What The 1% Doesn't Want You To Know

Don M. said:
Our Leaders in Washington remind me of a couple of little children fighting over a toy....both shouting "Mine, Mine". Politics is Supposed to be the Art of Compromise, but that concept seems to have flown right over their heads. Well, if they can't, or won't, do the job they have been entrusted with, the best thing for the nation is to begin Firing them in substantial quantities. Let them all join the Revolving Door to the Lobby firms on K Street, and lets get some fresh people in Congress who are more willing to pay attention to the general population. It might take multiple election cycles to make a meaningful difference, but the sooner we get started, the better. We might lose a couple of the really good politicians....if any really exist...but in the end we will all be better served if these people recognize that if they want to keep their cushy jobs, they are going to have to do something for the 99% to earn their keep.
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I agreee with you.. However, the problem is the MONEY.. Even with our numbers, the 99% cannot begin to match the money thrown at elections like the large PACS, the Koch brothers, and other special interest groups. That money influences the majority of Americans who are too lazy to go beyone the 30 second sound bites of the political television ads to form their political opinions.. Also.. don't forget.. a huge chunk of the American electorate doesn't even get off their arses to go to the polls.. What can be done about that?
 

We could send over a team of scrutineers to check the validity of your elections.
They are very experienced. Most are school teachers and public servants so they come cheap.
I'm sure they'd enjoy the holiday OS.
 

No, not rigged in that way, but that the monied class gets what they want no matter who is elected...
 
Ralphy1 said:
No, not rigged in that way, but that the monied class gets what they want no matter who is elected...
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Doesn't that make a pretty strong case for overturning Citizen's United? The only way to do that is through a Constitutional Amendment that would simply say, Corporations are not people, and money is not speech. BUT that has to pass the House and Senate by 2/3rds I believe.. AND then has to be ratified by either 2/3rds. or 3/4ths of the State Legislatures. Quite a task when the politicians ALL have their bread buttered by the Corporations and the Wealthy.
 
QuickSilver said:
I agreee with you.. However, the problem is the MONEY.. Even with our numbers, the 99% cannot begin to match the money thrown at elections like the large PACS, the Koch brothers, and other special interest groups. That money influences the majority of Americans who are too lazy to go beyone the 30 second sound bites of the political television ads to form their political opinions.. Also.. don't forget.. a huge chunk of the American electorate doesn't even get off their arses to go to the polls.. What can be done about that?
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That is EXACTLY what is going wrong in this country. Big Money dictates who is selected for our candidates, and Big Money brainwashes our people with endless Attack Ads, such that we are invariably left with choosing between the Lesser of Two Evils at election time. Nearly half the people get so fed up, and frustrated, that they don't even bother to vote....especially in the Mid-Terms. We could learn some valuable lessons from some of the European nations, where there are multiple Parties, and substantial restrictions on the funding, etc., of campaigns. As it stands here, we are jerked to the Left, one election, then shoved hard to the Right in the next. This bouncing from extreme to extreme is slowly wearing our people down, to the point where we have less and less influence over our government.

I cannot believe the Stupidity that allowed the passage of Citizens United. We can only Hope that the bulk of our people soon wake up and demand that this Travesty is overturned....but we probably shouldn't hold our breath.

If I were King, I would Outlaw ALL private donations to political campaigns, and instead, allocate a given sum of Federal or State funds to each candidate, and restrict the campaign season to no more than 4 or 5 months leading to election time. We would all be far better served by paying a few dollars more Income Tax to fund these campaigns, than to allow the wealthy Special Interest a free reign to corrupt our entire process. At the same time, I would put term limits on those serving in Congress...2 terms in the Senate, and perhaps 4 to 6 in the House. The longer these clowns stay in office, the more worthless they become.
 
I can remember reading any number of articles suggesting that demographics would work against the Republican brand and sooner rather than later. I've given up on that kind of wishful thinking. Even as the old white male segment of the electorate dwindles the monied interests will find ways to rig elections in their favor. And the Supreme Court will help out.
 
