General Discussion

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

81. He (or she) makes a lot of sense.

Fri Nov 7, 2014, 10:24 AM

Nov 2014

But unless we finally get to the point where it's completely obvious to everyone that 'representational' government is a sham to control rather than to represent, we can't dissolve that control and escape it. I think to an extent, we have to 'play', although in such a way that we focus on changing the rules in ways that weaken that grip of control. We still have referendums in most places, and we need to start using them far more often, in ways that weaken the control of the parties on the will of the people. 'Play' the rarely used rules to alter the dynamics.

Make it easier for referendums to be brought forward, find ways to end partisan redistricting, to allow more candidates than just the two 'biggest gorillas', to get rid of the anachronistic 'electoral college'. In every way, to change the rules to make democracy more direct, and remove the power of middlemen who do not actually represent the people.

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Why one of my people refused to vote: [View all] grahamhgreen Nov 2014 OP

Ask the what not voting got them next year..... Historic NY Nov 2014 #1

And what did voting get you? Bandit Nov 2014 #7

At least we got to keep our congressman vs a teabagger. Historic NY Nov 2014 #13

Voting got millions of people health insurance. NCTraveler Nov 2014 #55

Self respect. NT mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2014 #77

stupid is as stupid does VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #2

This is not a stupid low info person. They have been alienated by third way Dems. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #10

Uh no.... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #21

How do we get this person back to the polls? He voted for Obama. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #23

You tell him he gets what he didn't vote against.... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #24

That won't do it. How bout we fight for some real change. Kill the Keystone XL, and the TPP? grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #25

I don't give a fuck....you tell him the truth.... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #26

Well, that's why we're losing. You don't give a fuck about what brings our team to the polls. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #27

fuck no it aint.... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #28

You really don't get it? "Centrism" (selling out) is losing votes for us. Understand? grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #37

Oh yes....I DO get it....I got it all along....I am the realist...I KNEW the American public was VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #39

Obama asked us to push him. Saying no to the TPP, or Keystone, is easy. No? Well, grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #67

There ya go-- pick out a few things you don't like... TreasonousBastard Nov 2014 #69

Why would ANYONE want to vote for the neo-con agenda you just defended in your post? grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #73

You just don't understand grahamh LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #87

Apparently! We can also play the fear card, they believe foolishly. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #88

While I could nit pick some of the things in the op. NCTraveler Nov 2014 #56

Thanks! I'm sure that they do, which I why I try so hard to convince them of their errors:) grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #68

I feel that even if his points are valid, they are hopelessly naive. Xyzse Nov 2014 #3

"Them" is obviously educated and insightful ... Whiskeytide Nov 2014 #4

I agree. The problem is that "they" did not vote. How can we change that? grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #22

I worked with a woman who expressed this same... Whiskeytide Nov 2014 #47

So, by not voting, your friend denied the election the quorum needed to be legitimate? gratuitous Nov 2014 #5

Obviously, not a millennial that's ever been hungry... cry baby Nov 2014 #6

Let me say, as a fellow educated millennial... Niko Nov 2014 #8

Welcome to DU wryter2000 Nov 2014 #54

"They pandered to the racist assholes and they lost" -- BINGO LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #85

Pathetic... Spazito Nov 2014 #9

OK marions ghost Nov 2014 #11

I've heard this argument from several well-educated Millennials... polichick Nov 2014 #12

Myself and many millennials feel the system simply needs to crash. Katashi_itto Nov 2014 #14

I just don't see how it will crash, at least not until there's nothing left to save... polichick Nov 2014 #15

it would be nice. But when have Americans done anything with foresight since the 60s? Katashi_itto Nov 2014 #16

In many ways the system has already collapsed... polichick Nov 2014 #18

And what comes next? That's the real question. arcane1 Nov 2014 #29

And if everything collapses, those who need change the most will... polichick Nov 2014 #34

No. It won't arise "magically" your looking at a lot of pain misery and death ahead. Katashi_itto Nov 2014 #41

