How do we keep another Presidential race like this one from happening again?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:04:45 -0400

How do we get those who really need to be in the White House, in the White House? Clearly the established elite parties are not giving us fitting choices. Can we, as citizens, change this? How do we do this?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 5:06 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:06:48 -0400

Vote for competive people. Public finance might help as well

Response by 1SG Patrick Burke made Oct 8 at 2016 5:09 PM

1SG Patrick Burke — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:09:38 -0400

Only way is a Constitutional change. Both candidates meet the requirements. Sad part is that what Trump has done would most likely prohibit the vast majority from office. We have all said stupid things, just his was on tape.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Oct 8 at 2016 5:12 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:12:28 -0400

Remove the prohibitive cost for the average Citizen and maybe "we" might get someone that will place the nation above themselves. Not to mention military service is a prerequisite for candidacy..

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Oct 8 at 2016 5:17 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:17:45 -0400

Be better citizens. That'd fix it.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 8 at 2016 5:22 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:22:05 -0400

I am somewhat optimistic here, I think in another election cycle or two there will be massive change. We are fairly close this election but not enough folks are ticked off or disappointed enough to take this to the streets and really protest for change. Definitely an issue with both parties. Just think if they more cleverly wrote the TERM LIMITS legislation to include blood relatives and spouses. Would the 2003 invasion of Iraq have taken place? Would we be going through these tribulations this election? Maybe or maybe not. People are not ticked off enough about the election cycles yet, so maybe in 4 more years.....8 at the longest.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 8 at 2016 5:35 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:35:06 -0400

We've always had the power to change it in our hands. We simply haven't been motivated to change it. Nor have we any idea of how to change it. A few of us want to strip away the unconstitutional institutions of government that have grown up in the past century. Reduce government and government spending to its bare minimum and allow the people to do what we do best, build a healthy and thriving nation and economy. Others want to build even more government, thinking that the failure of government has been the result of depriving intellectuals of the money they need to build a better nation as they conceive it. I'm sure there are a hundred other plans falling somewhere in between. Sadly, most of us simply are too confused to choose and we let others do the choosing for us. The result: More of the same.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 5:53 PM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:53:49 -0400

Equal opportunity is everywhere - except in politics. In politics, and political races, it comes down to money. Take that requirement away and you have something. Dissolve away the two party system and instead, focus on all those running and you will have better quality.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Oct 8 at 2016 5:58 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:58:20 -0400

Though, I'm not all that impressed with their candidate this year... I world songfest voting Libertarian.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 8 at 2016 6:00 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 18:00:37 -0400

What would you suggest as to what at the needs are? In theory, the needs vary with global and domestic situations. Each election, the citizens have to make the determination who is best suited of the candidates by way of the primary processes. There were many candidates early on. If there is a major flaw in the process, it's that there are 50 state procedures. If all states had to divvy up the electoral votes on a proportional basis, it would be more competitive for all. As to press coverage, they go where the action is. 1st amendment and all that stuff. There is nothing to prevent anyone from contributing to their favorite candidate, why don't they? No doubt there are better candidates, but how many have the funding and could stand the scrutiny of operatives going through you history with a microscope? Bear in mind, Trump was not the choice of the establishment Republicans, in fact, fought him right up to the formal nomination. That was done by the power of the citizenry.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 8 at 2016 6:52 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 18:52:09 -0400

There are personal peccadillos that have bearing on a person's fitness for elected office. There are personal peccadillos that have no bearing. Unfortunately, we (the voters) and the media have an unquenchable hunger for "bad news". What sane, competent altruist would want to go through the very public rectal exam that public figures go through? We set a bar that no one can pass. So we get candidates that think we are too stupid to catch them. People with that kind of ego are rarely altruists.

Response by PO2 Robert Aitchison made Oct 8 at 2016 7:20 PM

PO2 Robert Aitchison — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 19:20:00 -0400

Most reliable way would probably to have a nationwide primary, for too long tiny states like Iowa and New Hampshire have had too much influence which lets candidates game the system.

Response by SFC Bill Snyder made Oct 8 at 2016 7:50 PM

SFC Bill Snyder — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 19:50:57 -0400

Declare the Democrat Party and the Clintons a continuing criminal enterprise. Institute term limits for Congress and the Senate. Make any candidate for the USSC swear that they will adhere to the Constitution or forfeit heir seat and be disbarred. Attorneys can not run for public office. Give California back to the Mexicans.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 8:16 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 20:16:23 -0400

The media has a lot to do with elections like this. The media no longer informs us or provides oversight for the people like originally intended. The framers wrote in the federalist papers that the constitution was for an informed and educated people and the fact that an overwhelming majority of people don't know their rights or the constitution and powers of gov't and how limited their power should be allows gov't to do whatever with no say if the people or proper oversight of the media. I think it starts with a change in the moral climate and a shift in attitude that way people get more engaged and involved with politics whether they like it or not they should realize the importance of elections. Voter turnout is horrible and I think it's because of everything I just mentioned.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 9:34 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 21:34:50 -0400

Fire the DNC and the RNC! They've abandoned the idea of a representative republic. Both parties have been instrumental in destroying this country.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 8 at 2016 10:39 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 22:39:18 -0400

We take our country back

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Oct 8 at 2016 10:59 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 22:59:35 -0400

The only candidate to ever win an election would be a mainstream candidate. That in essence is impossible to change.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 11:09 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 23:09:21 -0400

We need a viable 3rd party.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 9 at 2016 3:09 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 03:09:08 -0400

Vote thoughtfully in the Primaries. A vote for someone with little support in a crowded field is a wasted vote. The responsible voters were split too many ways for any of them to win, so we ended up with the choices in front of us now.

You should vote for the candidate with a chance to win that most closely represents your values. The "perfect" candidate with low acceptance doesn't help further your principles.

It would also help if the candidates in a very crowded field would drop out sooner when it is clear to everyone else that they have no choice. John Kasich is a perfect example of a failing candidate that allowed his overactive ego to throw the election to Trump - but others were guilty of this as well.