US is basically a one-party state

[nefar559]

It has often been pointed out by political scientists that the US is basically a one-party state -- the business party. with two factions, Democrats and Republicans. Most of the population seems to agree. A very high percentage, sometimes passing 80%, believe that the government serves "the few and the special interests," not "the people." In the contested 2000 election, about 75% regarded it as mostly a farce having nothing to do with them, a game played by rich contributors, party bosses, and the public relations industry, which trained candidates to say mostly meaningless things that might pick up some votes. This was BEFORE the actual election, with the accusations of fraud and selection of Bush with a minority of the popular vote.
I tend to agree with the majority of the population on these matters, and believe there is a significant task ahead to create a more democratic culture, in which elections are far more meaningful and there is also meaningful ongoing political participation by the general population. More serious political scientists in the mainstream describe the US not as a "democracy" but as a "polyarchy": a system of elite decision and periodic public ratification. There is surely much truth to the conclusion of the leading American social philosopher of the 20th century, John Dewey, whose main work was on democracy, that until there is democratic control of the primary economic institutions, politics will be "the shadow cast on society by big business."


http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=4780&sectionID=36

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

Hrmm...how well would unbridled democracy work, though?

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? California is an example of a state where propositions and initiatives are often passed by "the people", accountability and government transparency is supposedly high, much of the govt. budget is earmarked by voters, yet people here often feel just as dissatisfied if not more with the current government.

Plus fuck man how do you create intellectuality in a Springer nation? The average person doesn't give a shit about politics. Thank fucking Michael Moore et al for writing shit that is accessible to everyone. I don't agree with everything he's doing, or all of his views, but as soon as the day comes when political commentators become just as celebrated and respected as Britney Spears or fucking Kobe "the man who throws a ball into a hole" Bryant, we may actually see some real change in society.

 

[nefar559]

Hrmm...how well would unbridled democracy work, though?

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? California is an example of a state where propositions and initiatives are often passed by "the people", accountability and government transparency is supposedly high, much of the govt. budget is earmarked by voters, yet people here often feel just as dissatisfied if not more with the current government.

Plus fuck man how do you create intellectuality in a Springer nation? The average person doesn't give a shit about politics. Thank fucking Michael Moore et al for writing shit that is accessible to everyone. I don't agree with everything he's doing, or all of his views, but as soon as the day comes when political commentators become just as celebrated and respected as Britney Spears or fucking Kobe "the man who throws a ball into a hole" Bryant, we may actually see some real change in society.

its not about creating a unbridled democracy. Its about bring balance. the main problem with our current 2 party system is that both get equal amount of corporate funding. And both do favors for these corporations. We need a real balance in our system, from a party that doesnt represent these corporations.

And one of the ways we can get a party that represents the citizens of this country is by changing the way we vote, to more modernize form of democracy. LIke say the Instant runoff voting (IRV) system, that way shit like what happen during the last election couldn't happen again.

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

I saw the best way to bring about honest politics is to eliminate party names and corporate funding.

Although without party names and affiliations half of America wouldn't know who the fuck to vote for...they'd be even more lost than they are now.

 

[nefar559]

I saw the best way to bring about honest politics is to eliminate party names and corporate funding.

Although without party names and affiliations half of America wouldn't know who the fuck to vote for...they'd be even more lost than they are now.

i saw nader on cspan the other day, he was talking about how 1/2 of americans dont vote. or some huge number like that. But he was talking about how football fans know every detail to the game. Thats the way politics should be with the average citizen.

Another poll showed that huge percentage of the population doesn't believe what the government or media tell them. That tells you a lot about our country? Why dont you think ameicans are turned off by politics? not cuase they're dumb. But becuase they dont think politicians can do anything for them. they think its a sham. this is how i felt about it.

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

It's the way I still feel about it. Americans are dumb, though, no doubt about it. The dysgenic effect of life in American society is well documented.

 

[nefar559]

The dysgenic effect of life in American society is well documented.

i dont believe the average american is dumb. I do believe the media plays a key role in changing public opinion.

70% of americans believed saddam had something to do with 9/11. Is that just becuase americans are dumb?! or does the media have some type of agenda?

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

The average American used the Bush inference. Saddam is a dictator, meaning he kills people unfairly. 9/11 was an example of unfair killing, therefore Saddam must ha ve had something to do with 9/11.