Abe and Thomas for President 'Twas the night before campaigning, and all through the nation politicians' bank accounts bulged in anticipation. The voters were couched watching shows on TV with dreams of finance reform restoring democracy, while top party leaders planned rhetoric to hide the wide gap between voters and the wealthy at their side. The marble statue of Lincoln on the mall in D.C. watched Congress being influenced by legal bribery. On that warm summer night at the memorial to Lincoln a few tourists were shocked when his eyes started blinkin'. Then larger than life Lincoln arose with a clatter. Smelling the air, Abe said "I'll fix this matter." At the memorial to Jefferson he gave Tom a nudge. Tourists gasped to see move what they thought wouldn't budge. "Democracy's been lost, the voters are ignored, the rich vote with dollars 'n get a bigger reward," the two ex-presidents nodded and agreed, "A wise un-moneyed alternative is what voters need." To the delight of voters, the two entered the race with Lincoln for prez and Jeff in second place. They promised to voters what contributors had blocked, such as gun laws that only the NRA knocked, and stopping timber sales for a few bucks a tree on government lands using logging roads free. "Just look," said Thomas "at the biggest contributors: the lawyers and doctors, the military contractors, pharmaceuticals, bankers, the insurance industry, all backing lobbyists who stalk the halls of D.C. While paying Congress for legalized monopoly, they block health care reform and a stronger economy." So Jefferson put forth wise solutions from his brain, but between ads, media's agenda was to entertain. They chose sound bites that distorted speeches Abe gave, and dug into stories 'bout (widower) Tom's mistress, a slave. Of mudslingin' reports, smart voters were bored, so for unbiased info went to vote-smart dot org. Becoming scared by Abe's and Thomas' success, the campaign contributors increased their largess. The more they opposed the voters' agenda, the more they became an even bigga' spenda'. From owners of casinos, dealers in tobacco, and stock marketeers, more money did flow.

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In spite of the money that went into the race,
the big-party candidates couldn't keep pace.
They lost more ground in the presidential debate,
so when election day came the excitement was great.

Finally, fifty eight percent put Abe first of three,
twenty four for the elephant, and eighteen for the donkey.
With the Electoral College rules and their vagary
this became forty five, thirty two, and twenty three.

Lacking a majority, the Constitution was consulted.
Most people were surprised at what resulted.
In this case, which happened just twice in history,
the house of representatives vote among the top three,
with a surprising twist: each state gets one vote.
Realizing this, voters lost what was left of their hope.

House Republicans and Democrats all voted for their own,
so the voters once more had a reason to groan;
not one vote was cast for the voter's top choice.
Instead, the elephant's pick was the one to rejoice.
So party backers celebrated continued monopolies,
their tax-paid subsidies, and anti-voter priorities.

Abe and Tom, for advanced voting methods did promote.
"You now have computers, so voters can vote
for more than one choice," said Tom fervently.
"Try it out at VoteFair dot org and you'll see
that VoteFair produces a fair outcome for you
when, in a race, there are candidates more than two."

"We certainly know it won't happen soon,
but longer we'll wait 'til a time opportune.
We'll rise once again if the need should be there.
With VoteFair ranking the results will be fair."
With that Abe and Tom turned back into stone,
and waited for voting to reach that milestone.

Now voters understood why only two parties exist,
and realized fair voting bypassed funding influence.
So VoteFair ranking was used in board elections,
then elections in cities, counties, and corp'rations,
then elections for senators and reps from each state,
while Lincoln and Jefferson continued to wait.

© Copyright 1999, 2000, 2006 by Richard Fobes, the author of The Creative Problem Solver's Toolbox and the inventor of VoteFair ranking as described at www.VoteFair.org. If the poem is not changed and this copyright notice remains attached, you have permission to copy, send via email, print, and publish this poem. All other rights are reserved.

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