the only way to save this country is to save our elections . . .

[OneBlueSky]

and that's simply not going to happen . . . not without without some pretty radical action on the part of the Democrats . . . because . . .

first of all, the Republicans assert that there IS no problem with the current process, and it therefore doesn't need fixing . . . (even though they know this is a lie, of course) . . .

second, the chances that the Republican Congress is going to tamper with a system that guarantees that they continue to win elections in perpetuity are -- well -- zero and none . . .

the only way the system will be reformed will be if the Democrats do it . . . and that will require two things: 1) universal agreement among Democrats about what needs to be done, and 2) a strategy for getting it done . . .

before the 2006 elections -- which essentially means NOW! . . .

since the Republicans control the Congress and the presidency, the only strategy I can imagine that might have even a remote chance of actually accomplishing meaningful reform would be for the Democrats to shut down Congress until laws are passed that a) mandate paper ballots, and b) take back both the voting and the counting from private corporations . . . this can be accomplished, I believe, by simply staying away and thus preventing a quorum in either House for any other business . . .

will it happen? . . . not bloody likely! . . . most elected Democrats also don't believe there's a significant problem -- or at least won't admit to it . . . their corporate sponsors and their minions (particularly the media) are telling them that things are peachy, and that all this talk of stolen elections is nothing but more wacko conspiracy theories . . . tinfoil hat stuff . . .

so nothing meaningful will be done . . .

and the Republicans will win again in 2006 and in 2008 . . . just as they did in 2000, 2002, and 2004 . . . by simply arranging for the results to be in their favor . . .

unless the Democrats act . . . and act NOW! . . .

on edit: oh . . . and I should probably add "IMHO" . . . after all, WDIK? . . .

[Cleita]

1. Well, I agree with you 100%.

We have a group in our area that I belong to that is trying to do just that, even if it's only on a local level. Recent illnesses have prevented me from participating fully, but I hope to get back into the fray. If we can get small groups together like ours nationwide, we might be able to pull something off meaningful by the 2006 election. I have given up on our elected officials doing much of anything but talking about it.

[Brianboru]

2. What is the strategy

that will get universal democratic agreement?

[newyawker99]

6. Hi seekthetruth!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Brianboru]

9. Glad to be here

[MazeRat7]

3. I understand the sentiment... and agree... however...

I "personally" believe that things will not change until the "level of pain" is such that people will "rise up" for something different. We have seen this throughout history... they call it revolution.

While that is an overloaded term it can be as benign as a shift in voting patterns rather than something more extreme like the French with heads-off and all that... *grin.

Yes elections are important, but pain (personal) is the great motivator. Figure out how to transfer personal misery (no health care, low wages, high gas prices, etc) into votes, and you will have your "revolution".

As long as "everything is ok" and politics consists of feel-good issues (gay marriage, abortion, liberal press, etc)... nothing will change. Am I making sense ? Will freepers and the like really vote for "feel-good' issues when they are broke, hungry, and homeless ?

Just asking... I truly believe it's going to have to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better...

But that is just my $.02

MZr7

[Robbien]

4. The BradBlog radio show deals with this issue and is on right now

its good to hear others out there working on it also

see the thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=132

[dandrhesse]

5. Amen to that. This is what I have been saying to everyone

Everything else is moot without honest elections. There is no other issue. IMHO the senate should have ground to a halt long ago by every Dem fillibustering everything until this problem is addressed and corrected. They are capable of getting something through congress in a matter of hours if properly motivated the Shiavo case is proof of that.

[lesab]

7. voting

I agree with you 100%. Reform elections and then this country can get back to normal.

[me b zola]

8. Agreed

One way to get better Dem involvement & commitment is to show them that there is wide popular demand for REAL election reform. Congressman Conyers whom has been our strongest ally in this effort has a blog to communicate his efforts & also to get feedback. I don't think it would be a stretch to believe that other Dems would jump on the bandwagon if Congressman Conyers' blog greatly increased the amount of people who post with great interest in election reform. If all of us who believe, like you & I do, that REAL election reform is necessary, would post once or twice a week his blog may begin to influence other Dems.


http://www.conyersblog.us/

[tinrobot]

10. Agree... and nominated

Until we change the way we count votes, NOTHING else changes.

[marions ghost]

11. Election Issue...as a topic is without a doubt the most

unsung, unfun, unsexy, unpopular, unloved, unattractive--
The Ugly Duckling topic in every sense.... I resent the fact that we --the citizens of the US-- are saddled with the burden of fixing such a dysfunctional system at this point. I wish it would go away, or that our elected representatives would just manage this crisis effectively.

HOWEVER

Fair elections are the most critical measure of what is known as a Democracy. We should be able to take it for granted that our votes are protected, and we absolutely cannot do that anymore. Our trust has been totally abused. Nobody will demand changes but the voters. If we don't see effective reform measures in place soon, we will no longer have any reason to believe in the legitimacy of our government. It's just that serious.