Policies, not partisanship
Five popular ideas to heal our polarized, hyper partisan, and dysfunctional political system.
Democracy Is Worth Fighting For
A vast majority of Americans (79%) want their elected officials to work with members of the opposing party - even if that meant compromising on some of their values. And yet, 62% believe we are incapable of uniting to solve important problems. (Vanderbilt Unity Poll)
What is keeping our elected leaders from listening to voters desire for compromise?
It's easy to over simplify the problem by labeling politicians as unpatriotic, corrupt liars. The reality is more complex. Basketball players dribble the ball as they run because that's the rules say. All sports have rewards (points) and punishments (penalties) that make them behave a certain way. Politicians are no different. Various rewards and punishments govern their behavior. If we want them to behave differently, we need to change the rules of the game.
America's democracy has become seemingly dysfunctional not because of bad politicians, but because of a political system that rewards them for not solving problems, not working with other parties, and for demonizing fellow Americans that have a different perspective. The result is a government that is unable to pass common sense solutions solve to our most pressing issues like immigration, climate change, healthcare, gun safety, and so much more.
We at Vote5 believe we can get our government working again by making patriotism more rewarding than partisanship. By implementing a few changes to our election system, we can make common sense solutions and compromise the norm rather than the exception.
Five Proposals To Depolarize America
- Ranked-Choice Ballots
- Eliminate the Electoral College
- Income Tax Earmarking
- End Gerrymandering
- Campaign Finance Reform
Vote5 asks voters and politicians to commit to these five reform initiatives to save our democracy so that our government can work as intended. You can learn more about each of these proposals in the Vote5 Platform below. There are also suggestions for how you can help get these initiatives passed and help America heal it's broken political system.
The VOTE 5 Platform
1. Ranked Voting Ballots
Ranked Choice Ballots allow you to rank each candidate from your favorite to your least favorite. If your first choice comes in last, your vote is shifted to your second choice. That means you can vote your heart for the candidate you love even if they aren't likely to win without wasting your vote. Single-choice ballots squeeze out third-party candidates and force us to choose between two dominant parties. Worse, single-choice ballots squeeze our broad political spectrum into just two dominate parties dividing the nation into "red" and "blue" teams. Ranked-choice ballots better reflect the voter's true ideology while providing a path for electing a compromise candidate that is acceptable to a large majority.
2. End The Electoral College
Almost two-thirds of Americans want to see the Electoral College eliminated. It is a problematic institution in American politics that polarizes us into "red" and "blue" states. Many voters don't even understand that they aren't actually voting for a presidential candidate and are instead voting for a set of electors that may, or may not, vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote. Recent attempts to corrupt the Electoral College system are even more alarming. It's time for this antiquated system to be retired!
3. Implement Tax Earmarking
No one enjoys paying taxes, but what it you could direct your personal income taxes to the government programs you actually support? Most of us recognize that taxes are necessary to fund the collective needs of our community. Schools, fire and police departments, roads and infrastructure, national defense, and natural disaster recovery all require shared sacrifice. Income Tax Earmarking would allow conservative leaning tax payers to put most of their tax contributions toward causes like the military and border security, while liberal leaning tax payers could allocate their taxes toward social safety nets and environmental concerns. Not only does this put more power in the hands of citizens, it might actually make it feel somewhat rewarding to pay your taxes.
4. Anti-Gerrymandering Legislation
Many voters are unaware that politicians manipulate the voting maps to ensure they get re-elected and that their party stays in power. It's called gerrymandering and it undermines the political marketplace by creating "safe districts" where politicians don't have to compete to win your vote. Manipulated districts further polarize our political discourse as candidates adopt more extreme positions to appeal to their party's base rather than the moderate center. Gerrymandering is inherently undemocratic and a cancer in our political system.
5. Campaign Finance Reform
Imagine a political landscape where the power of your voice isn't drowned out by the roar of big money. Our current election system requires candidates to raise huge amounts of money. Because it's easier to raise money from a few very wealthy donors than lots of small donations, wealthy individuals and corporations have more influence than the average citizen. Wealthy donors expect candidates to support their agenda once elected. It's essentially form bribery! This current system skews political outcomes towards those with financial resources, erodes the faith of the public in the political process, and fosters a perception of government serving the interests of the wealthy few rather than the broader population.
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