Reply #188: You may call democracy blackmail

[John Q. Citizen]

if you want. In many ways it's set up to be just that.

I suppose it makes a lot of people who write letters to their elected officials blackmailers too.

You know; "Dear Senator X, if you don't vote against cloture, I will never vote for you again.' In fact I will do everything in my power to help find and run a better candidate against you, one who better represents their constituents instead of the bush crime family."

Yes I suppose you could construe that as some sort of "blackmail." but I hardly think it's a crime. In fact it seems quite healthy to democracy, if you ask me.

Elected officials need to know there will be consequences for actions, or lack of actions, that harm their constituents.

So just out of curiousity, why do you imagine that Pelosi is totally ignoring the will of her voters? Is she beimg blackmailed by bush? The media? Her donars? Or does she just not really care that much what her constiuents want?

Also, do you call it blackmail when a Speaker says to a Member, if you don't vote to pass bill x, then your bill y will never see the light of day? Or is that just 'armtwisting' as opposed to "blackmail" and why?

Also, using your logic, I guess you would call campaign promises bribes, because candidates are promising voters something to get them to vote for them. "If elected, I will work to hold bush accountable," would be a bribe to your way of thinking?