During a recent WEVO on-air debate, State Representative Wayne King correctly observed there was “something seriously wrong with a system which serves to consolidate the power of political parties at the expense of its citizens”; and then went on to add that there is “nothing in either the United States or New Hampshire Constitutions
which gives sacred, God-given rights to the Democratic and Republican parties.
Mr. King hoped the “character of a candidate and the issues the candidate addresses, rather than a system of political parties” should take center stage in the political process. He concluded his opening remarks by observing that the current “system is geared to mediocrity”.
My expectations soared in anticipation of a public figure finally demonstrating a measure of statesmanship by advocating the opening of the political process to additional parties … removing the costly and time consuming barriers to ballot access which currently exist … and dissolving the electoral monopoly held by the Republican and Democratic parties.
This enthusiasm was short-lived when his debate with State Senator Donna Sytek quickly degenerated into little more than a friendly sparring session over whether the Democratic or Republican primaries should be open to all voters or just party members; followed by a feeble defense for the retention of the current two party stranglehold on ballot access … a short-sighted and self-serving argument implying that the only alternative was a single-party or non-partisan system.
Undeniably, America has prospered under the political stewardship of Republican and Democratic administrations. Today, our nation is strong both militarily and economically, and continues to provide the best model for freedom and the preservation of human rights in the history of mankind.
It is worth noting, however, that many fundamental principals ingrained in our Constitution, as well as the most of today’s mainstream social and economic programs were hatched by dedicated citizens working for political parties other than the Republicans or Democrats. Yet, despite these recognized “third-party” contributions, the Republican and Democratic parties have systematically conspired to enact legislation effectively denying easy ballot access to minority parties.
This chicanery has been actively and consciously abetted by both the electronic and print media which seems to hang on the simplistic political babble of Republican and Democratic candidates while generally ignoring new, substantive and often radical proposals of their “minority” party opponents, particularly when such ideas and programs are complex and take several minutes or more to explain.
The electronic media in particular has fallen prey to a political axiom that without guaranteed ballot access and widespread support in the polls, minority party candidates need not be covered seriously. Yet, without reasonable coverage, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for these candidates to get their messages and programs before the voters or to have their often tough questions publicly addressed to and by their Democratic and Republican antagonists.
Some in the media will contend they simply do not have the resources to cover dozens of candidates for each race. On the other hand, can our representative form of democratic government survive if left exclusively in the hand of the Republican and Democratic parties … whose candidates and elected officials find endless ways to avoid addressing and solving such critical matters as (a) the Savings and Loan crisis, (b) the runaway Budget Deficit, (c) the insanity of supporting tobacco farmers and at the same time underwriting cancer research and treatment, and (d) the self-exclusion by Congress from having to live under the same rules and regulations it so cavalierly imposes on the rest of American society (e.g. social security participation, OSHA, EEO).It’s no wonder that a number of recent polls continue to indicate an increasing number of Americans now believe a separate class has emerged in America … the political establishment … self-serving and primarily concerned with its own preservation and with its own agenda of transferring wealth from taxpayers to an ever increasing number of special interest group causes. More recently, this elite has begun to chip away at many of the guarantees of the Bill of Rights under the guise of protecting the people from their own actions, in the name of curing a variety of societal ills, and regulating various forms of speech which may offend the sensitivities of a others.
During the past year, thousand of our politicians have publicly lauded the governments of dozens of nations, encouraging them to allow full political participation of all parties of all persuasions, large and small. Yet, there same selfish individuals quickly shrink from insisting we be as inclusive in our American political process.
The time has come to strip away the restrictive and unfair laws governing ballot access. Concurrently the media, and other sponsors of political information events, including debates, need to demonstrate their mettle and work to broaden the political process, opening it to those without “connections”, to those who are not part of the Republican or Democratic establishment, and to those without significant financial resources. Only in this way, in a fresh marketplace of ideas and increased competition, will the American electorate again begin to believe it has a say in how it is governed.
