Forum Post: With all of the thousands of posts on this site, I can't believe that no one has asked this question:
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 12, 2011, 5 p.m. EST by bensdad
(8977)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE REPUBLICANS
WON THE WHITE HOUSE &
THE SENATE &
THE HOUSE?
to tax rates
to corporate regulations
to the EPA
to medical care
to social security
to bank regulations
to wars
to military contracts
to American education
to civil rights
With all of the thousands of posts on this site, I can't believe that no one has asked this question !
IMHO, 2 terms of Republican rule = outright revolt/civil war. 2 terms of democrat rule = continued but slower strangulation of the middle class and revolt/civil war in 12-16 years.
I'd argue the time interval ... revolt / open civil war within 6-11 months.
EITHER upon the collapse of the Euro and a chain of global bank failures that precipitates a global depression or upon war in Iran that doubles oil prices, which in turn collapses the global economy;
OR immediately following the 2012 election if the GOP has any success (highly improbable).
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
im not so sure a Romney presidency would look a whole lot different than an Obama presidency, theres a big difference in the way that these two are perceived in the public eye, but as far as substantive policy differences I dont see much, their both working for the same big corporations...... remember Obama care was based off Romney care, Obama foreign policy is an extension of the Bush policy, Dodd-Frank is full of loop holes, the banks continue to get away with murder
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/30/report_obama_has_weakened_more_lobbyist
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/13/gop_and_tp_on_obamas_foreign_policy_successes/singleton/
http://www.salon.com/2011/09/30/awlaki_6/singleton/
20 examples of the Obama Administration Assault on Civil Liberties http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/12/01-7
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/24/foreclosure-plan-obama-harp-refinancing_n_1028554.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gu1olAaM4Q
the only solution is to get money out of politics, another idea that deserves consideration is forming a new political party
hmmm - get money out of politics - I think I could get behind that!
We must not DEMAND that we WANT THEM.to give to US
We must
DEMAND GOALS THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE FOR OURSELVES
Because of the Supreme Court's decision,
we cannot accomplish anything significant, without FIRST -
Overturning Citizens United !!!
Ending Corporate Personhood !!!
83% of Americans already agree on it
as stated in the ABC/Washington Post poll
In the the PFAW Poll -
YOUR ACTION ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I feel that we should stay with this simple text to overturn CU:
”corporations are not people”
for four simple reasons and one – not so simple:
1
83% of Americans have already opposed CU in the ABC/Washington post poll and the above
IS THEIR POSITION ALREADY.
2
We don’t have to work to convince people on the validity of our position.
3
Simple is almost always better.
4
This simple Amendment is REQUIRED to overturn CU.
And all other electoral reform can be passed through the normal legislative process. 5
OWS and these pages are chock full of ( mostly ) excellent ideas to improve our country.
All of them have strong advocates – and some have strong opposition.
None of them has been “pre-approved” by 83% of Americans !
Pursuing this goal – without additional specifics is exactly what Americans want.
What do we want? Look at that almost endless list of demands – goals - aims.
Tax the rich. End the Fed. Jobs for all, Medicare for all. So easy to state! Can you imagine how hard it would be to formulate a “sales pitch” for any of these to convince your Republican friends to vote for any of them?
83% of Americans have ALREADY “voted” against CU. And 76% of the Rs did too.
All we have to do ask Americans is to pressure their representatives – by letters - emails – petitions.
Wanna take your family on vacation?
Convince the 7 year old and the 10 year old to go to Mt Rushmore.
Then try to convince them to go to Disneyland.
Prioritizing this goal will introduce us to the world – not as a bunch of hippie radical anarchist socialist commie rabblerousers – but as a responsible, mature movement that is fighting for what America wants.
YOUR ACTION ----> JOIN US TO ACT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I feel that using the tactics of the NRA, the AARP an the TP – who all represent a minority – who have successfully used their voting power to achieve their minority goals - plus the Prohibition Amendment tactics – bringing all sides together - is a straight path for us to success that cannot fail to enable us to create and complete one task the MAJORITY.
