It’s A democracy. Sort of. Mostly. Depending on where you are. Rall’s points are real, but maybe not quite as valid as he’s trying to make them seem. And you’ll notice that he never suggests a useful solution.
Changing the status quo — fixing flaws/loopholes, making positive improvements in justice and opportunities — is viewed by some as unAmerican and they are called socialists … or yet worse liberals.
As of July 6, the FEC lists 1,122 candidates for president. There are more than two choices, yes? Also, one may write in any name. It’s a shame all 1122 candidates aren’t allowed on tv. I wonder why. https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_registered_2020_presidential_candidates
Frame 1: are you forgetting Ralph Nader and Jill Stein, whose ultra-pure voters gave us Shrub and tRump?Frame 2: “electors” are now constrained to vote for the candidate who polled a plurality of votes in their state. The electoral college is stupid and undemocratic, but will be with us as long as we have 2 Dakotas and a few other states with fewer residents than Washington DC.Frame 3: voter suppression + lack of consistent ballot/election laws across the US = disasterFrame 4: you got me there – let’s discard the propaganda and make the US a good example of democracy – step 1: stop whining about not having Bernie as our nominee. Be content for the moment to elect Joe, who can then adopt some of the policies of Bernie and Warren.
Ted is right. Here in Delaware, we had a fellow who ran for president over and over again. I remember in his last campaign or maybe second to last, he was going to conquer Mars; and in doing so, he would advance America’s interests. He was never allowed in the debates or on TV. such a loss for democracy.
Yes. At any given time, in any democracy, there are only a very small number of people with any chance of winning. Usually two, sometimes three in really wide-open parliamentary races. That’s how democracy works: winners appeal to a broad majority.
Besides, there’s just as many lunatics who want someone more clearly white supremacist than Trump as there are folks who agree with you. Even if you had more choices, they would be American choices, and you would hate them even more.
Go read some right-wing blogs about how much of a Commie Joe Biden is: that’ll make you feel better.
The only person who can say that the US is the best democracy in the world is either a liar or an ignoramus of the first order, and of course the US is well-supplied with both.
We live in a Republic, despite 100 years of efforts by progressives to convert our nation to a Democracy.
The Founders limited 1 man 1 vote to the House. They did so deliberately. The Senate was chosen by State legislatures. The POTUS “chosen” by Electors. Pure democracy has the potential to become tyranny at the whim of the electorate.
Part of the design of our Constitution is protections of the rights of the individual from the depredations of the majority. The founders worried enough about populist waves to have incorporated checks and balances not only on government, but on the voters themselves.
Concretionist almost 4 years ago
It’s A democracy. Sort of. Mostly. Depending on where you are. Rall’s points are real, but maybe not quite as valid as he’s trying to make them seem. And you’ll notice that he never suggests a useful solution.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member almost 4 years ago
And that’s the problem. You are so brainwashed by the chant “greatest country in the world” that you fail to look at your failings.
superposition almost 4 years ago
Changing the status quo — fixing flaws/loopholes, making positive improvements in justice and opportunities — is viewed by some as unAmerican and they are called socialists … or yet worse liberals.
braindead Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Ted are you not bothered in the least by voter suppression and vote suppression?
And you can b*tch all you want about the electoral college, the FACT is:
If you vote for anyone other than Biden, or don’t vote at all, it is a vote for Trump.
.
Is that what YOU want?
don.fitzsimons almost 4 years ago
As of July 6, the FEC lists 1,122 candidates for president. There are more than two choices, yes? Also, one may write in any name. It’s a shame all 1122 candidates aren’t allowed on tv. I wonder why. https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_registered_2020_presidential_candidates
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 4 years ago
America’s “democracy” and “freedom” are fine rally points but pull back the covers and it ain’t that pretty.
rossevrymn almost 4 years ago
And another one of the same thing. Ted, I don’t want you to shut up, even though you are stuck on one topic.
kv450 almost 4 years ago
Frame 1: are you forgetting Ralph Nader and Jill Stein, whose ultra-pure voters gave us Shrub and tRump?Frame 2: “electors” are now constrained to vote for the candidate who polled a plurality of votes in their state. The electoral college is stupid and undemocratic, but will be with us as long as we have 2 Dakotas and a few other states with fewer residents than Washington DC.Frame 3: voter suppression + lack of consistent ballot/election laws across the US = disasterFrame 4: you got me there – let’s discard the propaganda and make the US a good example of democracy – step 1: stop whining about not having Bernie as our nominee. Be content for the moment to elect Joe, who can then adopt some of the policies of Bernie and Warren.
RalphConti almost 4 years ago
Ted is right. Here in Delaware, we had a fellow who ran for president over and over again. I remember in his last campaign or maybe second to last, he was going to conquer Mars; and in doing so, he would advance America’s interests. He was never allowed in the debates or on TV. such a loss for democracy.
Andrew Wheeler almost 4 years ago
Yes. At any given time, in any democracy, there are only a very small number of people with any chance of winning. Usually two, sometimes three in really wide-open parliamentary races. That’s how democracy works: winners appeal to a broad majority.
Besides, there’s just as many lunatics who want someone more clearly white supremacist than Trump as there are folks who agree with you. Even if you had more choices, they would be American choices, and you would hate them even more.
Go read some right-wing blogs about how much of a Commie Joe Biden is: that’ll make you feel better.
GreggW Premium Member almost 4 years ago
The only person who can say that the US is the best democracy in the world is either a liar or an ignoramus of the first order, and of course the US is well-supplied with both.
Radish the wordsmith almost 4 years ago
Biden could shoot me on 5th Ave and I’d still vote for him over bio-terrorist Trump.
Radish the wordsmith almost 4 years ago
Dem will crawl over covid covered broken glass to vote out the Republican horror show.
Ammo is on a break Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I’m binge watching Hitler’s rise to power shows right now, the similarities to the current uprisings in America are amazing.
jvscanlan Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Ted has gone full conspiracy theory
dcmotrl Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Ted does get interesting discussions going.
robnvon Premium Member almost 4 years ago
She has been really po’ed since that condom broke.
Andylit Premium Member almost 4 years ago
We live in a Republic, despite 100 years of efforts by progressives to convert our nation to a Democracy.
The Founders limited 1 man 1 vote to the House. They did so deliberately. The Senate was chosen by State legislatures. The POTUS “chosen” by Electors. Pure democracy has the potential to become tyranny at the whim of the electorate.
Part of the design of our Constitution is protections of the rights of the individual from the depredations of the majority. The founders worried enough about populist waves to have incorporated checks and balances not only on government, but on the voters themselves.
gregorylkruse Premium Member almost 4 years ago
DINO- Democracy In Name Only.