Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“The whole idea of ‘fairness’ in American elections went out at the end of the 19th century with the introduction of the ‘Australian’ ballot — a government-printed ballot that replaced write-in elections (that is, all American elections prior to 1888). Naturally, once the government started printing ballots, the government got to decide which candidates could appear on those ballots. Would it shock you to learn that the two ‘major’ political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, have ever since colluded to ensure that it’s always difficult, and often impossible, for independent and ‘third party’ candidates to compete? In 1988, those two “major” parties also took over the quadrennial ritual of ‘presidential debates’ from the League of Women Voters, forming the Commission on Presidential Debates and turning those public affairs into bi-partisan — not multi-partisan — beauty contests.” (07/13/25)