Although the following policy measures are strongly recommended, it is the job of Congress to work out the details regarding their implementation. Sending Patriots
to Congress will insure that special interests will not come before America.
As we know from Plank #1 in the Patriot Party platform (Fix the Political System), the "Bidirectional System" will solve all the problems with our closed multi-party system.
By breaking up the two-party monopoly, several competing platforms on either side of the political spectrum will emerge. With all the alternatives on the major issues represented by the competing platforms, candidates will be able to stay true to one of the platforms.
By representing a platform rather than their own unique set of ideas, the candidates will not have to compete with one another. Instead, voters will study the half dozen or so platforms, and the media will compare and contrast their ideas.
This change in methodology will crystallize the positions of each political party, negating the need for the candidates to campaign. Ultimately, the public will begin to vote for platforms rather than individual candidates. This change in focus will negate the need for big money, the relentless campaigning, the noise, and the vitriol. In short, the Bidirectional System will naturally dignify public service in America.
Unfortunately, we can be sure that the major parties will not adopt the Bidirectional System willingly. After all, if the Democrats and Republicans were looking out for America, they would have adopted something like the Bidirectional System long ago.
There are other things the Patriot Party will do once it gains control of Congress. In addition to adopting the Bidirectional System, the following policy measures will help achieve the goals of a smart, quiet, efficient, economical, accessible, and fair elections system.
We will dignify public service by repairing the elections process.
We will establish a "political season," limiting campaigning to debates. The statement, "I stand on the platform that I represent. You are asking me a question to which (a) you should already know the answer and (b) my opinion without majority support in Congress means little?"
Note: Initially, this response will seem awkward and unnatural until it becomes familiar.
We will encourage competing political parties to publish their platforms for easy comparison on a neutral website.
Note: If the various platforms are published and the candidates stand on one of the various platforms, the voters will be able to vote for one platform with confidence that things will get done accordingly. In contrast, with our present system, all the problems with politics as usual will remain, and nothing will ever be accomplished.
Although it must remain legal to display signs and posters throughout the community (a free speech issue), doing so will be deemed unsavory and improper. Candidates will be asked to compete on merit rather than on the depth of their financial resources.
Similarly, we will frame personal attacks as desperate and un-American.
We will advocate that it is unsavory for elected representatives to campaign for office beyond the basic organized debates and media interviews.
Note: The advantage of name recognition and visibility from holding an elected office should be enough to insure reelection. To campaign while in office takes representatives away from the duties and obligations they have to those they represent while losing the dignity of public service.
Representatives (both House and Senate) who choose to become candidates for a different office will be asked to relinquish their seat at the start of the "political season." At the very least, voters should get a full-time representative working on their behalf.
Note: Why should members of Congress be treated differently from the people they serve? Where else in the country is such an attitude of elitism tolerated?
