"democracy" inaction **
In a normal democracy, given the state of public opinion and the record of the incumbent government, it would be taken for granted that come next Tuesday the ruling party would be turned out. But, for reasons that have less to do with the wizardry of Karl Rove than with the structural biases of America’s electoral machinery, Democrats enter every race carrying a bag of sand. The Senate’s fifty-five Republicans represent fewer Americans than do its forty-five Democrats. On the House side, Democratic candidates have won a higher proportion of the average district vote than Republicans in four of the five biennial elections since 1994, but—thanks to a combination of gerrymandering and demo-graphics—Republicans remain in the majority. To win back the House, Democrats need something close to a landslide.*
* Talk of the Town Comment: "Hearts and Brains" written by Hendrik Hertzberg in The New Yorker, November 6, 2006 issue. Clicking on the paragraph should link to the source.
I do believe that if the Democrats win back Congress (and I am doubtful because the Repugnicans have become adept at stealing elections), things will be less worse. But will the character of the U.S. change? I don't think so. The two-party duopoly must end if there is to be a democracy in the United States. We need more voices. We also need a return to a government with three branches.
** credit for the title goes to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show
* Talk of the Town Comment: "Hearts and Brains" written by Hendrik Hertzberg in The New Yorker, November 6, 2006 issue. Clicking on the paragraph should link to the source.
I do believe that if the Democrats win back Congress (and I am doubtful because the Repugnicans have become adept at stealing elections), things will be less worse. But will the character of the U.S. change? I don't think so. The two-party duopoly must end if there is to be a democracy in the United States. We need more voices. We also need a return to a government with three branches.
** credit for the title goes to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show
posted by Daniel wbc at 12:37 PM
6 Comments:
You've got that right, Daniel.
The only reason to vote Democrat is to turn out the repuglicans - Not that the Dems are that much better, just the lesser of two evils.
I, too, would at least like another viable "evil" to choose from. Who knows, maybe it would turn out to not be an evil after all . . . .
Here, here! Agreed!
We need to move to Canada before another US election!
Love the first paragraph. Damn right! From the archaic electoral college to the road blocks in Florida, the whole election system is hopelessly gimped.
OK, here is one of those situations where my status as novice blogger shows. I thought it would be clear in the way that I linked that I did not write the first paragraph but was quoting from a larger commentary in The New Yorker. Now I have added a specific citation under the quoted paragraph as well as the link to the source material. My honest apologies.
mz m.,
You'd think that electoral and campaign reform would be bipartisan issues, striking at the heart of democracy. Instead, both parties just seem to work for what will be in their favor rather than what's best for the health of the nation.
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