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With the nation so divided into red states and blue states, and with many Americans no longer able to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans over the bickering and high-pitched talking points, it is time to consider ways to improve our political system.

Make no mistake - I am not so radical as to advocate a Jeffersonian overthrow of a corrupt government. Despite many of our problems, the American system of government generally works pretty well. However, it is now rare for politicians to put the good of the people ahead of political posturing, and this has clearly frustrated many Americans to the point where many no longer vote. Toeing the party line and bending to the will of the president or congressional leaders has made us apathetic.

What, then, is the remedy?

Imagine if we passed two simultaneous constitutional amendments: the first, getting rid of organized political parties and the second banning monetary contributions to political campaigns and lobbyist dollars to elected officials. What would the results be?

Candidates would now be forced to run on the merits of their positions on issues and ideas, with no party label behind them. Party platforms, party primaries, and nominating conventions would be gone; politicians would need to convince voters that their stance on important issues was the right one, and that they were the candidate best suited to represent the constituents. The Democrats and Republicans would cease to be, and political power would be wrestled from the hands of the two behemoth organizations that currently dominate the political landscape.

Instead of having majority and minority parties in Congress, bills would be voted up or down based on their merits and not whether it was backed by a certain party. The most senior members would run committees, and the Speaker would be elected by the entire house. Without party loyalties to maintain, votes could be cast based on what is right for the country. Individual members, of course, would still be more conservative or liberal than other members on different issues; however, fiscal conservative-social liberal politicians (and vice-versa) would no longer be misfits within the narrow constraints of the two-party system. Politicians would be better able to concentrate on what principles they have in common, instead of what separates them.

At the same time, removing lobbying dollars and campaign contributions would work to keep big business and special interests out of politics. By not being beholden to fund raisers, politicians would be able to spend more time governing and be able to protect the interests of the nation without fearing retribution during the next election cycle. The federal government already sets aside funds for the presidential campaign; to allow the best ideas and candidates to win on the strength of their ideas, equal public funding for campaigns would level the playing field.

The biggest result of such changes would be to depolarize the electorate. Instead of red states and blue states, there would just be the United States. Politicians would have to prove their merit in order to be elected, no matter where they are running. This move toward truer representative democracy would help re-engage a disillusioned electorate, and create a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Learn more about this author, Erin St John.
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