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kennetha

(3,666 posts)

49. Structural Impediments to Majority Rule

Wed Dec 28, 2016, 10:36 AM

Dec 2016

16% of the US population - mostly from Rural states, heavily Republican -- elects 50% of the US Senate.

Gerrymandered Districts for the House + Clustering of Urban populations means Republican control of House out of synch with popular support.

Excess of Federalism

Electoral College.

Excess of money in politics

All conspire against translation of the will of majority into policy.

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Americans favor liberal policies, so why do we lose? [View all] Willie Pep Dec 2016 OP

We're viewed as wimps. Snowflakes. tecelote Dec 2016 #1

Spot on brutus smith Dec 2016 #10

Thank you! hamsterjill Dec 2016 #13

A knife would be a big improvement Cosmocat Dec 2016 #26

Most of them have except Bernie. The one least likely looking to win an actual fight. Jim Beard Dec 2016 #43

Al Franken Cosmocat Dec 2016 #62

Tony Bourdain for DNC chair.. pangaia Dec 2016 #51

That is about it Cosmocat Dec 2016 #61

Good for you! I said something like that the other day and my post was hidden as being RKP5637 Dec 2016 #53

There are some on DU who insist that we must learn to "get along" with Republicans hamsterjill Dec 2016 #55

The GOP has for a long time been better Sherman A1 Dec 2016 #2

Exactly. Better messaging. Squinch Dec 2016 #7

In my three decades of adult life I have gotten past a VERY naive belief Cosmocat Dec 2016 #27

Harry Reid. the_sly_pig Dec 2016 #3

The Republicans are much more organised at state and local level, they Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #4

All politics is local and the GOP has been excellent at targeting that Trekologer Dec 2016 #44

One word: Media lake loon Dec 2016 #5

Yes but the DEMS need to COMMUNICATE. It is THEIR communication that truly stinks! RBInMaine Dec 2016 #14

But how do they communicate ... lake loon Dec 2016 #16

The Republicans play the long game. One aspect of that is the tblue37 Dec 2016 #41

Locally, one-on-one if necessary Trekologer Dec 2016 #45

YEP Cosmocat Dec 2016 #28

BECAUSE THE KGOPB FUCKING CHEATS AND THE DEMS ROLL OVER AND HONE THEIR MESSAGE INSTEAD OF LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #6

+1 hamsterjill Dec 2016 #15

the game is definitely rigged; no amount of "message honing" will change that. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #75

and if we let their shit slide, it's only going to get worse. LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #84

+1 uponit7771 Dec 2016 #83

Republicans are fueled by greed, self-centeredness and democratisphere Dec 2016 #8

YEP Cosmocat Dec 2016 #29

Most of the people who claim to be conservative.. coco22 Dec 2016 #9

Because a lot of idiots are single-issue voters. nt raccoon Dec 2016 #11

Yep +1000000000 JHan Dec 2016 #65

Define message brutus smith Dec 2016 #12

Remember Soxfan58 Dec 2016 #17

Because the other side cheats and lies. Botany Dec 2016 #18

Money backs those who don't favor liberal policies. jalan48 Dec 2016 #19

RIGHT Cosmocat Dec 2016 #31

Waiting in the wings is environmental collapse with the accompanying shortages of food and water. jalan48 Dec 2016 #37

Money backs strong republicans and weak democrats. aidbo Dec 2016 #50

Money backs those who will vote for its interests. jalan48 Dec 2016 #56

i.e. Strong republicans who stand up for money's interests.. aidbo Dec 2016 #59

I guess it depends on the the individual candidates and their backers. jalan48 Dec 2016 #63

Russia is actually a perfect example of this; Putin's corruption makes Trump's look like child's pla TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #76

Yep. Modern Oligarchs. jalan48 Dec 2016 #80

They favor those policies, but not for 'them' n2doc Dec 2016 #20

They say that because JFK cut tax rates and made a big speech about it, 7962 Dec 2016 #21

the difference is the JFK tax cuts were not designed to lose money... eniwetok Dec 2016 #74

Before 1964, the Democratic Party offered them liberal economic policies ... dawg Dec 2016 #22

The intelligence of the American people is vastly overrated. Vinca Dec 2016 #23

Yep Cosmocat Dec 2016 #34

Maybe we should ask the people still trying to make the Democratic Party into "Republican Lite". HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #24

Wedge Issues superpatriotman Dec 2016 #25

Republicans have a great marketing apparatus in FOX ebbie15644 Dec 2016 #30

Propaganda works, especially when people are not able to recognize that they are tblue37 Dec 2016 #32

Democrats stand for everything, therefore they stand for nothing Chasstev365 Dec 2016 #33

gerrymandering across the country. gutting the voting rights act of 1965. spanone Dec 2016 #35

Because we keep voting for the wrong Dems vlyons Dec 2016 #36

Americans favor liberal policies FOR THEMSELVES. The issue comes when people who aren't like them RedWedge Dec 2016 #38

Because some people, cough , think other people are getting the benefits./nt DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2016 #39

My friends and I had this conversation. OnionPatch Dec 2016 #40

Because the US of A is not a democracy dumbcat Dec 2016 #42

I agree with half your statement... Rage4Bacon Dec 2016 #60

This goes back to 1976 and the 2 Santas theory WhiteTara Dec 2016 #46

Because so many of those Americans are living in big cities oberliner Dec 2016 #47

because... myohmy2 Dec 2016 #48

Structural Impediments to Majority Rule kennetha Dec 2016 #49

Two things... liberal N proud Dec 2016 #52

Pretty much it in a nutshell n/t Strelnikov_ Dec 2016 #58

a lot of the liberal base doesn't vote Mosby Dec 2016 #54

Dedicated propaganda networks, AM Hate Radio, Faux News, in addition to Strelnikov_ Dec 2016 #57

A combination of 4 things Calculating Dec 2016 #64

Antidemocratic Government DISCOURAGES Voting eniwetok Dec 2016 #71

The lexicon of the left alienates white people Dems to Win Dec 2016 #66

Propaganda and fear Generator Dec 2016 #67

Because white rural assholes only like progressive policies as long as they dont benefit POC. libtodeath Dec 2016 #68

Because no one wants to say the truth - the majority of Americans are gullible and ignorant. unitedwethrive Dec 2016 #69

WE LOSE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS ANTIDEMOCRATIC... and Dems need to wake up to this fact. eniwetok Dec 2016 #70

precisely, but most dems won't even TRY to change these things. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #79

In this regard the Democratic Party is very conservative eniwetok Dec 2016 #87

Policies? What does policy have to do with politics?? many a good man Dec 2016 #72

Don't have the loyal base agincourt Dec 2016 #73

Because some people blue cat Dec 2016 #77

They have figured out that winning starts in the local and state elections. redstatebluegirl Dec 2016 #78

We don't vote for policies. We vote for people. unblock Dec 2016 #81

Because people don't vote based on policy BainsBane Dec 2016 #82

because many people are also anti gay racist sexist etc JI7 Dec 2016 #85

Because of ivory-tower mealy-mouthed identity politics - nt rumdude Dec 2016 #86