Join the OWS Restore Democracy Working Group at
..............http://www.nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
regular meetings 6-8PM @ 60 Wall St – The Attrium @ Wednesdays
Plan details with supporting documentation at:.... http://bit.ly/vK2pGI
YOUR ACTION ----> JOIN US TO PASS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
TO END CORPORATE PERSONHOOD
Whereas --
The OWS Declaration of the Occupation of New York City states that
"a democratic government derives its just power from the people,
not from corporations."
and --
the ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 83% of the entire US population
opposes the Supreme Court Citizens United decision,
which affirmed that corporations are people.
and --
by supporting the overturning of corporate personhood,
OWS clearly aligns itself with the vast majority of the American people
who support ending the fundamentally flawed and anti-democratic concept
that corporations are people.
therefore --
We support a constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood.
Really not much different than a Democratic sweep or a divided government. They are both after all nothing more than two different wings of the corporate party of the 1%.
If the Republicans gain control then the shackles will get tighter on all of us.
They are showing their true colors and their solutions are simplistic and sloganized. Their agenda is to bring about a new form of serfdom to the lower classes.
Shackles tighter? How so, right now I am facing a slower economy, non transparent monetary policy, increased regulations, and a mandate that I have to buy health care. The democratic governor of CA is proposing to increase both the state and sales tax. To me, that is increasing the shackles.
I grew up in CA and remember when the sales tax wax 6%. The extra money has not helped.
So please expound.
Were the taxes on the super rich lowered during the time you lived in California? Do you think there might be a connection?
Just look at the US from 2000 to 2006 for your answer. basically, same old same old. A divided government is best so that one party doesn't have carte blanche to ram rod their agenda through against the will of the people. Most people do not fit the left/right paradigm, but rather fall somewhere in between, unfortunately, the loudest a-holes on both sides seem to have the most sway over policy. I dread a complete Rep Congress and Presidency as I dread the same under Dems.
Actually both sides are "gray", choose a lesser evil and I do not care which one is the "lesser evil".
It's fairly unlikely set of conditions. We only have two political parties, and people are pretty much locked into their loyalties. Heck, I've lived in several states, and some of them won't even let you register as an independent... It's either Red, or Blue, or don't register at all. So... In this political climate, it is unlikely either side could tip the balance all that far out of whack. If the anomaly you describe somehow happened? Well, it depends on how much of the listed legislation they would pass, and really, how the economy works out, (if at all.) My guess is that they'd pass their own jobs bills, etc. etc. To make themselves smell good, and to pacify the people, and, to vie for the mid-term elections. But... If they went off the deep end, and passed a bunch of truly insane legislation? Depending on the overall "weather conditions" it'd be, say, a 75% chance of an Arab Spring situation within a year or so. I don't think it'll come to that, though. The way I see it, most votors seem dug in pretty deeply along their respective party lines. It's a low probability scenario at this particular time. Americans are (currently) pretty passive, on the whole, it'd really take a lot of foolish mistakes to push the silent majority out into the streets.. Heck, I'm not even sure if we own a pitch fork, I'll have to check the shed tommorow.
After the way the Republicans have been behaving lately, I really don't think this outcome is likely.
bensd@d : A bit presumptuous to think that you have read ALL the thousands of posts here ... + as a Brit, I don't really get your point as both Republocrat and Demoblican seem so similar, so please hazard your own best guess ! Thanx. fiat lux ...
I have read over 1000 posts and comments - and just never saw this - did you? Many Americans who post here think a third party is the answer
I don't. Do you?
And I know NOTHING of the British court system - but I would bet my life that if we had a majority "Democratic" Supreme Court, we would not have "won" bush ( and the Iraq war ) in bush v Gore
and we would not have Citizens United. I would say a Gore presidency would NOT have included 100,000+ deaths in Iraq. In Britain, can any corporation spend any money they want on a politician?
Do they have the same rights as a human being?
