Comment A Plan to Remove Money from Politics (Score 2) 1799
This is a proposal for amendments to the US Constitution in a draft, outline format.There are three basic elements. Silence group influence. Generate the platform and agenda from the populace. Make running for any office ostensibly free, and then select the upper tier for closed competition. I come hopefully from logic and reason, rather than emotion, ideology, or other loyalty.
Proposal:
28. Corporations are not Persons
28.1. Groups, corporations, PACâ(TM)s, unions, political parties, religions, ethnic communities, etc., are not individuals for the purpose of freedom of speech and do not hold first amendment rights, or any rights as individuals. Single persons are individuals. Like minded people are allowed to agree with each other, disagree with others, and vote how they like. Groups may exist or form and may take positions on issues, but have no right to advocate outside of their own forum by paying for any kind of communication, such as paid advertising in any form that is propagated by a group.
28.2. Elected officials may meet with individuals in groups (no private meetings except with staff), not organized groups, though they may meet with disorganized groups i.e. open sessions, both in their hearing rooms and in their home districts (they represent their people, not others). Closed sessions are not allowed for any purpose where other than legislative officials exist, except in the very narrow interest of national security, for an extremely limited number of items.
28.3. Lobbying, by an organized group or causing an individual to lobby for a group, of elected officials, their staff, or non elected officials (bureaucrats) by any group is a felony and all officials, officers, and directors said groups are to be held liable. Individuals may lobby, but may not give gifts or restaurant meals or anything other of significant economic value or any kind of influence. Groups may express their sentiments, but references by an individual to a group constitutes hearsay, and is not allowed.
29. Elections
29.1. Eliminate the electoral college and then fully fund election advertising by requiring broadcasters, newspapers, magazines, etc. to put aside bandwidth or other space or accommodation to allow any and all candidates to communicate with their electorate with equal time and space allotted to every candidate.(see 29.9) Paid political advertising of any kind is not allowed. The government shall run appropriate web services (on secure (two factor authentication), encrypted, audit able Elections Information Server(s) (with multiple redundancy and 3rd party plus off site backup with no expiration date for either audit or historical purposes) with one domain for all election information), organized by election year, making space available to all candidates (Fed, State, County, Municipal) including, but not limited to forums, email, newsgroups, wikiâ(TM)s, podcasts of all media, video, audio, print media, commentary, allotted advertisements, town halls, interviews, debates. No personalized user information shared short of an adversarial probable cause hearing. Media shall be free to cover the various stages though equal time is in force, and since they may not accept any paid political advertising, may freely endorse. Candidates may use other free communication options such as social media or newer technologies. All broadcast options must be opt-in. Yard-signs, bumper stickers, buttons etc. may be personally made by individuals using download-able graphics.
29.2. Data shall be divided between open public domain, and private. Private is anything that might disclose any personal information, location (other than voting district), or any other way to identify an individual and must be absolutely person identifiable. Public facing information and data analysis shall be open source and public domain. Data analysis shall include an algorithm for ranking overall sentiment toward issues, agendas, and/or candidates, and forecast results for accumulated agendas (all 535 congressional agendas melded together and an overall agenda projected). This would represent what they would see on day one of the new session. I would expect them to negotiate from there, though they have responsibilities. Along side should be a total compiled issue list, ranked, for each legislative body or office, and then contrast legislative vs executive platforms. This shall be finalized on October 31 at midnight, along with advertising and candidate speech. All algorithms supporting this process shall be open source and public domain, and should be widely and independently tested.
29.3. The election process shall follow a prescribed format where issue/agendas (new initiatives, the way to be now about current items/prioritized list of issues which are combined to create the platform) for each election are proposed by the electorate online beginning in October of the year preceding the election, and qualified with an issue/agenda primary for each election, taking place online in January of the election year, taking the top 25 rated issue/agendas for each district, for each election, to become the election platform for those elections. How to deal with trolls, duplicate identities posting anonymously, other important controls, fraud and such is an issue to be studied.
29.4. In February, any citizen otherwise qualified may declare their candidacy online and post their positions and credentials, in relation to the established platform. Candidates may form small voluntary support organizations, but may not cause nor fund, nor allow to be funded, any marketing effort outside of official channels established by 29.1 which are free, subject to disqualification and prosecution.
29.5. March and April will be used for online forum style discussion and debate streamed live and retained for immediate and continued download, so that candidates may develop their positions, and a sense of leaders may develop through the ranking system.
