BBV: Who Controls Your Vote and Your Government?

[RedEagle]

As we all know, to a large extent, it isn't us.

On a recent thread a connection to organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation was kind of pushed aside.

But, should those connections be ignored?

I invite DU to take a look at The Council of State Governments. Poke around the site are read about them and you can see the CSG is more about helping business in government and "helping" government in its business. It's there to "support the states" but one has to really give some thought as to the purpose of that support.

They've been around since 1933 and have been involved with, among others:

National Association of Secretaries of State
National Association of State Election Directors
National Association of State Attorney Generals....

... the list goes on.

Who funds CSG? The Markle Foundation, for one, through the Rockefeller Foundation.

(www.csg.org -but you may have to google it to get to the real csg site, as often just using this address calls up a Cincinnati site)

Further research will lead you to concepts like regionalism.

Further research will lead you to blogs by people I can't use as sources but who sound like they ring the bell of truth about organizations like CSG.

When it comes to who funds nonprofits like this, is isn't you and me.

The Election Center is a good example. It's origins are hidden as are its qualifications to be the leading voice in elections in our country. We have only discovered by accident that vendors contribute to it. But that can't be the sole source of its funding and again, it isn't the voter who keeps it running.

Just why do these organizations, with ties to huge corporate interests, have so much invested in our state and local government process?

Just why does Congress listen to entities that do not represent the people, although they pretend to?

More than ever, it is apparent that new election procedures and laws are needed. There must be a balance struck between states' rights and constitutional rights. That is a never ending struggle and I think it's meant to be that way, for to lose that struggle is to lose the balance in our protection against the pendulum swinging too far either way.

When new legislation happens, is should come from the people, not organizations based on foundation funding that comes from something other than the grass roots base of our country.

Get involved and stay involved. The end of the election, when we see it, will not be the end of what must be accomplished if true democracy is to prevail in the United States.

[Eloriel]

1. Very good and important information

I am becoming more and more convinced, as I look at what horrors are unfolding across the country for THIS election (and we haven't even scratched the surface yet on BBV issues that are going to arise -- or we hope they're apparent enough to arise), that we need a Constitutional Right to Vote Amendment. That way, anyone even trying to deny anyone their vote will be guilty of denying those citizens their Constitutional rights. And judges won't be so eager to say things like, "Well, no one promised you a perfect or error-free election, as some have and which makes my blood boil.

And my other mini-campaign is that we need to take a good, hard, long look at election laws state-by-state (I think some of you are doing this, tho possibly more in light of BBV), because they're not strong enough to protect us properly, or to punish wrongdoers sufficiently for the laws to serve as a deterrant (and a Constitutional Amendment might help with that as well). Too often anyone actually convicted gets little more than a slap on the wrist. That has to stop.

Here are some of the links I've collected in just the past 3 or so days about what other problems are shaping up already, well in advance of this ultra-critical election:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2528061&mesg_id=2528061&page=

[shance]

2. Thanks RE** Agreed it shows how important for everyone to get informed

and learn more about our election system and how large foundations impact the balance, or lack thereof like you mentioned of power and influence in our elections.

I would be also interested to find out more about the electoral system and how we can best alter and or re-vamp such an antiquated and essentially undemocratic system.

[Karenina]

3. The tree of Liberty

must occasionally be watered by the blood of Patriots...