Why Republicans vote in lock-step, even when a majority of Repub voters don't support their action

[maxrandb]

To me, it's simple. Democrats have to answer to the people, who are a diverse and large constituency, made up of liberals, progressives, moderates, and even a few "sane" conservatives.

Repukes only have to answer to one small group of supporters. The ultra wealthy and corporations.

If you have been paying attention, you won't have to guess where the power really is. It lies in that small group that controls 70% of the wealth. Repukes march in lock-step, because the only thing they have to be concerned with is "pleasing that small group". That small group has only one major concern and objective...GATHER EVEN MORE WEALTH AND POWER. Not hard to control your caucus when you only have one thing to concern yourself with. As long as they keep the stream of wealth headed "north", the corporate media is only too happy to shill for them.

They don't need to fear the "wrath" of the American people, because they have Faux News, Limpballs, Insanity, train Wreck and the "corporate" media to carry water for them.

Only when general strikes send people to the streets, and the wealth of their constituents is threatened, will anything change.

[Recursion]

1. Republicans lead Democrats in donations in only one category

Contributions from individuals of $20 or less.

(In fairness, that's the individual pols, not the parties; I don't know those numbers.)

Repukes only have to answer to one small group of supporters. The ultra wealthy and corporations.

Well, no. They have to get their voters to vote for them. And both Democrats and Republicans represent people a majority of whose livelihoods come from corporations.

[emulatorloo]

3. "They have to get their voters to vote for them." Yes by lying and appealing to fear and prejudice.

I come from Iowa, where I have Chuck Grassley (R) and Tom Harkin (D), A reactionary and one of the best friends progressives have. It is going to be hard to sell the "they all serve their corporate masters frame" to me.

[Recursion]

5. Actually I wasn't saying "they all serve their corporate masters"

I was saying they all have to get a majority of votes every 2 or 6 years, as appropriate.

[emulatorloo]

7. Maybe I was over-reading your quote

"And both Democrats and Republicans represent people a majority of whose livelihoods come from corporations."

If so I apologize for misinterpreting you,

[Recursion]

8. Oh, by that I meant that very few view "corporations" as the enemy

Because they like the fact that they employ their constituents. I like the fact that one employs me, too.

[emulatorloo]

9. They have the ethos of consumer protection and regulation which the Republicans seem to lack

Which is a good thing about Democrats.

[maxrandb]

6. It doesn't matter

It is easy to get voters to vote when you have massive amounts of wealth devoted to media conglomerates who "help" the people decide.

If you look issue by issue, the Democratic position is favored in poll after poll. There is some reason that doesn't convert to real representation.

I argue that the reason is because the "liberal" media helps ensure it doesn't convert into real representation.

But, the gist of my post if that it seems the Repukes can surely control their caucus, and my argument is because they realy only have a very small number of people they need to please. Please them, and they'll ensure the "news" translates favorably.

[emulatorloo]

2. Pleasing the Small Group and Consolidating Power,

The lesson is not lost on me that the COC and Rove's Crossroads donors targeted Democrats with horrible lie ads. They want Dems out of the way so they have free reign to give the country to the rich.

[EstimatedProphet]

4. I think it's more that they are loyal to the party before the country

And that they think Democrats have cooties.