This will not fix everything, of course, but the PROCESS of actually being able to have a fully auditable and verifiable system will involve confronting many entrenched and underworld interests that currently stand behind the current basket-case voting machines etc. system. So the process of getting at least a proper voting system in place, which surely is non-partisan in essence, would help foster a dynamic that could then, hopefully, address broader and deeper issues.

Things are so bad in the US, however, that I very much doubt that such a thing is possible. And if this is correct, what does it say about the status quo and the US as a so-called ‘democracy’.

This is why again I think only and Article V initiative will effect substantive change. Procedurally it is anchored in the bedrock premises laid out in the founding constitutional documents which makes it a radical undertaking only in the root sense of the word. Politically it could unite progressive elements on both the right and left of the spectrum and strategically speaking it simply ignores the current RepubloCrat duopoly and demands that those pursuing such an agenda do so without the support of the mainstream media, lobbying groups, Beltway funds and so forth, so it would have to stand on its own feet to gather traction.

With the internet-based media still being very much open and available to large percentages of the population, such an undertaking is more feasible now than at any time since the nation’s founding. However I have yet to see a good cause for mustering such a movement. It is not enough to simply want to overthrow the existing order or to push a single issue (like my monetary reform suggestion above). There has to be something positive and articulated that a People’s Resolution of this nature would have to effect. Although that said, I suspect that if a good, practical, fundamental single issue - or list of them - could be found, that might do the trick. In other words, more than ideology or complaint alone.

1. Changing the electoral system including media access, voting methods, funding laws.
2. Changing the monetary system: dismantling the private-sector led Fed established by banking cartel players in 1913 and returning to some sort of solid currency not based on usury.
3. Single payer universal healthcare
4. Eliminating foreign or corporate lobbying groups or ensuring that any proposals are made in public and published for all to see, whatever.
5. Reducing or abolishing Federal Income tax and returning the bulk of taxation proceeds to the States and in turn a far higher percentage of that to local communities. The tax structure should be, from the POV of the individual, for every $1.00 paid: 75% to local, 20% to State and 5% to Federal. This alone would transform the way power is distributed in the nation, undermine most of the centralist-style corruption now infesting Washington most of the past century, and so forth.

My two cents!

Is your name really Tom Joad? If it is, you’re my all-time hero, my man, even though you are “fictional.”

I wasn’t implying futility, the exact opposite. I’m looking for windows of opportunity. As of late I’ve succumbed to the natural science of complexity and find in it models of transformation.

Large nation-states seem to be unresponsive by nature. There is a natural limit to how big you can be on the one hand and how democratic you can be on the other.

The gall of thinking that one can be the “leader” of this mass is just amazing to me.

I would suggest a eco mimic or mimicing nature as a means of both understand and synchonizing with a path that demilitarizes the human condition. That’s basically what I’m saying. The Green Party has actually tapped into this through its strong community based priniciples. The loci of all of this is of course local, human scale in dimension.

More later…
Max

…………………………………
Now, here’s an “update” of Operation Chaos, as promised.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_050208/content/01125112.guest.html

Limbaugh’s website has a “dispatch from the field” by his “commander” in Indiana, head of the “Wolverine unit,” in which he reports on Democratic plans to threaten him and other Republicans like him if they go into the Democratic primary to vote for Clinton. Both the commander and his “chief” show a degree of ignorance of challenge procedures in Indiana that makes one wonder about the sincerity or at least the viability of their “operation,” Having loud-mouthed his intentions all over Indiana radio, the local guy describes himself and his wife and two children who will also do Chaos, as being in great danger of prosecution and Limbaugh praises him for his bravery. Apparently what he wants in Indiana is exactly what Bush wants from his soldiers in Iraq: troops who are brave enough to do the mission and stupid enough not to question it.

