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What's wrong with American democracy and how can it be fixed?

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straightlining
Posts: 238 - Karma: 139
I'm writing a university essay on this topic and It'd be nice to hear your opinions of the topic. Additionally, seeing as you're all actually American, you're going to have more insight on this topic than I do.

So go ahead, vent, rage, bitch whatever, it's all good and it helps.


Jun 16 2013 1:20AM
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Dingo69
Posts: 1330 - Karma: -171
Fucksticks that arent libertarian. Thats the problem
Jun 16 2013 1:27AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,123
Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders.

The problem is the american people.
Jun 16 2013 1:35AM
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000000000000
Posts: 843 - Karma: 1,552
Not abiding rules, stomping on the constitution and basically doing whatever they want. Downvote/ Upvote, Still doesn't change the fact that the NSA is spying on U.S citizens, as well as this post. I love America, but DESPISE what the government has turned into. For this to change, there will be bloodshed. Anonymous is a good start.
Jun 16 2013 1:40AM
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ElMexicano
Posts: 639 - Karma: 400
The way its set up makes it so if you aren't voting for the two major parties people consider it a wasted vote. It's impossible for another party to gain traction.

And fuck you NSA agent reading this

Really recently some program was uncovered that's been going on for the past 7 years ... I'll look it up I guess
Jun 16 2013 1:49AM
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ElMexicano
Posts: 639 - Karma: 400
Yeah some program named "PRISM" look it up.

If someone said they were doing this years ago they would be scrutinized and someone would throw up a tin foil hat meme, well wake up and smell the flowers.
Jun 16 2013 1:52AM
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Dingo69
Posts: 1330 - Karma: -171
Ive felt for years that dea monitors what i do online. Weird that it could be true
Jun 16 2013 2:00AM
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000000000000
Posts: 843 - Karma: 1,552
DEA? Not smart to sell drugs online, homie.
Jun 16 2013 2:19AM
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Dingo69
Posts: 1330 - Karma: -171
I dont. But i talk about them
Jun 16 2013 2:23AM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
security cameras, take them down.
Jun 16 2013 2:28AM
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danderson.
Posts: 6560 - Karma: 5,252
You're fucked.
Jun 16 2013 2:31AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
People who think the constitution is the end all be all of everything and a faultless, flawless document that people should get on their knees daily to worship and sacrifice 100 virgins to.

Or, in other words, a lack of common sense from citizens. Also politicians who are more concerned about keeping their jobs than doing them correctly.
Jun 16 2013 8:59AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
"One republic for which it stands..."

Not democracy...
Jun 16 2013 9:14AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
The two party system is fucked. That needs to change.
Jun 16 2013 10:00AM
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Daski
Posts: 658 - Karma: 2,348
Politics has become a rich mans reality show. Its no longer about voting for who or what will help our country, its about who belongs to what party, who did a favor to who (congress.)
Fun Fact: A group of monkeys can be referred to as a congress.
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Jun 16 2013 10:05AM
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gusestomp
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 746
Fact: The world is going down the shitter
Jun 16 2013 10:22AM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
oh

my

god

you

are

the

biggest

retard

on

this

planet
Jun 16 2013 10:25AM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
and yeah big problem is this.
Jun 16 2013 10:27AM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
well it's not a pure democracy. it's a representative democracy and our representatives are more concerned with money from lobbyists and keeping their jobs that they rarely do them in the interest of the people. they're also out of touch with the general public.
Jun 16 2013 10:38AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
Lobbyists and election donors. The amount of money in politics is disgusting, and even worse when its coming from super pac's and other absurd organizations that allow massive anonymous corporate donations.


Jun 16 2013 11:30AM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061
money controls everything and it isn't getting fixed
Jun 16 2013 11:36AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
democracy being the best form of government is like a foot tumor being the best kind of tumor: they're all terrible
Jun 16 2013 11:40AM
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90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
'muricans are stoopid
Jun 16 2013 11:49AM
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terraclot
Posts: 438 - Karma: 665
there's no "solution" to this twisted, two-party mess.
Jun 16 2013 11:57AM
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Peachbutt
Posts: 623 - Karma: 601
My opinion: 99% of the information you put on the internet is public anyway. And of course the government tracks and records calls, but unless you're plotting some crazy crime, they wont give 2 shits what you're saying. Probably wont even look or listen, considering they have 300 million other people to watch. Even small crimes like talking about doing drugs, nobody's going to show up at your door. If you really want to hide something from the government for whatever reason, it's easy enough to.

