Originally posted by Silent_Surface:
How often have you said that you "Voted for the LESSER OF TWO EVILS???
I have said for most of my adult life that we should have another choice.... the ability to choose NONE OF THE ABOVE (NOTA) in any election, where, if NOTA won, a new election would be held, with new candidates. Candidates who ran in the election won by NOTA would be ineligible to run in the new election.
I was amazed to find that people are actually banding together in support of this idea, which, in my opinion, WOULD BE THE BEST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO AMERICAN POLITICS.
More information can be found
HERE. From that same site, a list of reasons why NOTA would be a boon to the US of A.
quote:
Why are Voter Consent Ballot Options, such as a permanent, binding "None of the Above" on the ballot, a good idea?
*All legitimate consent requires the ability to withhold consent; "None of the Above" gives the voter the ballot option to withhold consent from an election to office, just as voters can cast a "No" vote on a ballot question.
*Would end the "must hire" elections where voters are often forced to vote for the least unacceptable candidate, the all too familiar "lesser evil."
*A candidate must obtain voter consent to be elected, even if running unopposed.
*Voters would decide the fate of the political parties' choices, instead of the parties deciding the voters' choices.
*It should reduce negative campaigning by encouraging candidates to campaign for their own candidacy rather than against their opponent's candidacy.
*Many voters and non voters, who now register their disapproval of all candidates for an office by not voting, could cast a meaningful vote.
*Provides an effective alternative to the increasing voter practice of writing-in frivolous names, the so-called “Mickey Mouse” option.
*The meaning of elections should become more clear, since voters would no longer be tempted to vote for a presumed losing candidate, with whom they really do not agree, as a protest vote.
*Establishes flexible, voter controlled term limits of one term for every office, as the framers of the U.S. Constitution intended.
*Campaign contributors who give to all candidates to insure "access" would no longer be sure they backed the winner; in general, buying elections should become a more uncertain enterprise.
*Improves checks and balances between voters and political parties, especially needed in jurisdictions with one dominant political party or nearly identical alternatives.
*Political parties would nominate candidates knowing those candidates must be a better choice for voters than "None of the Above."
*Follow-up by-elections are far less costly than electing unacceptable candidates to office.
*Office holders, knowing they face "None of the Above" in the next election, would be encouraged to insure their re-election by focusing more on doing a good job in office and less on attempting to prevent the emergence of an effective opposition candidate.
*When pre-election polls include "None of the Above", the feedback from voters should help guide candidates and parties.
*Even when "None of the Above" does not win or is a non-binding NOTA, the reported NOTA vote would help identify those offices for which voters might be more receptive to new candidates in a future election as well as limits the winner's mandate.
*Provides a permanent option for voters to withhold consent that is independent of expensive and infrequent candidate based "reform" movements.
*Should make public service more attractive by improving the quality of those elected to office.
*Opportunities for election fraud should be reduced because fewer blank votes for an office would be cast.
*Applies to all candidates and parties equally.
*It is a relatively simple, fair, sensible, accomplishable and permanent improvement to our current system, hopefully making for a more democratic and ultimately stronger America.
Now THIS is an idea that I fully intend to stand behind. I have already sent emails to my state reps, and will follow up with snail mail and a phone call to each.
This is a change which could make a HUGE difference in American politics, and is something we as Citizens and Voters could push through if we got behind it.
Zack
Tired of the same ole/same ole in American politics.
"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life."
