Here we are six days from the election and the big story, no shocker to me, is corona virus. Infections are up. Here in Ohio, cases are up 40%. So politically speaking we only have two voices, Democrats and Republicans.
So when I drive to work, I have the normal, quickest way. I also have about a half dozen other ways to get to my job site. So I have options. With everything going on in the country at this point, we only have two options, Democrats or Republicans. We have their so called experts calling for a shutdown or not to shut down. Each of them being paid for or influenced by said political party. I have my view as I am sure there are hundreds of other views out there. So why are we limited to just these two views?
Let’s start with the Federal Election Commission.
The Presidential nominee of each major party may become eligible for a public grant of $20 million (plus a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)) for the general election campaign. In 1992, each major party nominee received $55.24 million. To be eligible, candidates must agree to limit their spending to the amount of the grant and must pledge not to accept private contributions for the campaign. Private contributions may, however, be accepted for a special account maintained exclusively to pay for legal and accounting expenses related to complying with campaign finance law. These legal and accounting expenses are not subject to the expenditure limit. In addition, candidates may spend up to $50,000 of their own money on the campaign. Such spending does not count against the expenditure limit.
Minor party candidates and new party candidates may qualify for partial general election funding, based on their party’s electoral performance. Minor party candidates (nominees of parties whose Presidential candidates received between 5 and 25 percent of the vote in the preceding election) may receive public funds based on the ratio of their party’s vote in the preceding Presidential election to the average of the two major party candidates in that election. New party candidates (nominees of parties that are neither major parties nor minor parties) may receive public funds after the election if they receive 5 percent or more of the vote. The amount is based on the ratio of the new party candidate’s vote to the average vote of the two major party candidates in that election.
So I copied the previous two paragraphs from the Federal Election Commission web site. If you read the two paragraphs and I suggest you read them again. Two things that stand out to me are: any contribution I may make to a campaign go to a special account for accounting and legal expenses. Damn expensive lawyers and accountants!! Second, minor party affiliations may get funding based on their electoral performance. Now it gives 5% to 25% guidelines to reach but the devil could be in the details. Electoral performance being the key word. If a Democrat Presidential candidate wins California he wins the 55 electoral votes, period! So does that mean a third party candidate has to win states to qualify?
Here is my take. We nee a serious infusion of new thinking. I’m not going Green New Deal shit, just away from our two choices! They serve themselves at our expense but claim to have our best intentions at heart. They continue to spend money they don’t have and care about the country. Over fifty percent of them are millionaires and made their money while in Congress so where is the connection to Americans. In my opinion, it’s gone!!