Our "two-party system" makes it very difficult for anyone who is not an inside member of the Democratic or Republican party to run for office, especially a national office. By so doing, it also limits us, the voters, in our choices. By the time the November presidential election arrives, we, again, will have two basic choices. Other names appear here and there, but without the endorsement of either major party, those people have almost no chance.

One of the real shames of all this is that there is a large increase in the number of registered voters who do not choose a party, preferring to remain independent. In most states, these voters cannot vote in a primary. That makes sense if you think it is the parties' primaries and they should set their own rules, but independents also pay for the election. Many non-affiliated voters would think it fair if the parties paid for their own primaries, and we all chipped in for general election. Remembering that life isn't fair and also that the two parties make the laws, indicates how much of a chance it is that will happen. Many voters feel that there are more choices in a primary; at least early on each party has numerous candidates.

Money, unfortunately perhaps, is a major reason politically ambitious people choose to be a Republican or a Democrat. Both parties have national and local committees and organizations to help their candidates raise money. There is public financing at some local levels that seems to work, i.e., more candidates from a wider variety of backgrounds will run if they know they won't go bankrupt doing it. On the presidential level, even with millions of dollars available to the candidates, look what happens. The winners of the party primaries generally do not take the public financing, as it is limited and has rules. This year, 2008, is a good example.

When John McCain was having money trouble, he applied for public financing. Then he did better, both at winning primaries and raising money, and now he says he won't take it. There is some discussion about him using the application process as collateral for loans to his campaign; that is, that the guaranteed federal money would pay the lenders back. On the Dems side it is similar. Barack Obama, before he was Barack Obama the star, talked about taking public financing, perhaps in a handshake deal with McCain that they would both do so. But in his meteoric rise to the top of the delegate count, he raked in millions more

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