Grand Illusion: The Fantasy of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny

Ralph Nader's former campaign manager “takes the biggest swing—not a jab, but a roundhouse punch—at America's corrupt electoral system” (Phil Donahue). As the national campaign manager for Ralph Nader's historic runs for president in 2000 and 2004, Theresa Amato had a rare ringside role in two of the most hotly contested presidential elections this country has seen. In Grand Illusion, she gives us a witty, thoughtful critique of the American electoral system, as well as a powerful argument for opening up the contest as if people and their daily lives mattered. While making the case for specific reforms in the United States'arcane system of ballot access laws, complex federal regulations, and partisan control of elections, Amato also offers a spirited history of how third-party and Independent candidates have kept important issues on the table in elections past and contribute to our country's political life. Even the most fervent Nader critics will think twice about Nader's role in 2000, thanks to Amato's trenchant factual analysis. Looking beyond the Nader story to campaigns waged by challengers John Anderson, Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, and others, Amato shows how limiting ourselves to two candidates deprives our country of a robust political life, strips would-be contenders of their free speech and association rights, and cheats voters out of meaningful political choices. “Amato displays an encyclopedic knowledge of election law, and her recommendations for election reform, including a comprehensive plan for ‘Federal Administration and Financing of Elections,'are crucial contributions to the debate over election law.” —Publishers Weekly As The National Campaign Manager For Ralph Nader's Historic Runs For President In 2000 And 2004, Theresa Amato Had A Rare Ringside Role In Two Of The Most Hotly Contested Presidential Elections This Country Has Seen. In Grand Illusion, She Gives Us A Witty, Thoughtful Critique Of The American Electoral System, As Well As A Powerful Argument For Opening Up The Contest To Competition. Busting The National Myth That Anyone Can Grow Up And Be President Of The United States, Amato Shows How Independent And Third-party Candidates Face Egregious Structural Barriers That Prevent Them From Fully Participating In The Race Or Even Getting Their Names On The Ballot. In Addition To Waging Effective Voter Campaigns, These Candidates Must Simultaneously Fend Off Preposterous Numbers Of Legal Challenges From The Two Major Parties - During Twelve Weeks Of Nader's 2004 Run, As Many As Twenty-five Lawsuits Were Filed In An Effort To Squash His Campaign.^ Amato Makes A Powerful Case For Specific Federal Reforms In The United States' Arcane State System Of Ballot Access Laws, Complex Regulations, And Partisan Control Of Elections. Along The Way, She Also Offers A Spirited History Of How Third-part And Independent Candidates Have Kept Important Issues On The Table In Elections Past And Contribute To Our Political Life. Despite The Dramatic Run-up To The Historic 2008 Election And The Efforts Of Both Obama And Mccain To Set Themselves Apart, The National Political Debate Occurs In A Very Narrow Range That's Defined By Two Major Parties, Which Are Both Influenced By The Same Corporations, Special Interest Groups, And Lobbyists. And On Election Day, There Just Are Not The Kinds Of Genuine Options That A Healthy, Multi-party Democracy Should Offer.^ Looking Beyond The Nader Story To Campaigns Waged By Challengers John Anderson, Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, And Others, Amato Shows How Limiting Ourselves To Two Major Parties Deprives Our Country Of A Robust Political Life, Strips Would-be Contenders Of Their First Amendment Rights, And Cheats Voters Out Of Meaningful Political Choice. -- From Dust Jacket. Foreword / By Ralph Nader -- Part 1: The Fantasy Of Fair Play: Ballot Access Laws Since The Time Of Cholera -- To Third Party Or Not? -- Suffer Or Sue: Searching For A Level Playing Field -- Democrats Fighting The Last War -- The Courts And Third Parties: Delphic, Hostile, And Mia -- Part 2: How Rigged Is Our Democracy? Regulations, Regulations: Beware Of The Code -- The Corporate Fourth Estate -- The Debate Commission Sucks -- One Person, One Vote. Or Maybe None. Or Maybe Two. Theresa Amato. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [301]-364) And Index. Ralph Naders former campaign manager takes the biggest swingnot a jab, but a roundhouse punchat Americas corrupt electoral system (Phil Donahue). As the national campaign manager for Ralph Naders historic runs for president in 2000 and 2004, Theresa Amato had a rare ringside role in two of the most hotly contested presidential elections this country has seen. In Grand Illusion , she gives us a witty, thoughtful critique of the American electoral system, as well as a powerful argument for opening up the contest as if people and their daily lives mattered. While making the case for specific reforms in the United States arcane system of ballot access laws, complex federal regulations, and partisan control of elections, Amato also offers a spirited history of how third-party and Independent candidates have kept important issues on the table in elections past and contribute to our countrys political life. Even the most fervent Nader critics will think twice about Naders role in 2000, thanks to Amatos trenchant factual analysis. Looking beyond the Nader story to campaigns waged by challengers John Anderson, Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, and others, Amato shows how limiting ourselves to two candidates deprives our country of a robust political life, strips would-be contenders of their free speech and association rights, and cheats voters out of meaningful political choices. Amato displays an encyclopedic knowledge of election law, and her recommendations for election reform, including a comprehensive plan for Federal Administration and Financing of Elections, are crucial contributions to the debate over election law. Publishers Weekly A smart, provocative and wildly entertaining personal-narrative-plus-analysis by Ralph Nader's campaign managerillustrating just how destructive the US two-party system can be for democracy.