What happens if we vote for the people that don't take corporate money?

[kayakjohnny]

And they end up in office anyway?

Because they got funded by enough small people.

What if the small people knew they could outspend the corporates, collectively?

There could be a whole new breed that doesn't take a corporate dime, but still gets in.

Or gets in because of that.

Then the 'system' just has to deal with them.

And their voting record.

[SeekerBlue]

1. In many places and many races, they won't be able to afford to get on the ballot

Due to ridiculous, exclusionary ballot access issues.

Also, I've noticed in all our current political ads that virtually all of the candidates are claiming they don't take corporate money, lobbyist money, etc., but we all know that's a lie.

And how is Joe Blow going to compete with, say, Michael Bloomberg? Especially when most people simply watch TV rather than reading newspapers or online commentary or journals or what have you?

And so what if all us little people pool together? Let's say all 300 million of us donate $100 (a lot for most people). That's what? $30,000,000,000? Let's just split that between the Congressional races - 100 Senators and 435 Congressmen - 535 races. So that's a little over $5.5 million per race, less than what's being spent now, no doubt! Nevermind presidential elections, gubernatorial elections, state legislatures, and so on down the line.

Also, all 300,000,000 of us won't agree on any candidates. For god's sake, 47% of the dipshits in this country voted for McCain/Palin!

Why are we even talking about trying to buy the election out from under the corporations? Why is spending these godforsaken amounts of money successful in determining elections in the first place? Why are we even talking in these terms, taking this exorbitant spending as a given? Because half the people are apathetic to the point of not voting, and half of those who vote - at least - are ignorant, easily led, easily scared, and continually insist on voting against their own interests.

The corporations fed them the shit, and they eat it and ask for more. We cannot counter that. If we can't counter it with ideas, we certainly can't counteract it with money. Michael Moore didn't end corporate off-shoring. Or the Bush Selection. Or the Iraq War. Or for-profit healthcare. And he's pretty good at "liberal" propaganda, and has a real platform.

Half or more of these "small people" are idiots who WANT this shit. They think it's delicious.

Sorry.

[kayakjohnny]

2. No need to be sorry.

I posted this knowing there might be all kinds of responses.

But the outrage on both sides may lead to some deeper involvement in the process.

And I believe we can't know the numbers just yet.

Thanks for a well-thought and articulated response, SeekerBlue.

[glinda]

3. the people who believe crap outnumber the smarter ones. Won't matter.

[pocoloco]

4. Short answer.........

the votes don't get counted.

[kayakjohnny]

6. I thought that too last time around.

So did many people.

Remember, "Why did they LET Obama have this one?"

Well, they did.

Or the votes were just there.

[daninthemoon]

5. There was one?

[begin_within]

7. Also what if we simply refuse to vote for any corporate-funded candidate?

I give the public more credit than some do I guess.

[kayakjohnny]

8. Thank you.

A better way of saying what I failed at saying.

[RedCloud]

9. Or boycott their products?

[kayakjohnny]

11. Now see?

This is what I'm saying.

And it's something that even the more basic mindset can wrap their limited intellect around.

Presumably any way.

Which, if so could put huge numbers in our corner.

[dysfunctional press]

10. and what happens if monkeys fly out of my butt...?

both scenarios are about equally as likely

[kayakjohnny]

12. Well then,

It'll most likely hurt.

Just like it's doing if it stays this way.

Could be cathartic too.

If they don't scratch your rectum too badly on the way out.

[Kaleva]

13. DU is a corporation.

[jimdeakinforussenate]

14. Sadly the people responding to your question are correct

The cynicism and skepticism are justly founded.

Americans have had the choice of bad or worse for a long time. Many Americans hoped Obama would be true to his word and force Pelosi to be transparent. Unfortunately we are finding out that Democrats and Republicans are truly all the same.

We need to revisit the root cause. Lobbyist greed and Political Power.

Until we educate the populace we will be stuck with politics as usual.

Unfortunately it took us almost 100 years to get to this point, so we will not be able to correct it overnight.

When grass roots Democrats and grass roots Republicans work together, to replace the beltway corruption, between lobbyists and politicians, we can prevail.

Nothing highlights the problems in Washington D.C. better than the fiasco that became known as Health Care Reform.

[kayakjohnny]

15. Thanks and welcome to DU.

You are right.

I just hope people don't overlook the good 'what ifs' just for the sake of the bad ones.

There is still a big wild card element in all of this.

Hard to measure at this early stage.

[undeterred]

16. Then you get Russ Feingold.

[kayakjohnny]

18. Ah Ha!

Who would also be undeterred.

Great answer.

I like that guy as much as I do any political figure.

Ever.

Thanks.

[defendandprotect]

17. Well, we saw what happened with Edwards and Kucinich .... they were pushed aside . . .

they had less $ to give to MSM which was an automatic push off --

and the two party tyranny and its corporate interests also pushed them off --

So, again, we're fighting a fascist system now --

we have to acknowledge that --


It has arisen on right wing political violence, assassinations, intimidation,

money influence -- and it is a serious danger to us all.

[shadowknows69]

19. We thought we did. His name was Barack Obama. Ber he takes some in 2012.

[Hawkeye-X]

20. Andrew Romanoff is the ONLY candidate to refuse to take corporate and PAC money

and his campaign is fully funded by grassroots money, of which I am a part of.

Romanoff remains extremely popular in Colorado, and has a very decent chance of removing Michael "Carpetbagger" Bennet off the Senate.

Remember, he was CDP's candidate when Salazar was promoted to DOI.

Hawkeye-X