@ bensdad : Thanx for your thoughts. I'll try to give a reasoned response.
a) No. I haven't yet read anything on this forum alluding to "The Prospect" of a Repelican Presidency ; Senate and House of Rep(tiles), probably because such a thought is almost too dark to think.
b) Consider that IF a 'Third' Party is NOT 'An Answer' then you are condemned to the above anxiety for ever. Removing ALL parties and having both chambers of elected (& non Corporate Owned) independents, who vote on each issue on its merits, has some utility here. BUT Corporations and Lobbyists Have TO GO !!
c) You are right to draw allude to The Bush/Gore, election theft (Florida + Voter Registration Duplicities and Irregularities + Diebold Inc. + "hanging chads" + a final analysis dodgy difference of <40,000 votes etc.) fiasco.
d) I agree that Iraq & even Afghanistan would not have happened under Gore, mainly because 9/!! wouldn't have happened under Gore {but that's another story !}.
e) Unfortunately we do have some degree of "Corporate Personhood" in the UK too (but perhaps not to the same degree as in The U$A) though that is superseded somewhat by The 'Old Boy' Networks and 'Class Politics' as practised by The Ruling Class in The UK. On the surface, The UK has a strong Civil Society and in The Current Socio-Economic Climate (created by Bankster Lunacy and Larceny) new 'battle lines' and alliances are are being drawn. We face a fight in the months (& years) to come BUT there is a memory and appreciation for 'Socialism & Socialist Philosophy and Politics' that runs deep in The UK and most Brits love The NHS for example.
f) The issue of de facto Political Appointments to The Supreme Court in The U$A is a Huge Point and directly contradicts the supposed independence of The Judiciary and reflects very poorly on any presumed separation of The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
g) My biggest point would be either to ban all (ie both) political parties in The U$A & have all independents who have to reflect their constituents wishes or have a wide range of parties, reflecting the range of politics. For example, The UK Parliament currently has MPs from 10 different parties (Lab, Con, Libdems, Plaid Cymru, SNP, DUP, UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, and The Greens).
h) Possible Plan :
Dennis Kucinich (or equivalent) runs as an Independent, funded by Declared Individual Donations also Utilising a Mass Movement of Citizen Activists and The Internet to Campaign ...
Ron Pawl (or equivalent) runs as an Independent, funded by Declared Individual Donations also Utilising a Mass Movement of Citizen Activists and The Internet to Campaign ...
Neither of The Above picks a VP running mate. Each Declares that the other will be The Executive Running Mate / VP, in The Other's Administration ...
Americans get enthused and politicised at this direct attack on the "Republocrat-Demoblican" Duopoly and Faux Choice between one or either wing of The Same "Pro-WAR-Abroad & Austerity-At-Home Party but Two Wings" de facto ONE Party System ...
You Yanks Then Get To Fixing Your Country and its relations with the rest of The World !!!
Naive ? Optimistic ? Utopian ? Or ... per ardua ad astra ?!
Dum Spiro, Spero ;-)
as a progressive I love Dennis and some say Ron and he make a match - but I only see that on a tiny number of issues ( war )
They are both very smart oddballs
socially, they could not be more different - DK is progressive, anti corp, pro people
RP is libertarian - anti regulation, pro business and on a personal note - I like DK's choice in women;
I do not like RP's taste in sons
Oh well, I was just thinking out loud & now I'm all typed out ! Adios 'bensdad' y buenas noches ...
I don't think anyone wants to find out the hard way ; )
http://occupywallst.org/forum/876-leaders-republicrats-worst-nightmare-im-good-w/
We would pollute till we could light our rivers on fire again. Our banks are already casinos, that couldn't get much worse GOP already planing war in IRAN party at blackwater. Tea party would rewrite history and make children learn very weird propaganda Civil what? medical what? damn commies
History already answered those questions from 2000-2006. So, here's a couple of more questions.
What would happen if an amendment was passed allowing Americans the power of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall at all levels of government?
What party affiliated voters would be against such an amendment?
