Americans Elect. As an Independent, Why use it?

By Alan S Reynolds

The ballot says I am "Americans Elect" what is that? I view myself as an Independent, with values which are reflective of both parties and neither, why use Americans Elect?

What they did do was leave behind something that for all practical purposes is a tool to be used. Our political system currently requires the use of parties to get people focused behind political goals. Americans Elect can be that mechanism, not because of the people who created it, but because of the opportunity it represents.

Putting aside the remainder of the country for the moment, 1.3 million signatures were collected in California. 1.3 million people said I want to see about something different, something not controlled by the current duopoly. The "party" that was Americans Elect remains ballot eligible for the moment, and as a tool it is not a simple hammer lying around, it has the potential to be a jackhammer. 1.3 million people is 80-90% of the way to enough voters to not just keep it qualified as a party, but to achieve Top 2 in our primaries. 1.3 million people is not just a cry for help, but a roar waiting for a response.

In all their wisdom, the "powers that be" in Americans Elect did not run a candidate in a statewide race (required to maintain ballot qualification). 1.3 million Californians roared, "I want something other than the status-quo!" And heard back... nothing.

Of my own volition, with no influence or suggestion from anyone I have decided to respond to these people. I am running for Lt. Governor of California, registered as Americans Elect. I am a member of the Modern Whig Party and a follower of the Reform Party and the Centrist Project.

Within the purview of the responsibilities of the Lt. Governor I have chosen two focuses.

The first of which involves the roles of Board of Regents member of the University of California system and Board of Trustees Member of the California State University system. As a voting member of these boards I would pursue an investigation as to how to best utilize the University Endowments to better make college affordable for California citizens. We pay taxes for these Universities, who do our students graduate with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt? We need to make these tremendous institutions more available to all and more utilized in our education system at all levels.

The second focus involves the role of Chair of the California Commission for Economic Development. As a state we should investigate the possibility of having a California State bank. Instead of small businesses getting funds from rich Wall Street bankers, we should keep the money in California with responsible interest rates for business development, and interest money staying in state for the use of our citizens. Combining this with a push for a revitalization of our manufacturing sector, which accounts for not just direct jobs, but also jobs in supporting industries, and we can have California back to work and independent of any dependency on big banks or government hand-outs.

We need to empower people through better educational access without burdensome costs for decades down the road, and with jobs of all types and easier mechanisms to start small businesses and self-employment.

Why can I do this when others can't? I owe no favors and will not take any donations from the special interests that currently manage the "party chosen" options that are presented to us. I have no Wall Street backers and no investment from the Universities. I am free to investigate options that others have been told not to pursue because of where they get their money and marching orders.

I am open to more suggestions on how to fix these areas, as these merely represent starting points and alternative options.