The United States government is considering privatizing its election process, according to a report released yesterday. The nature of national elections could be changed forever if recommendations within the report, entitled "20 Ways to Save Money by Minimizing Government', are implemented.
The most dramatic change would be the outsourcing of the running and organization of all national elections after 2008 to private contractors. The report suggests that national elections could be auctioned to top bidders like Microsoft or News Limited.

"Our study suggests that 'American Idol', as only one example, is a fantastic model for the merger of political participation with big business," says Peter Jenkins of the Election Enterprise Research Group (EERG). "Millions tuned into the show and cast their vote for their preferred singer by phone. Each phone call vote cost the caller a small sum of money, which could in turn be a substantial revenue earner for a company that hosts the election."

According to the study, there is no reason why such business principles can't be applied to government. Critics of the current system have long claimed that elections cost American tax-payers billions of dollars every election year. "We're looking at several cost-cutting initiatives, including making them much less frequent," said a Whitehouse spokesman earlier in the week. "This current drain on tax payers has to end here."

The report does acknowledge possible conflicts of interest, particularly as corporate interests are chiefly represented by the Republican Party. The report argues, however, that the savings which privatization would bring would offset any minor political bias the company's board of directors might hold. The report also recommends that companies sign a "code of honor' promising not to use their power in a manner that is inconsistent with the democratic principles of the United States. A similar code is already used effectively within the government in regards to individuals. Politicians and administrators who also have personal business interests, such as Dick Cheney and Condoleeza Rice, have constantly proven that they are prepared to put national interests ahead of their private economic interests.

Cheney, who supports the plan, told a press conference on Friday "it's time that government began to merge with the real world of finance and stopped being a burden to the American people."