American democracy health thread

Discussion in 'Politics & Current Events' started by superdave, Mar 11, 2018.

  1. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    a couple of weeks ago I read How Democracies Die. It was a pretty quick read for me because for those of us who hang out here, it covered very familiar territory. I would highlight two thins from the book.

    First, the writers consider Newt and the Class of 1994 to be bigger factors than we generally acknowledge here. The case was persuasive. Trump didn’t emerge intact from Zeus’ forehead like Athena. The writers could have made a bigger deal of Palin as a Trump harbinger.

    The other point has to do with what the Dems should do when they regain power. I think the writers had two goals. One was to rouse us that what is happening is not normal and is a real threat. (Mission Accomplished.). The other is to argue that the Dems shouldn’t use the new norms to cripple the GOP. They believe the Dems shouldn’t retaliate and should work to reestablish our norms.

    That part was ok, to me, but not great. I mean, if the Dems aggressively work to make voting easy, is that retaliation or reestbalishing norms? How about campaign finance? Those issues are, to me, not clear cut.

    And just to show you what we are up against

    https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/po...ZXl0k4CwEO/amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

    Trump wants the Secret Service to monitor polling places.
     
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  2. American Brummie

    Jun 19, 2009
    There Be Dragons Here
    Club:
    Birmingham City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think they are spot on. If someone like me is saying "should we let them even vote again," and dapip and Jitty are talking about democracy's demise, then there is clearly an element of retribution and vengeance among liberals.

    It is paramount that what be done instead is aggressively expand the franchise, add Puerto Rico and DC as states, add some element of proportional voting in to give the clearly dissatisfied millions of voters some third-party status, expand the size of legislatures, reduce the length of campaigns, and do something - ANYTHING - about Daylight Savings Time and the penny.
     
  3. Dr. Wankler

    Dr. Wankler Member+

    May 2, 2001
    The Electric City
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Brummie, I'm not clear if you think they're spot on or not.
     
  4. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Meh. The first time he was not clear enough. The second time he was getting his message around. He lost me by the third.
     
  5. American Brummie

    Jun 19, 2009
    There Be Dragons Here
    Club:
    Birmingham City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sweet Jesus how did that happen. I click to put something in once, and there you go.

    I'm why we can't have nice things.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "wow, people are really interested in this thread, look at all the replies"

    <click>

    "damn"
     
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  7. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    In all seriousness, I think that Dems should use some of the tools fancied by the GOP with two purposes:

    1. Give the GOP a doses of their own medicine to punish them, but mostly to force them into creating a stricter code of conduct and a more explicit set of rules to be followed by Congress. No more Hastert Rule, no more stonewalling by the majority leaders and no more midnight voting. Make governance as transparent as possible by limiting lobby and making it visible and restricted to certain seasons/bills. Also, increase Congress staff so lawmakers do not have to rely on ALEC to write their bills.

    2. Make voting easier and also reform campaign finance. Add more seats to the House, make more colonies... err.. territories into states, automatically register all 18 year olds, lower voting age, change voting days to the weekends... Repeal Citizens United, put strict limits on Russian private contributions and increase public campaign finance.
     
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  8. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Now say it two more times...
     
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  9. Funkfoot

    Funkfoot Member+

    May 18, 2002
    New Orleans, LA
    I didn't do the assigned reading!
     
  10. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Let PR vote to become a state (or Independent) yes, DC, I am not sure about, that would be too much (but I would be ok with it if it happened).

    Shit, lets create a State of Pacifica with Guam, the marshall islands, ect.

    But as I said in another thread, I think the Democrats should look to repeal the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929.

    http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-Permanent-Apportionment-Act-of-1929/
     
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  11. Timon19

    Timon19 Member+

    Jun 2, 2007
    Akron, OH
    I wasn't sure if he was in the first one, and the third just looked like gilding the lily.

    I was thus only convinced of the second.
     
  12. chaski

    chaski Moderator
    Staff Member

    Mar 20, 2000
    redacted
    Club:
    Lisburn Distillery FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Turks and Caicos Islands
    If you don't like Daylight Saving, move to Arizona.
     
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  13. roby

    roby Member+

    SIRLOIN SALOON FC, PITTSFIELD MA
    Feb 27, 2005
    So Cal
    Easy peasey...instead of messing with the clocks just start everything one hour later in the Fall. As for the penny, I got nuthin. :coffee:
     
  14. Timon19

    Timon19 Member+

    Jun 2, 2007
    Akron, OH
    Or most of the Arabian Gulf.
     
  15. American Brummie

    Jun 19, 2009
    There Be Dragons Here
    Club:
    Birmingham City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ooooh, such pleasant climates, the Persian Gulf and Arizona. Can't wait to sit inside all day.
     
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  16. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We can go like China and have 1 single time for the continental 48.
     
  17. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
  18. American Brummie

    Jun 19, 2009
    There Be Dragons Here
    Club:
    Birmingham City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm on board with this. Five AM is an arbitrary number. Just wake up when sunrise hits. Sleep eight hours before.
     
  19. Timon19

    Timon19 Member+

    Jun 2, 2007
    Akron, OH
    This time of year, it is phenomenal in the former (though edging toward hot doom with the foggy mornings increasing - DST transitions have nothing on Abu Dhabi/Dubai fog for highway mayhem), and pretty nice in the latter.
     
  20. JohnR

    JohnR Member+

    Jun 23, 2000
    Chicago, IL
  21. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Aren’t you by Chicago? I mean, I guess that daylight savings make more sense for northern states, but in Florida I think it doesn’t, as sunlight hours are about the same throughout the year...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  22. JohnR

    JohnR Member+

    Jun 23, 2000
    Chicago, IL
    True enough. I can see why Florida might wish for a different solution than us. But it seems like such a mess to have this issue be resolved by states' rights.
     
  23. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Or Venezuela and move it ahead 30 minutes from its International hourly zone..
     
  24. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Then you won't notice if it is day or night...

    [​IMG]
     
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  25. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nairobi is almost exactly on the equator, so no DST, and because of the altitude the weather is terrific. Houses are built without AC or heating.

    There is a 2 month rainy season.
     
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