2016 Elections

[Hatshepsut]

Why would a third party be above all the corruption you complain about above? 

I don't think they would be.  But I do think that having more parties which represent a wider political spectrum would be healthier. I also think that turnover in power-brokers is a healthy thing for the body politic.

In general I agree, though I belong to the school of thought that declares corruption follows power as quickly as flies home in on shit. A big difference between the U.S. and Europe is our "winner take all" electoral system that disfavors small parties. A small party can conceivably win 30% of the vote and not get a single seat out of it, which can't happen when you elect from lists the way parliamentary systems do.

Turnover is harder to evaluate. We correctly limit presidents to 8 years, though I'm not sure Congressional term limits would produce the desired power sharing: It might just result in lots of bumbling, inexperienced lawmakers becoming prey to the lobbyists who actually write much of the legislation. (The conservative ALEC does so for statehouses.) Also, many power brokers are unelected bureaucrats who serve for life.

The reality is the "Valid photo ID" is primarily keeping away people who don't really give a shit.  ...  Voter ID laws shouldn't keep anyone interested in voting away.   In North Carolina, you basically have 2 years notice to go to the DMV and get a free ID.

Agreed we must have the laziest electorate in the world. But after 9/11, loss or expiry of a photo ID can be a much bigger headache than it ever was, especially if other documents like birth certificates and Soc. Security cards are also lost or stolen. You need photo ID to enter a federal building to go replace a missing Soc. Sec. card, for instance. The guards at the door make no exceptions and won't let you in without the state-issue ID. But what if you lost both your ID and your Soc. Sec. card in a mugging? And without a Soc. Sec. card you can't replace your photo ID. Similarly, some states no longer issue birth certificates by mail; you must travel to that state and get it in person with photo ID and Soc. Sec. card in hand. No exceptions. In today's national security state you really need to keep these documents in a safe-deposit box as they may be impossible to replace if you lose them.