In a recent Libertarian party convention in Orlando, Florida, former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson received the nod from his party, the Libertarian Party, to be the acknowledged Libertarian candidate for President.
To most Americans, this would not only be of no interest whatsoever, it would also serve to render them incensed: How dare this upstart split the vote between their beloved and antiquated two-party system of government!
I believe at this point you may begin to sense there's a motive behind this.
Don't look at me like that; you should know better by now.
At any rate, in my opinion (FWIW), America NEEDS a third-party. In fact, even more than that, America needs a complete overhaul to this electoral college system we have going on. It's antiquated. It's outdated. It allows those in power and also powerful interest groups to control and direct the outcome of elections; if you doubt this, look at the elections in the past 35-40 years...there's been more than one instance of a candidate winning the popular vote (the votes of citizens like me and you) but LOSING because the electoral college number didn't go their way. Oh, sure, let's allow a small group to be in control of electing candidates...it can't be easier to control that than a few hundred million people...!
Oh, wait.
Anyway, if you paid attention in Civics/Social Studies in school, then you may remember that when the existing electoral system was set up, the United States was shaped very differently, and the population was much smaller as well...on the order of 37 fewer states, and roughly 326,000,000 fewer people. Yeah, that's right...it's been around since virtually the beginning.
Ok, I get it...as an idea, it's not a BAD one. In fact, the idea has merit. However, the situation now isn't the same as it was then; with the advent of the Internet, Facebook, and YouTube, it is actually now possible for a marginal candidate from the middle of nowhere to gain national attention and visibility...if you doubt me, look up Vermin Supreme.
The college was set up for a small nation, of very few people, with limited communication abilities, and a NO PARTY system. Go ahead...read the article at the link I shared up above. In fact, here, I'll share it again to make it easier for you. I'll wait.
Read it? Ok, good; we're on the same page then.
Now, the idea remains good, granted...but can you see that working AS INTENDED in today's political environment?
The applecart needs to be upset. Government has grown at a cancerous rate, and the comparison to cancer is apt in more ways than one. Government "by the people, for the people" has morphed via mission creep to "of the people"...period. The "War on Drugs" beget the "War on Terror", and the "War on <BLANK>" mentality beget:
The DEA
The NDAA
Civil Asset Forfeiture
Police Militarization
The government is, again in my opinion, out of control. It's too big. It's too entrenched; look at this:
Can you believe that shit? Jefferson said:
"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure."
Some of those Congressional members have been in office nearly TWICE as long as Jefferson's "twenty years"; royalty hold power that long...elected officials should NOT.
We need changes. Big ones. The incumbents need to go. The election process needs revamping. The two party system needs to be shaken up by either killing off one or both, or adding in a third. We need new blood. We need less control over civilian life and more focus on infrastructure. Instead of perpetuating a cycle of tax and seize to pay for "Wars", STOP WAGING THEM! America Has Been At War 93% of the Time – 222 Out of 239 Years – Since 1776! The government is talking about housing, educating, and feeding refugees and illegal immigrants, while thousands of United States veterans OF THOSE WARS are homeless, given substandard care by the VA, and commit suicide up to TWENTY-TWO A DAY according to a VA analysis from 21 states.
We don't need more laws; laws only serve to make people criminals in order to fund the controlling authorities or the private corporations running the prisons.
Now, I've given several starting links and reasons for my distaste of the current governmental system and the incumbents. I've linked my choice for the coming election, Mr. Gary Johnson. Is he perfect? Hardly. He's human...and a politician. That being said, he's not the lesser of a field of evils; look at his track record in New Mexico as governor. He did GOOD. America, we NEED to change things. Remember, the "Chief Executive" started out as JUST THAT...an "Executive" over the "Executive" branch; the top admin charged with running the government to keep the metaphorical trains on time and things running...NOT the "Leader" of the people, or the boss of them. He's the boss of the GOVERNMENTAL BUREAUCRACY, and ANSWERABLE to the people, not the other way around.
Let's elect an executive that will remember that for a change.
Start by voting. Get involved in local politics if you can or are able. Make your voice heard. If you look at voting statistics, it's not majority rule...it's rule by the majority that got off their ass and voted and spoke out...and they're a MINORITY of the country as a whole. CHANGE THAT. SPEAK UP. Stand up for your rights...KNOW your rights! Educate yourself. Educate your children.
Abandon the tired Democratic and Republican rhetoric. It's time the American public got off their apathetic and lazy asses and reminded those in Washington who is supposed to REALLY be in charge.
