New Times / Letter To The Editor

How to change America, starting at home

Steve Kniffen

Acknowledge the political process needs to change.

Abandon the two party/two platform system of entrenched ideals.

We need a more open, level, and varied field of candidates and ideas. The political system needs to nurture citizen politicians. Politics should be viewed as public service, taking your turn and then stepping aside. If more people participated in government, maybe there would be a wider spread understanding of how it works.

Here is how to do it with a simple social contract:

Candidates never ask for votes, but simply share their beliefs and ideas.

Incumbents and challengers run as write-in candidates; no names on ballot to bubble in.

There should be minimal campaigning during election season—debates and personal appearances only. Also, minimal public outreach through ads, billboards, mass mailings, and commercials. Homemade yard signs at residences would be encouraged, as would website/YouTube postings where people can voluntarily find information on the candidate.

Campaign expenditures should be kept to a minimum, and expenditures on campaigns must be matched by an equal contribution to charity.