Technology and the internet have made something extraordinarily possible for the first time ever: a true Democracy. While a 99% democracy is way off, we’re ALL much too lazy for that, there is no reason whatsoever for our electoral process not to be democratic. What we have now of course, as so eloquently repeated by news anchor Dylan Ratigan, is an auction. Special interest groups and the highest bidders rule our government and its decision process. The fact that the Occupy Movement has not demanded all money out of politics as its main focus has ultimately weakened it. The movement is in effect an interest group that influences as opposed to a revolution. If every occupy group would move to the Capitol and stay there until legislation is passed then we would have our Tahrir Square.
Our government must provide and or support community forums at local to federal levels during which a percentage of those attended can vote or petition for certain candidates to get on a ballot. The same can be repeated for county, regional, state, party, and even for independent federal offices including for the presidency. Forums can be completely interactive to allow people to speak and participate via phone or through the internet. The possibilities are endless but the idea is to provide an opportunity for people wanting to run for any office to be given that chance without having to raise any funds. Every American Citizen should be given a chance to speak at these forums to plead their case for said office. After the candidates are selected through a “percentage of attendees” they should then be subjected to more forums whereby citizens can ask them questions in person or on certain websites linked via individual city, town or, municipal, state and or federal sites. Perhaps these sites can eventually grant approved candidates (approved by percentage of attendees) access to certain blogs where they can enter information on issues. Once candidates are voted on, finalists can then debate via the same process.
I can envision a day where a person or a surrogate stands in line overnight in order to be placed on a first come first speak list. A moderator would control the amount of time the would be candidates would speak all while being live streamed on the internet and or a local TV Stations.
It’s a disgrace and an erroneous debilitating failure that so few people are demanding this. It is clear that our political process has been stole, rigged, and in the interest of the wealthy. As the Roman philosopher said, liberty is the empowerment of the individual. Please sign one of the many petitions that demand this legal corruption to end….
Here’s a great place to start, getmoneyout.com.
