I still can’t figure out what “occupy” is supposed to be after. It sure looks like a lot of fun and I’d be glad to join the movement if I were a couple of dozen years younger. However, it would be nice if “occupy” had a real message with a juicy imperative. My suggestion is that the supporters do their demonstrating about our election process, which has become a joke.
We, the rank and file voters, have nothing to do with the outcome of the election. The candidate who raises the most money wins! We might as well eliminate the voting booths and just add up the donations.
There are other annoying problems. The process of campaigning starts more than a year before the actual election. Each party spends and spends just to get a representative candidate. Once chosen, the “lucky” one must then campaign against the selection of the opposing party. Money, money and more money.
In order to raise the dollars needed in the race, the candidates must kowtow to the various groups with promises that are never kept. Is there any integrity involved? No! The chosen ones must check the polls to find out what each ethnic, political and labor group wants.
Further, public polls should be eliminated. People who give money will give to the candidate who seems to be leading. Thus, the polls have a destructive role in the election. How can there be honesty when the polls are influencing the direction of the election? We even have the television stations announcing the winners before some people have even voted! Then there is the Electoral College, which seems rather redundant.
I don’t know exactly how other countries run their elections. In Great Britain, the election process is short and sweet. In Brazil, I have learned, the entire campaigning process lasts for six months and the government pays for the election.
Of course, it will be difficult to make changes. Where to start? I suggest we cut back on the time of campaigning. I’m willing to start a new movement called “enough.” I’ve got my camping gear ready just in case.