The Star missed it with No Labels — but we should elect presidents with a TV contest | Opinion
Put it on TV
The Star’s editorial board attacked the self-proclaimed centrist group No Labels for being a disingenuous spoiler if it puts up a ticket for president in 2024. (Sept. 11, 7A, “Faux-centrist ‘No Labels’ a sure route to Trump 2.0”) However, I believe there is a path to potential victory for a third party.
Imagine a reality TV show in the format of “America’s Got Talent,” but focused on the kind of talent we want in a president. This program would have contestants drawn from diverse fields: industry, law, academia, military, entertainment and even politics. Chosen by a distinguished panel of journalists and political scientists, each week they would face a challenge that will confront our next president.
While a contestant responds to a challenge, the other competitors would be held in isolation. Internet voting would determine who gets voted “off the island,” with the final two sparring in a head-to-head debate. The last person standing would surely have garnered considerable public respect and affinity. Thus, this winning contestant would become a genuine contender in the presidential race.
Money, connections and the political power structure have historically determined our presidential candidates. This candidate challenge TV series would disrupt those undemocratic factors. It would enable selection of our next leader on more relevant and critical factors, such as demonstrated competence, resonating values and the ability to inspire.
- Joe Weber, Jacksonville, Florida
A double problem
The Star’s Sept. 11 editorial about No Labels exposed inappropriate Republican actions but suggested Democrats support democracy. It also ripped the nonprofit No Labels as not truly centrist, suggesting that “preserving the republic” requires a vote against its candidates. Sadly, both of America’s dominant political parties oppose democracy.
Democrats spent millions in 2022 to twist GOP primaries in 12 states to nominate Republicans who would be easier to beat.
Democratic “election reform” bill H.R. 1 would enable vote harvesting for federal elections.
Democrats recently went to court to block a third party’s ballot spot in Arizona.
Each party paints its opponents as immoral villains, seeking to divide us. Since 2010, No Labels has encouraged respectful exchanges between the parties. It encouraged the Problem Solvers Caucus (Democrats and Republicans in Congress who meet to find solutions).
Previously, about 25% of House members could block a vote on a bill supported by 75%. The Caucus upped that to 33%, which The Daily Beast lamented as “weakening the power of party leaders and committee chairs.”
In the 2018 midterm elections, No Labels supported 17 Democrats and 17 Republicans, all centrists. How can The Star justify calling that “faux-centrist” and quote a critic saying it wants “to punish the Democratic Party”?
Find more information about No Labels’ positions at nolabels.org
- Claude Thau, Overland Park
New attraction?
Discussions about a new baseball stadium seem to surround the idea of it having a very positive economic impact. Even though the selection of a site has been delayed, the proposed location in the East Village near downtown already has restaurants and bars nearby. If it is constructed to be a year-round destination, it has a chance of succeeding. The Northland site is a different story.
Fifty years ago, the Royals and Chiefs opened two state-of-the-art stadiums at the same location, and an entertainment district did not develop. A gas station, a Taco Bell and a sandwich shop are there now, but not one bar or sit-down restaurant. A large hotel couldn’t stay in business.
We’ve all seen economic reports that predict what is called a “blue sky” future for a new business. We can’t stop the future move of the Royals, but the downtown site is the only one that has any chance of becoming the reality that the owners are pushing.
- Rick Schultz, Independence
