This republican presidential primary season is an indictment of the system. First of all the people of Iowa see 8 candidates on every street corner and every restaurant for 6 months. In the meantime, the people of New Hampshire are seeing them on weekends and then non-stop after the Iowa Caucuses. Then the onslaught moves to South Carolina, Florida then to Super Tuesday.
All in the meanwhile, by the time the primaries reach the areas of Texas, California, and my home state Indiana, the race has been decided. The only real vote we have is to support the presumptive nominee or cast a protest vote to the man still left in the race.
In many other countries, the election cycle from primary to election is complete in 90 days. Now I am not advocating the short hasty route, because that could make for buyer remorse, but a regional approach might be more advantageous.
Break the country into 6 regions each with a month long primary process. Have these mini Super Primaries and then the convention in September. General Election in November. This will have many beneficial effects.
- With the smaller window and larger territory, the amount of money spent will be spread throughout the states, thereby spreading the economic impact of the primary process, with media buys, hotels etc.
- The shortened season, will keep the race fresh and voters interested with more choices for a longer period of time.
- Finally the entire process can become more streamlined with less concentration in areas that really have minimal effect on the electoral process.
Topic two is the Tax Code, This topic is tied to the first, by way of pressure from candidates to release their tax returns. Our tax code is over 9 millions words long and is so complicated, that there is an entire industry devoted to trying to comply with it.
Who ever is elected, the reform of the tax code is paramount to getting the country back on track. Instead of trying to engineer the economy with tax cuts, breaks and incentives, the code could be used to fund the government's primary functions like interstate commerce and defense.
A simplistic revision of the code would allow everyone to file a one page return, stop the billions that is spent on IRS agents and software, and allow accountants to do more fun things like help you invest and grow your business.
Further down the list is the severe reduction of the Federal Government. Much of what the Fed does is duplicated in the States. So let's eliminate those agencies at the federal level and give more power to the states to take care of those close to home. After all, a person living in New York City, has different problems and priorities than a person living in Los Angeles or even Fort Wayne Indiana. The gist of this is to take the decision and move it to those most familiar with dealing with the issue.
So if we can simplify the government, that in terms simplifies our life and allows us as citizens to be free to explore our own goals and dreams.
