I'm starting to think we need a Democratic Party escrow account.

[Tom Rinaldo]

I remember escrow accounts from rent strike days gone by. As tenants we continued to live in the rental unit and continued to pay our rent, but NOT to the landlord UNTIL he delivered on the services he promised us when we moved in. Our money went to an escrow bank account instead of to him, while the dispute raged on. From our perspective he could collect that back rent when the dispute was satisfactorily resolved. From his perspective he didn't want our kind in his apartment and he ultimately was willing to lose that rent while evicting us. That time he got his way.

So for now I still reside inside the Democratic Party, but lately it hasn't been maintaining its platform. A political escrow account is starting to make sense to me. Donate to it instead of the Party and keep it on hold until the Democrats start living up to their promises, then it would be released to them. Let it grow through the 2012 campaign if necessary, unless they shown good faith before then. And by 2013 if the Democrats still haven't made good on their platform they can forfeit that money and send us packing.

[Donnachaidh]

1. that would work if we had public financing of elections

But the corpocrats who work for the elites will just giggle if this is brought up.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. I understand your point, but I'm not sure it can't work

I think it would be a function of how well organized it was, and how many people signed on to it. Als WHAT type people signed on to it. If escrow donaters started including some previously dependable large Democratic donors, as well as tens of thousands of more average donors like folks here, the revenue held up would start to be missed.

But perhaps of greater potency, it would be a PR nightmare for the Democratic Party if a broad swath of their base began a contributions strike and placed their money into an escrow account instead to show that it was real, not just blowing smoke, not just "pledges" being held up. If some board were empowered to negotiate twith the DNC or whoever about if and when that money would be released, that too would become news, and it would give our statements new meaning\ and validity.

[joeglow3]

7. And they pay for advertising with what?

IOU's????

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. The Democrats you mean?

First, I said I'm STARTING to think we may need this type approach because, ummm, I'm starting to think this way. I'm not happy to even have the thought occur to me. Don't like it one bit, but I know it comes from a feeling of powerlessness , and I don't like THAT one bit either.

Second, even if this type thing were to somehow catch on like wildfire, even wildfires take a wh8ile to consume a significan number of acres. The Democratic Party could see this building from a distance beforw it gathered enough strength to be a serious financial threat to it.

Third, this type thing would have very limited potential if it didn't end up winning the support of some relatively heavy hitter liberals who are familiar with power games and negotiations. No doubt the board controlling such an escrow account would include people more moderate than me, and I'm even a pretty reasonable sort. It would not take moving mountains for the Democratic Party to have that money released to them.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. P.S. You do recognize that ideas like this...

...represent a more nuanced alternative to outright splitting the Democratic Party through overt breakaway movements.

I'm not sure exactly when the line will be crossed but at some point something is going to give one way or another.

[Donnachaidh]

8. I'm not against trying anything at this point - and it's a great idea

I'm just of the belief that we really don't understand how deep the corruption is, and how much corporate money is out there - and would be thrown at candidates -just- to stop US from doing something this positive.

I know I sound like I should be sized for a tinfoil hat, but all the revelations of long term plotting by conservative groups lately has brought me to this conclusion. :shrug:

[JaneQPublic]

3. "think" not "thing" (nt)

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. No wonder so many people act confused when I try to share my thoughts! n/t

[RickFromMN]

4. I have a radical idea--why can't I vote for more than one candidate for an office.

Before dismissing this hear me out.

Let's say I agree with a number of things Ralph Nader advocates, but feel an obligation to vote for Al Gore.
As it is, I could vote for one or the other during the 2000 election, but not both.

What if I could have voted for both Ralph Nader and Al Gore during the 2000 election.
It would accomplish my wish to see a Democrat in the White House and
let me express my support for Nader at the same time.

If Al Gore and Ralph Nader happened to get close to the same number of votes, so be it.

If a third party wanted to compete, say a Progressive Party, or dare I say, an FDR Liberal Party,
I could vote for the Democrat because I expect the Democrat had a better chance to win,
but also vote for a person more to the left, more in line with what I wish would happen.

This might be a way for third parties to gain some traction in our country.
I'm not certain a two party system fairly represents us.

I look to Great Britain and see them with multiple parties.
At least people can vote their conscience in Great Britain,
and the parties can form coalition governments.

We don't have a concept of a coalition government. We have a concept of a divided government.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. There are a number of good vote reform ideas along those lines

But they can't be implemented without legislative agreement or constitutional change. I think some are worth the effort of pushing, but it will not happen quickly, that's for sure.

The "rent strile" model is immediate and available to any who back it now.

[EFerrari]

11. Ranked choice voting systems are in a number of American cities

but they are all done, iirc, on electronic systems and that's a problem.

I like your idea of an escrow account.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. I love ranked choice elections, but...

since i never have had a chance to vote in one, that part about always using electronic systems never occurered to me and could be really problematic.