OCCUPY THE ELECTIONS

[HomerRamone]

Jonathan D. Simon:

Freeman Dyson, writing in The New York Review, gives us the answer. “Democratic systems of government,” he writes, “are designed to answer the . . . question, ‘How do we make sure that rulers can be peacefully replaced when they rule badly?’ . . . Elections are held not to choose the best rulers, but to give us a chance to get rid of the worst without bloodshed.” Elections, in other words, are the primary mechanism for keeping a society well away from its Bastille Line, and they virtually never fail to do so. Unless they are rigged. Then they lose all such protective power and the only choices left are quiet desperation or the march on the Bastille.

<...>

The Occupy movement, and the widespread discontent and disempowerment it embodies, have met the First Response: get out of the park, take a bath, get a job . . . get lost. We don’t know what will come next. The Bastille Line may be in sight but it has not yet seriously been approached, let alone crossed. For all the genius of the framing, not all the “99%” are as desperate and motivated as the people in the parks, nor do they necessarily yet see themselves as squarely among the oppressed. Right now it can require a 60% or greater supermajority to actually win an election against a candidate or proposition favored by the "1%." And, because computerized rigging knows no theoretical bounds, it can get a lot worse, the thumb on the scale morphing by turns into a ham fist and, ultimately, an elephant. America remains a rather closely divided, if dangerously polarized, nation and, yes, there is a lot of Prozac, actual and rhetorical, in circulation. Meanwhile, American elections are ceasing to function as the vehicle for "get rid of the worst without bloodshed.” And every rigged election brings us one block closer to the Bastille, to a stark choice between retreat and revolution, with no democratic alternative, no political means of redress and recovery.

If our democracy is to be saved from generations of oppression or bloody revolution, an end must come to rigged elections. And it must come NOW. The only way that is going to happen is by replacing our secret and corrupted computerized vote counting with publicly observable human vote counting—all across America. “But,” election officials in thrall to the speed and convenience of the computers will wail, “we don’t have the peoplepower to do this.” Oh yes we do. They are out there in the cold in parks and public spaces in cities and towns across this country.

We call upon the Occupiers to focus their power on elections, the one means our democracy has provided for its own defense. It is time to OCCUPY ELECTIONS, to storm not the Bastille but county and town clerks’ offices all across America with signed commitments to work as vote counters and observers on Election Day, beginning this winter with the primaries. And then to OCCUPY THE ELECTIONS to take the place of the computers. By so doing the Occupation would transform itself into a national militia for democracy, resolved to count the ballots—all the ballots—in the open. And they well might rouse their fellow citizens to join them in this fundamental duty to democracy, fatally forgotten in this age of convenience-uber-alles.

http://electiondefensealliance.org/www.electiondefensealliance.org/papers/thebastilleline

[Webster Green]

1. We tried that already. It doesn't work.

I've been a precinct inspector for years, but I do believe I'm over it. I doubt I will even vote anymore. It's pointless.

No thanks! I think I'll head for an occupy protest instead. :patriot:

[bhikkhu]

2. In 2010, when the GOP took congress - that's what didn't work

I don't think more of the same in 2012 will do us one bit of good.

[rhett o rick]

6. And in 2008 when we did vote, what did we get? More corporatists. nm

[bhikkhu]

8. Wonderful - the "democrats and republicans are all the same argument" again...

how well has that worked out for you?

[rhett o rick]

14. I didnt say that they are the same. But they are both heavily influenced by lobbyists.

How can you deny that? And Jeff Immelt is Pres Obama's right hand man. A major enemy of the 99%.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. Then primary them.

If we were lied to that's not our fault. It is our fault if we leave them to stay.

[leftyohiolib]

20. you need to look harder the two are not the same.

it's amazing the democrats get anything done with all the whiners in the party.

[brooklynite]

3. Still waiting to hear what the alternative is...

Want to restore Glass-Steagal? You'll need supporters in Congress.

Want to raise taxes on the 1%? ditto.

Want to overturn Citizen's United? You'll need a President to nominate the right kind of judges. Or you'll need Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment and a lot of elected State Legislatures to approve it.

It you've got an alternative approach, I'm dying to hear it.

