tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post6381981788295236753..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: Is the Root of Our Problem Big Money in Politics, or a Lack of Citizen Engagement?Nancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-39268124571042103432015-08-11T16:30:11.406-05:002015-08-11T16:30:11.406-05:00felonious - that is disgustingly true of the voter...felonious - that is disgustingly true of the voters who willfully do not vote maybe more than those who are barred from voting. There is NO excuse for such ignorance among people who spout ideology but lack comprehensive understanding of our democracy.Churchlady320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-42234514336390331902015-08-11T16:27:10.500-05:002015-08-11T16:27:10.500-05:00VERY true. As a lobbyist for a non-profit I'v...VERY true. As a lobbyist for a non-profit I've seen citizens, when motivated, overwhelm corporate America no matter HOW much money they threw at legislators. Not just once or twice but OFTEN. I also know that Nancy is correct since the decline of voting was something my grade school teachers used to tell us about, and it was a LONG time ago. In 2003 when the hotly contested election to oust CA Gray Davis arose, the final vote for the winner, movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, was 18% - EIGHTEEN - of the ELIGIBLE voters. It was more from those who DID vote, but even then it pointed up how, in a hotly contested election, apathy ruled. That opens the door to money and its undue influence. We can fight voter ID laws, too - take people to get it. Pay for it if necessary, register them then drive them to the polls if needed in 2016. (Take them home, too!) If each of us enabled at least one other disenfranchised people, we'd never have such a problem again. Churchlady320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-68440082782720852552015-08-11T13:52:50.073-05:002015-08-11T13:52:50.073-05:00Yes. And most of those non-voters don't know h...Yes. And most of those non-voters don't know how our system of government works.<br /><br />~ felonious grammarfelonious grammarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09245209715977361248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-83048877851374563282015-08-11T12:54:48.530-05:002015-08-11T12:54:48.530-05:00Money can't buy elections. But they can buy pe...Money can't buy elections. But they can buy pessimism about the electoral process, which is the primary thing that keeps people from getting involved.<br /><br />"I don't vote because they are all bought by big money" is the greatest product big money ever sold the American people.Chris Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139817527808942227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-2701823729494144642015-08-11T12:37:56.967-05:002015-08-11T12:37:56.967-05:00As I've often said to anyone who would listen,...As I've often said to anyone who would listen, if everyone on the Left would just vote, we'd rule this country in three election cycles. One cycle and we'd take back the House; two and we'd have most of the states and most of the Senate; three and the Republicans would be reduced to a regional power.<br /><br />Money can't buy elections, not really. They can buy advertising that can muddy the waters and leave voters undecided, but if you know whom you're for or whom you're against, money can't touch you. Money can misinform too, but I say it's much more likely to reinforce existing perceptions than make anyone change their mind.King Beauregardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043228078537079759noreply@blogger.com