Interview with Green Party Presidential Candidate Kent Mesplay
[From Pravda]
Candidate Questionnaire:
1. As we can see, the system presently is heavily weighted against 3rd parties. What steps do you think need to be taken to break the stranglehold of the 2 party system?
The first step will be to allow candidates equal time and access to media coverage. Right now, most coverage is purchased by the wealthier candidates. Running for office is a money-grab, with back-up provided by committees in the two parties that accept funding and direction from corporations (e.g. debates are not regulated as “in kind” expensive contributions and are corporate-driven in content and appearance). So, getting the money out of polics is important, such as by publicly funded campaigns. Still, rather than just have taxpayers subsidize advertizing agencies it would be better to reinstitute equal access laws. Also, having proportional representation and, as a step to this, preferential voting such as I.R.V. will help improve representation and alternative party access
2. Why do you think American voters are unwilling to vote for candidates who are neither Republican or Democrat, (according to the Green site “corporate” parties)?
People who are disgusted with politics in this country do not vote (a silent, invisible vote against the system). The way forward is to have a rapidly moving campaign that begins to look like it can succeed. It is possible, even for higher-ticket races, for Greens to be elected (although generally improbable). Currently, there are over 200 elected Greens to office. These tend to be local positions, including mayor-ships. Voters will vote for an “underdog” but only if it does not look like the underdog is moments away from being steam-rolled flat. So, there is a chance of electing a Green president or senator, but it is slight under the current system. A full-out, organized “protest” vote engaging celebrity support and the youth is a good way forward. It’s not that the voting public tend to like the candidates of the two main parties: they tend to enact “lesser evilism” voting in which they vote for the least offensive candidate. Changing the system through preferential voting, in which one ranks candidates, will go a long way toward improving this process.
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