how long can democracy last in the u s of a

Don Quixote

Don Quixote

cancer survivor
Contributor
every decade (sometimes every year) or thereabouts another nail is put in the coffin of democracy

the most recent is the scotus decision basically allowing unlimited money to be poured into elections

we have polling businesses that tell politicians what the voters want to hear (the most recent being the conflicting poll results regarding addition of a community center in new york)

study groups and businesses helping decide how much in the way of lies can be fit into political ads

political campaigns that are mostly sound bites and smear rather than substantial politics

just as a reminder - the third reich came into existence during a depression, rampant inflation and high unemployment

goebells would drool at the propaganda tools available to propagandists today

the lies and mud are being thrown even as i type

the voters are scared and awaiting someone to tell them that everything will be alright or what to be scared of and who to blame...can we say muslims or islam

the time is ripe for demagogues...like rove and company, but while the repubs are good at manipulation and scare tactics, the dems have their faults too

be afraid be very afraid, the sheep are looking like never before for a leader
 
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The thing is, the majority don't care. Look at the turnout for elections.

As long as the population has cable tv, relatively cheap gas, and the illusions of freedom, they don't care.

All the controllers have to do is keep the outrage focused on something else, keep the population fighting about lesser matters, and have a fall-back plan of fear-mongering, and they will continue to rule.
 
WinterBorn said:
The thing is, the majority don't care. Look at the turnout for elections.

As long as the population has cable tv, relatively cheap gas, and the illusions of freedom, they don't care.

All the controllers have to do is keep the outrage focused on something else, keep the population fighting about lesser matters, and have a fall-back plan of fear-mongering, and they will continue to rule.
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Yup, you got it. It will take some sort of catastrophe before they will start to care.
 
DonQuixote said:
every decade (sometimes every year) or thereabouts another nail is put in the coffin of democracy

the most recent is the scotus decision basically allowing unlimited money to be poured into elections

we have polling businesses that tell politicians what the voters want to hear (the most recent being the conflicting poll results regarding addition of a community center in new york)

study groups and businesses helping decide how much in the way of lies can be fit into political ads

political campaigns that are mostly sound bites and smear rather than substantial politics

just as a reminder - the third reich came into existence during a depression, rampant inflation and high unemployment

goebells would drool at the propaganda tools available to propagandists today

the lies and mud are being thrown even as i type

the voters are scared and awaiting someone to tell them that everything will be alright or what to be scared of and who to blame...can we say muslims or islam

the time is ripe for demagogues...like rove and company, but while the repubs are good at manipulation and scare tactics, the dems have their faults too

be afraid be very afraid, the sheep are looking like never before for a leader
Click to expand...

Clearly the last attempt to reform campaign finances was a failure. Although I believe that individuals should be able to spend their own money as they choose, I also believe in free markets and capitalism, and that means that some will reap tremendous wealth while others a more meager existence. Tis is ad odds with a democratic society. The wealthy should not have proportionally greater influence on campaigns. Corporations, being merely entities serving their owners, should have no influence on campaigns. So we need simplified campaign finance laws, where only individuals can contribute, and only up to a limited amount.

We also need term limits to end the inherent advantage of incumbency.
 
DonQuixote said:
every decade (sometimes every year) or thereabouts another nail is put in the coffin of democracy

the most recent is the scotus decision basically allowing unlimited money to be poured into elections

Examples of the real coffin nails are like the wholesale character assassinations of the entire Bush Admin..the creeping advance of socialism/communism, the gov. takeover of normally private concerns, etc...the cradle to grave intrusion of the government.

we have polling businesses that tell politicians what the voters want to hear (the most recent being the conflicting poll results regarding addition of a community center in new york)

(conflicting poll results?) 70+% are against the mosque in NY, you think thats bogus? If it were 70% for the mosque, you'd be quoting it as gospel

study groups and businesses helping decide how much in the way of lies can be fit into political ads

political campaigns that are mostly sound bites and smear rather than substantial politics
Yes, as witnessed in the Bush years

just as a reminder - the third reich came into existence during a depression, rampant inflation and high unemployment
I don't think Obama should be compared to the third Reich, it just socialism.

goebells would drool at the propaganda tools available to propagandists today
We are aware of MediaMatters, KOS, and Huffington, etc.

the lies and mud are being thrown even as i type

The lies and mud are included in what you type

the voters are scared and awaiting someone to tell them that everything will be alright or what to be scared of and who to blame...can we say muslims or islam

Can you say Rumsfeld? Rove? Who to blame...??? Try Bush, that will be the theme of the next Dem, campaign

the time is ripe for demagogues...like rove and company, but while the repubs are good at manipulation and scare tactics, the dems have their faults too
And here it shows up already in your very next statement

be afraid be very afraid, the sheep are looking like never before for a leader
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Don't be afraid....be aware.
 
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Damn Yankee said:
Clearly the last attempt to reform campaign finances was a failure. Although I believe that individuals should be able to spend their own money as they choose, I also believe in free markets and capitalism, and that means that some will reap tremendous wealth while others a more meager existence. Tis is ad odds with a democratic society. The wealthy should not have proportionally greater influence on campaigns. Corporations, being merely entities serving their owners, should have no influence on campaigns. So we need simplified campaign finance laws, where only individuals can contribute, and only up to a limited amount.

