Thread: Pollsters see voters losing trust in two-party system

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 082824.htm

Posted on Thu, Nov. 23, 2006

Pollsters see voters losing trust in two-party system

By Steve Geissinger
MediaNews Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Expect surprises. It's no longer politics as usual.

Want to overhaul the Legislature into a single non-partisan house? How about creating universal health care or a bullet train? Voters may soon get the chance.

Californians are so tired of Sacramento and Washington that they are creating a ``unique hybrid democracy'' to dissolve political gridlock on key issues -- a trend that could spread across the nation.

That's the conclusion reached by California's two foremost pollsters, looking back to the Nov. 7 election and ahead to coming sessions of the Legislature and Congress.

Californians are backing away from the two-party machine system, voting for candidates of choice, and vigorously using initiatives.

Various interests are already pushing 14 measures for 2008 on hot-button issues ranging from political traffic jams to immigration to gay marriage.

``The unique hybrid democracy preserves the current system of elected representatives to carry out duties, but incorporates increased amounts of citizen input and oversight,'' said Mark Baldassare, poll director for the Bay Area-based Public Policy Institute of California.

``The two-party system is having trouble attracting new voters, adapting to the changing demography and adjusting to the increasing use of the ballot box,'' Baldassare said.

``Hybrid democracy may be the answer to the public's desire for populism and a solution to the parties and divisions, special interests' influence and voter distrust that currently plague America's political process,'' he said.

``California could lead the way, as a nation-state, in a new political direction.''

Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll, agreed that ``voters want some third way other than these bickering two sides.''

``California politics is marching, in many ways, to a different drummer,'' DiCamillo said.

The most dramatic of the proposed initiatives that could wind up on a ballot in 2008 would eliminate the Senate and Assembly and instead create a single legislative house of 50 to 80 members to be nominated and elected in a non-partisan manner for a two-year term.

The proposal would create a minimum waiting period before a final vote on legislation and limit legislators' salary and travel costs.

Another would create a state-run health care system for Californians.

Others would approve a bond for high-speed rail and revisit the ongoing controversy over gay marriage by constitutionally eliminating domestic partnership rights.

Yet another would prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers' licenses, college aid, or any other public benefit not required by federal law.

Although immigration polled as voters' top issue in the governor's race, ``Schwarzenegger was adroit at avoiding issues that I think could have put him in an awkward position,'' DiCamillo said.

``He avoided immigration as a real campaign issue,'' he added.

An issue that's national, such as immigration, boiling up in state voters' minds, underscores the trend, the pollsters said.


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If it leads to universal health care or other socialist initiatives then I am against it.

The most dramatic of the proposed initiatives that could wind up on a ballot in 2008 would eliminate the Senate and Assembly and instead create a single legislative house of 50 to 80 members to be nominated and elected in a non-partisan manner for a two-year term.

This is very dangerous.

If you think we have bad health care now, just buy into the universal kind of health care!