Reply #14: "how much interest the American public has in campaign reform"

[welshTerrier2]

you know, i meant to state that "my list" was a list of "progressive values and ideas" that i wanted to see get some recognition in the Party's platform ... i didn't intend it to be the entire platform ... i should have made that point clearer ...

but as to your statement: "I am not sure how much interest the American public has in campaign and/or finance reform- does anyone know any polling on this?", that, i think, is the biggest mistake the Party is making ...

and i think it's a great source of friction between the Party's left and its center ... and it shouldn't be !!

how many posts have you seen on DU from lefties complaining about too many Democrats being "corporatists"? this is a very important issue to progressives ... i won't engage in the argument here whether some Democrats are "corporatists" ... but just look at the politics of fighting for the ideals of our democracy ...

you don't think Americans care about campaign reform and reform the "business of government"? something like 50% of the American people don't vote ... ask yourself why that is ... yeah, maybe they're just bored or lazy ... but i talk to these people all the time ... i try to get them to participate ... i tell them nothing will change if they stay home ...

and what do they say? they tell me politicians all have their hands out for payments from big corporations ... "it's all bullshit and they're all corrupt ... all those lobbyists are just buying whatever influence they want and the politicians just go along with it ... the way things are, you can't make a difference and i can't make a difference ..."

the simple idea of "power to the people" could be very powerful ... it's time to take a fresh look at the ideals of America and reach out to the disenfranchised by fighting for a government that gives each and every citizen an equal voice ... until the Democratic Party, the party of the people, lives up to its name by fighting against the big money stranglehold on our institutions of government, we will not succeed and we certainly will not attract the 50% who don't vote ... and that 50% should be a natural component of the Democratic Party's constituency ...