Mr. Fix-it

When I should have been just relaxing by a campfire, enjoying casual chit-chat under the stars, instead I spent too many hours last night working through all sorts of social and political problems with a Reluctant Republican--you know, the kind who actually believes in smaller government, that old bugaboo of the GOP, and is voting for Bush despite GW's affinity for spend-and-cut beyond-voodoo economics.

Turns out that this particular RR had seen something on cable news that informed him that his political philosophy is closer to libertarianism. He won't dare vote capital-L Libertarian, though, and who can blame him? In a national election, going with a third-party candidate is like waiting for the D in BINGO. So, saddened that the GOP's ideology has been coopted by moralizing hypocrites, our Reluctant Republican holds his nose and dimples his chad for Bush/Cheney.

There's a better way, though. Why don't we adopt a parliamentary form of government in which parties are identified by an actual ideology, are proportionally represented, can form bizarre alliances, and can call for elections without waiting four agonizing years? If you're a Libertarian, you could vote that way and have your vote still count for something. (It might even help fix our abysmal voter turnout.)

Let's forget about abolishing the Electoral College or campaign finance reform. Why trim the mullet when we should just shave it off and start all over?

Besides, we'll need that headspace for powdered wigs.