Interesting idea - I'm not sure where I'd stand on this, but based on Citizens United pouring a fortune into one side of our system, I would be inclined to say no - until we get rid of CU
For example, lets say a fracking company is having trouble getting a permit to poison your town's water because the ($50,000/year) mayor stands up and says NO! So Mr. Fracker funds a $1,000,000 campaign to recal the mayor to add $20,000,000 to his bottom line.
get rid of cu first
Look at the money that had gone into all sorts of issues such as California Prop 8 - not good.
Okay then, I'll offer this link http://convention.idea.informer.com/ as a place where amendments can be proposed and voted upon and expand the amendment I proposed to this:
Free Democracy Amendment
Subject to the Fourth Amendment and barring violation to the rights of others, the right of a free people to be secure in their decisions of personal safety, activity, association, and property, shall not be violated.
The right of a free and democratic people to engage in Initiative, Referendum, and Recall, shall be exercised at all levels of government.
The provision of Patriot Dollars to voters for the sole funding of candidates at all levels of government shall be enacted to keep election campaigns free from the undemocratic influence of wealthy entities.
The offering or acceptance of any item or service of value including the offering or acceptance of future employment involving a public official or candidate for public office of any branch or level of government shall be prohibited and punishable with equivalence to an act of treason.
I support virtually all of those items except two - All pols are term limitted by the people who vote for them &
A constitutional convention opens us up to the majority forcing the minority - such as teaching religion in schools. Some of your other issues are coverd by the OWS Restore Democracy Group-
COME WORK WITH US !
Words are easy - action is hard.
Are you ready
.....................FOR ACTION
Are you ready to
.....................DO SOMETHING REAL ?
Are you ready to
......................join 83% ........ of Americans ?
We must not
DEMAND that we WANT THEM.to give to US
We must
DEMAND GOALS THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE FOR OURSELVES
Because of the Supreme Court's decision,
we cannot accomplish anything significant, without FIRST -
Overturning Citizens United !!!
Ending Corporate Personhood !!!
83% of Americans already agree on it
as stated in the ABC/Washington Post poll
In the the PFAW Poll -
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I feel that we should stay with this simple text to overturn CU:
”corporations are not people”
for four simple reasons and one – not so simple:
1
83% of Americans have already opposed CU in the ABC/Washington post poll and the above
IS THEIR POSITION ALREADY.
2
We don’t have to work to convince people on the validity of our position.
3
Simple is almost always better.
4
This simple Amendment is REQUIRED to overturn CU.
And all other electoral reform can be passed through the normal legislative process. 5
OWS and these pages are chock full of ( mostly ) excellent ideas to improve our country.
All of them have strong advocates – and some have strong opposition.
None of them has been “pre-approved” by 83% of Americans !
Pursuing this goal – without additional specifics is exactly what Americans want.
What do we want? Look at that almost endless list of demands – goals - aims.
Tax the rich. End the Fed. Jobs for all, Medicare for all. So easy to state! Can you imagine how hard it would be to formulate a “sales pitch” for any of these to convince your Republican friends to vote for any of them?
83% of Americans have ALREADY “voted” against CU. And 76% of the Rs did too.
All we have to do ask Americans is to pressure their representatives – by letters - emails – petitions.
Wanna take your family on vacation?
Convince the 7 year old and the 10 year old to go to Mt Rushmore.
Then try to convince them to go to Disneyland.
Prioritizing this goal will introduce us to the world – not as a bunch of hippie radical anarchist socialist commie rabblerousers – but as a responsible, mature movement that is fighting for what America wants.
YOUR ACTION ----> JOIN US TO ACT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I feel that using the tactics of the NRA, the AARP an the TP – who all represent a minority – who have successfully used their voting power to achieve their minority goals - plus the Prohibition Amendment tactics – bringing all sides together - is a straight path for us to success that cannot fail to enable us to create and complete one task the MAJORITY.
