Problems With The American Political System

Our Political System is Broken

In 2018, Congress had a 17% approval rating and a 95% reelection rate. Understanding the fundamental causes of this problem leads us to a set of reforms that are already making a difference.
Don’t quit the game. Change the rules.

Problem: The Current Rules are Set Up to Preclude Genuine Competition

75% of elected officials are winning office without having to communicate outside of their own party. The system is fundamentally broken: You don’t need to be bi-partisan to get elected. But we need our government to be bi-partisan to work. We need new rules if we expect politicians to actually solve our national problems.

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Problem: There are Layers of Rules that Limit “Who Matters” to Politicians

Politics today thrives by focusing on ideology and wedge issues that drive people apart.

Few citizens actually matter much to politicians. Non-voters don’t matter. Voters in Gerrymandered districts don’t matter. In one-third of the country, Independents don’t matter in the primary elections. Non “swing states” don’t matter in Presidential elections. So, who really matters? Swing state registered Republican and Democratic primary voters, assuming their district isn’t Gerrymandered.

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Non-voters don’t matter.

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Gerrymandering excludes voters.

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Unaffiliated voters excluded from primaries.

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Electoral College privileges voters in swing states.

Problem: Big Money Plays a Dominant Role in Elections & Governance

In the business of politics, members of Congress buy top spots on the most powerful committees. To raise the money, they often collect from the interests their committees are supposed to oversee. Dark money floods the system through Super PACs. Pollsters, strategists, fundraisers, consultants, media experts, direct mail services, digital services and many other professions have a huge financial stake in the system.

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