who bears the greater responsibility for our democracy?

[RepublicanElephant]

who has the GREATER responsibility of taking care of our democracy?

[FrenchieCat]

1. My 19 year old daughter said to me yesterday......

The problem with this country is that the people that need the most help don't vote. Only the educated and the old rich White people do.

She's announced that she's not that interested in politics anymore (she interned for Barbara Lee, when she was). She is taking a political class at school, so I guess she actually still has one ear open, but we were discussing the role of government and the medical profession on reproductive ethics, when she told me the above.

[RepublicanElephant]

6. you know, we give up a lot in a representative democracy, because

it's so hard to find that perfect politician who says and does everything exactly the way we want, 100% of the time. so often, we end-up having to choose the "lesser of two evils" and hope for the best, especially in a country that is more corporate-run every day. sure everyone wants frank capra's "mr. smith", but that's not going to happen in a system where politicians spend more time fund-raising (because there's no real campaign reform) than meeting constituents.

and i understand where your daughter is coming from, with so many staying home on election day. many are simply too tired form working two or three part-time jobs, other cop-out with the old "what's the use? they're just going to put in whoever they want anyway" excuse.

it's easy to be cynical when you look at all the greed and injustice in politics today. sometimes i think the only hope for progressives is to escape to more advanced civilizations, such as sweden, france or even canada. but that's just not possible for most of us. so we stay and try to convince the vast majority of our fellow americans that politics matter, and whether you participate or not, someone's going to being elected who will have a great deal of control over our lives.

the "educated and the old rich White people" know this, as well as the corporations. you never see them threatening to stay home or vote for someone who is even more against their own best interests than the guy they're presently upset with.

so if i'm not completely happy with the guy or gal in office, i will try to convince others why i think that way, and hope they'll convince others, and so on and so on, until enough of us can get behind the candidate who will best represent average americans. and if this candidate doesn't survive the primary process, we back the next best guy in the general election, who WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING AGAINST HIM. then 2 or 4 or 6 years later, we try again. or if we're very lucky, this politician has morphed into a even better politician who puts more of the people's interest before corporations.

but even if he doesn't morph, we're still obligated to be informed and VOTE to make sure the best candidate - not always the most perfect candidate - wins next time, even if it's the lesser of two evils, because ultimately, we the people have the greater responsibility for our democracy.

AND THAT MEANS NOT ALLOWING REPUBLICANS TO RETAKE THE HOUSE, SENATE OR WHITE HOUSE!!!!

[LoZoccolo]

2. The people, and it goes way farther than just voting.

I think it's hilarious when people complain about the Democratic candidates when we have a primary process that selected them. People want to express themselves at the ballot box with futile or counterproductive dramatic tactics when they've done little or none of the footwork to appeal to the people for support.

[Skittles]

3. I live in TEXAS

my votes haven't counted for DECADES

example: Obama was a done deal before voting got anywhere NEAR Texas

and how exactly do you KNOW how much "footwork" people do???

[LoZoccolo]

8. The nature of their complaints implies that they are on the failboat.

The things they say are consistent with someone who sees voting as the only course of action. They don't say anything about, for example, what their advocacy groups are doing. Because they don't belong to them. The only thing they suggest doing is throwing people under the bus.

[PBS Poll-435]

12. I feel ya

I really do. I get the double whammy. My Congressman is chair of the NRCC. One of our Senators is chair of the NRSC.

Our other Senator is running for Governor. (poorly)



However, it was very nice to see Dallas County go blue in the last election. Our Sheriff was re-elected and the County Clerk and Tax Assessor-Collector are now Dems.

[Birthmark]

4. The leaders

We don't have a real democracy or representative republic. We haven't for quite some time. We have a system where there are, in name at least, two parties that share most of the same values and more than a little philosophy. They have legislatively assured themselves of no other competition. They are assisted by the corporate mass media who make sure that everyone knows that voting third-party is "throwing your vote away."

The will of the people is kept like a caged animal inside very small boundaries. I hardly think that that's a democracy.

Therefore, it is up to the leaders to protect what little is left and maybe even push back to expand democracy in a genuine way.

No, I'm not holding my breath waiting for our leaders to act on our behalf. :)

[ZombieHorde]

5. Which is better to eat: Food or vegetables?

Our leaders are members of "the people."

[RepublicanElephant]

7. but "the people" can't get into the senate dining room or have government-run healthcare. nt

[ZombieHorde]

10. You are being silly. Millions of people have government-run health care. nt

[RepublicanElephant]

13. back to the original point. there is a difference between the common people and

the people who govern us.

and the common people have the greater responsibility for this democracy.

[ZombieHorde]

14. What is a common person? nt

[RepublicanElephant]

16. ...

:banghead:

[ZombieHorde]

17. Labels such as "the people" and "common people" seem to be meaningless to me.

Devoid of all value outside of the realm of propaganda.

[JVS]

9. Our "democratic" system is not actually designed to represent the people. It is designed to pacify

So the people really shouldn't give a shit about taking care of it.

[LWolf]

11. The people, of course.

Which is why the bulk of my anger is saved for those who keep voting corporate whores into office.

[RepublicanElephant]

18. bingo! nt

[Jamastiene]

15. The concept of checks and balances has been so compromised in our government

at this point, it will be up to we, the people, to finally reach THAT point where we have had enough and vote for the one we really want instead of the one who "has a chance at winning."

Ultimately, we will have to be the checks and balances our government needs, because leaving it up to them is like leaving the fox in charge of the hen house.

On that note: I wish I could vote myself a nice fat raise whenever I want to.. like they can AND DO OFTEN.

[Avalux]

19. The people do. But when 40% have a reading comprehension of a 4th grader -

our democracy is in trouble. Leaders will always try to gain more power; it's up to the people to keep them in check. If the people are too stupid to understand this...