Democracy in America
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http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2016/Pres/Maps/Apr25.html#item-11
Quote:n case there were any doubts about the importance of fundraising in modern politics, particularly after Citizens' United, a report broadcast on Sunday's installment of "60 Minutes" puts them to rest. The story reveals that, from the moment they arrive in Washington, new members of Congress are expected to spend four hours a day making cold calls to potential donors, with a daily fundraising goal of $18,000. Because it is illegal for members of Congress to use their government-provided offices and phones to raise money, the cold calling takes place at phone banks that have been set up by both parties across the street from the Capitol. CBS managed to gain access and captured footage of the interiors using a hidden camera. The bland offices, cubicles, and telephones could be anywhere in America, but for the tote board with members' names that advises who is meeting their goals and who is lagging behind. Naturally, all members hate this aspect of the job, which helps explain why some of them walk away from what could easily be a "for life" job that has a lot of prestige, a good salary, and great benefits.For an entertaining and very informative explanation of what goes on to fund raise, i recommend John Oliver's videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylomy1Aw9Hk
So what is the democratic answer? Overturn citizens united? Open primaries to select party candidates with fewer barriers to voting, or standing? Do open primaries for selecting party candidates counteract this? Would higher salaries for representatives help? Would lower salaries? More third parties? Weaker party machines? Or is the uk democracy better? Skewed representation and a history of closed primaries for selecting party candidates?
jondwhite wrote:So what is the democratic answer? Overturn citizens united? Open primaries to select party candidates with fewer barriers to voting, or standing? Do open primaries for selecting party candidates counteract this? Would higher salaries for representatives help? Would lower salaries? More third parties? Weaker party machines? Or is the uk democracy better? Skewed representation and a history of closed primaries for selecting party candidates?Does it really matter? When a sufficient number of workers are ready for a change the precise method of achieving it will be largely immaterial providing it's democratic…
When workers votes are bought and paid for by corporations or suppressed completely – then what suggests elections are suitable for democratic change and how?
There is as Jondwhite says systemic disenfranchisement in many US states. I'm preparing an article on it and have garnered quite a litany of facts from ex-felons being excluded to obstacles being placed on registering to vote and ID demands when actually placing the ballot. But as Gnome says, when we have a genuine socialist movement independent of the Democrats there won't be any tampering by the Democratic Party machine as we have witnessed with the Sanders campaign.An American socialist party will circumvent any undemocratic practices. One possible and potential one being the Electoral College. But i am curious about what the socialists emphasis be…at a city level considering some of the sizes of the metropolises ie NYC and LA, at a 50 states level, or representative and senate level, or Presidential election. Something for the future socialist to work out. Who does hold state power in the US? Where is it centred?
A related article on Sanders and US voters democracyhttp://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/04/28/sanders-calls-50-state-strategy-revitalize-american-democracy
To Sanders credit he demonstrated that Big Corporate money was not necessary., raising his cash from individual donations that was on average $27
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