Comments on: News Headlines for Independent Voters 9/24/09 http://donklephant.com/2009/09/24/news-headlines-for-independent-voters-92409/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nancy Hanks http://donklephant.com/2009/09/24/news-headlines-for-independent-voters-92409/comment-page-1/#comment-557006 Nancy Hanks Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:35:21 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=16977#comment-557006 kranky -- yes, thems that makes the rules, rule, as the saying goes. That's why I agree that the mechanics makes a difference. We (the American people) have been trying to tell Congress what we want for a long time and they just don't listen. They sit in office and make up rules and regulations that virtually ensure that they will stay there until they die or go to jail. Obviously there are some decent representatives, but the system itself is corrupt--designed to maintain the status quo. I've been working with others (CUIP for example has committees in 35 states) to build a grassroots independent movement (an organized base) that can change the questions that are being asked and change the culture of politics. And I think the way we get truly independent congresscritters (love that!) is to produce them ourselves from that grassroots base. That's the only way we'll be able to break the 2-party death-grip. Thanks for your comment! Nancy kranky — yes, thems that makes the rules, rule, as the saying goes. That’s why I agree that the mechanics makes a difference. We (the American people) have been trying to tell Congress what we want for a long time and they just don’t listen. They sit in office and make up rules and regulations that virtually ensure that they will stay there until they die or go to jail. Obviously there are some decent representatives, but the system itself is corrupt–designed to maintain the status quo. I’ve been working with others (CUIP for example has committees in 35 states) to build a grassroots independent movement (an organized base) that can change the questions that are being asked and change the culture of politics. And I think the way we get truly independent congresscritters (love that!) is to produce them ourselves from that grassroots base. That’s the only way we’ll be able to break the 2-party death-grip.
Thanks for your comment!
Nancy

]]> By: kranky kritter http://donklephant.com/2009/09/24/news-headlines-for-independent-voters-92409/comment-page-1/#comment-556651 kranky kritter Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:56:47 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=16977#comment-556651 1000 times Yes. When it comes to complaining that pollsters ask questions that perpetuate the status quo, you're preaching to the choir. If I had a hundred buck for every time I read a poll and though "why didn;t you ask..." I'd be a rich man. I'd like to see pollsters plumb the depths of folks views about congress. It's becoming pretty clear that "F's all around" is an ever-more-popular grade for congress. What I am hoping to see is a handful of candidates over the next few years who try running as "post-partisan" independents and promise to put regular folks interests over special interests. But I can't really imagine where such folks could come from asknown and viable candidates. As long as they speak the platitudes mentioned yet run under the umbrella of one of the 2 major parties, I feel like I must assume they are full of crap. Quite possibly, the kind of reform that needs to be supported is the kind of political mechanics stuff you have been mentioning, Nancy. Like open primaries and run-off elections. Seems like there is no alternative to describing what an improved congresscritter would look like, and then figuring out what kinds of revisions the system needs to elect such folks. 1000 times Yes. When it comes to complaining that pollsters ask questions that perpetuate the status quo, you’re preaching to the choir. If I had a hundred buck for every time I read a poll and though “why didn;t you ask…” I’d be a rich man.

I’d like to see pollsters plumb the depths of folks views about congress. It’s becoming pretty clear that “F’s all around” is an ever-more-popular grade for congress.

What I am hoping to see is a handful of candidates over the next few years who try running as “post-partisan” independents and promise to put regular folks interests over special interests. But I can’t really imagine where such folks could come from asknown and viable candidates. As long as they speak the platitudes mentioned yet run under the umbrella of one of the 2 major parties, I feel like I must assume they are full of crap.

Quite possibly, the kind of reform that needs to be supported is the kind of political mechanics stuff you have been mentioning, Nancy. Like open primaries and run-off elections. Seems like there is no alternative to describing what an improved congresscritter would look like, and then figuring out what kinds of revisions the system needs to elect such folks.

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