Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:06 PM
Original message |
My new standard for candidates for federal office is |
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"Do you support publicly financed elections?"
It is the only way we will ever free ourselves of the corporate lock on our government.
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dflprincess
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:11 PM
Response to Original message |
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and I intend to continue to ask them is the support Medicare for All... anyone who tells me reform has been passed gets crossed off my list.
We can't let them think the health care fight is over.
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Go2Peace
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
17. The *only* way to really get representative government, agreed |
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I would also add we should make corporate lobbying illegal. Every individual should have the right to lobby their government, includng heads of corporations and Billionares. But no-one should be able to hire people to get more reprentation.
We have been suckered to think this idea is unconstitutional. Funny thing though, we all only get one vote. If we can limit voting, which is also a type of speech, then we can do the same thing with lobbying. We HAVE to. We will never have representative government otherwise.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:28 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
20. But lobbyists only have influence because they make campaign contributions. |
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If campaigns were financed by the general fund, it would seem lobbyists would naturally be neutered.
Maybe I'm wrong.
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Go2Peace
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:44 PM
Response to Reply #20 |
21. I think you have to do both. Why should a company be able to hire people to hound representatives |
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Edited on Sun Nov-08-09 11:45 PM by Go2Peace
day and night? Human nature as it is they will listen more often to those that knock on their door and those that they hang with every day, which will be the lobbiests who have nothing else they have to do but lay down the red carpet and schmoooze with power.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #21 |
22. I see your point. n/t |
RKP5637
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Mon Nov-09-09 07:09 AM
Response to Reply #21 |
26. True, we need to get bribery out of government!!! n/t |
rurallib
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:16 PM
Response to Original message |
2. How many can you currently support? |
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My local rep supports public financing, but I can't say he is working for it. That may be the only cow more sacred than supporting the health insurance cartel.
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Skink
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
3. Only a President could garner support for public financing. |
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It would have to start on the federal level.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:22 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
7. Obama said during the campaign that raising money was the part he disliked the most. |
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I've heard Sec. Clinton say the same thing.
Yet Obama opted out of the public financing program for presidential candidates.
If people hate it so much, they should be motivated to change it.
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RKP5637
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Mon Nov-09-09 07:13 AM
Response to Reply #7 |
27. They all talk well for votes, but in reality none want to cut off the hand the feeds them! n/t |
bobbolink
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
10. Thom Hartmann has talked about it working in Portland. |
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From what he says, it sounds like it works very well there, and maybe that is how it will have to start.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
12. Maybe it won't be a litmus test, but I think we need to start raising the issue. |
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The amount of money spent on elections is truly an obscenity even if you don't pay attention to where the money comes from.
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Taitertots
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:19 PM
Response to Original message |
4. I want them to put all their assets in a blind trust and take an oath of poverty |
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When they leave office they can have their assets back. While in office they are being cared for and they are free from the obvious conflict of interest from having rich people control fiscal policy. How can people with a vested interest in medical corporations make objective decisions?
I'd also like to see "lobbying" called what it really is, Bribery.
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Go2Peace
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:24 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
18. Yes, lobbying is legalized bribery |
RKP5637
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Mon Nov-09-09 07:16 AM
Response to Reply #4 |
28. The model we use now is insane. It's illogical, broken and completely does not work. The |
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conflicts of interest are horrendous!
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tblue
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:19 PM
Response to Original message |
5. Bill Moyers says that's the #1 problem with American government. |
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He's absolutely right. I could be flexible on some policies, but not this one. It would change everything if we got big money out of politics.
Was watching Godfather II today and the entire organized crime thing reminded me of the industrial-gov't complex.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:52 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
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How is an insurance company NOT like a protection racket when they have an interest in denying claims?
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Slip
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:19 PM
Response to Original message |
6. I found this site looking for info about lobbyists |
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I too am tired of the corporate stronghold on our gov. Today I started a petition you might appreciate. http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/lobby_congress_how_much_would_it_cost_we_the_people_to_outbid_the_special_interestsIf you like it sign it and pass it on. :)
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aSpeckofDust
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
8. I see a flaw in the petition. |
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Edited on Sun Nov-08-09 10:24 PM by aSpeckofDust
It is petitioning the very people being bankrolled by big business. In their self interest they will just ignore it.
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RKP5637
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Mon Nov-09-09 07:30 AM
Response to Reply #8 |
29. That's what I think too... it will just get deleted/dumped as nonsense by them... |
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the way the system is rigged they have way too much at stake to listen to this... It would be nice to get a group like MoveOn.org behind something like this with national advertising, etc. Cleaning up this outrageous lobbyist and bribery mess would probably help this country the most. When I send letters to congress I just get ones back basically telling me why my ideas are stupid and they are ever so correct. Basically, I get a letter of BS CYA back. A dog bone thrown at me.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
Canuckistanian
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:25 PM
Response to Original message |
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The root of the problem exactly.
:thumbsup:
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RKP5637
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:41 PM
Response to Original message |
13. Lobbyists and the exorbitant money spent on elections are destroying |
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this country! Never has it been clearer. And the media has a big stake in it too, what a gravy train for the media. Frankly, the entire election process sucks! More and more this is becoming a fascist country! Our government is mostly bought and owned by corporate interests.
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Toucano
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:43 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
14. The banking and Wall Street bailouts, and now this! |
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Edited on Sun Nov-08-09 10:50 PM by Toucano
You're right. It has never been clearer.
They're not even embarrassed by it anymore.
It is done openly and with impunity.
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waiting for hope
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Sun Nov-08-09 10:45 PM
Response to Original message |
15. Everything begins with the money trail ... |
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take it away, and perhaps they may start looking at their constituents.
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FatDave
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:08 PM
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16. It does seem to be the crux of most of our problems. |
The Straight Story
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:26 PM
Response to Original message |
19. Make it like health care, Social Security, etc |
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We all chip in some and pass out the money on an equal basis to each candidate.
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liberal_at_heart
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Sun Nov-08-09 11:49 PM
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struggle4progress
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Mon Nov-09-09 01:42 AM
Response to Original message |
25. My standard is "Are you better than the other guy?" Then I don't want the other guy in office |
newtothegame
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Mon Nov-09-09 02:15 PM
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30. Mine has and will always be, "Will this candidate make history of some sort?" Racially, gender, etc. |
ZombieHorde
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Mon Nov-09-09 02:18 PM
Response to Original message |
31. If your plan does not work, you should make your new standard be $50. |
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If you can't beat 'em, get $50.
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Tue May 07th 2024, 08:21 AM
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