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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAL GORE: “We as US citizens need to pay careful attention to the fact-our democracy has been hacked"
Former Vice President Al Gore says democracy has been overtaken by corporate special interests, and its up to web-based activists to take it back.
We as U.S. citizens need to pay careful attention to the fact that our democracy has been hacked, Gore told Motherboard. Big money has perverted our democracy, hacked it, taken it over and twisted it to serve the purposes of special interests.
Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush as the result of a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling, said Americans must recognize that new reality and then accept the challenge of fixing it.
We need an Occupy Democracy, if you will, Gore said.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/30/al-gore-our-democracy-has-been-hacked-and-survival-of-civilization-at-risk/
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)the Bush familia did not act alone.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)Did y'all forget that? The initiative to "streamline" government. Ended up with Carlyle group OWNING half the MIC and Snowden's employer.
I like Al but he's another side of the same coin.
It's ALL theatre.
stillcool
(32,626 posts)We are all 'both sides of the coin', in one way or another. I guess the degree to which one is vilified depends on which pond you happen to swim in.
cprise
(8,445 posts)Gore made privatization a bi-partisan value. He co-founded the DLC for crisesakes.
He had the temerity to think that a corporate sector that controlled the economy down to the dollar would gladly accept and work within environmental regulations (his "Natural Capitalism" . Instead they used their newly-centralized news media (thanks Reagan+Clinton) in the 90s to create a circus and bring the government to its knees. Its no small irony that they tarred and feathered Gore in 2000 before stealing the Florida vote.
He is a fool and we're paying dearly for accepting his foolishness.
stillcool
(32,626 posts)human species different than you. Or perhaps I am too stupid to know the 'truth' of what decisions Al Gore made, and why he made them. Would I have done things differently? My life is not so black and white, and I appreciate a good article. Please excuse my ignorance.
Blanks
(4,835 posts)Not that climate change isn't important, but the man almost (and should have) became president. He's very intelligent and I think focussing exclusively on climate change makes him look like a one issue politician.
I hope we hear more from him.
dem in texas
(2,674 posts)I agree, I would like to hear more from him about other subjects. Before we went into Iraq, he had a lot to say about what a big mistake it was and everything he said turned out to be true.
Blanks
(4,835 posts)Where he described a system that basically became what is google earth today.
I remember the campaign trail in 1992 when he kept talking about the 'information super-highway'. Before the word 'Internet' had been coined.
He knew where we should be heading then, I'd like to see him guide us a little more. Especially if he has a plan for retaking our democracy - I'm all ears.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)He was one of the first in that wave of Democrats who changed their positions on gay marriage a few years ago. He had plenty to say when the Iraq war was getting ready to start.
I think we just don't get to hear as much of what he has to say as we would like. He does speak out on other issues, but we don't always get to hear about it, unfortunately.
Blanks
(4,835 posts)To occupy his time for a while. We know its a problem, We just can't all agree on the solution. If we had some leadership - more people might start working together toward a solution.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)...can stop progress ad nausea (> 300 filibusters).
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)The GOP has been trying to do this for a long time. The reason they are succeeding now is that the opposition party that used to stop them is now complicit in the looting.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)Or has he forgotten the fundraising members of Congress have to do?
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)The damage is done. Hell, he probably supports the TPP. He loved NAFTA.
Uncle Joe
(58,349 posts)The American People viewed or had the opportunity view that debate, I don't believe the same can be said for the TPP.
malaise
(268,930 posts)He's 100% correct
bigdarryl
(13,190 posts)There were some good liberal shows on there. And now with this BULLSHIT replacement there all off the air.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)but that would have been disruptive, and dangerous to the functioning of our democratic republic.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)so it is easy to understand why this wasn't a huge issue during the 2000 election.
Sam
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)being cheered on inauguration day? Neither do I.
cprise
(8,445 posts)People were throwing eggs at the motorcade, which had to lunge past the gates once they were opened.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)and the bullet-proof glass windows were all the way up.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)As it stands, he is at least trying to do something about it, and for that I am grateful!
cprise
(8,445 posts)It would, however, help his legacy if he were more explicit in recanting his old pro-corporate world view.
90-percent
(6,829 posts)Al's words of today would be just as valid back in Nov 2000, when the Supreme Court overruled Democracy itself.
"Hacked" is too genteel. "Forcibly raped" is a better figure of speech, and I do understand how horrible that crime is.
-90% Jimmy
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Many Latin American countries have taken their governments back from the 1% through near bloodless Ballot Box Revolutions.
When the Working Class & the Poor realize WE have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the !% Ruling Elite and their Mouth Pieces in Washington,
then WE can have change too!
VIVA Democracy!
I pray we get some here soon!
MisterP
(23,730 posts)recall that elections are the best exclusion mechanism: if it's not an option, it's not "democratic" (remember Duarte "vs." D'Aubuisson?)
cprise
(8,445 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,349 posts)Thanks for the thread, kpete.
kpete
(71,984 posts)mr. pete and i wonder what if.....