[Webster Green]

4. Sorry,I got nuthin'.

Smoke a fattie. Go to the park.

Fuck it!

[rhett o rick]

7. But how do we get what you suggest to happen? It hasnt worked so far.

And dont tell me to vote. Dont you get it? The system is rigged. That's why we have OWS, because they think your "let's keep the status quo" meme is over. What's the alternative? I dont know. I just know your method is a proven failure. In 2008 we tried your method and we got more of the fucking same. More tax breaks for the billionaires, more subsidies for the big banks, more crappy insurance company run health care, more Patriot Act, more domestic spying.

Obama's closest buddy is Jeff Immelt, and you still dont get it.

[TheWraith]

9. Sorry, but "the system is rigged" is a bullshit meme.

And nothing but a means to spread around blame. The reality is that Democrats produce good legislation, Republicans block it. If you want to believe something else, go ahead, but it won't be based on reality. "They're all the same" is the same bullshit that gave us 8 years of Bush instead of 8 years of Gore--you really want to make that comparison?

[rhett o rick]

11. So you think the elections of 2000 and 2004 were legitimate? You dont agree

that elections are rigged and caging and other methods of disenfranchisement exist?

And plez dont put words into my mouth. I dont believe that Democrats and republicons are the same. However, many, many Democrats rely and are influenced by corporate lobbyists.

Pres Obama's right hand man is Jeff Immelt who is on my top ten enemies list of the 99%.

I dont believe you believe the system isnt rigged.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

17. So the people who supposedly stole 2000 and 2004

just handed over the keys in 2006 and 2008?

Seriously?

[rhett o rick]

19. I asked if you believe or not that the presidential elections of 2000 & 2004 were stolen?

Answer that and tell me that the system isnt rigged and I will be glad to answer your question.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

22. I'll say "No, they weren't stolen" because people who did as much

would keep stealing elections and not turn over power to their opposition in 2006 let alone with super-majority margins as was the case in 2008.

[rhett o rick]

24. And I would say your logic is faulty. Just because the election wasnt stolen in 2008

doesnt mean they werent in 2000 and 2004.

By 2008 our corp-overlords had everything in place to continue the Bush reign for a few (?) more years. And I believe Bush and Cheney thought it would happen. They put laws in place and had the forces to enforce them that would have allowed Bush to continue as president temporarily if there was a national crisis. Maybe monetary (hmm bank crash) or war with Iran (as the neocons were clamoring for). But the people were getting pretty restless and so our overlords decided to let America have their Democratic president. Didnt you notice that at the end Bush and Cheney, esp Cheney were unbelievably quiet? Like maybe they were told to shut up and stand down like good soldiers. Then the overlords got the republicons to run a couple of losers for president/vice president. Palin sealed the deal. Our corp-overlords wanted America to see that a Democratic president couldnt help them. Of course the republicon party was told to sand-bag all Democratically sponsored legislation. Then in 2016 America will be primed for a non-kook moderate republicon candidate, like Jeb Bush, to ride in on his white horse (they will probably use the horse) and save the republicon party and America. Then stand by for a unitary executive in the WH.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

27. Or maybe not

It wasn't just a dem president; it was a dem majority and super-majority in congress. There was nothing stopping them from undoing the nefarious plot.

This is beyond merely paranoid. Bush couldn't be re-elected. The fact that he made no effort to remain in power is somehow being presented as proof that he intended to remain in power. What nonsense. That's like saying the absence of evidence proves a cover-up.

And now you also tell us, "the people were getting pretty restless and so our overlords decided to let America have their Democratic president."

Wait. What?

So, if I read this correctly -- the system is hopelessly corrupt, the people don't stand a chance to elect whom they will. As proof of this Bush did NOT stay in power for life despite a supposedly manufactured crisis because "the people were getting pretty restless."

A manufactured crisis of the banking collapse is offered as impetus for this supposed coup but even with that bomb being set-off the PTB deliberately squashed their plot by the nomination of some addle-minded bimbo and his running mate from Alaska. You'd think such a cabal would have their game plan better ordered or save their collapse for when they really needed it, making lots of money in the meantime.

