[lotuseclat79]

Taking Money Out of Politics is a Good Idea (Video - 4:05 minutes:seconds)

-- Tom

[iltos]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Taking Money Out of Politics is a Good Idea (Video - 4:05 minutes:seconds)

-- Tom

people are gonna see "noam chomsky" and shut down
so it's worth noting that he says, wrt to the topic, that "if you look at obama's campaign funding, the majority of it came from financial institutions, because they thought he would serve their interests better than mccain"

while we don't know what mccain would have done, i don't imagine that the finance sector is too dissappointed with obama

but i'm sure folks will continue to look at chomsky as a left wing loony

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by iltos

people are gonna see "noam chomsky" and shut down
so it's worth noting that he says, wrt to the topic, that "if you look at obama's campaign funding, the majority of it came from financial institutions, because they thought he would serve their interests better than mccain"

while we don't know what mccain would have done, i don't imagine that the finance sector is too dissappointed with obama

but i'm sure folks will continue to look at chomsky as a left wing loony

Chomsky is a left-wing looney, but that is besides the point here. How would you propose to get money out of politics? The politicians would have to vote for cutting off their gravy train, just like they will never vote for term limits.

[ekim68]

We could start with campaign finance reform.. Have you called or written to your congressman lately?

[iltos]

Originally Posted by TooBad

Chomsky is a left-wing looney, but that is besides the point here. How would you propose to get money out of politics? The politicians would have to vote for cutting off their gravy train, just like they will never vote for term limits.

you've given up on the will of the people thing, huh?
but your point is well taken....until we have the will to do change it, the status quo will continue

[thingamajig]

Originally Posted by ekim68

We could start with campaign finance reform.. Have you called or written to your congressman lately?

I agree. Enclose a small donation with your letter.

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by iltos

you've given up on the will of the people thing, huh?
but your point is well taken....until we have the will to do change it, the status quo will continue

I am not sure, "We the People" actually have much power. We seemed to have when comprehensive immigration reform reared its ugly head in a form most did not like. But, I have written my Senators and Congressman many times and one Senator responds to my actual points while the others return a form message that touchs only one of the points. They are not listening at all. They have ignored the Tea Parties, used their lackies in the media to distort the number and mood of those that attend and I know way too many people that believe the crap that Fox News is garbage, yet believe every stinking lie out of the NY Slimes and CBS, NBC and ABC that they are completely ignorant of what is going on.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by TooBad

I am not sure, "We the People" actually have much power. We seemed to have when comprehensive immigration reform reared its ugly head in a form most did not like. But, I have written my Senators and Congressman many times and one Senator responds to my actual points while the others return a form message that touchs only one of the points. They are not listening at all. They have ignored the Tea Parties, used their lackies in the media to distort the number and mood of those that attend and I know way too many people that believe the crap that Fox News is garbage, yet believe every stinking lie out of the NY Slimes and CBS, NBC and ABC that they are completely ignorant of what is going on.

fair enough...
but it's fair, i think, to consider that both sides of the fence -even tho their reasons maybe very different- can agree on the fact that the influence provided by money has gained a powerful control on the outcome of political haggling.

which means that chomsky speaking to it -and the fact that he is considered by many to be a liberal loony- is significant, imo...there are many who are more liberal than conservative who agree with him.....and the fact that they may not listen or care about the message of the tea parties does not deny that they share the same frustrations that you've expressed

their frustrations -like yours- are just packaged as separate political ideologies.....differences, rather than similiarties

it is emphasizing those differences that has become the will of the people.

divided, we fall.

we won't fall because we don't care: we'll fall because we've put the spectacle of national politics between us....a kind of super bowl of policy where two great teams battle for a victory that each side believes is vital to the future of the country.

but the victory we all seek can't be had as long as we see only the differences between the teams....it's the game they're playing that matters....that's what chomsky is bringing to our attention, imo.

[ekim68]

Originally Posted by TooBad

Chomsky is a left-wing looney, but that is besides the point here.

And you know this how? He's described as a libertarian socialist, but not a looney..How would you describe yourself?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by ekim68

And you know this how? He's described as a libertarian socialist, but not a looney..How would you describe yourself?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky

I'll leave the descriptions to you, you seem much more qualified in your own mind to judge me.

[wacor]

He is right about taking the money out. Public financed elections would lelvel the playing field.

It is not just the corporate money though. The unions also have a ton of impact. In Detroit your odds of going anywhere without union backing is pretty dismal.

[ekim68]

Originally Posted by wacor

He is right about taking the money out. Public financed elections would lelvel the playing field.

It is not just the corporate money though. The unions also have a tone of impact.

Yep, kind of like a democracy rather than a plutocracy, eh?

[lotuseclat79]

It's more like we have an oligarchy rather than a real democracy what with 99% of the wealth in the hands of the greedy 1% (of the population), and then there is the rest of us - i.e. there is no middle class in the USA anymore.

The economic bubble (crisis) happened over a year ago (the recession started about Dec. 2007) and still - no new financial regulations out of Congress and the Senate. More new BIG BONUSES for the financial industry this time around, and they keep increasing. No more bailouts! Of course, the Stimulus has not yet kicked in. The crisis won't be over until Main Street if fully employed again - it will take some time.

-- Tom