Editor's Note: Tuesday’s American Morning segment of the “Broken Government” series garnered attention on two topics: independent voters shut out of primary elections and solutions for an economic recovery. Voters affiliated with the two-party system were furious with independents who believed they had the “right’ to vote in those primaries, noting that they “choose NOT” to be members of a specific party. Independent-identified voters challenged the argument, calling the shut-out “unconstitutional.”
- Michael: Your story on independent voters not being allowed to vote in party primaries was completely ridiculous. These are PARTY primaries. Non-party members should not be able to vote. Independent voters are not being denied rights.
- Anthony: I am registered as an independent. The story you just ran on AMfix has put the lid on my case I am changing my party affiliation to Democrat, just so I can vote. That’s an easy fix (no pun intended), to being locked out of voting.
- Karen: Went to vote in primary this morning. Couldn't vote independent. Had to vote either Dem or Rep so voted Dem. Election for Cty Treas is big on this vote. The Dem vote ballot didn't have Treas candidates on it. So I didn't get to vote for new Treasurer. This is not constitutional. At the voting place, they said primary election is paid for by Democrats & Republican parties. They are controlling the votes. This has got to change to let everyone have their say with their vote.
Many continued to offer solutions to the economic crisis, including giving funds directly to small business owners instead of using banks as the vehicle to distribute loans.
- Doreen: Small Banks getting money for small business is not the answer. The problem is the big Banks have ruined everyone's credit. Any small business, or private citizen who had excellent credit before this mess should not be penalized. If the banking community was forced to make loans to people or business that had excellent credit for years before this mess this country would be back in business. I am speaking from experience. My husband always had excellent credit, has a small business in the Flooring industry and is now facing receivership and personal bankruptcy. He borrowed money to keep his business going not for pleasure. To survive this crisis. We deal with a lot of contractors that have gone under and have buried us. It is not fair to judge a person for bad credit due to the banking crisis. If bankers would go back two years and look at people's credit they would be clamoring to extend credit to my husband and his business. These are the same banks that want bonuses. They were able to pay back the government on tarpapers f/c homes and forcing small business out. President Obama need to consider this idea. STOP giving money to banks to loan and give it to small business owners that have been stuck in this crisis.
- Skip: You do not know that governments don't create jobs? How silly for you to keep supporting this lie.
- Anthony R. Your morning show was about fixing the economy. You should start in 2000 when the economy was good then work forward. The outsourcing jobs boom is what did it. The housing / banking bust finished the economy off. The fix? Give cash to homeowners to refinance their homes to a 30 year fixed loan. Second, start working to get the good paying jobs back. Re-open the factories by getting NEW business people to open steal plants then guarantee them the same NO Bid contracts Halliburton got. There's your fix. This creates jobs, and tax revenue. Lastly, get rid of the tax cuts for the rich. We need to balance the economy.
- Simon: Simplify the tax system, currently it inhibits employment and confuses millions. Combine a national sales tax and a very simple tax on business/company profits. Organize and reduce government spending and then set the tax rates to create a surplus so the national debt can be paid down.
What do you think? Continue the conversation below.