Josiah09 said:
I can remember reading any number of articles suggesting that demographics would work against the Republican brand and sooner rather than later. I've given up on that kind of wishful thinking. Even as the old white male segment of the electorate dwindles the monied interests will find ways to rig elections in their favor. And the Supreme Court will help out.
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Well... one thing to keep in mind is that demographic still count.. Despite all their money, the wealthy still only get one vote at the ballot box like the rest of us. If the old white men die off.. and the younger folks stop listening to the propaganda.. we may have a chance. Keeping a Democrat in the White House will help with the Supreme court. Ginsburg cannot live forever. Supreme court nominations are almost has important as having control of congress.
 
Don M. said:
That is EXACTLY what is going wrong in this country. Big Money dictates who is selected for our candidates, and Big Money brainwashes our people with endless Attack Ads, such that we are invariably left with choosing between the Lesser of Two Evils at election time. Nearly half the people get so fed up, and frustrated, that they don't even bother to vote....especially in the Mid-Terms. We could learn some valuable lessons from some of the European nations, where there are multiple Parties, and substantial restrictions on the funding, etc., of campaigns. As it stands here, we are jerked to the Left, one election, then shoved hard to the Right in the next. This bouncing from extreme to extreme is slowly wearing our people down, to the point where we have less and less influence over our government.

I cannot believe the Stupidity that allowed the passage of Citizens United. We can only Hope that the bulk of our people soon wake up and demand that this Travesty is overturned....but we probably shouldn't hold our breath.

Therein lies a major part of the problem, no, don't hold your breath.

If I were King, I would Outlaw ALL private donations to political campaigns, and instead, allocate a given sum of Federal or State funds to each candidate, and restrict the campaign season to no more than 4 or 5 months leading to election time. We would all be far better served by paying a few dollars more Income Tax to fund these campaigns, than to allow the wealthy Special Interest a free reign to corrupt our entire process. At the same time, I would put term limits on those serving in Congress...2 terms in the Senate, and perhaps 4 to 6 in the House. The longer these clowns stay in office, the more worthless they become.
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Wait a minute, if you were King? Um excuser me, Lord Master. LOL. I'm not sure many of those political positions, we have, would matter if a King were in place, but, the rest of the statement, would be great if the people would vote and, the courts could outlaw those political campaign contribution practices.

Josiah09 said:
I can remember reading any number of articles suggesting that demographics would work against the Republican brand and sooner rather than later. I've given up on that kind of wishful thinking. Even as the old white male segment of the electorate dwindles the monied interests will find ways to rig elections in their favor. And the Supreme Court will help out.
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So much truth to these statements. Sad, but, so true. Plus people are too easily swayed by those who pretend to have their best interest at heart; there's little genuine fact checking or understanding of the bigger picture in how the policies that people in these positions are going to affect them and those around them in totality in the long run.
 
QuickSilver said:
I agreee with you.. However, the problem is the MONEY.. Even with our numbers, the 99% cannot begin to match the money thrown at elections like the large PACS, the Koch brothers, and other special interest groups. That money influences the majority of Americans who are too lazy to go beyone the 30 second sound bites of the political television ads to form their political opinions.. Also.. don't forget.. a huge chunk of the American electorate doesn't even get off their arses to go to the polls.. What can be done about that?
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I agree about the money, but I'm an American that doesn't do TV. I want to know more about what's really going on in this country though, so I have been using the little I gather myself online, plus the "average" Joe/Jane to help me out here. I trust those average Americans way more than the guys in the stiff shirts (probably starch their underwears too). You made a comment earlier, and that's another reason I can't handle too much info because it's damn depressing. Mostly it's depressing to me when I know some joker is full of crap on the news or elsewhere, or when people start to fight. This country will not survive if people don't come together. I LOVE Don's statement. If we are SO smart, why can't we get it together, and straighten our "employees" out instead of them running the company.
 
Don M. said:
That is EXACTLY what is going wrong in this country. Big Money dictates who is selected for our candidates, and Big Money brainwashes our people with endless Attack Ads, such that we are invariably left with choosing between the Lesser of Two Evils at election time. Nearly half the people get so fed up, and frustrated, that they don't even bother to vote....especially in the Mid-Terms. We could learn some valuable lessons from some of the European nations, where there are multiple Parties, and substantial restrictions on the funding, etc., of campaigns. As it stands here, we are jerked to the Left, one election, then shoved hard to the Right in the next. This bouncing from extreme to extreme is slowly wearing our people down, to the point where we have less and less influence over our government.

I cannot believe the Stupidity that allowed the passage of Citizens United. We can only Hope that the bulk of our people soon wake up and demand that this Travesty is overturned....but we probably shouldn't hold our breath.

