Politics Is Big Business.

       Ever wonder why it is that there's so much conflict in Washington? You know, the polarization of the parties. Well, without trying to place blame on any individuals or even on party allegiances, the big problem seems to be too much wedding to ideology. Why do elected officials who find themselves in a minority position in either or both of Congress's two houses feel they were sent there to block the other party from accomplishing any good?
       The answer is that each party needs such conflict to sell their bases on the need to vote them back into the majority. And now, with the unleashing of untold fortunes available to convince voters to vote for the party candidates, even if it's against their best interests, it's nearly impossible to know if that candidate will actually help or hurt you. And in fairness, I must say, both parties are guilty of this abuse. A candidate must stand for the party line and once elected he or she must vote the party line or risk being defeated in the primaries.
       The thing is, it is abuse of the citizenry. Being bombarded minute by minute with ads that are, at best, misleading if not downright lies. All in the name of saving the party, which translates, in their minds, to saving the country. All of which is  H O G W A S H. The two political parties are not in business to save the country, they're in business to capture more power which translates into more fortunes for a select few of the most powerful corporations and individuals in the country. It's not enough that these few are wealthy beyond our wildest imaginations, the quest for ever more is boundless and lord help anyone who stands in their way.
       So what's the answer? The only way to break the strangle hold of the parties is to break their hold on the electoral process. Any combination of the following should produce that goal. First eliminate gerrymandering of electoral districts by requiring diversity and as close to a square as possible. Second is to institute term limits. And the third would be to require completely open primaries in which the top two vote getters go on to the general elections. So what are the chances? Don't bet on it.