Clearly from the poll the bias is liberal but the undercurrents are libertarian. As much as I want and think we need a third party I have no conifidence that it will happen.
That said I think there are some changes that could help, either in general or getting to a third party.
1. Presidential term limits:
- Current System - allows for 2 4-year terms. 1st year - settle in, make friends. Years 2-3 - get stuff done good or bad. 4th year - do nothing but campaign for re-election.
- Proposed - change to single 6-year term. Economic cycles last 5-7 years typically, this would allow a president enough time to implement his plans and policies and see it through but not so long that the nation is stuck with it if its not working.
2. Congress term limits
- current (2 years, unlimited for house and 6 year term, unlimited for senate). Senate elections are staggered 1/3rd every two years.
- proposed - match house with senate and limit it to two six year terms total. Same argument as with president. Staggered turnover with 12 year total limit gives plenty of opportunity to fix things that are not working, takes away incentives to do things only for the sake of getting reelected (I hate career politicians), but allows to get through cycles and ensures that you still have a some seniority/experienced people and fresh blood and ideas.
I think the above would keep a balanced perspective, allows for regular turnover when needed and combined with lack of infinite terms could pave way for a third party or at least bring the two parties closer together to be more reasonable and actually work FOR the people.
It may seem like a small thing but career politicians, or more specifically career congressional leaders, is bad, bad, bad.