Well, a "new system" won't be allowed to arise before that. Hence the "lone nuts," etc... villager Nov 2014 #53

I'm supposed to be impressed this person works at some big name JI7 Nov 2014 #17

How come the Republicans don't do stupid shit like this? treestar Nov 2014 #33

Not upper income. Upper middle class. They work for z living. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #75

While, theoretically, boycotting an election as a form of protest might work ... surrealAmerican Nov 2014 #19

That is exactly IT! Thank you! Boycotting elections to make changes to our system will ONLY BlueCaliDem Nov 2014 #84

problem is, even if only the elite bothered to vote, that doesn't help his cause in the slightest 0rganism Nov 2014 #20

Good debate, but I don't see what not voting is going to accomplish. merrily Nov 2014 #30

Ick. I'm deleting this thread. The responses on this thread are incredibly sanctimonious and liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #31

Then why should we read 20 paragraphs of what they want? treestar Nov 2014 #32

How will you govern when the other party is in power? Or do you consider their policies to your bene grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #36

At least I'll have some say treestar Nov 2014 #43

I agree, although my goal is to figure out how to get them to vote Dem again! grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #76

If it ain't perfect, it's not worth it. aquart Nov 2014 #35

Some of my fellow Gen-Xers felt the same way until GWB won the second time aikoaiko Nov 2014 #38

It seems easy enough to get them to the poles by offering say, grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #78

Polls, not poles. I think student loan problems have already sent too many to the poles aikoaiko Nov 2014 #91

Well! Chaque amour fi na né!!! grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #94

The plan is to make the elite "freak the heck out" so they'll stop exploiting the poor? Orangepeel Nov 2014 #40

It won't work. But how do we get these voters back? grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #79

The corporate elite that your millennial so despises would be delighted at this exchange. Jim Lane Nov 2014 #42

You used the terms "my people" and "my millennials" in your post. MineralMan Nov 2014 #44

That struck me as well tkmorris Nov 2014 #45

Well, I hope we get an answer from the OP. MineralMan Nov 2014 #46

It's not a dorm room, its a workplace. Should be easy for Dems to give these people a reason to vote grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #60

Co-workers. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #59

What industry? It sounds like a non Union workplace. Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #62

Cannot disclose. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #64

Are any of your millennials not white, straight men from affluent backgrounds? Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #48

It's not about them. It's about us not providing them something worth voting for. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #58

Tell it to the Marines. I'm a gay person. We got organized in order to take something that Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #61

Doesn't matter. We need to give him something to vote for. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #66

If you tell the parties why you're not voting, it's rebellion. Orsino Nov 2014 #49

Big lofty ideas of an arm-chair intellectual BarackTheVote Nov 2014 #50

How do we get them to vote? I used to get them to donate!!! grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #80

Go on the attack BarackTheVote Nov 2014 #93

Wow, he's a bit cynical. louis-t Nov 2014 #51

But enough gloom and doom. BarackTheVote Nov 2014 #52

No political fundraising on Kickstarter, which is for creative projects.... Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #63

"get in the face of their opponent and call them out on their lies and hypocrisy." That's it. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #65

The kid may be right... whatchamacallit Nov 2014 #57

Basically "Them" is passing on excuses for refusing... TreasonousBastard Nov 2014 #70

Doesn't matter. With them, we won in 2008. When we alienate them, we lose. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #71

Well-educated upper class millenials can afford to not vote I guess. DemocraticWing Nov 2014 #72

Upper middle class. It's not his problem. It's ours. When we give them grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #74

He (or she) makes a lot of sense. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #81

All of these are good solutions:). Especially referendums! grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #82

Q: If a tree falls in the forest while nobody is there frazzled Nov 2014 #83

+1000 BklnDem75 Nov 2014 #92

I think he makes OUTSTANDING arguments. Le Taz Hot Nov 2014 #86

I know. That's why I didn't post it before the elections;) grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #89

cool story! snooper2 Nov 2014 #90