Ted Rall for January 04, 2016
Transcript:
Woman: We get the politicians we deserve. Man: What dung! There's a republican jerk and a democrat jerk and a third party joke who isn't allowed to win. How do I deserve them? If I vote, nothing changes. If I don't vote, nothing changes. How do I deserve that? If I march in the streets, they ignore us. If I take up arms to overthrow the regime, they jail and/or kill me. "Deserve" How can I deserve a politician I have no influence over? Woman: You must have voted poorly in a past life. Man: Stupid Weimar
Tue Elung-Jensen over 8 years ago
Nice reference :p
Local 574 Premium Member over 8 years ago
Ted – When we march in the streets, they are scared. That’s the whole purpose of these year-long election campaigns – to keep us out of the streets. They listen, alright, but they pretend not to. The issue is not what THEY do but what WE do afterward. Do we build a revolutionary movement or keep begging and whining?
Durak Premium Member over 8 years ago
Folks! The big problem is you only vote in PRESIDENTIAL elections! If you’d get off your big butts and vote in EVERY election held in your state and community you’d get the government you want. But do you? No. So here in Kentucky we’re stuck with boobs like McConnell, Paul and Bevin. Thanks, losers.
Arghhgarrr Premium Member over 8 years ago
The issue here is in large part due to the influence of money on politics, making politicians more responsive to their big donors than to the voters. Citizen’s United was the logical outcome of (s)electing W., just as Bush v. Gore was the result of electing Reagan. Its not the next election but the last one that ends up killing democracy when the Supreme Court is concerned.
mattro65 over 8 years ago
The Working Family and Green Parties are starting to get a lot of people elected to local and state offices. Start small and work our way up. I might be dead before there is substantial change but I’d like to leave a better world for my sons.
superposition over 8 years ago
Nice analysis, I work mostly in R myself, but what you describe in your last paragraph “… the candidate with the most checked boxes wins …”, is what most people that I know, see as the implementation of IRV. I prefer the name proportional or fair voting, but the IRV name connotates the cost saving due to the elimination of runoffs. The idea of having someone in office that most people have actually voted for is very appealing. Personally, I have no use for parties and think that they impede the function of a democratic republic.