29.6. In May leading candidates (say top 25) will be interviewed by a cross section of journalists (mainstream and significant bloggers (determined in part by market, especially in local elections)), equal time applies.
29.7. In April, open houses and town hall type events, and organized formal debates (candidates directly address each other over each issue/agenda item in the platform for that district) are held on all of the nominated issue/agendas in each election platform by district, organized by the government of each election district.
29.8. In June, candidate primaries are held, online, narrowing the field for the final stages, say top 10.
29.9. July, August, September, and October will be used for final debates and use of the free advertising channels by primary winners. Each outlet shall use 25% of all available advertising resources in the various peak opportunities on any given day during this period only. Note the limited burden placed upon Media. Note the opportunities for Media. Consider it their business tax.
29.10. In November, candidates will be silent, except for existing resources stored on the Elections Information Server(s).
29.11. The vote shall take place on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of November by some easily verifiable, but not identifiable, open source and public domain (source code freely available and widely and independently tested) system that allows for both online or personal visit to a local election center, at the voters wish.
29.12. Special Elections shall follow the same pattern starting at 29.9, beginning with the remaining candidates and the current platform.
29.13. Platforms, the top issues prioritized, for each electoral district remain the same through the election cycle, example: 2 years for Representatives in the House, and 6 years for Senators. The position of the Elected official shall follow the positions from which they were elected with regards to the legislative agenda.
29.14. Elected officials are held to their positions as candidates, unless changed by their electorate. The process for changing the official platform for a district shall follow section 29.3, with the addition of 1 month of formal debate, and a week for a formal referendum of the electorate (a semi-special election). Elected officials are subject to recall for failure to follow their electorates instructions (system to be devised but thinking about failure to vote according to issue/agenda/platform twice should be considered). So, the electorate needs 5 months to react to the environment and change the direction of their official.
(Damn, I tried to keep it short, but issues kept cropping up)!
I actually have a number of other reforms in mind. However, they have little hope under the current corrupt system. The intent of the above is to change how money and inappropriate influence adversely impact the system. A lot could follow naturally. Obviously details need to be worked out. This is a draft of a concept. Timing may be off . A control missed. Possibility of reorganization needed. Language too obtuse. Lowest common denominator reading test vetted. Opportunities missed. Final language needed.
Offers of solutions along with criticisms greatly appreciated, and eminently more effective.
Proposal:
28. Corporations are not Persons
28.1. Groups, corporations, PACâ(TM)s, unions, political parties, religions, ethnic communities, etc., are not individuals for the purpose of freedom of speech and do not hold first amendment rights, or any rights as individuals. Single persons are individuals. Like minded people are allowed to agree with each other, disagree with others, and vote how they like. Groups may exist or form and may take positions on issues, but have no right to advocate outside of their own forum by paying for any kind of communication, such as paid advertising in any form that is propagated by a group.
28.2. Elected officials may meet with individuals in groups (no private meetings except with staff), not organized groups, though they may meet with disorganized groups i.e. open sessions, both in their hearing rooms and in their home districts (they represent their people, not others). Closed sessions are not allowed for any purpose where other than legislative officials exist, except in the very narrow interest of national security, for an extremely limited number of items.
28.3. Lobbying, by an organized group or causing an individual to lobby for a group, of elected officials, their staff, or non elected officials (bureaucrats) by any group is a felony and all officials, officers, and directors said groups are to be held liable. Individuals may lobby, but may not give gifts or restaurant meals or anything other of significant economic value or any kind of influence. Groups may express their sentiments, but references by an individual to a group constitutes hearsay, and is not allowed.
29. Elections
29.1. Eliminate the electoral college and then fully fund election advertising by requiring broadcasters, newspapers, magazines, etc. to put aside bandwidth or other space or accommodation to allow any and all candidates to communicate with their electorate with equal time and space allotted to every candidate.(see 29.9) Paid political advertising of any kind is not allowed. The government shall run appropriate web services (on secure (two factor authentication), encrypted, audit able Elections Information Server(s) (with multiple redundancy and 3rd party plus off site backup with no expiration date for either audit or historical purposes) with one domain for all election information), organized by election year, making space available to all candidates (Fed, State, County, Municipal) including, but not limited to forums, email, newsgroups, wikiâ(TM)s, podcasts of all media, video, audio, print media, commentary, allotted advertisements, town halls, interviews, debates. No personalized user information shared short of an adversarial probable cause hearing. Media shall be free to cover the various stages though equal time is in force, and since they may not accept any paid political advertising, may freely endorse. Candidates may use other free communication options such as social media or newer technologies. All broadcast options must be opt-in. Yard-signs, bumper stickers, buttons etc. may be personally made by individuals using download-able graphics.
