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Michelle Rosenthal

social worker, Dr Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

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Do We Have "Electile Dysfunction" In USA and if so how do we fix all of these problems in our system of elections?

David Swanson used the term Electile Dysfunction in his book Called:
Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union - Published in 2009

This book offered many ideas on how to improve on our system of elections.

Do you think we have "Electile Disfunction In USA and How can we fix this problem?

There are hundreds of ideas out there in the world but to get any positive improvements them put into effect even to correct known problems is a very slow process.

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    chad manderscheid 10+

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    Dec 6 2011: As Churchill supposedly said "democracy is the worst form of government, except for everything else we've tried".
    Of course I know we have a Republic with democratic pretensions but I would have to say the "winner takes all" dynamic of our usually two party system seems particularly dysfunctional lately. In 57 years I have had ONE sit down discussion with an elected official. The ratio of voters to congresspersons possibly explains this but it still seems wrong to call someone your representative when you have never met them and can really know nothing about them first hand. One suggestion with current developments is lie detection why not start a party that volunteers to take a comprehensive honesty test four times a year! No personal questions allowed. Another thought, why not use the six degrees of separation dynamic and start with 50 people you know in your town who elect a rep who then spends one eight hour day per month with the next level who elect a rep to the next level who spend face time together and so forth to a fifth level. The last two levels would be paid ( the average wage of American workers) for full time representation for one year terms. Thus instead of 400+ politicians we would have only a hundred who would have to choose one Executive for a two year term. No political parties and less regionalism and the second and third levels would only need to invest two Saturdays a month for say, six month periods. No more than two consecutive terms and the cost of elections would be zip. We could still have a Senate for balance but candidates would have to come from the third level of reps. It couldn't be worse than what we have now could it?
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    edward long 100+

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    Nov 30 2011: Our Electoral College system is akin to a leaky roof. When it is raining you cannot work on it, and in fair weather it does not bother you. But that is a minor problem in the U.S. when compared to voter apathy. Our republic has become one in which a person cannot be elected to high office without millions of dollars. Now there is a symptom of malaise in the process.To fix things we need to educate and motivate ourselves and all eligible citizens to vote. We should penalize (tax) citizens who do not vote. Then perhaps the victory will go to the best qualified candidate, not to the one with the fullest war chest and the best spin doctors. In a representative republic like ours we get the sort of leaders we deserve.
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    Bob Van Oosterhout 20+

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    Nov 24 2011: It is highly unlikely elected leaders will ever clean up the process that led to their success. The only alternative is a ballot proposal (for States that allow them) that demands an honest, transparent system.

    The Clean Politics Act provides a model that could lead to discussion and development of such proposals.

    http://bobvanoosterhout.com/id118.html
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      Michelle Rosenthal

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      Nov 25 2011: Dear Bob. Thanks for your response. I hope many people read the link that you sent and that we are able to implement ideas that do clean up the problems in our electoral system. Michelle
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