Is there a way to end gridlock forever? What about gerrymandering, closed primaries, and high-barrier requirements for outsiders? Even then, what about the complete dependence candidates have on a tiny group of funders that have corrupted our government?

When considered all together, we are back to a time of taxation without any meaningful representation. A conclusion that a recent Princeton study resoundingly confirms.

It is no surprise that the indefatigable Ralph Nader -- lawyer, author, consumer advocate, and five-time presidential candidate -- possesses a vision for how to energize and mobilize an electorate that feels increasingly dissatisfied and disempowered.

Long-time Democratic flak and personal friend, Bob Mulholland, unleashed one of his patented partisan diatribes on Monday in his on-going effort to breathe life into closed partisan primaries.

Like many deeply involved in partisan politics, Bob’s agenda depends upon winning plurality elections, preferably in low turnout environments. California’s nonpartisan system requires candidates to win a majority vote in the November election when the most people vote.

As a great debate raged in the United States over whether or not the Taliban should be classified as a “terrorist organization,” Jarad and Amanda Miller walked into a pizzeria in Las Vegas and murdered two policemen who were having lunch. They went on to kill a third bystander and then to kill themselves before the police arrived.

An Illinois term limits initiative looks to have enough valid signatures to appear on the November ballot even as some obstacles remain.

On May 30, Eric Shinseki resigned as the secretary of Veterans Affairs amid a growing controversy surrounding the administration and treatment of veterans at VA medical centers, something that is said to have contributed to at least 40 deaths due to delayed care, and has 42 VA medical centers and clinics embroiled in scandal.

History almost repeated itself in California’s 31st Congressional District. In 2010, California voters approved a nonpartisan, top-two open primary system whereby qualifying candidates of any political affiliation appear on a single primary ballot accessible to any eligible voter. The two candidates who receive the most votes then appear on the final general election ballot. 

Last week, Seattle passed legislation that raised the minimum wage in that city to $15 an hour. As this is an election year, and one in which Democrats are expected to lose seats in both chambers, this has become a hot button topic with both parties resorting to their partisan talking points to motivate their base of voters.

On May 6, Ohio held statewide primary elections. The sixth congressional district hosted primaries for three parties: the Republican, Democratic, and Green parties. Only the Democrats had a contested primary -- GOP incumbent Rep. Bill Johnson and Green Party candidate Dennis Lambert ran unopposed.

Democratic voters ended up selecting Jennifer Garrison over Greg Howard.

Two weeks ago, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was a forgotten American hero. Conservative news sources like this one routinely invoked him as evidence that the Obama administration did not care about the troops — that he was willing to just forget about an American POW in his mad rush to wrap up the war in Afghanistan.