I am a democrat from Connecticut who no faith remaining in the Democratic Party. Ever since Barack Obama got elected we've witnessed an astonishing and disappointing inability of the democrats to get essential, fundamental bills passed through Congress. Their mandate was clear yet they have utterly failed the American people. Why? The reason for their failures are clear and trace back to where they get the money to finance their campaigns. You know where.
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In my opinion, we liberals and progressives are wasting our time "hoping" that our democratic politicians will deliver anything close to what we want as long they remain totally dependent on money from the very people who we need to be protected from, Wall Street and Health Care companies, to name just two industries/special interest groups.
Remember, the democrats have perhaps been most to blame for dismantling banking regulations starting with Clinton. I doubt anyone did more to invite corporate money into politics than Bill Clinton did. I bring this up only to underscore that democrats are as craven as the republicans and no better when it comes to raising money. We rank and file democrats are fools if we think democrats will pass any tough legislation against those interests who are financing the campaigns and undermining our democracy and society in the process.
I wish dKos, TPM, FDL, and all the other grass roots liberal and progressive groups would join forces and lead a movement to make campaign finance reform the number one issue for democrats, liberals, and progressives. This country is on the verge of missing the best chance it has had for decades to change direction and it is failing miserably. We may not get another chance for years. I think we are all wasting our time and hopes if we don't make campaign finance reform our priority issue from now on.
Elections in England, and I believe all of Western Europe too, are completely paid for out of taxes. England's general election is over and done with in six weeks not two years as ours is. This is the best use of tax money that I can think of because it ensures a thriving democracy by changing the incentive system for the politicians. It would lead to a much better allocation of our tax resources and more than pay for itself quickly and eliminate the essential need for shady deals and lobbyists writing legislation.
I realize there is nothing new here but what is new is the idea of a huge grass roots effort to recognize that our "root" problem is the corrupting money in government and all of that is about financing campaigns. Everyone, pounding this issue home every day, all across the country in an intense active effort, with people taking to the streets in demonstrations would, I believe, eventually get results. Without such an effort, I doubt we can expect anything more than what we've been treated to for years.
If you've read this far thank you. Please take a moment to answer the question that follows so we all can get an idea of what dKos folks thing about the issue.