Modern Liberal Democracy entails: 1. Effective participation 2. Voting equality 3. Enlightened understanding by the electorate 4. Control of the legislative agenda through voting 5. Inclusiveness
Does American democracy meet any or all of these criteria? #election2020 1/9
In a real democracy the person who wins the most votes wins. In America the EC/SCOTUS handed the election to GWB, in a nakedly partisan manner, then Trump. The Democrats had 16-yrs to rectify the situation, but did nothing, b/c impotence is their M.O. 2/9 nytimes.com/2019/02/28/opi…
Under Obama @TheDemocrats "share of seats in the United States Senate has fallen from 59 to 48. They’ve lost 62 House seats, 12 governorships, and 958 seats in state legislatures." How was that possible? 3/9 vox.com/policy-and-pol…
Simple, @TheDemocrats, at least the elite gerontocracy beholden to special interests, have little to no interest in employing a progressive or a radical agenda that will conflict with the donor class. The ACA was designed by a corporate lobbyist! 4/9 theguardian.co/commentisfree/…
America is a plutocracy or managed democracy, where "governments are legitimized by elections, but do not change the state's policies, motives, and goals." Neither party cares about liberal democracy, except as a conduit for power. 5/9 truthdig.com/articles/sheld…
This is why #M4A, tuition free college, & financial reform are all unacceptable to Pelosi-Schumer-Obama-Clinton-Biden. This is why when faced with a Sanders win in 2016, the Democrats crooked the primaries. washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/w… 6/9
When faced with Elizabeth Warren's reforms in 2019, DP insiders & moneyed bagmen attacked her. Instead of thinking through the problem of how rigged the American system of governance is, we are told the reason everything is so bad, is because we didn't capitulate to centrism! 7/9
The Democrats had a super-majority in Obama's 1st year and squandered it. Within months of holding office, McConnell knew Obama was an easy mark, because of his lack of experience, willingness to compromise, and his staff of recycled Clintonistas. prospect.org/economy/crisis… 8/9
To live up to the "promise of America", engage in 100M citizens who didn't vote! Ensure blacks, Latinos, Asians, and minorities are heard & guaranteed a voice. We need new leaders (& parties) with the vision to fight fascism and climate change! This is the fight of our lives. 9/9
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
#History provides us with the enormous opportunity as both individuals and society to learn and adapt. Take the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who was tasked at reviving a morally corrupt federal government, while tackling stagflation & global multiple conflicts. 1/4 #ClimateChange
From a new #biography on the 39th president: "Carter proposed investing in clean energy, imagining a U.S. independent of Arab oil. His constituents just wanted to know when the pumps would start flowing again." 2/4 #ClimateChange#BookReviewajc.com/life/jimmy-car…
Instead of adapting to new economic conditions, placing #sustainability at the forefront, America chose the politically more digestible Republican argument. Today, we face a similar choice that is geometrically more consequential. 3/4 #Election2020#ClimateChange
Liberal democracy is predicated on pluralism & effective participation. For example, in Europe, no one ever shrieks that your vote belongs to any faction. In fact, the Greens are a major party in Germany and France. Europe has PR & multi-round voting. #SusanSarandon 1/4
Would critics prefer these people not vote altogether? Did Democrats say Ross Perot couldn't run? Did any DP leader say Bloomberg -a Republican- had no right to run in DP primaries? Unless you live in a swing state, 3rd parties have no impact on the EC. 2/4
The Democratic Party & GOP are right wing business parties, disinterested in progressive politics. There is no left wing party, despite the majority agreeing with left wing policies. The DP sandbagged @ewarren & crooked @BernieSanders (2x) to protect corporate interests. 3/4