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February 18, 2006

Reforming a Broken Political System

I just joined MoveOn.com's "Action Forum", a bulletin board where members post their proposals for MoveOn's political action goals, then vote on their favorites. It's an interesting attempt to develop strategic consensus among the notoriously fractious left. Then again, having enemies as frightening as Cheney and Bush makes it easier to focus the mind and find common ground.

I posted my own suggestions, which focus on issues of political reform. I don't think anything else is possible until we fix our broken democracy. Hey, if we don't push on this Diebold thing, it's not even possible to confirm that we still live in a democracy.

Since I appear to be the 16,184th person to post a comment, it may be hard to track down on the site itself. So, here it is:

The return of true democracy to American politics requires several interconnected reforms. These are all nonpartisan ideas that any voter concerned with the state of American democracy could support:

- Voting: Replacement of all Diebold electronic voting machines with reliable machines producing paper ballot receipts. Elimination of exclusionary state practices such as the Georgia Voter ID law.

- Campaign Finance: Federal and state campaign funding to qualified candidates for major political offices, to end inequalities in fundraising which reflect the support of the wealthy rather than the people. This must include fuding for both primary challengers and third party candidates who demonstrate substantial voter support through either petitions or previous ballot performance.

- Electoral Reform: The end of re-redistricting, as in Texas and Georgia. A commitment to a redistricting policy after the 2010 census which maximizes competitive districts, rather than safe seats for incumbents.

- Influence Peddling: Strict laws at both federal and state levels forbidding lobbyist gifts of travel, food, and entertainment. Immediate online disclosure of all lawmaker contacts with lobbyists. Requirement of multi-year gaps between government service and employment as a lobbyist.

- Media Reform: The return of the FCC "fairness doctrine," requiring that all licensed TV and radio station provide equal time for opposing points of view. Additional requirements that stations provide free airtime for political candidates to address voters in increments longer than 30 seconds. Strong new laws limiting media consolidation.

These kinds of reforms in themselves won't end the war in Iraq or poverty at home. But they'll built a responsive political infrastructure beholden to the American people, rather than to powerful donors. And since the American people's actual views are much to the left of the American political elite, that's the first step towards more far-reaching reform.

Posted by tedf at February 18, 2006 11:53 AM

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