Three things required to SAVE democracy.

[Meldread]

1. Public Financing of ALL Campaigns. Outlaw all private and personal campaign contributions. This eliminates the need for fund raising, allowing those we elect to focus on the job we sent them to do. It ends moneyed interests trying to influence politicians with campaign contributions; as well as the Michael Bloomberg's of America from using their vast wealth to give them a political advantage. In addition, all gifts given to any politician greater than $500 must be reported to the FCC within 10 days. Any candidate who meets the requirements to run for elected office shall receive public funding. This funding shall cover the cost of their staff, advertisement, events, and anything else required to run a successful campaign. It would require the candidates to face off in at least three publicly funded debates, with the possibility of more debates if the majority of candidates agree.

2. Require all political advertisement to contain both audible and visible (where possible) disclosures of all individuals and groups that contributed more than $500 to the ad. This is aimed at PACs, individuals, and other political groups (such as 527's). Every penny raised must be accounted for and that information turned over to the FCC. The FCC then must publicly make the names of all contributers publicly available through their internet website.

3. Corporate law must immediately be reformed. Understand that previous regulations on the corporations were not part of corporate law. The government CREATES corporations. Modifying corporate law is similar to modifying a contract. The government turns to corporations and says, 'In exchange for A, B, and C benefits you agree to not do X, Y, and Z.' This would allow us to publicly ban corporations from using their profits to lobby or use them to influence politics or policy. This is unlikely to be overturned by the SCOTUS because unlike the previous law, the individuals forming the corporation are agreeing to the limitations before hand - therefore giving consent - no different than signing a non-disclosure agreement.

These three things will not only undo the harm done by the SCOTUS, but will strengthen our democracy in dramatic ways. If you agree with this approach, please K&R. We need to come up with a solution that we can lobby Congressional leaders with immediately while feelings are still raw and people are motivated.

[riverdale]

1. maybe just one thing:

Proportional representation. Get rid of the duopoly. Dems and Repubes are just two branches on the same tree.

[Meldread]

3. I would like that as well.

However, at the moment it is a bit out of reach and would require an entirely different effort. It may also require some amendments to the Constitution, depending on how exactly we'd like to go about it (although not necessarily).

[BrklynLiberal]

2. But that is like asking Congress to put a gun to their own heads and pulling the trigger.

Unless we can get a Congress full of people who do not own their souls to corporations, this will not happen.

[Meldread]

4. Here is how I propose we accomplish it.

First of all, let me say that I think elected leaders would by-and-large benefit. It would mostly free them from special interests, which they are beholden too because they control the purse strings required for their re-election campaigns.

However, all that is separate from actually getting it passed. We have 59 people in the Democratic Caucus, 58 if you do not count Joe Lieberman. That is still one of the largest majorities in Congressional history, and despite the sky-is-falling media reports that gives Democrats unprecedented power.

So how do we make it happen? We rally together, and send a message to Harry Reid and all other Congressional Democrats. We tell them the following:

1. You will pass this or you will be primaried.
2. If the Republican's won't join you, you shall let them filibuster. You will shut down the federal government if necessary, and you will allow it remain shut down until one of two things happens. A) Republican's give in and end the filibuster. B) A majority of Democrats (51) support using the Nuclear Option, killing the filibuster and allowing it to pass.

We make it clear that any Democrat who stands in the way of this, and who does not give their full support to the effort will not only be primaried, but will not receive our vote in the general election should they win. We will sit home, even if it results in a Republican winning the seat. Why? Because if Democrats cannot pass legislation with 59 votes in the Senate then they are obviously unfit to be elected to public office. They are ineffectual in their job.

Draw a line in the sand and lay down the law. Force them to work for us - or suffer the consequences.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. This would appear tobe a great plan...

but I believe that there are some who come into government service primarily for the "fringe benefits" that corporate sponsorship bestows upon them. They are hungry for power or lots of fancy belongings..or both.

I cannot help but be doubtful about getting a united front of the public to make these demands.
So much of politics is run by "machines" and vested interests..I would be thrilled if the opposition could be 'primaried"..but I am
skeptical about it becoming a reality.

I would love to see this happen. I would love to toss out the entire House of Reps and Senators..and start from scratch.
But I know that will never happen either. Term limits would be a good place to start..but then that is again asking Congress to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun. They just ain't gonna do it...even if they promise they will while campaigning. Michael Bloomberg was all for term limits when he first ran for Mayor of NYC, and look how well he delivered on that.

I guess I am just rambling on since I am so unhappy and am not very hopeful of things turning out well for this country..and this world.

I feel so sad for my son and his children. The world will be such a cruel place for them...

[Meldread]

6. You need to snap out of it.

There is no point in wallowing in self-pity. Instead, get angry, and use that anger to motivate you to FIGHT.

Everyone is angry right now. Democrats, Republicans, Independents... Look what happened in Massachusetts. People want change. They are demanding change. It wasn't a bunch of right wingers that sent Scott Brown to the Senate - otherwise Ted would have had plenty of real challengers for his seat. No, it was a vast number of people who were just PISSED OFF. They looked to Washington, saw that the promised change hadn't happened, and decided to vote for somebody else. We have a two party system, and so that somebody else happened to be a Republican.

The anger that people feel is based in the belief that their government does not represent them. They look at the bank bailouts, look at their own desperate situation, and are furious. If we can convince people that the change being proposed here will help them (and it will), and that it will solve many of the problems they face, then we can hold the politician's accountable.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. You are right. We do need to focus the anger and get things done...

:thumbsup:

[Golden Raisin]

7. It's too late but we should have been

spending since WWII what we spend on wars, stealth fighters and nuclear carriers on Education and, in particular, study and knowledge of the Constitution and teaching what used to be called Civics. Now a dumbed-down electorate is either desperately trying just to keep their financial head above water or too busy hypnotized and anesthetized watching 'Jersey Shore' or 'Dancing With The Stars' while democracy and the Republic are crumbling before our eyes.

[Meldread]

10. A defeatist attitude never solved anything.

This is what is wrong with the Democratic Party, we give up before the fight even starts. Do you know when you're defeated? When you're dead. Seriously, snap out of it. Do you think this is the worst thing this nation has ever faced? How about the Revolutionary or the Civil War? Do you think the republic is so fragile?

I don't care if they're rolling tanks down main street, it isn't over until you're dead. We need to stop waiting for OTHERS to fight, and ask ourselves when **WE** will begin to fight. If everyone is waiting on everyone else, then we'll get nowhere.

[Meldread]

8. kick -nt-

:kick: