What is a Reform Democrat? It's a Democrat who supports reform. So, what reforms do we want?
Here are three reforms I floated way back in March 2004. They are still the tops on my Christmas wish list.
1. MAJORITY VOTING - We are locked in a two-party system because whoever gets the most votes, wins. If we could rank our choices on election day, one could (for example) vote first for Nader, second for Kerry, last for Bush. An instant-runoff system would force the winner to have more than 50% of the vote.
2. ELECTORAL COLLEGE - As a Democrat in New York, formerly a Democrat in California, I basically have no reason to vote. Abolishing the electoral college would fix this.
3. THE PRIMARY SYSTEM - It doesn't make sense for Iowa to have such disproportionate influence. If any state does, it should be swing states from the prior election. But preferably every voter could have equal influence.
Add to the list now:
4. PAPER TRAILS - All votes, obviously, should be permanently recorded in a tamper-proof way.
5. SMALL MONEY - A $200-dollar-average donation should be enforced.
On a completely unrelated note, this Christmas I would also like to see some plucky Democratic Congressperson sponsor a resolution to make Christianity the official religion of the United States (or better, a Constitutional amendment to make it so).
Obviously I am not favor of that happening, but I would like to see certain Senators and Representatives putting their money where their mouths are. (You don't think it would be voted down unanimously, do you?)
...What would you like for Christmas?