- No campaigning until January 1st of an election year.
- The country would be divided into 4 regions, with their respective regional primaries held on the final day of February, March, April, and May.
- Campaigning could occur in each region only during the six weeks prior to its regional primary.
- No campaigning during June or July.
- Political parties would hold their conventions during July.
- Campaigning for the general election would begin August 15th and run until the first Monday of November.
- Election as usual on the first Tuesday of November.
- All campaign signs must be removed by the end of Thursday following the general election.
- All candidates will answer in writing numerous questions presented to both candidates regarding the major issues as determined by the people and political pundits and analysts.
- Mandatory debates will be held to investigate in depth each candidate’s specific plans to reach their broadly stated goals.
- No negative advertising will be allowed. Campaigns can only compare their candidate’s position on the issues with the documented position of the opposition on those issues.
- Advertisements will only be allowed by the candidates and their parties -- no “non-profit” groups could use the airways or print media for ads.
- Imposed spending limits would be instituted on all campaigns.
- Campaign financing: $5000 maximum donation from any one person, organization, corporation, non-profit, Political Action Committee, etc. per election cycle.
- Lobbyists will be outlawed, period.
- Excess campaign funds not spent or funds collected above the spending limit must be contributed to a recognized charity within 2 months of the election.
- Infractions would be punished by public floggings.
And since I would be a benevolent King, your suggestions and additions to this list are welcome via the comments section of this post.
For the doom-and-gloom nay-sayers devastated by the results of the 2008 elections, I advise relaxation and restraint. The new administration isn’t even in office yet and some are declaring the Apocalypse nigh. If in a year or two your concerns have actually materialized, then you have a basis for criticism. But since the administration is not even in power yet, your predictions and recriminations are premature and based purely on speculation, propaganda, prejudice, and bias. Furthermore -- we’ve survived 8 years of the worst administration in over a century, so if you already despise its replacement despite no factual basis to do so yet, remember -- this too shall pass.
No comments:
Post a Comment