POLITICAL REFORM
“To permit irresponsible authority is to sell disaster.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, ‘StarshipTroopers’
Modern Whigs are, at heart, reformers. We constantly strive to produce the conditions where the best of our distinctly American attributes can express themselves. Perhaps the most fundamental of those attributes is our belief in the grant of authority from the People to their government.
In our country, we convey that grant through the ballot box. Along with it comes a reflection of the will of the people, which should be accurately and effectively communicated through the means and methods of conducting our elections.
That is what elections are intended to do.
To be clear: We are by no means populists; we firmly embrace the fundamental principle of our democratic republic: The authority to govern is in the hands of those whom the People elect, while the power to grant that authority resides in the People themselves.
But at the same time, all citizens do indeed have an equal right to be represented in the electoral process, and an equivalent duty to participate in it. And we are convinced the best defense against the more extreme elements in our body politic, ultimately, is the common sense of the vast majority of our fellow Americans.
We therefore not only oppose all attempts to limit voting through undue restrictions on the ability to exercise the franchise, but we support initiatives to make it easier for citizens to register to vote and cast their ballots. We also think we already have at hand all the proven methods we need to accomplish those goals while ensuring election security, and we support their implementation system-wide.
We also oppose all efforts to distort representation through practices such as partisan gerrymandering. And we believe only citizens should have the right to vote.
Finally, we think restrictions on the lobbying activities of elected officials after they leave office are necessary to make it more likely those who run for office are actually committed to public service, and not using a seat as a stepstool.
In the end, ironically, while we advocate many reforms to make our government more responsive, effective and efficient, we are convinced we must start at the beginning, with voting. Our current system unduly restricts political competition and undermines the average citizen's ability to properly exercise their political rights and duties.
We can do better.
Proposals:
The implementation of approval voting for all state and federal elections.
The adoption of the American Anti-Corruption Act as proposed by the non-governmental organization RepresentUs.
Ratification of a "right to vote" amendment.
The establishment of independent redistricting commissions to end the practice of gerrymandering.
A five-year revolving door prohibition on elected officials working as lobbyists after leaving office.
Making Election Day a national holiday.
Before we can tackle any other concerns, we must make it easier for voters to choose representatives who sincerely work in their interest. It’s the first step in our endless quest for a “more perfect Union.”
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The Modern Whig Institute is a 501(c)(3) civic research and education foundation dedicated to the fundamental American principles of representative government, ordered liberty, capitalism, due process and the rule of law.
