Why are Democrats so afraid to say they're for legalizing recreational marijuana?

[AnonymityX1000]

Sure it's antithetical to how it's supposed to be but they didn't make the rules. It's actually not possible to make it that far in politics without a huge campaign budget. Ask any campaign manager, and "putting money on television" is the only way to win. There's no way to raise that kind of money unless you're: a) rich (in which case, why the fukk would you go into politics?), or b) taking money from corporate donors.

If you want to blame someone, blame the intellectually lazy American populace who allow TV to form their view of the world. Democracy relies on a selfless, civically engaged citizenry. American culture is antithetical to that.

Who makes the rules?! I could have sworn it was Congress. And why is the populace 'intellectually lazy'? Does it have anything to do with the public school system or nah?

 

[Shogun]

Who makes the rules?! I could have sworn it was Congress. And why is the populace 'intellectually lazy'? Does it have anything to do with the public school system or nah?

By rules I don't mean laws, I mean rules of the game...getting into Congress. You don't get there unless you've raised a huge campaign budget. Don't believe that Bernie Sanders never took corporate donations.

And, public schools might be partly to blame. I'm biased in this, but I find the students who do best are those whose parents also take responsibility for their education. Take from that what you will.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

By rules I don't mean laws, I mean rules of the game...getting into Congress. You don't get there unless you've raised a huge campaign budget. Don't believe that Bernie Sanders never took corporate donations.

And, public schools might be partly to blame. I'm biased in this, but I find the students who do best are those whose parents also take responsibility for their education. Take from that what you will.

The rules of the game are set by Congress man. Look it up. Why you bringing up Bernie Sanders? lol
America is just capitalism run amock. And keeping the populace dumb and scared works best for capitalists/corporations.

 

[Shogun]

The rules of the game are set by Congress man. Look it up. Why you bringing up Bernie Sanders? lol
America is just capitalism run amock. And keeping the populace dumb and scared works best for capitalists/corporations.

So we agree.
The populace has given in to their base emotions/insticts at the behest of capitalist corporations.

 

[storyteller]

Sure it's antithetical to how it's supposed to be but they didn't make the rules. It's actually not possible to make it that far in politics without a huge campaign budget. Ask any campaign manager, and "putting money on television" is the only way to win. There's no way to raise that kind of money unless you're: a) rich (in which case, why the fukk would you go into politics?), or b) taking money from corporate donors.

If you want to blame someone, blame the intellectually lazy American populace who allow TV to form their view of the world. Democracy relies on a selfless, civically engaged citizenry. American culture is antithetical to that.

The Justice Democrats are primarying a collection of Dems who seem overly beholden to corporate interests. I'd look into them and see if any are running in your area to throw some support behind. Also there's the Wolf Pac which is a super pac focused on getting money out of politics on a state by state effort.

On the Majority Report yesterday a lobbyist from Brussels called in to specifically talk about how his recent experiences with American lobbyists convinced him that the broken system in the U.S. is a result of our campaign finance system. He got into some of the issues with lobbying in sections of the EU and also gave a bit of an inside look on how this all works. You're right that politicians are virtually forced to bow to corporate interests, but they could change that system.

 

[Shogun]

The Justice Democrats are primarying a collection of Dems who seem overly beholden to corporate interests. I'd look into them and see if any are running in your area to throw some support behind. Also there's the Wolf Pac which is a super pac focused on getting money out of politics on a state by state effort.

On the Majority Report yesterday a lobbyist from Brussels called in to specifically talk about how his recent experiences with American lobbyists convinced him that the broken system in the U.S. is a result of our campaign finance system. He got into some of the issues with lobbying in sections of the EU and also gave a bit of an inside look on how this all works. You're right that politicians are virtually forced to bow to corporate interests, but they could change that system.

I can't say for sure, but I would guess that, in order to change that system, they'd have to do so from the inside - in which case they would already be beholden to corporate interests to have gotten "inside" in the first place.

 

[storyteller]

I can't say for sure, but I would guess that, in order to change that system, they'd have to do so from the inside - in which case they would already be beholden to corporate interests to have gotten "inside" in the first place.

