Comments on: The Elections http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:02:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Helen http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-67541 Helen Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:55:04 +0000 http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/#comment-67541 Rachel, it's great that you feel comfortable enough to do that. Most of the things you wrote I already know (such as the parliamentary system that exists in the UK and Canada), and some I didn't already know, so it was refreshing to learn. I suppose I also could've voted for Green, as Washington is an Obama state. But, I didn't want to risk it at all. That was it! Her name was Cynthia McKinney. I remember seeing it on the ballot. Heh. I think our government should be based on a percentage vote system, like a parliament. But I don't know enough about government and politics to see how that would work in the U.S. It seems like we are so entrenched in our current system that it would be so hard to change. And I don't feel like I have much of a voice anymore. I'm more inclined to do what I can on a community-based level. #3 - that was exactly what I was referring to regarding being bought out by corporations for campaign funding. When anyone is "bought" and "sold" while running for office, it defeats the whole purpose (IMHO) of running in the first place. Rachel, it’s great that you feel comfortable enough to do that. Most of the things you wrote I already know (such as the parliamentary system that exists in the UK and Canada), and some I didn’t already know, so it was refreshing to learn. I suppose I also could’ve voted for Green, as Washington is an Obama state. But, I didn’t want to risk it at all. That was it! Her name was Cynthia McKinney. I remember seeing it on the ballot. Heh.

I think our government should be based on a percentage vote system, like a parliament. But I don’t know enough about government and politics to see how that would work in the U.S. It seems like we are so entrenched in our current system that it would be so hard to change. And I don’t feel like I have much of a voice anymore. I’m more inclined to do what I can on a community-based level.

#3 – that was exactly what I was referring to regarding being bought out by corporations for campaign funding. When anyone is “bought” and “sold” while running for office, it defeats the whole purpose (IMHO) of running in the first place.

]]> By: Rachel http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-67537 Rachel Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:46:03 +0000 http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/#comment-67537 Helen, I love you! :) I reread my comment and was worried that your response would be, "Why is she ranting and rambling all over my entry?!" :D Helen, I love you! :) I reread my comment and was worried that your response would be, “Why is she ranting and rambling all over my entry?!” :D

]]> By: Helen http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-67107 Helen Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:54:08 +0000 http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/#comment-67107 Rachel, you're awesome. :) Rachel, you’re awesome. :)

]]> By: Rachel http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-67106 Rachel Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:49:22 +0000 http://helenchatter.com/archives/2008/10/23/the-elections/#comment-67106 Some thoughts: 1. Because we are not a parliamentary system, we are able to vote directly for our congressional representatives. This makes us different from Canada, the UK, Spain, etc ... all those countries where minority parties have representation through the main election. And third parties in the US do have something of a chance in Congress - although yes, still an uphill battle. But you can't conflate the kind of minority party representation in parliamentary systems with the representation that occurs in the US. 2. We need electoral reform. It is possible, so it is destructive to just throw up your hands at the system. We need to demand it from our representatives. Instant Runoff Voting is a great way to make third party candidates viable, because there is no such thing as a wasted vote. Please consider advocating for it. 3. Campaign Finance Reform would also make third party candidates more viable. At this point, the problem with third party representation in the media, etc, is that they don't have the funding or the fundraising capabilities of the two major parties, so they remain unseen. The publicity that the two main parties get isn't given to them by some invisible power, or by the media - they buy it. Under the current rules, a party needs to receive 5% of the federal vote to receive federal campaign funding for the next election. (Again, electoral reform could help reach this goal, because more people would feel capable of voting for them without throwing away their votes.) 4. I think that righteous anger can be useful, but it is more useful to calmly consider our options and argue for them. 5. I am voting green. :) I am thankful to live in a state where I don't think I am throwing away my vote - I am hoping to use my state's blue status to protect my realistic interests while bolstering that potential 5% for the Green party, and in the meantime support Cynthia McKinney, a candidate I can truly support. :) Some thoughts:
1. Because we are not a parliamentary system, we are able to vote directly for our congressional representatives. This makes us different from Canada, the UK, Spain, etc … all those countries where minority parties have representation through the main election. And third parties in the US do have something of a chance in Congress – although yes, still an uphill battle. But you can’t conflate the kind of minority party representation in parliamentary systems with the representation that occurs in the US.
2. We need electoral reform. It is possible, so it is destructive to just throw up your hands at the system. We need to demand it from our representatives. Instant Runoff Voting is a great way to make third party candidates viable, because there is no such thing as a wasted vote. Please consider advocating for it.
3. Campaign Finance Reform would also make third party candidates more viable. At this point, the problem with third party representation in the media, etc, is that they don’t have the funding or the fundraising capabilities of the two major parties, so they remain unseen. The publicity that the two main parties get isn’t given to them by some invisible power, or by the media – they buy it. Under the current rules, a party needs to receive 5% of the federal vote to receive federal campaign funding for the next election. (Again, electoral reform could help reach this goal, because more people would feel capable of voting for them without throwing away their votes.)
4. I think that righteous anger can be useful, but it is more useful to calmly consider our options and argue for them.
5. I am voting green. :) I am thankful to live in a state where I don’t think I am throwing away my vote – I am hoping to use my state’s blue status to protect my realistic interests while bolstering that potential 5% for the Green party, and in the meantime support Cynthia McKinney, a candidate I can truly support. :)

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