And while there is the complaint of GOP obstructionism it still ignores the fact the dems held a super-majority for 2 years. It only takes 1 budget not funding a military or other government program to kill it. You don't even have to vote for it, you just have to not include it in the bill that does get voted-on. Moreover, budgets are passed by law by simple majorities.

These conspiracy theories are tedious, foolish wastes of time. They are cheap excuses for impotence and inaction. They aren't even internally consistent and while people waste time chasing figments public opinion and policy is set by genuine politicos. As the pols wins the CTers get even more paranoid because they're frustrated, angry and marginalized (thank God!).

The fact of the matter is: Obama pissed-off a lot of people, among them many indies. Dems are dems, like GOPers are GOPers, out of party loyalty but the indies are large enough to swing elections. Obama pissed off his base and the indies but the indies aren't beholden to the letter behind his name so they swing to the other letter during off years. No self-mutilating conspiracies needed.

[rhett o rick]

29. yes. It is interesting that your Democratic majority or super majority

or whatever you call it couldnt do shit. They didnt even try to undo the damage Bush did. They love the Patriot Act, the MCA, domestic spying. They even caved re the closing of Gitmo. The health care bill is a piece of garbage. They extended the Bush tax cuts. And on and on. The EPA has been neutered. Acorn was thrown under the bus as was Van Jones. Our overlords are laughing their heads off. The Democrats havent hurt them one single bit. Jeff Immelt and other conservatives were appointed by Obama. Good grief Jeff Immelt is one of the enemy.

There are two sides in this war, the corporatists and We The People. Which side are you on?

[TreasonousBastard]

10. "The system is rigged" is a bullshit excuse for losers who give up...

Yes, it is harder to get, and elect, good candidates now, and while that's as much the fault of the primary system as anything else, just bailing and hoping something else will come along just doesn't cut it.

OWS isn't going to be your savior-- they have no prescription for any meaningful change. As hard as it is to stomach, change only comes from the ballot box and joining groups that can directly influence lawmakers.

[rhett o rick]

12. The system is rigged. Voting machines are rigged, people by the tens of thousands

are disenfranchised, the media spews propaganda, dirty tricks are the norm.

Now I didnt say I was giving up and shame on you for suggesting such. I dont expect OWS to be the savior, but it is apparent to this "loser" that OWS is an indication of gross dissatisfaction with the system.

I think it is too bad you have to sink to calling me a losers.

[leftyohiolib]

23. the system is rigged? then how do dems still win

oh it must be my imagination

[rhett o rick]

25. Because this isnt a republicon vs. Democrat war. Many Democrats work for the same

corporations the republicons do. The system is rigged to elect CORPORATISTS.

[TheKentuckian]

30. They can only push plausibility so far

They can flip some of the close contests but that isn't the critical part anyway since the parties and the media fully dictate our options and in areas where the parties agree there can be no options since both choices lead to the same endpoint and as such confine the entire range of debate as we the people are strung along into the partisan food fight arguing over what the two parties want us to argue over.

The two party system is rigging in and of its self.

[texastoast]

18. That's the fault of the trick/john system

Money from corporations flows into politicians' pockets. Half of our elected representation is the 1%. Lobbyists have unbridled access, and the more money that flowed into a trick's campaign from the john, er, lobbyist, the more access the john has to the Washington trick. Hell, we might as well call it for what it is for the vast majority of our lawmakers.

If you can't beat them, shall we join one of those groups--the corporations? They are the only ones with real access now.

America is gone unless there is a true revolution.

Sucks and I support the fighters, and I'm not sure anymore that the fight is at the precinct.

[treestar]

13. Define "works."

I suspect you want the impossible (or indefensible) - rule without reference to political opponents.

[slay]

5. Too many people have lost faith in the system

i don't blame them. this won't work - they can outspend us by a shitload.

[Blue Owl]

15. Occupy Karl Rove's "The Math"

n/t

[Generic Other]

21. What happens when elections aren't enough?

I helped elect a man I thought I could believe in. So when does my vote count?

[Broderick]

26. i always feel my vote doesn't count

but I still do it. I get twisted up with election fraud and stupid people. sigh.

[LWolf]

28. The only way to occupy elections is for a critical mass

to refuse to vote for either major party.

At least, as far as I can see.