http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5952120Oh my.
The primitives don't seem to understand politics.....or mathematics.
As usual.
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 01:03 PM
Original message
If the two-party system won't sit down at the table and WORK IT OUT
How can we expect to set an example for other democracies?
Note to Republicans: America voted for change, including clean energy, health care, education, foreign diplomacy.
Note to Democrats: America voted for change, including clean energy, health care, education, foreign diplomacy.
Note to Congress Critters: Get to work. We are paying your salary.
Who controls Congress? Who controls the White House?
It seems to me the Democrats could get whatever the Democrats want, no matter the Republicans in Congress.
So, what's with this? Republicans are supposed to vote in lockstep with the
majority Democrats?
Damn, the primitives are stupid.
AndyA (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. We need new Congress Critters. On both sides of the aisle.
Most of them have long ago forgotten who they work for, whose interest they are supposed to protect, and who put them where they are. They forget all that, and are courted by the lobbyists with huge corporate money. Their peers tell the new Critters "this is just how it works..." and another newbie bites the dust.
Out with the old, in with the new. We need to set term limits and shake things up regularly so we don't get stuck with the likes of Inhofe, Cornyn, Landrieu, etc., who no longer seem to care what their voters think or want.
I'm not sure if this is the Andy primitive--there's many of them on Skins's island--who a couple of months ago inquired as to why Pa Kettle in the White House just didn't up and fire Bela Pelosi and Harry Reid.
CrispyQ (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 01:54 PM
Response to Original message
2. We need pubically fiananced campaigns, NOW.
We'll never get our country back until we take big money out of our political process. Money does not equal free speech, in spite of what SCOTUS ruled.
readmoreoften (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 02:03 PM
Response to Original message
3. I don't want them to "work it out." I want the Democrats to take a stand on ONE DAMN THING.
Sit down at the table and work it out? WTF will that give us? Slightly less than total privatization. Slightly less than total control by the religious right. Slightly less than total blind, hawkish responses in the Middle East. Total corporate control except for a few phony populist exemptions that never see the light of day.
SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER DEMOCRACIES? An example in what? Invading sovereign nations and torturing citizens who are defending themselves? Bombing villages in Pakistan? Supporting global right-wing death squads and the JSOC assassination team.
Do you really think anyone is looking to us as a model for DEMOCRACY? Maybe they look to us as how to be more efficient thugs, gangsters, and movie producers but democracy? I don't think so.
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 02:04 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. And your plan is . . . ?
The Mary Pickford primitive, or the primitive at least as old as Mary Pickford, if Mary Pickford were still alive:
Cleita (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 02:07 PM
Response to Original message
5. We can't set an example because we never were a democracy, but a Republic and now we aren't even that, just a shell or puppet government for a fascist, corporate, soon to become police state.
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Democratic republic
Okay. So are we just giving up?
Cleita (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. No, but considering we don't even have a democratic republic anymore, but a fascist, corporate, soon to be police state, it seems we have to start from the bottom.
That sounds ominous.
That's what the
0bamareich's coming to?
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. I'm afraid you are right
Term limits for all. And reasonable rules for recall of any given one of them inside the Beltway.
But seeing that as I type, in my heart of hearts I know that path will take too long. The climate is ****ed, and Obama seemed relieved for the House to have passed a bill full of another generation of dirty coal with less emphasis on clean energy. That just won't do for our kids. Just simply will not do. Damn, I wish Al would have run.
The truth is, Obama is not in control. You and I are in control of our elected reps, but it takes more than one person's voice to make them change.
But I can tell you that they listen to an angry mob. And listen well. History will vouch for that. We once again have to get Americans off their butts and raising their voices--together.
And I just can't believe how much it was necessary that we put parties aside to fend off Rick Perry's Trans Texas Corridor. Very strange bedfellows. We don't talk about the fact that our group consists of Libertarians, Republicans, Progressives, Greens, Socialists, Communists and, yes, Democrats. We've kept our eye on the prize and so far, it is working.
Cleita (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Beating pots and pans and angry signs outside of our reps headquarters when they are on breaks and home districts like right now. Think that might work?
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 03:56 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. Get a bunch of you
The hard work is to show people the facts. Most people--really most of them--look at facts and go, "Whoa!" but getting the ones to take off work and go do the deal is the hard part and where the charisma comes in. Pleading for their children's sake hits home. But you will have those idiots who choose to remain in denial or invested in coal (or whatever). Don't waste your breath and move on. Like-minded people can really move mountains, usually by convincing other to take up part of the work. Meanwhile, we all gotta work and eat. Shit it just never ends.
Pots and pans just warm my heart.
But if pro-lifers demonstrated using pots and pans.....
Better Believe It (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 04:00 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. We control the "elected" politicians? Now that's funny!
And what terrible thing happens if you throw them out of office in the next election?
They go into the public sector and make themselves filthy rich for having served their corporate masters .... frequently functioning as business lobbyists with "connections" on the hill.
Being elected to Congress is often a stepping stone to greater riches.
Right .... punish them by voting for yet another corporate whore!
That'll show em!
There are of course notable exceptions, but they are and will remain in a small minority.
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 04:08 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Of course we do
Did China elect them? No. India? England? No, Americans elected them.
What we have to do is to work for real progressives. It is a slow process, but I don't think you are going to have much success with advocating throwing capitalism out just yet, BUT, I know everyone hates the lobbyists (except the lobbyists and whore politicians).
That lobbying is the leg to stand on. YOU have to be the inspiration to get people to agree to work for it. I had to learn to be nicer in order to get some good results. It was hard work.
Better Believe It (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 05:40 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Well if you control them shall we expect EFCA and single payer Medicare for All soon?
How about just a strong public option that can take on the health insurance industry? Better something than nothing.
Can we count on that since we the people control Washington, D.C. .... the peoples capital?
Better Believe It (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 03:53 PM
Response to Original message
10. U.S. can be an example for multi-party and/or parliamentary democracies
I don't think so.
texastoast (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Just give it up?
Just don't even try to be the best?
Better Believe It (1000+ posts) Mon Jun-29-09 05:36 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. Never give up. Just don't place undo confidence in the political/economic system which is designed to stop "mob rule" i.e. democracy.
Ahhhh, nothing warms the heart more than the anguish of the primitives.