Join the OWS Restore Democracy Working Group at
..............http://www.nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
regular meetings 6-8PM @ 60 Wall St – The Attrium @ Wednesdays
Plan details with supporting documentation at:.... http://bit.ly/vK2pGI
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
TO END CORPORATE PERSONHOOD
Whereas --
The OWS Declaration of the Occupation of New York City states that
"a democratic government derives its just power from the people,
not from corporations."
and --
the ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 83% of the entire US population
opposes the Supreme Court Citizens United decision,
which affirmed that corporations are people.
and --
by supporting the overturning of corporate personhood,
OWS clearly aligns itself with the vast majority of the American people
who support ending the fundamentally flawed and anti-democratic concept
that corporations are people.
therefore --
We support a constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood.
When you say
"I support virtually all of those items except two - All pols are term limitted by the people who vote for them & A constitutional convention opens us up to the majority forcing the minority"
to what specifically are you referring to? What do term limits or a constitutional convention have to do with what was presented?
SORRY IF I WAS NOT CLEAR -
i went to the site you suggested
http://convention.idea.informer.com/
as they listed many constitutional amendments - these were the two I dont like
but the only one that ALREADY has 83% approval is
getting rid of CU
What would happen if we elected Bernie Sanders, the US Senator from Vermont, one of the very few officials in any office that is truly Honorable, an INDEPENDENT, to be President of the United States? Please ask him to run. Thank You
I love Bernie - and Elizabeth - but one way to the r victory is a third party I like Alan Grayson (not pres) How about Russ Feingold to lead OWS?
I'm from Wisconsin and Russ made me proud and he voted against the war against unlimited election fund raising but he did not go after the FED like Bernie does and he did not work to amend the constitution to ban corporate personhood Yes I hope Russ gets back in there somewhere he is a good man too. But Bernie rocks!
I'd love to hear some "inside" news on walker
do ANY republicans still like him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc4tsaXAlJo Enjoy :)
dont miss the above 15 second video
I would vote for him -
hell, I do vote for him
but I suspect that he would have a bit of difficulty getting traction among the more conservative crowd
More of the same would happen. Both parties are fucking this country.
What would happen if all Americans began to intelligently criticize the officials in the White House, The Senate, and The House REGARDLESS of party affiliation?
To answer your question of what would happen: the status quo would continue to pervade, nothing more and nothing less. One hand would be given ultimate authority in order to accelerate the demise of this country for the benefit of bankers so that the other hand could gain ultimate authority later on to repeat the cycle of accelerated demise.
Wake up and stop worrying about party <fill in the blank>'s faults and look at ALL of the faults wherever they may lie.
Right on. It baffles me how many people claim to be "awake" now, yet they STILL play party politics.
I'm here to tell you ladies and gentlemen, you don't REALLY understand how bad you're getting fucked until you realize that EVERYTHING happening in Washington is against your interests, regardless of whether it has a blue or red sticker on it. It's a big circus to distract you from the fact that they're ALL laughing at you from behind closed doors!
no one has asked this question because it is simply unthinkable.
so don't think it.
The thought I'm not supposed to think is going to give me nightmares now.
hmm -
not good.
More from the DNC.
Actually I've been considering this for some time; yes, there is hope...
it would be the best thing that ever happened to ows.
@ bb : Perhaps paradoxically (for some), you may have a Very Good Point !!
Living in The UK (where we are at that stage NOW with the Tories) I see your line of thinking, however it is very difficult NOT to be extremely worried that, in such an eventuality - The U$A may subsequently slide "Irretrievably" into Outright Fascism At Home Too !! And I just shuddered for you all at that point !!!
caveat actor ...
i agree that would be a possibility.
[Deleted]
Bank regulations unchanged !!! Iran Is NEXT !! Military contracts are extended !
I've tried to be nice to you but Are You A F**kin' Lunatic or just a 'Wind Up Artist' ?
ad iudicium ...
yeah, yeah. whatever.
its a pointless question. what will Americans on the streets change? now, THAT'S a question!
We would be doomed.
You mean even more "doomed" than you are already ?! ;-(