The Billionaire Ticket

The most interesting thing I heard yesterday on the political talking heads shows was the possibility that New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg would pair with Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel and form a third alternative presidential/vice presidential ticket for 2008. Bloomberg is a billionaire and could finance his own presidential run if he chooses to. Ross Perot managed to garner 19 percent of the popular vote when he ran as a third alternative candidate against Bush senior and Bill Clinton. With a general sense of dissatisfaction out there with all of the major party candidates who have declared that they are running so far, some pundits think the Bloomberg/Hagel candidacy could happen. If it did, it's not clear which major party it would hurt the most. And, do we really want to see a billionaire "buy" the presidency? Or, are we that used to the reality that most politicians are wealthy, and that you have to be wealthy to go far in politics that we don' care?

Personally, I'd like to see a third alternative ticket happen. I have never been a fan of the "two-party" system. This is not something that the Founders set in stone by incorporating it into the Constitution. It evolved over time and has morphed into an undemocratic framework which presents the American voter with limited options. I'd like to see more candidates with alternative viewpoints. Of course, that would work best with an educated populace that has not bought into the crap that they have been fed by mainstream politicians year after year. Let's see what happens!

Photo: the architecture of Rio Grande, Brazil, February, 2007

Jim