Voter Mood

David Leonhardt thinks Presidential Candidates can be evaluated by the choice of economic advisors. It might be nice if it were a fact, but Candidate positions are most often set by their political advisors. Here sets the Problem with American Politics. Political advisors are traditionalists rooted in conventionalism. The actual mood of the Country may be far from the expectations of political advisor, or political Pundit. The Voters’ will cannot be asserted, if it is not allowed a place at the table. People may wonder how Change can be affected, without outrageous stretch of American values and practices.

My Proposal is to alter the Ballot in the Primaries, simply to find out what American Voters may actually want. Political advisors would say such a system would invariably be overly complex, and rejected by the Voters. I suggest the Political advisors do not want their own jobs to be on the line, when it comes to American sentiment. Here is a list of Questions which I would advocate be placed on the first page of every Ballot in the Primaries:

1) Would you approve of a Tax increase to balance the Federal Budget?
2) Would you approve of a single, set Social Security benefit for all Recipients?
3) Would you approve of a Gasoline and Diesel tax of $1 per gallon?
4) Do you believe in a Universal Health Care system with common benefits for All?
5) Do you think the Bush Tax Cuts should be repealed to balance the Budget?
6) Do you desire Elected Officials’ Salaries to be frozen until the next Presidential Election in four years?
7) Do you believe Patent and Royalty rights should be issued with a limit to the Charges which might be imposed by the Patent holder?
8) Do you believe all Corporate Office-holders should be compelled to publish all Salary and Benefits received from their position Publicly?
9) Do you believe all Hospitals, Clinics, and other Health Care Providers should be compelled to publish all Government Subsidies and Payments received for Patient Care without naming the Patients, and this done Publicly in local Papers?
10) Do you believe all Government Departments and Agencies should publish a total list of all Employment positions along with their Duties, and the amount and type of subContract labor which they employ?

The above Questionnaire, plus all Vote Totals coming from the Yes and No answers to it, should then be Publicly accessible. The basic Mood of the American Politic could then be assessed, and Presidential Candidates would know what Positions the American Public would desire they run on. lgl