We also need term limits to end the inherent advantage of incumbency.
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WOW!!! Finally I can agree with you on something!
But my question is why do you back a party that is opposed to your beliefs? The conservative Supreme Court overstepped its power and gave corporations human rights in this country. They can now buy and sell our politicians for their own gain at the expense of the American way of life and Democracy. This decision is backed by the corporatists in both parties because they know they will get rich representing communist profits at the expense of Americans.

Yep, I'm as guilty as you for believing past bullshit, but at least I understand who the enemy is.
 
Crashk said:
WOW!!! Finally I can agree with you on something!
But my question is why do you back a party that is opposed to your beliefs? The conservative Supreme Court overstepped its power and gave corporations human rights in this country. They can now buy and sell our politicians for their own gain at the expense of the American way of life and Democracy. This decision is backed by the corporatists in both parties because they know they will get rich representing communist profits at the expense of Americans.

Yep, I'm as guilty as you for believing past bullshit, but at least I understand who the enemy is.
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I'll ask you the same question. Why do you back a party that is opposed to your beliefs?
 
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1972 required candidates to disclose sources of campaign contributions and campaign expenditures.

amended in 1974 with the introduction of statutory limits on contributions

Federal Election Commission Act (FECA). restrict individual donations to $1000 and donations by Political Action Committees (PACs) to $5000.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, (McCain-Feingold)prohibited "soft money" to political parties. (funds from organizations that do not specifically advocate the election of a candidate and funds
not contributed directly to candidate campaigns.

United States Supreme Court (2010) ruled that McCain-Feingold was in violation of corporations' and unions' First Amendment rights.

The next politician that cries, "we need reform because I'm a dishonest crook that sells his vote to the highest bidder" needs jail time.
And that is exactly what they are saying.....I sell my vote for the highest bidder so we need to take away everyones free speech rights.
 
Crashtestdummy: The conservative Supreme Court overstepped its power and gave corporations human rights in this country.
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The SCOTUS is bipartisan, and they did not give corporations 'human' rights. They concurred that corporations have free speech rights, just like unions and political action committees.

DonQ-tipHead: the most recent is the scotus decision basically allowing unlimited money to be poured into elections
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There are still limits on campaign contributions.

It's important to understand why the pinheads are spreading the lies and propaganda against the SCOTUS ruling... It's because the ruling no longer allows Democrats to have the advantage in campaign fund-raising, through union and PAC contributors, who weren't previously restricted like corporations. So now they are running around saying the SCOTUS gave corporations "human rights" ...but labor unions and political action committes (527s), already had the same "human rights" ...was that fair?
 
Threedee said:
Campaign finance laws are retarded. Democracy will last in America until we are done voting away our essential liberties.
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"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself."
John Adams

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
Benjamin Franklin
 
Damn Yankee said:
Clearly the last attempt to reform campaign finances was a failure. Although I believe that individuals should be able to spend their own money as they choose, I also believe in free markets and capitalism, and that means that some will reap tremendous wealth while others a more meager existence. Tis is ad odds with a democratic society. The wealthy should not have proportionally greater influence on campaigns. Corporations, being merely entities serving their owners, should have no influence on campaigns. So we need simplified campaign finance laws, where only individuals can contribute, and only up to a limited amount.

We also need term limits to end the inherent advantage of incumbency.
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Well said SM.
 
Threedee said:
Campaign finance laws are retarded. Democracy will last in America until we are done voting away our essential liberties.
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"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."
Benjamin Franklin
 
Franklin's quote is why the Founders did not create a democracy. Its nausiating how the term and its idealism have since emerged as somehow representing American principles of liberty. Make the world safe for democracy, biotches!!
 
Threedee said:
Franklin's quote is why the Founders did not create a democracy. Its nausiating how the term and its idealism have since emerged as somehow representing American principles of liberty. Make the world safe for democracy, biotches!!
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The founders knew better, and just how bad a democracy really is.
 
Damn Yankee said:
I'll ask you the same question. Why do you back a party that is opposed to your beliefs?
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Because without the Democrats we would be corporate serfs. We wouldn't have child labor laws, min wage and on and on, you know the list. I don't support conservatives because they prefer slave labor over supporting America.

now whats your answer to my question?
 
Dixie said:
The SCOTUS is bipartisan, and they did not give corporations 'human' rights. They concurred that corporations have free speech rights, just like unions and political action committees.



There are still limits on campaign contributions.

It's important to understand why the pinheads are spreading the lies and propaganda against the SCOTUS ruling... It's because the ruling no longer allows Democrats to have the advantage in campaign fund-raising, through union and PAC contributors, who weren't previously restricted like corporations. So now they are running around saying the SCOTUS gave corporations "human rights" ...but labor unions and political action committes (527s), already had the same "human rights" ...was that fair?
Click to expand...

It's all about channeling communist money into our political system. Yep, I'm against that even if you are not.
 
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