we're getting in, and I fear that we might be reduced to ruin. The card game, gentlemen, is beginning to heat up- the stakes are now much higher than they were in the 1990's.

Whatever happens, we can only hope that the outcome favors life and deflation (the rich get richer, the poor get poorer; just like England; there will be no middle-class).

You poured many topics into your post. I suspect its because you don't yet understand the system and are frustrated with your impotence. You are the 'hippie' of your age.

Rather than summarily critisizing try to articulate how you would change the situation which frustrates you. It may help you feel better and or give you more focus and a goal.

Well said. The Founding Fathers built incredible documents in the Constitution and the Bill or Rights. It irks me to no end to see the "rules" bent, twisted and otherwise ignored by the very people we elect to support them.

I've never seen "politician" as a job title at an Unemployment Office. Serving in an elected office is a service to your country, not a career track... I wonder how many citizens would seek an elected Federal office from the private or business sectors knowing that they could only serve "X" number of years...:hmm:

Then again, there's always looking at the bigger picture, jackass.

How lovely it is indeed! Not only are you a jackass, but you are also a smartass and a braggart. Why don't you lead the parade if you're so smart.:hmm:

Getting rid of the electoral college would be a really bad idea imo as without it you put all the power to elect presidents into the hands of a select few states. A president ought to represent ALL the people, not just city dwellers.

I'm not sure why I deserve so much hostility.?? Was it the: You are the 'hippie' of your age, comment? I didn't mean it as a slight, but rather as a call to activism.
Is this more of the frustration you feel?

EDIT: Did you say this in the Political Parties thread? Why would you want to eliminate the electoral system if you believe this?

Don't feel bad about it. I'll chock it up to frustration and misunderstanding of the system.

<gets popcorn and a flak jacket>

Exactly my point.

Hold up, no personal attacks, please.
If you reach a point where you cannot discuss this without calling names, better take a breather from the topic.

Thanks,
Neal