Observer-Reporter forum

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

A single law that, if enacted, would fix all our problems. The law would state that at any time, the citizens of a state may approach their state leadership with a petition for the impeachment of any official elected by said citizens. The petition would only need to include a certain percentage of signatures, say less than 10% of the population originally responsible for electing that official. With the internet, it would be easy to set up a state government recognized petitioning site under constant fraud monitoring by an independent group where you could simply log in with your voter registration number and anonymously sign the petition. If the petition has enough signatures, a simple majority vote is held within three weeks. This time, you would have to go to the polling booths so everything could be properly moderated. If this simple majority votes to impeach, that politician is done. The governor or whoever appoints a short term replacement and a few months later you hold a special election for the permanent replacement. This should keep Senators and Representatives from going off the reservation thinking they have X number of months or years to recenter their reputation before the next election.
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amom · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:04 am Post subject:

I have a simple suggestion for the general elections: Eliminate the option of voting straight ticket. This is one of my pet peeves and by eliminating this option, voters might have to actually think about the candidates as persons, not political affiliations.
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ellipses · Mod Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 9218 Location: WashPa!

Cy--- I like your idea, but I also think the electorate is fragmented enough that you could perpetually get 10% (or even 15 or 20%) of people to sign a petition for impeachment... even if they don't get the 51% of the vote in the booth, you basically have a system of perpetual impeachment, perpetual "recall" elections, and essentially... perpetual campaigning on every single issue... it would be like a filibuster at the state level, but wielded by the fringe of either side.

"Don't you vote on that so and so bill that is dumb that no one cares about or you will face impeachment you marxistsocialistcommunistnazimuslim!"
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dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

Nevermind.
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Brant · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:55 am Post subject:

Yeah, it sounds good in theory, but in practice, what a mess.
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Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Well make it 25% then maybe. I dunno. But for better or for worse, the everyday voter needs to regain some of the power they have lost in controlling the country.
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busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Well, that's why the two step process. The petition just gets the ball rolling, but you need an actual vote to make it official. The vote to impeach wouldn't be a simple majority of yes or no, but a simple majority of 51% of registered voters would have to show up and vote in favor. If you are against the impeachment, you don't even have to do anything. By not showing up, you vote against.
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busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

All. No politician should forget that they are only where they are because of the voters' trust in them.
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SSSS · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:53 am Post subject:

amom-I agree with your suggestion 110 percent.
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SSSS · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:54 am Post subject:

I have another idea-eliminate media coverage!!! I see by checking nes sources this morning that the story about the New York Governor abusing his office gets a little squeak. Byt the Alaska Governor suspected of abusing her office was headline news.
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pap · Understudy Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 538

What about letting independents vote in primaries? They should be able to vote for either party. Denying them the right to vote in PA's primary denies them the right to chose the final canidates.
I think when one registers as a voter party affiliation should not be a requirement. Just register as a voter

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Its not a requirement. I was registered for years before declaring an affiliation.
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dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

I know its basic civics as to why we elected representatives and what not, but I'd like to see more issues resolved through referendums. Especially on social issues. Do it on a state by state basis. Have a petition, get 10,000 signatures, and poof! its on the ballot every November. That way voters could say, we really want abortion illegal in our state, or we really want gay marriage legal in our state. It would have to be pay as you go referendums though.
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