Apparently Limbaugh has now lifted the suspension of the operation that he “called” a couple of days earlier and an Obama defeat remains the stated purpose of the operation. However, since I’m reluctant to believe that the usually-efficient CREEPS of the GOP would hang their operation on as thin a reed as the egomanical and publicity-seeking Limbaugh, I have to wonder if they are working on a more clandestine operation with Chaos as a cover: perhaps my suggested scenario that at some point (and probably May 6 is the best point) they would decide to lay off the cross-voting for Clinton and go back to their earlier pattern of voting for Obama, as they might perceive that he’s damaged enough to be a “worthy” (i.e. weak) opponent for McCain and they fear that Clinton (with, ironically, their help) might actually pull off the miracle and become a very “unworthy” (i.e. strong) opponent for JM. That’s a lot of shrewdness, of which Limbaugh might or might not be capable, but does anyone question Karl Rove’s credentials in the clandestine shrewdness category?

Very simply infiltrating the existing system which is operated and owned by corporate elite and media who ultimately vet and offer “candidates” will rebuke with great nonchalance encroachment of a real progressive nature. That system cannot be wrested away from those powers. In other words, a head to head reform is energy consumed on a winless battle.

The alternative is to create find opportunities to retrace the political landscape, enriching deep democracy locally. Germinating an community economics that taps into the nearly trillion “dollars” of non-monetary economic transactions.

This is an under the radar transformation. To be sure the window of opportunity is illusive. Corporate coopting breeds quickly and will look for opportunities to undermine at each and every turn. But I offer it as a means to reinvent around core democratic and economic and social justice principles and values.

The two headed hydra - Republicrats will not be transformed by restructuring without alternative forces (parties?) that change the dynamics. Structural changes like proportional representation and instant run off voting mean nothing in a duopoly.

There is the issue of sheer size. The continental US does not lend itself to democracy. It will always be a caricature documented in the Founders visionary Constitution. That envisioned nation is no more.

As for Article V, I know you saw Joel Hirschhorn’s article, immediately following this one, because you posted a comment on it. Any body interested might look there to see some of the objections to it, I believe there’s also a link to the website of the agency that promotes it and with which Joel is associated. I’m officially in the “open mind” category.

I was reading this article earlier this evening:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8854

Now, it deals with many issues, but if, for example, an Article V national movement was started in order to effect fundamental monetary reform along the lines sketched out in the article, that might do the trick. In other words, it is simply not enough to try to elect a President who serves within the current system. The underlying system has to be changed. Usually when one says something like this it is assumed one might be saying that we want to substitute ‘democracy’ with ‘communism’ and so forth. But the fact is that there is far more structurally going on with our current ’system’ than the surface political structure which is largely nowadays a shell game. So reforming how the Democrats and Republicans go through their primary process is simply not enough.

thanks for a thoughtful article.

I think the purpose of a primary should be for a Party to choose the most electable candidate. I agree that the quasi ‘general election’ style primaries staggered over 6+ months is overkill. On the other hand, given the huge size and scope of the US Republic, doing it all on one day would favour establishment candidates only given the way the media works in the US. If it’s all on one day, then the news cycle is only about 2 weeks leading up to it, meaning again that only very well known well entrenched candidacies will have a chance. So I suspect a 3-month caucus-only system would do the job fine, allowing for some sort of ‘positive purgatory’ in the process but keeping it short. Caucuses also have the virtue of being less infiltratable since the participants tend to know each other more.

Beyond that, the root causes of the problem involve many issues, one of which is the totally corrupt voting methods used nowadays which no self-respecting democracy would tolerate. The US is no longer a bona fide democracy so until that is addressed in a substantive way that goes way beyond voting machine logistics, the whole thing is a waste of time.

The only suggestion I have heard in years that makes any sense, embryonically, involves the Article V business. But I haven’t read anything yet that uses it properly. No matter what, deep changes are called for and they won’t be addressed within the current election cycle, even though you are right to point out that even in the heat of battle, a teaching moment exists.

Though the line from “The In-Laws” occured to me when she was caught lying about Tuzla Airport, it works on other levels as well.

“Serpentine! Serpentine!”

It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.

Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.

But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.

Hillary Clinton say’s that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.

Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton’s have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.

If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: “You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it’s also clear that we’ve got nine more important contests to go.”

Sincerely

Jacksmith… Working Class :-)

If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of “BITTER”!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith… Working Class :-)

p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you don’t know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering…

You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)

Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on…

OBAMA AIDE: “WORKING-CLASS VOTERS NOT KEY FOR DEMOCRATS” :o

DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!…