If I were King, I would Outlaw ALL private donations to political campaigns, and instead, allocate a given sum of Federal or State funds to each candidate, and restrict the campaign season to no more than 4 or 5 months leading to election time. We would all be far better served by paying a few dollars more Income Tax to fund these campaigns, than to allow the wealthy Special Interest a free reign to corrupt our entire process. At the same time, I would put term limits on those serving in Congress...2 terms in the Senate, and perhaps 4 to 6 in the House. The longer these clowns stay in office, the more worthless they become.
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I'm glad that this is an International forum as I've learned some things about the way other countries are. Also, I think your plan above is excellent! I don't know what that Citizens United is so I'm going to go look it up;) Thanks again Don
 
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/10/18/11527/citizens-united-decision-and-why-it-matters

The Citizens United ruling, released in January 2010, tossed out the corporate and union ban on making independent expenditures and financing electioneering communications. It gave corporations and unions the green light to spend unlimited sums on ads and other political tools, calling for the election or defeat of individual candidates.
In a nutshell, the high court’s 5-4 decision said that it is OK for corporations and labor unions to spend as much as they want to convince people to vote for or against a candidate.
The decision did not affect contributions. It is still illegal for companies and labor unions to give money directly to candidates for federal office. The court said that because these funds were not being spent in coordination with a campaign, they “do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption.”


And that’s what led to the creation of the super PACs, which act as shadow political parties. They accept unlimited donations from billionaires, corporations and unions and use it to buy advertising, most of it negative.
The Supreme Court kept limits on disclosure in place, and super PACs are required to report regularly on who their donors are. The same can’t be said for “social welfare” groups and some other nonprofits, like business leagues.
These groups can function the same way as super PACs, so long as election activity is not their primary activity. But unlike the super PACs, nonprofits do not report who funds them. That’s disturbing to those who favor transparency in elections. An attempt by Congress to pass a law requiring disclosure was blocked by Republican lawmakers.
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So in essence, the Supreme court ruling says that Corporations are People... and can make campaign contributions... unlimited and anonymously.. Also that Money is speech... as the more money you have the more speech you have to be able to influence people and therefore the elections.
 
Yes, and that kind of takes away the average Joes "opportunity" to speak doesn't it. I wish I had something smart to say because my piggy-bank is bulging at the seams. I could back someone, any takers??
 
Josiah09 said:
I can remember reading any number of articles suggesting that demographics would work against the Republican brand and sooner rather than later. I've given up on that kind of wishful thinking. Even as the old white male segment of the electorate dwindles the monied interests will find ways to rig elections in their favor. And the Supreme Court will help out.
Click to expand...

There is a strange shift going on in our younger population...especially these "Millennials". Recent polls seem to indicate that they are moving towards the Republican side of the fence. They are disappointed with Obama, fed up with Congress, and not at all enthused about the ACA (Obamacare). It would appear that they are far too consumed with Texting and Tweeting, instead of observing the world they are inheriting.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/10/millennials-abandon-democratic-sinking-ship/
 
Don M. said:
There is a strange shift going on in our younger population...especially these "Millennials". Recent polls seem to indicate that they are moving towards the Republican side of the fence. They are disappointed with Obama, fed up with Congress, and not at all enthused about the ACA (Obamacare). It would appear that they are far too consumed with Texting and Tweeting, instead of observing the world they are inheriting.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/10/millennials-abandon-democratic-sinking-ship/
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How much did you care about politics in your 20s or 30's.. ??
 
Don's right imo, and I think it's more "what can we do to regain the younger folks respect". Yes, we were all teens that mostly relied on our elders to do things right, but it's not a perfect world except that if we are still kickin, we do have an opportunity to change things.
 
QuickSilver said:
How much did you care about politics in your 20s or 30's.. ??
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Perhaps I was unique, but I've always been interested in politics...especially after I spent some time in the military during that VietNam Crap. I can only recall one election I missed....the company sent me out of town on short notice.
Most of the people I've associated with, over the years, also seemed to have a pretty active interest, and voted.
 
I remember the kids in school that were so up on things as well, thanks for the reminder Don. I admired them and also followed, or heard about their continuing efforts to stay involved. I'm sure if they are living, they are still involved/informed, and "know what's going on" ;)
 
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