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I was hoping someone would finally bring this subject up. After reading too much news and absorbing DUers commentaries, here's my 2 cents. It is a three pronged and each needs some expansion:
1. Everyone votes who can. The process should be made as simple as pie. Right now if the weather is bad, work schedules interfere, long lines, etc. can influence turnout. There is no true representative democracy until we hear an overwhelming voice at the polls.
2. Transparency and the proper role of the 4th estate. Unless we are privy to all information on a policy or situation there can be no coming to consensus on reasonable policies or laws. I am hard pressed to even think of anything that needs to be kept secret. The main reason Mr. Bush was elected was through the manipulation of facts and corrupt backroom practices. I must say, however, both sides have been guilty of stopping the free flow of information. If we are representative democracy, this openness is absolutely critical.
As a corollary of the above, it is my opinion that the defense, foreign, and intelligence policy of the US should be single. We can argue politically about domestic issues. The committes in Congress that deal with these issues must be made bipartisan and not subject to elections. All intelligence, raw and cooked, needs to be available to these bodies. It should be mandatory that the President meets with the co-chairpersons of these committes on a regular basis. It should only be after full vetting from all sides, and from knowledgible Americans and non-Americans that we come to a definite decision. The President should also be subject to regular questioning by the press. I think the American people are tired of having our foreign policy and security held hostage to whichever party or individuals are in power.
3. Belief in and movement towards international law. This is a two-way street, and if we will have to be willing to face the same scrutiny as our fellow nations. Instead of degrading the UN and the International Court, we should work to make these more effective institutions. This will dim the need to settle differences through armed conflict and allow all nations to share their resources and culture in a positive manner.
I say work for these 3 legs and it does not matter what the issues are, since it will make our representatives a truer reflection of what our society values. It certainly is not present now and, to answer your question, has permitted a person of Mr. Bush's calibre and philosophy to take over a substanial portion of our government.
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