29.2. Data shall be divided between open public domain, and private. Private is anything that might disclose any personal information, location (other than voting district), or any other way to identify an individual and must be absolutely person identifiable. Public facing information and data analysis shall be open source and public domain. Data analysis shall include an algorithm for ranking overall sentiment toward issues, agendas, and/or candidates, and forecast results for accumulated agendas (all 535 congressional agendas melded together and an overall agenda projected). This would represent what they would see on day one of the new session. I would expect them to negotiate from there, though they have responsibilities. Along side should be a total compiled issue list, ranked, for each legislative body or office, and then contrast legislative vs executive platforms. This shall be finalized on October 31 at midnight, along with advertising and candidate speech. All algorithms supporting this process shall be open source and public domain, and should be widely and independently tested.
29.3. The election process shall follow a prescribed format where issue/agendas (new initiatives, the way to be now about current items/prioritized list of issues which are combined to create the platform) for each election are proposed by the electorate online beginning in October of the year preceding the election, and qualified with an issue/agenda primary for each election, taking place online in January of the election year, taking the top 25 rated issue/agendas for each district, for each election, to become the election platform for those elections. How to deal with trolls, duplicate identities posting anonymously, other important controls, fraud and such is an issue to be studied.
29.4. In February, any citizen otherwise qualified may declare their candidacy online and post their positions and credentials, in relation to the established platform. Candidates may form small voluntary support organizations, but may not cause nor fund, nor allow to be funded, any marketing effort outside of official channels established by 29.1 which are free, subject to disqualification and prosecution.
29.5. March and April will be used for online forum style discussion and debate streamed live and retained for immediate and continued download, so that candidates may develop their positions, and a sense of leaders may develop through the ranking system.
29.6. In May leading candidates (say top 25) will be interviewed by a cross section of journalists (mainstream and significant bloggers (determined in part by market, especially in local elections)), equal time applies.
29.7. In April, open houses and town hall type events, and organized formal debates (candidates directly address each other over each issue/agenda item in the platform for that district) are held on all of the nominated issue/agendas in each election platform by district, organized by the government of each election district.
29.8. In June, candidate primaries are held, online, narrowing the field for the final stages, say top 10.
29.9. July, August, September, and October will be used for final debates and use of the free advertising channels by primary winners. Each outlet shall use 25% of all available advertising resources in the various peak opportunities on any given day during this period only. Note the limited burden placed upon Media. Note the opportunities for Media. Consider it their business tax.
29.10. In November, candidates will be silent, except for existing resources stored on the Elections Information Server(s).
29.11. The vote shall take place on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of November by some easily verifiable, but not identifiable, open source and public domain (source code freely available and widely and independently tested) system that allows for both online or personal visit to a local election center, at the voters wish.
29.12. Special Elections shall follow the same pattern starting at 29.9, beginning with the remaining candidates and the current platform.
29.13. Platforms, the top issues prioritized, for each electoral district remain the same through the election cycle, example: 2 years for Representatives in the House, and 6 years for Senators. The position of the Elected official shall follow the positions from which they were elected with regards to the legislative agenda.
29.14. Elected officials are held to their positions as candidates, unless changed by their electorate. The process for changing the official platform for a district shall follow section 29.3, with the addition of 1 month of formal debate, and a week for a formal referendum of the electorate (a semi-special election). Elected officials are subject to recall for failure to follow their electorates instructions (system to be devised but thinking about failure to vote according to issue/agenda/platform twice should be considered). So, the electorate needs 5 months to react to the environment and change the direction of their official.
(Damn, I tried to keep it short, but issues kept cropping up)!
I actually have a number of other reforms in mind. However, they have little hope under the current corrupt system. The intent of the above is to change how money and inappropriate influence adversely impact the system. A lot could follow naturally. Obviously details need to be worked out. This is a draft of a concept. Timing may be off . A control missed. Possibility of reorganization needed. Language too obtuse. Lowest common denominator reading test vetted. Opportunities missed. Final language needed.
Offers of solutions along with criticisms greatly appreciated, and eminently more effective.
