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And thus, the ping-pong of national politics will continue to center not on solutions but on the divisiveness, hate, and anger that resides at the core of our country. Americans must find the means to see each other not as “deplorables” but as fellow citizens who, for some reason or another, feel left behind by a country who promised so much for all. Seeing them as but an extension of us–with all our respective strengths and weaknesses and frustrations–is the only way to secure our base as “Americans” willing to work for real change.
So, what of the proposals that have been bandied about as solutions to current ills?
Reviewing Contemporary Proposals in Light of Our Understanding
When we analyze political systems, ideologies, and paradigms, we can only conclude, though each may contain elements of interest or promise, none offer a comprehensive means for solving the problems of contemporary America. This is because, more often than not, they are minimal prescriptions that address only peripheral concerns involving an immediate economic or political crisis. As such, they become more symptomatic of a situation rather than a solution to more overarching structural problems. Consider, for example, the following proposals or activities as representative samples:
A Multi-party System or Third Party
America already has 100 or more political parties, but two have come to dominate. Thus, the call for additional parties or even simply a significant “third party” will do nothing to improve conditions. The real problem is the reapportionment process and the Uniform Congressional Districts Act, which effectively eliminate all possibilities but the two major parties. And even if those processes were to change, there is still the Electoral College that ensures election of the president remains in control of the establishment elites. This is why even some of the newer parties—Level the Playing Field, Americans Elect, Centrist Project, etc.—are going to have trouble gaining traction.
Constitutional Convention
Numerous calls have been made, usually invoking Jefferson for legitimacy, that a constitutional convention be held in order to reshape American politics. While a nice idea in theory, it is most impractical as the attempt to pass the Equal Rights Amendment evidenced. Moreover, a constitutional convention is an open process. In a polarized political environment such as America currently finds itself, without a definitive framework for moving forward, anything could happen.
Eliminate the Electoral College
Since the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, a number of people have called for elimination of the Electoral College. These include, among others, former presidential candidates Michael Dukakis and Bernie Sanders, and California Senator Barbara Boxer. There are also several petitions circulating on the Internet. Outside of simply eliminating it or modifying it in a way that doesn’t require a constitutional amendment, which would not happen given the polarization of the country, the most promising proposal involves The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which is an agreement that would have states assign their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote. The idea is that once enough states buy in, the electoral votes that are actually coming from the popular
vote would exceed 270 and circumvent the Electoral College without ever changing the Constitution. But the proposal—even if it were to pass—fails to address other serious systemic that confront our republic: namely, the Uniform Districts Act, reapportionment and redistricting, and the role money plays in supporting the establishment and the elites.
Parliamentary System
William G. Howell and Terry M. Moe, professors at the University of Chicago and Stanford
respectively, argue America needs a parliamentary system. They propose a constitutional amendment could be passed