It's Going to be a LONG HARD ROAD back to U.S. democracy

[brindis_desala]

Since 1994 the Republicans have all but strangled the life from representative government.
Since nature abhors a void the lobbyists now control most of our legislation. Here is the best synopsis yet on how it happened.

Incivility in the House of Unrepresentatives: Washington Post Reporter Juliet Eilperin Scrutinizes the People's House
By JOHN W. DEAN


"House members - aided by their state counterparts - have rigged the system to guarantee that they, and politicians who think like them, return to Washington year after year." Incumbents have always had an advantage in getting reelected; but the House has rigged it so that they have an even smoother path.

Employing the oldest trick in legislative shenanigans, Republicans (joined by Democrats) have made "The Gerrymander" of Congressional districts a new art form. Aided by computers, and the demographic shifts of the past few decades, Republicans have been able to not merely reach parity with the Democrats, who have greater numbers, but also to lock in their gains."

Read the rest:
http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/dean/20060602.html

[IndyOp]

1. Great catch! Lobbyists and ultra-right conservative think-tanks like

Heritage Foundation have been writing the legislation and sponsoring workshops to inspire individuals to 'take action' in their churches and communities - including "helping in local elections."

[brindis_desala]

2. You could not have designed a craftier roadmap to fascism.

Without giving the ultra right too much credit one has to wonder whether HAVA was the ace-in-the-hole all along just waiting to be played- like the Patriot Act. Could the immigration bill be another clever smokescreen to pass voter ID?

[IndyOp]

3. A Joke For You: Are Dems going to get burned in 2006 elections?

HAVA match?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[brindis_desala]

6. Too Funny!

Game, set and match! :rofl:

[camby]

7. Judging from current opinion polls, it could happen

but the GOP fraudmeisters are going to have to work doubletime.

[brindis_desala]

9. it certainly explains why there are no more "good" republicans.

[brindis_desala]

4. This is important for voters to appreciate

[camby]

5. Good synopsis -

Looks like someone has to have the courage to change some of the House rules. Hopefully that will happen with the Dems, but given the state of animosity, I'm not sure.

[brindis_desala]

8. As Bernie Sanders says the corporations are now writing

the laws. One can only hope enough Democrats have been iced from the process that if somehow they overcome the vote fraud and gerrymandering they'll take up the gauntlet for the people.

[brindis_desala]

10. we need an avalanche of discontent

[camby]

11. the discontent is out there - but will it be outweighed by

cynicism and apathy? That is the question.

[brindis_desala]

12. I worry about the very same thing.

Little of what has gone on (especially since 2000) could have happened with an attentive electorate. What a lot of Democrats fail to apprehend is that the Republican base could give two hoots about good government. They want a country literally "under God". Politics (like democratic government) demands compromise but that makes it something worthy to be used and abused because it's worldly and therefore sinful.