ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
Because the two-party political system in the United States has deteriorated so badly over the last four decades, I hereby call for all elections below the state level to be non-partisan.
Yes, under my proposal, that would mean all contests for township, village, city and county offices would be bereft of political party affiliation for any candidates.
The two-party system in America has outlived its usefulness and today stands as the greatest impediment to getting anything done on behalf of the people. Perhaps the best example is where we find ourselves today — in the middle of a deadly pandemic that has led to huge and devastating unemployment of citizens.
There are far too many Americans doing virtually nothing productive in society, and even worse, because they are not working, they don’t have enough money to buy anything other than basic necessities. And what are our political leaders doing about this crisis? Nothing.
The two-party system ensures the two major players work against each other rather than work for the people as a whole. About 30 years ago we called this gridlock. Today it is killing us. While serious problems persist and even worsen, our government officials are only sitting on their hands, worrying only about one-upping the loyal opposition.
As I have maintained so often, the purpose of government is to solve problems and be a fair referee. Everything else amounts to public relations hooey, whether it be Trump holding a Bible in front of a church or Biden meeting with the Floyd family.
So closer to home, let’s say we find a way to make our local elections non-partisan. Let’s remove the obstacle of party loyalty to getting things done at the village, township, city and county levels.
In my less than stellar career I have seen too many intelligent, thoughtful, quality candidates for political office turned away at the ballot box only because of the letter that appeared next to their names. Conversely, I have seen too many lazy and inefficient elected for the same reason.
I often like to tell the story of Carol Jones Dwyer, appointed trustee on the Nashville Village Council and well thought of by her Republican colleagues on the council because of her legal skills. All GOP council members canvassed the community and exhorted voters to support her in the next election, but she still lost because she had a (D) next to her name.
Local school boards have elections that are non-partisan, so it’s not as though such a move can’t be done. The Wayland City Council’s members all are elected on a non-partisan basis, and I fail to see where local city government is any worse than that of area villages and townships and the Allegan County Board of Commissioners.
To be sure, strictly non-partisan elections would attract a lot more candidates, so I would further suggest we have primaries in August to determine finalists for a runoff in November.
I would accept the awful reality of two parties in elections for state and national offices, though I’d like to see them go non-partisan as well. And I can already hear objections of party hacks who only want to defend the status quo because it benefits them, but not us.
My greatest hope in my proposal is that perhaps it would lead to greater cooperation and more swift problem solving, something sorely lacking in state and local government today.