Shit on me.
Jun 16 2013 12:02PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
also we dont have two parties, just two relevant parties.
Jun 16 2013 12:02PM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
Click for larger image
Jun 16 2013 1:16PM
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Shenanigans
Posts: 868 - Karma: 455
One possible way to improve democracy in the US would be to get rid of the electoral college system and have direct elections for president. Akhil Amar (might be a good person to google lectures of to get some ideas) talks about three requirement for amendments to the constitution that generally lead to that amendment's success:

1. That states are already doing it (states have direct elections for governors).

2. That both parties would be willing to agree to it (maybe if the amendment was set to be go in effect 50 or 100 years in the future, both parties might be fine with it).

3. It continues the trend of democracy in the US (the expansion of suffrage to all non-felon adults, the election of the Senate by the people, etcetera).

The direct election of the president would further the ideal of "one person one vote" (As not all votes count equally under the electoral college). Some variation of runoff elections would also probably be necessary under this system.
Jun 16 2013 2:42PM
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las.
Posts: 1959 - Karma: 1,455
The tree of liberty was not pruned regularly.
In fact it has not been pruned once.
Its looking all overgrown and bushy.
Jun 16 2013 6:40PM
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alex=
Posts: 1738 - Karma: 2,835
The gov't was set up as an aristocracy from the start. It's been fucked from the start. Ever since '76 we've been romping around the glove shoving something down other countries' throats that we ourselves don't advocate.
Jun 16 2013 6:52PM
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RaymondBabbitt
Posts: 10 - Karma: -2
Gotta get my boxer shorts at K-Mart.
Jun 16 2013 6:53PM
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edai
Posts: 4987 - Karma: 4,653
Eventually everyone is going to be slaughtered.
Jun 16 2013 6:54PM
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las.
Posts: 1959 - Karma: 1,455
A bi-lateral party system is, imo, largely unhealthy for a democracy, especially in America where domestic politics is only divided on a handful of issues such as the welfare state, abortion and immigration. There is no real plurality in American politics, both main parties are right of centre, pro-capitalist, Christian and federalists just to differing degrees. A broad political spectrum represented through elected representatives is good, it breathes fresh air into old issues by tackling problems from multiple positions.
The separation of powers in America is astonishingly counter-productive too. Whilst a system of checks and balances is a sign of a healthy democracy, the case in America has allowed for essentially a veto from one branch of government to another. It makes the legislative process unbearably slow thus legislation is not moving step by step with American society.
Also, the ability of the President to make executive orders amazes me, it's unbelievably undemocratic.

Proportional representation and a breaking down of the separation of powers.
Jun 16 2013 7:28PM
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,203
i think being a politician used to be more of a civil duty, but is more profit oriented now. And by "used to", i mean wayyy back in the day.  I try to stay out of politics though so i probably dont know what i am talking about.
Jun 16 2013 7:35PM
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MLB
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 298
The two party system, your minimal separation between church and state, lobbyists, outdated constitution, and lack of political transparency.

Add to that that you have politicians who don't care about the American people, they just want longer terms, and serve their own agendas.

Also rediculous economical theories introduced by the republicans under Ronald Reagan are making sure that you don't come out of a recession a world power.
Jun 16 2013 9:25PM
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Dingo69
Posts: 1330 - Karma: -171
Actually we have the opposite. Tyranny of the poor majority you stupid fuckstick
Jun 16 2013 9:30PM
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Sir.Steezealot
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 677
America has been for the corporations and by the corporations for quite some time now. Fixing that is one step towards change.
Jun 16 2013 9:35PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,123
Jun 16 2013 9:53PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
illuminati
Jun 16 2013 9:57PM
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987321654hgfd
Posts: 5133 - Karma: 5,447
Something I've always thought is a problem, the two party system. We just have two parties who operate in absolutes and for the most part refuse to give in to the other. It can't just be black and white there has to be compromises and they usually refuse to let that happen. Even going far enough to completely prevent the other from doing anything.
Jun 16 2013 9:58PM
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ElMexicano
Posts: 639 - Karma: 400
it's just kinda weird to see a country like ours head a little bit towards a George Orwellian future
Jun 16 2013 10:09PM
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hypnopenguin
Posts: 83 - Karma: 820
What's wrong with America is our idea of being strictly consumerism. We are now not the ones who produce anything, really. We are the ones who only consume.

