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Why a third party is necessary to end the corruption in Washington
This country needs a viable third party or a coalition of third parties and independents in Congress to stop the corruption in Washington. The power structure in our capital actually promotes corruption and must be changed. While we have always had some corrupt politicians, the structure of the system promotes a pervasive and continuing form of institutional corruption. The problems are caused by the combination of the two party system, the seniority system, and the committee structure in Congress. The two party system in this country has resulted in almost all of our politicians in Washington being either a Republican or a Democrat. There is one Socialist in the Senate ( Bernie Sanders from Vermont, who caucuses with and votes with the Democrats ) whose voting record is more conservative than either the Presidential or Vice Presidential candidates for the Democrat Party for 2008. Because there are only two parties, one party will have the ability to have a majority vote as long as the party members vote as a block. The parties are able to enforce party discipline because the committee chairmen are always senior members of the party leadership. The committee chairmen can block any legislation proposed by by any party member who does not toe the party line. This situation promotes the continuation of the status quo and the gridlock in Congress which is stopping legislation needed for the good of this country. The committee system is inherently a good idea because we need legislation, affecting various areas of our country and economy, to be drafted and revised by individuals with expertise in the areas which will be affected by the legislation. This system also allows legislation to be reviewed by a large number of people who can consider what ramifications may occur, and hopefully avoid unintended consequences. When legislation is pushed through Congress by the party leadership, for the benefit of special interest groups, the result can be a disaster. One recent example of this in the subsidy for ethanol made from grains such as corn and soybeans. The use of basic food stocks for fuel is grossly irresponsible, and has resulted in a huge spike in the cost of groceries in this country. There have also been food riots and starvation is various developing countries around the world, because Congress passed legislation to benefit a few agri-business companies such as ADM ( Archer Danials Midland ). The problem with the current system is that the Committee Chairmen are, by tradition , the senior committee member in the majority party ( nothing in the Constitution requires the seniority system ). This results in a situation where the individuals who are the most likely to be corrupt ( because they have been in Congress the longest ) are the ones who hold all the power to move or kill proposed legislation. I do not want to imply that all Committee Chairmen are corrupt, but the placing of their own desire for personal or party power above the interest of the voters and taxpayers is a very pernicious form of institutionalized corruption, and must be ended. If a viable third party can emerge, and have enough members in Congress, so that neither of the major parties have a majority. We will change the power structure so that Committee Chairmen, who place party or personal power above the interests of the country, can be voted out of their Committee Chairmanships. This change is needed to end the gridlock in Congress and enable legislation which is needed for the good of this Country. We need to end the current situation where legislation is crafted for the benefit of the special interest groups, who contribute to the re-election funds of the Committee Chairmen. If the voters in this country are not willing to make the effort to elect third party or independent candidates, they will get more of the same from Congress. The special interest groups know how the system is structured, and they will continue to buy the favor of various Committee Chairman so they can continue to have the power to influence legislation. If a third party can get candidates elected by supporting issues such as fixing Social Security and ending our dependence on imported oil, the major parties will move to adopt the issues as their own, to stop the growth of the third party. Neither major party will acknowledge that the current problems are caused by our current politicians. The Republicans will site the need to drill now and the Democrats will site a need to protect senior citizens, but both will act if they face a possibility that a viable third party may emerge. Both major parties are, in reality, separate parts of a single party which could be referred to as the incumbent party. The lack of a viable third party will cause the corruption in Washington to continue. You, the informed voter, can cause this situation to change by electing me in November.
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