The crows are roosting
In tall leafless trees
The rustle of feathers
Sound like Death's breath
Something disturbs them
The cacaphony begins
Cawing and croaking
The flapping of wings
Off they fly
A black soaring blanket
Wheeling and circling
They land once again
Restless and edgy
An ebony shroud
A-top the skeletal trees
Happy Halloween, Samhain, All Souls Eve.... whatever you want to call it, have a wonderful evening.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thoughts on Campaign Reform
After viewing one too many campaign ads, and after listening to yet another friend complain about how all the candidates are alike and that none of them are honest, I started thinking about how I would fix things if it were up to me. Which, of course, it isn't. And my guess is that those who are elected probably wouldn't like my ideas anyway.
But, here goes:
First, I'd leave the final vote for the first Tuesday in November. That much is okay. I would, however, get rid of the Electoral College. It is outdated and unnecessary. The primaries work quite well without it, as do all State and local elections.
Now, count back one month from that date to the first Tuesday in October. This is when ALL primaries will be held. I am sick and tired of evaluating candidates who are no longer running by the time the later primaries come along. It really isn't right (or fair to anyone) to weed out all kinds of qualified people in one or two primaries.
Then, counting back once again, this time 6 months. This is when the campaigning and fund-raising can start. Those who want to run, can enter. But, and this is a huge one, there will be limits on fundraising. There will be a set limit on how much can be had from any single entity. And once that cap is met, the candidate cannot go back for more. Caps is caps. Also, ALL money raised must be accounted for. Names will be named and amounts will be totted. You can spend all the money you want, but I think I'll throw in one more rule: Once the primary is done, the time for fundraising is too. The final month of campaigning and debates will determine how well any of the candidates can manage money and work on a budget. If you run out of money, oh well, too bad, so sad. You are done.
So, that would be a total of seven months of campaigning. It would be a really good idea to limit your campaign to what you would do. We are sick and tired of hearing how Candidate A really doesn't like Candidate B or how he/she does things. It really doesn't help us to make up our minds. Oh, and the debates that would happen after the primary? They must allow ALL of the remaining candidates to take part. Not just the two "big" ones. Any candidate who garnered the most primary votes in his/her party is going on to the general election. That means the Dems and the GOP will have to get used to the idea that they aren't the only fish in the sea.
So. Am I totally cracked or is this a good idea?
But, here goes:
First, I'd leave the final vote for the first Tuesday in November. That much is okay. I would, however, get rid of the Electoral College. It is outdated and unnecessary. The primaries work quite well without it, as do all State and local elections.
Now, count back one month from that date to the first Tuesday in October. This is when ALL primaries will be held. I am sick and tired of evaluating candidates who are no longer running by the time the later primaries come along. It really isn't right (or fair to anyone) to weed out all kinds of qualified people in one or two primaries.
Then, counting back once again, this time 6 months. This is when the campaigning and fund-raising can start. Those who want to run, can enter. But, and this is a huge one, there will be limits on fundraising. There will be a set limit on how much can be had from any single entity. And once that cap is met, the candidate cannot go back for more. Caps is caps. Also, ALL money raised must be accounted for. Names will be named and amounts will be totted. You can spend all the money you want, but I think I'll throw in one more rule: Once the primary is done, the time for fundraising is too. The final month of campaigning and debates will determine how well any of the candidates can manage money and work on a budget. If you run out of money, oh well, too bad, so sad. You are done.
So, that would be a total of seven months of campaigning. It would be a really good idea to limit your campaign to what you would do. We are sick and tired of hearing how Candidate A really doesn't like Candidate B or how he/she does things. It really doesn't help us to make up our minds. Oh, and the debates that would happen after the primary? They must allow ALL of the remaining candidates to take part. Not just the two "big" ones. Any candidate who garnered the most primary votes in his/her party is going on to the general election. That means the Dems and the GOP will have to get used to the idea that they aren't the only fish in the sea.
So. Am I totally cracked or is this a good idea?
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