Not necessarily, but it's difficult the other way. The Wolf Pac state by state strategy is specifically to handle this without needing to get on the inside (though the Justice Democrats are specifically refusing corporate donations if I'm not mistaken, so that path is being worked on).

There are only two ways to propose a U.S. Constitutional Amendment, as stated in Article V of the U.S. Constitution:

1. ⅔ of each house of Congress can vote to propose an amendment, or
2. ⅔ of the states (34 states) can pass a resolution that calls for a national convention to propose an amendment.

Article V also states that either way the amendment is proposed, whether by Congress or a convention, it then goes back to the states for approval (aka “ratification”). The ratification stage requires ¾ of the states, 38 states, to vote in support of an amendment before it becomes part of the Constitution, ensuring that it must have broad public support from the American people.

It is well known that all 27 of our U.S. Constitutional Amendments were proposed by Congress. What is not as well-known is that more than half of those Amendments were initiated by calls for an Article V Convention, including the Bill of Rights. History shows us that pressure from the states is an important and effective check against the federal government. It is essential that we learn from history, and the most popular example of this strategy working effectively is the 17th amendment. When Congress refused to change the way they were elected, the states began applying for an Article V Convention for the specific purpose of the direct election of senators. When they got within a couple of states of the ⅔ needed to force a convention on the subject, Congress decided to act and proposed the amendment out to the states for ratification.

It's years of work but it's the only way to force a change without relying on the men and women who already take part in the electoral process.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

So we agree.
The populace has given in to their base emotions/insticts at the behest of capitalist corporations.

No, the politicians have. That's not most people.

 

[Shogun]

No, the politicians have. That's not most people.

But these politicians are, by necessity, elected by most people.

 

[Shogun]

Not necessarily, but it's difficult the other way. The Wolf Pac state by state strategy is specifically to handle this without needing to get on the inside (though the Justice Democrats are specifically refusing corporate donations if I'm not mistaken, so that path is being worked on).





It's years of work but it's the only way to force a change without relying on the men and women who already take part in the electoral process.

You're a more optimistic man than me.

 

[storyteller]

You're a more optimistic man than me.

Can't expect changes without action fam. The more people know this can happen, the better the chances. Everyone hates the campaign finance system but not a lot are aware of strategies for change. WolfPac has gotten this to work with some states but there's a long road to keep it going.

 

[Dameon Farrow]

Oh look! Another reaching Democrat thread! Because Democrat politicians aren't a monolith in beliefs that's one. Two, a lot of them are older(this is where voting, which a lot of folks here despise, comes into play;vote younger people in;legalization is an age issue more than anybody wants to admit) and older folks even older liberals view weed with a stigma. Vote in more younger left leaning politicians and it will become a reality. It's not gonna be overnight, which I know annoys a lot of people.

Some of you are so politically clueless.

Although it's likely just a sneak diss at Hillary. Ya'll aren't slick.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

But these politicians are, by necessity, elected by most people.

Most people don't even vote because they realize the system is rigged against them.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

Oh look! Another reaching Democrat thread! Because Democrat politicians aren't a monolith in beliefs that's one. Two, a lot of them are older(this is where voting, which a lot of folks here despise, comes into play;vote younger people in;legalization is an age issue more than anybody wants to admit) and older folks even older liberals view weed with a stigma. Vote in more younger left leaning politicians and it will become a reality. It's not gonna be overnight, which I know annoys a lot of people.

Some of you are so politically clueless.

Although it's likely just a sneak diss at Hillary. Ya'll aren't slick.

Why would anyone bother sneak dissing her?! Her political career is over. lol

 

[Dameon Farrow]

Cliff notes:

Poltical achievements take time. But people want instant gratification politics. Nah, you have to consistently vote in people who can get what you want done.

Some of the stuff we want now will unfortunately only be available to future generations. If you keep voting for the bernies of the world it will take even longer. Deal with it. Accept he didn't proceed because he's an outsider. And starts voting for potential winners. And compromise.