How's this for an idea?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
How's this for an idea?
1
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 9:15pm
NOTA on a national level. That's "None of The Above" in case you haven't come across it before. Maybe a way for us all to avoid in the future the cesspool this election cycle has become? Perhaps show the parties in question and their candidates that we're all sick of the lies and distortions perpetrated in the name of getting elected, and that we have the means to voice that displeasure in an *effective* manner.

I mean seriously folks, what do we REALLY have here? Two parties, four candidates, none of which can be trusted to simply tell the truth to the American people on any given subject. Look at the debates so far, the endless accusations about this or that candidate distorting the facts, misrepresenting them in whatever manner his handlers felt would do him the most good in the polls. The truth of the matter is that ALL of them are doing it.

NPR has a segment on each morning following a debate, taking a look at the various claims by the respective involved candidates. And guess what? It's been demonstrated that each candidate is as guilty as his opponent of distortion, misrepresentation, and outright lies. Not just Bush, not just Kerry, not just Cheney and certainly not just Edwards. They're ALL doing it, and we deserve better.

It would of course take a rather involved, difficult to construct Constitutional amendment, but at least it would (to my mind) be a worthwhile endeavor, something of positive benefit to the country as a whole instead of merely being an exercise in politics. Currently, we have no *effective* way of exercising a vote against candidates, merely the tossing away of our vote in impotent protest against a given candidate. This would change that, and hopefully alter the mindset of those running for office to begin with.

We deserve better, but unless we have a way to demonstrate that fact we'll continue to be stuck with whatever garbage manages to filter through to the bottom (or top, depending on perspective) of the pack.

Here's a link for anyone further interested in the concept. The site deals with the premise on the state level, but with sufficient interest and public pressure there's no reason it couldn't be applied on the national level as well.

http://www.nota.org/

~mark~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 11:39pm

I feel like I am stuck in the movie "Brewster's Millions", but without the millions..

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board