Al Gore...........
peace, kp
Uncle Joe
(58,349 posts)1. A President Gore would never have condoned the U.S. committing torture.
2. President Gore would never have waged a war against Iraq based on a pack of lies.
3. We would be much farther along in the development and use of sustainable energy sources while weaning ourselves away from fossil fuels to combat the unfolding global warming climate change catastrophe.
4. The federal response to Hurricane Katrina would've been much more vigorous and compassionate.
5. Any attack against the Internet ie: eliminating Net Neutrality would be dead in the water.
6. The overall economy would be in much better shape.
7. The national debt would be far less than it is now.
8. The Bush tax cuts primarily benefiting the most affluent at the expense of the people would not have occurred.
9. There would be a space satellite stationed between the Earth and Sun with a continuous view of the Blue Marble as it spun, that anyone could view, a sort full length mirror for the planet.
10. Roberts and Alito; no matter how much his wife cried, would be on the Supreme Court and thus no "Citizens United," etc. etc.
11. Sandra Day O'Connor would never had to publicly rebuke her decision ala Bush vs Gore.
These things are a strong probability.
1. 9/11 would only be a date in the calender, as a President Gore would have seen Al Qaeda as a serious threat from day 1 instead of viewing a Presidential Daily Briefing warning him of an imminent threat to be a nuisance.
2. There would be no Patriot Act.
3. There would be no Department of Homeland Security.
4. There would be no illegal wiretapping of the America People and mass collection of meta-data; phone, e-mail or the Internet.
5. A President Gore would have found through some form or fashion, policies; to alleviate those areas of the nation most negatively affected by NAFTA, instead of just taking his hands off the wheel.
This is a strong possibility.
1. Howard Dean or someone along his mold would have been Gore's running mate for a second term, Clinton's actions left Gore with little choice but to choose Lieberman as his VP running mate for a first term.
Peace to you, kpete.
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)If you hadn't been so eager to give up in a very, very close 2000 election - thus placing yourself, from the start, as the usurper - well we might be in a better place now as long as you would have stayed alive and Droopy Dog didn't take over.
Plus he was Bubba's Vice President when Glass Steagall was repealed and the "giant sucking sound" seed was planted with NAFTA. etc.
But better late than never I suppose.
gopiscrap
(23,756 posts)Alkene
(752 posts)And I'm very glad he's saying this; it indicates that the "occupy" meme works for him, and that's a good thing. Bear in mind that this is an indication of the popularity of the movement. It's a "parade" that Gore wants to lead
To quote Thom Hartmann, regarding a different issue- public financing of elections while interviewing for the movie, "Priceless"- but relevant to any issue:
"It has never gone from the top down; it always goes from bottom up. What happens is, if enough people get out there and get in the streets, literally or metaphorically and today its happening more metaphorically in the blogosphere and on talk radio and whatnot but if enough people get out there in the streets and form a parade and start marching down the streets and loudly enough and with enough vigor and enthusiasm and energy, some politician is going to say, Look at that parade! And theyre going to grab a flag, run out in front of that parade and hoist that flag and say, This is my parade!
And all of the sudden youll have a politician who is a leader, right, who is talking about an issue.
http://www.pricelessmovie.org/interview-transcripts/advocates/thom-hartmann/
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Shemp Howard
(889 posts)I was just having a discussion about this sort of thing on another thread. My argument there was that progressives will never be able to launch a viable third way because members of the Democratic establishment (millionaires all) will occasionally throw out statements like this one of Gore's. Those fiery statements keep the rank and file on the reservation.
Folks get all excited, and heap all sorts of praise on statements like this one. But stop and ask yourself something.
When Gore was a Senator, what did he really do to stop the influence of Big Money? I'll tell you. Nothing. When Gore was Vice President, what did he really do to stop the influence of Big Money? I'll tell you. Again nothing.
Oh, he talked the talk. But he had enormous power and influence. And he did nothing.
You can make excuses for Gore and his establishment millionaire buddies. You can say that the GOP thwarted his every move. Or you can say that the past is past, and he's finally waking up.
And you might be right. But I see this as just throwing some occasional red meat to us dogs.
On the other hand, if Bernie Sanders or (for all his faults) Dennis Kucinich has something to say, I'll listen.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)IMO:
He really states this clearly. As our democracy has been hacked by monied interests, we do not have collective resources (in terms of a democratic government) to confront climate change and save lives. I hope some will listen.
cprise
(8,445 posts)Gore was a champion of the private sector when he co-founded the DLC. Our media became mega-corporate entities (actually, absorbed into them) during his watch in the 90s, along with other changes that ushered in a new Gilded Age.
ecstatic
(32,685 posts)Last I heard, you sold your cable channel and you're not directing your millions to help our cause.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)I wish Gore had gotten to serve his presidency instead of whiny boy Bush running to daddy to make his buddies on SCOTUS give him the presidency instead, even though Gore was winning.