General Discussion

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)

47. Unfortunately, there is no national initiative process

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 03:01 PM

Apr 2014

so the only way to go about it is state-by-state and that would work only for states that have the initiative process. Many do not. Also, your example applies to state-wide offices only, not federal such as Senator or Congressperson. Any attempt to enact something similar for federal offices in states with initiatives would be almost immediately struck down citing Citizens United.

It's the CONGRESS that has to enact public finance legislation and there is just no way they're going to remove the gravy train for themselves, at least legislatively.

Now, what candidates CAN do, is refuse to accept corporate funding and only accept limited monies from individuals and small organizations. Of course, the argument against that is that their opponents will not make such a pledge and it will make the playing field grossly uneven. But any candidate can take that pledge nonetheless.

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An Occupy founder says the next revolution will be rural [View all] xchrom Apr 2014 OP

It is, IMO, what is needed, a catalyst for change. Organization in rural areas might be the best RKP5637 Apr 2014 #1

It doesn't get any more "local" than that! arcane1 Apr 2014 #54

this guy is my hero roguevalley Apr 2014 #64

rec! SammyWinstonJack Apr 2014 #2

Kick for rural Oregon and beautiful Nehalem and Tilamook County Bluenorthwest Apr 2014 #3

I second that. classof56 Apr 2014 #27

The movement has started. nm rhett o rick Apr 2014 #4

I'll be watching this with interest. LWolf Apr 2014 #5

It's about time someone came up with a plan for this group. randome Apr 2014 #6

+1, n/t RKP5637 Apr 2014 #39

I kind of don't like the "occupy" name either Victor_c3 Apr 2014 #76

I definitely see the tide as turning. randome Apr 2014 #81

Maybe out there, but... pipi_k Apr 2014 #7

Trust me I get it nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #10

There is nothing like someone from California, gong to rural Oregon Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #62

Good point! customerserviceguy Apr 2014 #78

Their "live-and-let-live attitude" included launching a massive bioterror attack against their Chathamization Apr 2014 #79

It was the Oregonians customerserviceguy Apr 2014 #94

My mistake. I was reading that with the other meaning of "put down." N/T Chathamization Apr 2014 #95

No problem customerserviceguy Apr 2014 #96

We need at least 500,000 people like him doing this. L0oniX Apr 2014 #8

I've seen people in a small town protest with signs at the courthouse Lars39 Apr 2014 #9

I doubt it, knowing my multiple local rural areas. nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #11

It's not at all the same. Example, SD County, population 3.1 million or so Bluenorthwest Apr 2014 #23

A lovely man with a truly unworkable plan Bragi Apr 2014 #12

And there's also the fact pipi_k Apr 2014 #26

I admire the selfless dedication of many of these Activists, but I still believe that fighting for Dustlawyer Apr 2014 #13

Blah blah blah ... TBF Apr 2014 #16

You're right. Fixing politics is attending to symptom, not disease. ancianita Apr 2014 #30

Excellent point! The root cause issues need to be dealt with, not just treating symptoms. Too RKP5637 Apr 2014 #40

The true root cause is the poison of greed. This can only be defeated when enough people wake up and DesertDiamond Apr 2014 #69

And how do we go about getting public Le Taz Hot Apr 2014 #22

Public financing will be dealt with sooner or later nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #25

My state did it nearly 20 years ago by citizen initiative. Public financing is not a "canard". PotatoChip Apr 2014 #44

Unfortunately, there is no national initiative process Le Taz Hot Apr 2014 #47

Poor Maine needs to get rid of that absolute NUTBAG governor -- he is a disgrace to MADem Apr 2014 #55

good god don't mention lepage man.. he makes me ashamed of my home state... dionysus Apr 2014 #74

Isn't he awful? MADem Apr 2014 #83

he won my town by literally a few votes my dad told me. dionysus Apr 2014 #84

I'll bet your dad and many of his friends wishes they'd just swung by MADem Apr 2014 #86

he said he's done with politics if lepage gets in again (of course he won't,but it's dramatic ;) ) dionysus Apr 2014 #87

