Elections and Laws Should be by Popular Vote

Presidential and vice-presidential candidates should be elected by popular vote. Our constitution set up a government that is "for the people and by the people." People should have the final say in who is elected for such high offices. Besides these, all important laws should be voted in by the people.

We could set up the elections similar to how American Idol is run. Let at least ten qualified candidates from each party put their names on the ballot. Let these ten appear on television weekly and debate on how they would run the government if elected. Each week let the viewers (American citizens} vote. Eliminate two each week until it gets down to the top two of each party. After these two are chosen, let them travel the country and talk to the people at town meetings.

For the last three months of the year, let these two from each running party debate on television again. Meanwhile, the American citizens have already registered to vote just as they do today. When it is time for the final election, let them do one last debate. The next day after this debate, let the voters go to their separate voting districts and vote just as they do today.

This format could also work for electing our representatives such as governors, senators, congressmen, and judges. What kind of fools ever decided on putting judges in for life, anyway? Judges are an important part of our court system. They should never be elected to remain in office like a dictator or a king does.

Better yet, get rid of all the parties and just let American citizens run as previously suggested. Our elected officials sit around and bicker against one another and never seem to get anything done. If there were no parties, there would be no one to talk against. Each individual would debate for himself (or herself), and the people would choose the person on qualifications alone.

Now, as far as laws go, there are some good laws already in existence. We should keep those such as 'do not murder, steal, or bear false witness. Show respect to all people and treat everyone equal.' There are some other basis laws that everyone agrees on. I am talking about new laws or some that should be changed. These should be brought up by referendum and voted in or out by popular vote. These could be done by individual states or as a nation.

Considering such things as speed cameras, these things should be unconstitutional. However, their fate should be decided by each individual town or county that they are desired, but it should be decided by popular vote. These towns and counties are supposed to be for the people and by the people. Counties and cities could decide on things such as alcohol and marijuana. If a citizen didn't like the outcome of his county or city, he could always move to one that had voted more to his liking.

I think welfare and education should be run on a federal level because some states have more money than others, and some deserving individuals would have to go without. However, if a state needed more money than it was allotted by the federal government, it should figure out a way to raise that money and do it, once again, by popular vote. You might say that no one would vote for higher taxes, but I think they would. Individual citizens are smarter than the average politician, and they realize when their county or town actually has to have something accomplished.

In conclusion, elect our highest officials by popular vote, and if our officials on the lowest level refuses to do as the people want, let the people get a referendum against that official, and by popular vote, put him out of office.

When this country has had enough of this fighting among the parties, and allowing the rich to get richer with tax payer's funds, perhaps we will wise up and change the election process. Only when this happens will our nation truly be "by the people and for the people." THE END

SOURCE: "For the people and by the people" was taken from words said by Abraham Lincoln during THE GETTSYBURG ADDRESS.