Let's Select Candidates Randomly

The 2008 primary campaign is winding down. We are left with three candidates, none of whom is especially appealing. Granted, each contestant has a number of rabid supporters.

We know Bill would vote for Hillary, and the staff at MSNBC, African Americans and Michelle would vote for Barack in the general election. Certainly, Senator McCain can list his wife as a fan. Beyond that there isn’t much enthusiasm for any of them.

Forty percent of Americans despise Senator Clinton, and no one is certain if Senator Obama’s grandmother would even cast a vote in his favor. If the stars of conservative talk radio are correct, there is no reason for a Republican to vote for McCain if matched against Senator Clinton.

Based on the results of the 2008 primary season, there has to be a better way to select candidates.

Maybe the election process in 2012 should be changed. Let’s just throw the names of all willing American citizens, constitutionally eligible to fill the Oval Office, into three hats. One hat will be for Democrats, one for Republicans and one for Other.

Then draw three names from the hats the first week of June, 2012. It’s doable, inexpensive and guaranteed fair, that is, if no politician is involved in the drawing. Follow the raffle with a dozen national debates and have the election in November.

No group could scream age, sex, religious, geographic or ethnic discrimination. How sweet is that? Now let’s take this a step further.

The same methodology could be used for electing the members of Congress and state Governors. Rather than having career politicians, the Senate, House and Governor Mansions would be filled with citizen politicians.

Most of us have more faith in our friends, neighbors and business associates than any politician we ever voted into office. Ordinary folks have had real jobs, and have a better grasp of the problems confronting Americans than the shielded, pompous office holders running from camera to camera.

Earmarks, lobbyists, corporate donors, cronyism, and outright pandering would be greatly reduced. And worse case, the graft and kickbacks that make politicians rich would be spread around more democratically.

Statistically there would be fewer lawyer lawmakers and no opportunity for the rich to buy elections. In the same vain, about eighty percent of the elected representatives would respect traditional values and the rule of law.

Of course, that’s a problem. Anyone sitting on the left side of the leftwing, like Speaker Pelosi, would be aghast at the speed in which the country would veer right. They would be tearing their robes and gnashing their teeth over the prospect of political correctness becoming extinct.

Imagine the fate of illegal aliens, our open borders, our pathetic educational system, activist judges, proponents of multi-culturalism and diversity if ordinary citizens sat in elected offices.

You can be assured that no one would be pressing a number to hear a message in English.