So your crack-pot legislators got elected NYtoBush-Drop Dead Apr 2014 #68

My 1st suggestion since the corporate owned media has been subverting our country for so long is to Dustlawyer Apr 2014 #45

And all of your suggestions Le Taz Hot Apr 2014 #48

I agree that my suggestions are not likely to Dustlawyer Apr 2014 #57

You keep complaining our politics are bought and paid for only to suggest political solutions. Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2014 #51

So you advocate giving up? Dustlawyer Apr 2014 #59

And who is going to pass your proposal? Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2014 #60

What is it you would have? From what little you said it seems that you are not going to vote and Dustlawyer Apr 2014 #61

You keep dodging this very basic question. Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2014 #63

To me, Micah White is a hero.. talking the talk and walking the walk. mountain grammy Apr 2014 #14

At minimal, he has the guts to try! And to me, that is a hero! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2014 #41

Solidarity, brother. nt TBF Apr 2014 #15

K&R Tippy Apr 2014 #17

smart. this was pretty much the strategy that the far right used Matariki Apr 2014 #18

Yes, it worked for them wonderfully, and it is a complete mystery why Nay Apr 2014 #24

It is not a mystery if you listen to party poobahs nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #34

Well that is how the right wing did it. zeemike Apr 2014 #19

And the radio and TV waves in these small communities. It's hard do be in a small community and not RKP5637 Apr 2014 #42

Definitely. KoKo Apr 2014 #46

Well they own the radio and TV stations. zeemike Apr 2014 #50

So true, the dems often look to the R's to see which way the wind is blowing and then try RKP5637 Apr 2014 #58

I agree pipoman Apr 2014 #20

One of the worst mistakes the Democrats Le Taz Hot Apr 2014 #21

Absolutely. nt ancianita Apr 2014 #31

bingo Kali Apr 2014 #32

Definitely !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2014 #43

In most rural areas they will find that the local government is already occupied. FarCenter Apr 2014 #28

That's what they said when the TeaParty started their local organizing a few years ago. Sent out jtuck004 Apr 2014 #71

As it should be. We need to reclaim our land and drive all "expert" middlemen out. Out, I say. ancianita Apr 2014 #29

The second phase of the movement. I think starting with local politics is where it has to begin sabrina 1 Apr 2014 #33

So 'inevitable', you refused to listen last year. randome Apr 2014 #37

Airc, you were the one who was not listening. You demonstrated a complete lack of understanding sabrina 1 Apr 2014 #70

Maybe if you wish really, really hard, the things you say might come true. randome Apr 2014 #82

Lol, I didn't have to wish very hard to get that response, thanks for remaining so sabrina 1 Apr 2014 #93

As I reported early on nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #38

Yes, I remember your reporting on it. In fact I just mentioned it in my response below to someone sabrina 1 Apr 2014 #72

Will most ProSense Apr 2014 #35

Wow. Some hard truths there. randome Apr 2014 #36

most rural Americans are very conservative arely staircase Apr 2014 #49

Depends on where in 'Murka. KamaAina Apr 2014 #53

I said most. not all nt arely staircase Apr 2014 #56

I could totally see that happening in Ecotopia KamaAina Apr 2014 #52

hear, hear. i owned that book roguevalley Apr 2014 #65

Because that's where we should be. DeSwiss Apr 2014 #66

I believe politics follows social movement notundecided Apr 2014 #67

Occupy Bundy hmmm... maggies farm Apr 2014 #73

"ousting corrupt officials" Micah M. White, thank you! Sunlei Apr 2014 #75

Occupy was a FAILURE because they refused to become a viable POLITICAL force. Simple as that. RBInMaine Apr 2014 #77

They refused to ALIGN themselves with corrupt political forces. djean111 Apr 2014 #80

...or attempt to change them. brooklynite Apr 2014 #85

I understand that, but as far as I can see, our current political system and government are djean111 Apr 2014 #88

In that case, if Occupy et al won't, it won't happen at all brooklynite Apr 2014 #89

I doubt Occupy cares about your put-downs. djean111 Apr 2014 #90

I don't care what Occupy thinks at all...because they're irrelevent brooklynite Apr 2014 #91

Wow! You really really dislike them! Can't imagine why - is it because they refused to djean111 Apr 2014 #92