Reforms should target two-party stranglehold, power of incumbency

[kpete]

Reforms should target two-party stranglehold, power of incumbency
By Jonathan Turley

February 15, 2010

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Many of our current problems are either caused or magnified by the stranglehold the two parties have on our political system. Democrats and Republicans, despite their uniformly low popularity with voters, continue to exercise a virtual monopoly, and they have no intention of relinquishing control. The result is that "change" is often limited to one party handing power over to the other party. Like Henry Ford's customers, who were promised any color car so long as it was black, voters are effectively allowed to pick any candidate they want, so long as he or she is a Democrat or Republican.

Both parties (and the media) reinforce this pathetic notion by continually emphasizing the blue state/red state divide. The fact is that the placement of members on the blue or red team is often arbitrary, with neither side showing consistent principles or values.

The Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down restrictions on corporate campaign giving has prompted some members of Congress to call for a constitutional amendment to reinstate the restrictions. But that would merely return us to the same status (and corrupted process) of a month ago.

We can reform our flawed system, but we have to think more broadly about the current political failure. Here are a few ideas for change that would matter:

more:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.reform0212,0,2792904.story

[Union Yes]

1. The 2 parties have driven America off a cliff. knr nt

[w4rma]

2. Walk right into that trap of not differentiating between progressives and blue dogs.

Dumb.