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nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)

40. I report on the local political scene

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 02:09 PM

Jun 2014

But you should know... This the local scene matters not starts with both national parties.

They said, I got pretty good reasons to vote for the tea party guy who lost at the tea party event. Mind you I do not agree, but it was beyond the argle bargle the other guy is openly gay. That was there, but they actually gave solid reasons beyond the life issues. That is always expected

Many of us have argued for over a decade the local scene matters. But from covering the local scene I know the Republicans give it slightly less lip service.

I also know that even that low level people outside central committees have very little input as well.

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Primaries have about 10% turnout. Yet America claims the mantle of "democracy"? [View all] Fred Sanders Jun 2014 OP

The USA is pretty rare in having primaries at all muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #1

Voting is not really public input, it is public manipulation in a two party state. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #2

In that case, then the turnout for a primary is irrelevant for you muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #4

Well, when you put it that way ... Igel Jun 2014 #6

Yes, voting is so important, but....... dem in texas Jun 2014 #3

We just had 50-60% turnout in a primary election in my WV county tabasco Jun 2014 #5

Iowa primary turnout, a hot bed of politics...... Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #8

OK, there's Iowa. tabasco Jun 2014 #12

"West Virginia primary turnout less than 20 percent" Chathamization Jun 2014 #24

My registrar was giddy we hit the 20s nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #30

The sine qua non of Democracy is the *right* to participate in politics. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2014 #7

Actually it is a serious problem since it indicates a non working democracy nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #15

I'm not sure I can give you much more of an answer than "no it doesn't". Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2014 #16

Because the US does not have voter suppression nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #27

do you think we should pass a law that makes voting mandatory ? JI7 Jun 2014 #9

Absolutely. Australia and 22 other countries do it, small fines are the punishment, the idea is to Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #10

i would say we would need a federal holiday for voting day before we could do that JI7 Jun 2014 #11

We have that here in Korea davidpdx Jun 2014 #18

+ struggle4progress Jun 2014 #19

Voting 'week'. Or 'month', even. randome Jun 2014 #28

Mandatory voting would not be constitutional in America tritsofme Jun 2014 #43

No MosheFeingold Jun 2014 #45

Not our fault people are apathetic. They need to get off their asses and go to the polls. RBInMaine Jun 2014 #13

Less than 16% for NC's in May. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #14

Yes, pathetic. The Kochs recognized this soft underbelly of American democracy and is ripping at it. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #32

Oregon's primary was about 32% davidpdx Jun 2014 #17

Make voting mandatory, along with mandatory classes on issues Lee-Lee Jun 2014 #20

Right....and we'd all agree on who should teach the classes, right? brooklynite Jun 2014 #23

Whats the penalty for not voting Travis_0004 Jun 2014 #26

Soldiers are not dying to spread democracy. Skidmore Jun 2014 #21

Well then, here's to North Korea... brooklynite Jun 2014 #22

That is silly. Australia is a better comparison, by far. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #33

Because we all know mandatory elections nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #48

At the very least, we should probably stop using the term oligarchy Chathamization Jun 2014 #25

Not voting is actually a clarion sign of an oligarchy nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #29

Except their vote does matter. Chathamization Jun 2014 #34

Except power concedes nothing nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #35

Except the whole point of this thread is that "we" don't vote; a few Chathamization Jun 2014 #36

Well given I report nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #37

Not just know their names, but their actual positions. Chathamization Jun 2014 #39

I report on the local political scene nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #40

Our Mayors and councilmembers have a lot of power, and don't seem to be influenced by the national Chathamization Jun 2014 #41

While what you say is true nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #42

While I agree with much of what you said, I don’t see local politics as changing the subject or the Chathamization Jun 2014 #46

And they are not involved because they feel they nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #47

in states that have caucuses like Iowa betterdemsonly Jun 2014 #31

A lot of people are idiots MosheFeingold Jun 2014 #38

Primaries are not a requirement of democracy. JVS Jun 2014 #44

Exactly. Primaries are now being used as tools to maintain two party control it is obvious. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #49