Balance of Powers Out of Balance

[berni_mccoy]

It seems to me (and please post if you don't agree) that the balance of powers in our gov't, one of the foundations of our system, is no longer valid. That is because ONE party, ONE interest controls ALL THREE BRANCHES of the government.

There is no MINORITY representation. The Democrats can't even get ROOMS for hearings scheduled for goodness sake.

Has this ever happened before? If it has happened, have the politics have been this bipartisanly charged? Has the country ever been so divided (except for the Civil War)? If it has been, I would find it hard to believe.

We keep screaming for our Democratic leaders to DO something, to SAY something, but I have to wonder if they have actually been rendered powerless by our system... One of the most outspoken Democratic Leaders, Rep. Conyers, has been doing wonderful things, but if you weren't a member of Democratic Underground, I doubt you would even KNOW ABOUT IT.

And the so called FOURTH ESTATE, the other remaining balance of power, the Media, has shown in the last 5 years that they can be whipped into line and silenced by the ONE CONTROLLING PARTY. This ONE PARTY seems to be systematically taking over local governments of our country bit-by-bit. And they are doing it quietly such that any such blowing of the WHISTLE is met with looks of lunacy and conspiracy theories on the part of the whistle-blowers. But the fact remains that the Media is NOT independent, and is indeed controlled by Corporations run by members of that ONE CONTROLLING PARTY.

What do we do to prevent such an IMBALANCE of our system in the future. The only idea I have to offer is to change 2 things:

1. The election system: make it so transparent such that fraud is EXTREMELY unlikely and make ANY tampering or disenfranchisements of elections tantamount to TREASON.
2. IF a single Party EVER Controls ALL THREE BRANCHES of the government, then the Minority party gets COMMITTEE control, at least in one part of the Congress (either House or Senate). This gives the Minority some ability to put the breaks on (besides filibuster) in the event that the wheels start coming off of a ONE PARTY gov't.

What else can we do to protect the integrity of our government?

[texpatriot2004]

1. I don't know what we do but you're right that we have no checks

and balances right now.

[Q]

2. Dupe

dupe

[Q]

3. You've identified a problem...

...but not THE problem. Since before 2000...several factions fought for control of an 'imperial presidency'. That is...an executive branch that worked outside the Constitution and usurped power from the other branches of government.

The Bush Cabal found an opportunity in 2000. The perfect storm. They were able to pull off a coup d'état with the help of corporate interests, RWing Brownshirts and the Supreme Court.

For all intents and purposes...the Democratic Republic put together by the Founders no longer exists. Like other fascist dictatorships in history...all of government serves at the pleasure of the imperial president. In Bush's case...it's practically the 'divine right of kings'.

[Armstead]

4. Start by actually challenging them politically

The Corporate Oligarchy has gained control for one simple reason. They have not had any meaningful political opposition for about 25 years.

Rather than provice a real alternative to corporate rule, too many Democratic leaders jumped on the gravy train and sold us out too. Most Democratic leaders have only focused on a few issues, while ignoring the bigger ones of wealth and power. Those who did stand for an effective opposition were marginalized like Conyers and Wellstone.

By accepting the right wing effort to giove all power to a few corporations instead of standing up for economic democracy, by turning the media to monopolists, by promoting things like "privatization, the Democratic Centrists both ignored this while it was being guilt, and failed to challenge it as it became more an more apparent.

[berni_mccoy]

5. If what you say is true...

IF "too many Democratic leaders jumped on the gravy train and sold us out too"... then there is really nothing that can be done...

The two parties would actually be just one party in that case.

Makes me sick.

[Lerkfish]

6. yup, mostly true.

there ARE some shining examples of good dem leadership, Conyers and Boxer, for two, and the entire black congressional caucus.

there may be more, but those stand out.

[JaneGat]

7. The Black Caucus does stand out. They have risen again and again

when others remained silent on the hard issues facing us. A few weeks ago someone mentioned a Clark/Obama ticket.