Simon Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 If all candidates could get their messages out through free mailings or free television time, minor-party candidates would have a better chance of finishing in the top two in an open primary.... And who's going to compensate the post office and television stations for use of their services? Oh, wait. Free. So, a quasi-public (that is having hard times as it is) and private businesses should be hood-winked into giving all and sundry the use of their delivery trucks, gasoline, adspace, broadcasting tower electrical transmission costs? Franking privileges for congressional mailings as they exist currently are a burden and a complete waste of paper, electricity and delivery, nevermind a fivefold increase. If pols and candidates want exposure, they ought to decide how they want to send it and pay for it themselves. Pushing the cost on faceless entities is sh--. The idea to make it a free-for-all primary which would determine a Top-2, regardless of party affiliation, is intriguing. But there is no way it will ever be adopted. The major parties want a guaranteed presence in the final election. Congressional staff members, who provide the research that senators and representatives use in their deliberations, are chosen to reflect the preferences of the individual members they serve. On the other hand, committee staff members, who schedule the hearings, invite witnesses to testify, prepare background materials for committee members, and negotiate with staff members from other committees in the House and Senate, are generally selected by the committee chair and the senior member of the minority. In effect, they are party appointees. But if the goal is to legislate for the country, not for a party, then committee staff members should be selected by a nonpartisan House or Senate administrator and obligated to serve all members equally without regard to party agenda. Why am I thinking that this will only result in a government-class not unlike the foibles of Sir Humphrey Appleby in "Yes, Minister / Yes, Prime Minister" where they are essentially another party committed to slowing down the process and to bureaucratic largess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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