General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf We Don't Get The Money Out Of Our Elections Its A Waste Of Time
Sure we can hold a line here and win a battle there but we have 50 trillion in concentrated wealth grinding us down every second. The problem is the money, not just Republican political prostitutes.
It takes 50 million to run for the Senate. It is almost impossible for ANY politician to vote against their funders.
This is the underlying problem.
America's worst problem
We have auctions not elections.
This needs to end. Democrats need to end it. The media who benefits the most will unfortunately fight us every step of the way.
Battlestations!!!!!!
kentuck
(112,491 posts)I would agree.
BigmanPigman
(52,135 posts)and will take a long time to undo the last 38 years, if it can even be undone that is.
theaocp
(4,358 posts)BUCKLEY V VALEO!!! Spread the shame!!
thbobby
(1,474 posts)We are much closer to being a plutocracy than a democracy. It is not a new problem, it has been fought for centuries. But we are losing it at this time.
Tobin S.
(10,420 posts)will not be possible until we get big money out of politics. Once we do that, solutions to other pressing issues will become possible.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Clean up our elections- not just the money (which is huge) but make sure people can vote *and* know their votes are actually counted. If we cant elect officials who will fight for our interests nothing else changes.
scarytomcat
(1,706 posts)if one party gets more votes in a state they should get more representatives
gerrymandering is unfair, districts should be drawn reasonably so that each has they same number of people and represent a geographic area not a political position
TDale313
(7,820 posts)dhol82
(9,420 posts)HOW THE FUCK DO WE DO IT?
Thats the problem now. It might have been easier prior to Citizens United. Now - we are up shits creek.
The republicans have destroyed our options.
I just want to go lie down in a dark room and whimper.
appalachiablue
(42,705 posts)Major obstacles that will take tremendous effort but not insurmountable..
scarytomcat
(1,706 posts)to the exclusion of all others
free air time should be given to all candidates equally
appalachiablue
(42,705 posts)can do what they want. Especially through years of ignoring the Fairness Doctrine (equal time) implemented in FDR's era but essentially ignored more and more since Reagan.
The 1996 Telecom Act lifted strict ownership limits regarding any one company controlling newspapers, TV and radio in specific markets, and magazines and publications. The result was the formation of today's 4-5 giant media conglomerates that produce about 90% of all we read, listen to and see.
According to experts on top this issue, attempting to change the system would mean pushing the FCC to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine and breaking up the big media monopolies via the (toothless) Sherman Anti Trust Act.
As with the banks, US airlines and other industries, there are only 4-5 major players now. It will take serious effort by govt. to improve all this. Good luck with that in the current climate and I wish it weren't so.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)though there's no reason we can't work on both at the same time. Still, the most important is stopping election fraud, voter suppression, voter disenfranchisement, vote theft (via electronic voting machines) AND the Russians.
You're not going to get the $$$$ out of elections without getting Democrats elected and you're not going to get Democrats elected without cleaning up our elections.
I favor paper ballots, hand-counted in full public view. Witness what happened in VA after they finally threw over electronic voting. Yes, huge turnout -- and oddly enough the votes all seemed to have gotten counted to show who's turnout it really was. This is NOT what has happened elsewhere over the last decade plus (since 2000). We've "lost" a lot of elections we didn't really lose, including (most probably) John Ossoff's.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Getting the money out of politics is a big part of fixing the system. It impacts our ability to elect who we need to just as much as the voter suppression and election fraud.
kentuck
(112,491 posts)And that might be one of their recommendations to fixing our electoral system?
Along with a paper ballot, to insure our elections are secure?
ancianita
(38,027 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,662 posts)I vaguely recall that used to be a rule that news or TV stations couldn't promote one candidate without at least offering the others equivalent time.
All the hours CNN hung breathlessly on an empty podium waiting for 45 to speechify would be gone.
malaise
(277,019 posts)make from elections?
rainin
(3,139 posts)Secure our voting systems: paper ballots, automatic registration, etc.
Restore fairness doctrine. Bring honesty back to news.
Campaign Finance Reform. My idea is to allow donations to an election fund. One Fund. Dollars are distributed to candidates based on some fair metric. No one is allowed to donate anonymously and no one may donate to a particular party. Funds support elections generally, not candidates.
wendyb-NC
(3,726 posts)I agree! The money donated by Super PAC's and Mega Corporations to election campaigns is obscene. You're right they are auctions.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)into submission of their political and economic demands. This corruption of our political election system must be stopped as we are rapidly becoming one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
mitch96
(14,533 posts)I might be out of whack here..... but...... A tax break for the wealthy so they can use the tax break money fund their politicians. The American people go in the hole for what, 1.5 trillion so the plutocracy can fund their "team"?? grrrrrrr
m
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)But is is not the case.
colsohlibgal
(5,276 posts)If we went to public funding of elections, put a ban on gerrymandering, went to closely monitored paper ballots straight through to counting...and then dumped the Electoral College....what a different nation we would quickly see.