Does anyone have a practical suggestion for a [way] to reform this ugly mess? I confess I have nothing to suggest that does not involve a constitutional amendment, and that is a non-starter. -- Joel_Grant

Here's one that I think is headed in the right direction:

We all talk about Bush and the Republicans playing the terrorist fear card and they do, but aren't all of us also guilty of playing the third Party candidate fear card? Why are we doing this to ourselves? How can we ever expect things to change if we allow our own fears to prevent discussions that can lead to meaningful change?

[snip]

I think until we have some Green Party and Libertarian Congressional representatives challenging the Democrats and Republicans that we will never be able to break the grip of the lobbyists. - pmorlan

I agree, pmorlan, that this seems to be cold, hard reality, and would only add that what we probably need more than anything else at this point is simply non-party-affiliated "independent" candidates for Congress with integrity and guts, who will not simply fall in line with party dictates from caucus muckety-mucks appointed to their positions by partisan colleagues. In other words, non-partisans, willing to forego the current stale, superficial and misleading political party PR-driven narratives, who are dedicated to our Republic and a Constitutional form of government above all. This, of course, involves a fair amount of extra effort to get on the ballot (and to get funded and to explain one's candidacy) without help from an existing party infrastructure.

Because we need to get back to the basics, since the existing political parties have gone so far astray as to have lost their way, and severely damaged the nation in the process. They've taken liberty and democracy and the Constitutional order for granted for so long, they've let it wither on the vine, yet think they can continue to pander, bribe and coddle us into increasing their power using our national credit card as the vehicle. We are all self-absorbed "consumers" to party leadership in Congress, and need to be babysat with a national security state, never mind that the underlying "state" which was formed by our Constitution has ceased to exist on their watch. What good is "national security" when the "nation" has become nothing more than an area of geography ruled over by an undemocratic elite. Time to re-assert the need for "Constitutional security" within which the means for self-defense are found.

The two parties now seem to function and run Congress not as an elected legislature, with committee jurisdiction directing activity, but as unelected caucus groups which are more or less dictated to, in top-down fashion, by a handful of appointed leaders. The fundamental equality of Members of Congress is perverted by this party approach, as is open, fair and informed democratic debate, as party negotiators work out deals behind closed doors. And yet, the "Democratic" and "Republican" members of the two factions in Congress today just sit there and take it, in the name of the "party" - silently watching as wars go horribly wrong, ruinous debts mount, and torture is instituted in our names. Shameful silence helped along mightily, of course, by receiving their share of the party's corporate cash haul and by the shield for their actions that today's media helpfully provides for their corporation-serving handiwork. The Congress for the United States Chamber of Commerce.

The fear and loathing of third party candidates that pmorlan references is connected to the obsession with the presidency that today's media promotes - where a national presidential campaign must compete on a rigged playing field which favors the two-party system, and it is practically impossible to overcome the odds without the media's (nonexistent) help [the media will not be inviting third party candidates - and thus their issues - onto their (self-serving, not public interest-serving) debate turf]. That same national dynamic, however, is not in play - especially with one party now clearly in control of the House - in individual House districts or small-state Senate races, where an independent run that could cost the House a "Democratic" or Republican seat (or the Senate a Republican one) will be worth the try and have a good chance of success, given the right candidate.

As Glenn points out:

$80,000 dropped into a single Congressional district makes a huge splash. The same amount dropped into a national presidential race is akin to throwing a tiny pebble into the ocean.

In short, to get to a point where Constitutional amendments, as Joel wisely suggests, regarding campaign funding or privileges of corporations, etc., would be realistic, the only avenue (beyond major economic collapse or sudden displays of integrity from current incumbents) that I can see available to us is to focus on promoting individuals (as opposed to party members) for Congress - people outside and independent of the current top-down 'we take anyone who takes orders' system, or partisans who are at least capable of voting against corrupt party leadership - as much as we can. Blue America (thanks to Howie Klein and his blogging colleagues) seems to be basically focusing on this approach. In addition, everyday Americans so inclined and able will hopefully seriously consider running for office to start challenging the increasingly damaging two-party stranglehold on Congress.

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Regarding the FISA issue, for anyone in the Greenbelt, Maryland area on May 28th, Credo has taken the initiative to organize a meeting with Steny Hoyer's District Director to discuss warrantless wiretapping, and they are welcoming up to nine guests who would like to join them at the meeting that day.

Rep. Hoyer's District Office

6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 310

28 May, 12:00 PM

Meet with Betsy Bossart, Representative Steny Hoyer's District Director to discuss current efforts in Congress to modernize legislation regarding our nation's electronic surveillance, and the preservation of civil liberties and the rule of law during this process.

Contact informtion here:

http://act.credoaction.com/event/events/event.html?event_id=19