I was watching a PBS NOVA episode recently and this scientist said something interesting related to the Parker space probe that was sent towards the sun a few years ago.  She said that the idea for the probe originated in the 1950’s but that “they had to wait for the technology to catch up to the dream”.  

Had to wait for the technology to catch up to the dream.  

I thought about that comment because it really struck a chord with me.  In the world of politics and elections, we have the reverse problem, and its entirely due to the two party system.  

The technology is already here for a better functioning democracy.  It’s the dream that’s lacking.  The vision, the desire, the will to make it happen.  

We can run elections that are more efficient, saving time & money.  We can shorten the election calendar so that our citizens aren’t burned out & tuned out.  

We can hold elections that are more positive, solution-oriented, and get us better candidates.  

All because of technological advancements, from ranked choice voting to online voting.  

So why instead do we have a never-ending, super expensive, 24/7/365 election cycle filled with negativity, divisiveness, and poor outcomes?  Because the duopoly would prefer the broken system that they currently know how to win under instead of a better system that they might have more competition under.

It doesn’t matter if you tell them that a better system will help them to be the best versions of themselves.  

When the fox controls the henhouse, it isn’t going to give up control even if it knows the henhouse is leaking when it rains.  It would almost rather see the henhouse burn down before relinquishing control.

So how do we get the American Dream to catch up to the technology?  By spreading the word, educating our fellow citizens, one at a time if need be.  Even the mightiest waterfall starts with a single drop of water.