The flaw in this, is that in order to make money, you have to produce then sell. We do not do that. We use to, but now almost all of our things are produced in china and other places.

We have a TEMPORARY solution, by borrowing money, but once we can no longer borrow, what are we to do?

I think the only way to do it is to make the labor prices lower, so we can compete with China. Although this does not sound like a good idea, it is the only way to fix this problem. If being powerful is not a concern to the United States anymore, we can keep on doing what we are doing.
Jun 16 2013 10:17PM
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Zimmerman
Posts: 6992 - Karma: 1,021
1. Party system
2. Citizens United
3. Education (or lack thereof)
4. Media manufacturing consent
5. Electoral college

Any questions?
Jun 17 2013 12:20AM
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WillyTheKid
Posts: 106 - Karma: 639
Too many issues to address, but a particular conundrum is that large right wing companies that destroy small business (Wal-Mart, Koch Industries subsidiaries and so on) are the ones who back politicians who are supposedly fighting for small business. How effective can a politician be in helping small business if the only reason they hold office is because a corporation put them there?

seems odd to me.
Jun 17 2013 1:57AM
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WillyTheKid
Posts: 106 - Karma: 639
Too many issues to address, but a particular conundrum is that large right wing companies that destroy small business (Wal-Mart, Koch Industries subsidiaries and so on) are the ones who back politicians who are supposedly fighting for small business. How effective can a politician be in helping small business if the only reason they hold office is because a corporation put them there?

seems odd to me.
Jun 17 2013 1:57AM
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newnewschool
Posts: 400 - Karma: 439
Society sucks in general. It sucks because nobody wants to change it beyond their comfort zone.
Jun 17 2013 2:04AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13083 - Karma: 18,720
Close, but incorrect.
Plato believed in 4 different political system of government. You have the aristocracy (which he believed was the best system because the foremost experts of each branch should be the most entitled to do the job and do it by passion), Olicracy (a breakdown of government and its constituents; according to Plato. It is when the parliament (or establishment) is only occupied by nominations and by the bourgeois and can not be attended by the citizen.), democracy (a good temporary government because electing peers to run government can function until the bourgeois take it to promote their business and wealth. This system however degrades to the olicracy, then to tyranny) and Tyranny ( where a small group of people control the majority, often with brutality to discourage opposition).

I can say, be are in the Olicracy era. Elite people that are not elected (they are promoted) high in the government agency are those running the system. Political leaders are all about taking the heat. Face it, most elected members are the most useless people on the planet; they cant even hammer a nail with a hammer. But, if you have tried to get into politics, you will be its a fierce competition. The guys in there, never want to leave; no matter how bad they are doing their job.

Business has infiltrated government. People who have a crapton of money will lobby and sway legislation for their company (or industry) or directly get involved in politics in order to get a return on investments. Government today is not just dictating market, people in the market are controlling government to control the market in their favor. How we have a shit show of politician lobbyists seeking control without accounting for the people they should represent.

The next step in tyranny, unless someone cleans out government. The people in power will centralise power for themselves and begin forcing the citizen to stand in line while the government are out breaking the same rules they apply to their people.
Jun 17 2013 1:06PM
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terraclot
Posts: 438 - Karma: 665
no, two parties.
Jun 17 2013 6:47PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
communist party, liberatarian party, independent party... shall i continue?
Jun 17 2013 9:20PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7479 - Karma: 36,027
we have people making laws on stuff that they really dont know anything about and they are too concerned about keeping their jobs and making lobbyists happy. I am sure this has already been said.


Fuck superpacs.
Jun 17 2013 9:31PM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
Freedom!

Failure is civilizations destiny. The more we try to prevent it, the closer it comes.

If we look to nature for inspiration. There is balance. For something to eat, something must die. For a species to thrive, another must fail. It's nature, It's organic.

We need to create an organic society. One that has morals, and punishment, and an unlimited potential for growth.

For anyone every success, there is a failure. No freebies in the real world.
Jun 17 2013 9:33PM
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