Most important answer in the debate...

[kadee79]

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg gave the single most important answer at Tuesday’s Democratic debate.

It came after a lengthy section in which the assembled Democrats debated different health care plans that have no chance of passing given the composition of the US Senate, and then debated decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings, which they also don’t have the votes to do, and then debated a series of gun control ideas that would swiftly fall to a filibuster and, even if they didn’t, would plausibly be overturned by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority.

That’s when Buttigieg spoke up:

"[This is] the conversation that we have been having for the last 20 years. Of course we need to get money out of politics, but when I propose the actual structural democratic reforms that might make a difference — end the electoral college, amend the Constitution if necessary to clear up Citizens United, have D.C. actually be a state, and depoliticize the Supreme Court with structural reform — people look at me funny, as if this country was incapable of structural reform.

"This is a country that once changed its Constitution so you couldn’t drink and changed it back because we changed our minds and you’re tell me we can’t reform our democracy in our time. We have to or we will be having the same argument 20 years from now."



So far, I’ve found Buttigieg’s campaign underwhelming on policy. But where he’s clearly leading the field is his emphasis on structural reform. Buttigieg isn’t the only candidate with good ideas on this score — Elizabeth Warren and Jay Inslee have been strong on this, too — but he’s the only candidate who consistently prioritizes the issue.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/pete-buttigieg-had-the-most-important-answer-at-the-democratic-debate/ar-AAF6C0p?ocid=spartanntp

[phil5185]

— end the electoral college, amend the Constitution if necessary to clear up Citizens United, have D.C. actually be a state, and depoliticize the Supreme Court with structural reform — people look at me funny, as if this country was incapable of structural reform.

I don't have a problem with structural reform, if the constitution needs occasional updates to meet modern needs, so be it.  But - but - what if we don't want the things on your list??  Eg, why would I want DC to be a State?  And why would I do away with 'corporations are people' (I'm pro corporation). As for electoral college, who cares? If we are all following the same rules, elections are fair.

[djAdvocate]

Jul 31, 2019 16:24:46 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

— end the electoral college, amend the Constitution if necessary to clear up Citizens United, have D.C. actually be a state, and depoliticize the Supreme Court with structural reform — people look at me funny, as if this country was incapable of structural reform.

I don't have a problem with structural reform, if the constitution needs occasional updates to meet modern needs, so be it.  But - but - what if we don't want the things on your list??  Eg, why would I want DC to be a State?  And why would I do away with 'corporations are people' (I'm pro corporation). As for electoral college, who cares? If we are all following the same rules, elections are fair.

totally untrue.

having the same rules does NOT guarantee a fair contest.

need me to illustrate why? ok, here:

only white men can run for Senate.

everyone would have that same rule. only white men could run. that is a really simple one. here is another one:

"you can only vote in a district which you list as your primary residence"

that is also woefully unfair.

"you can only vote on Tuesday between 12 and 4".

that one is also woefully unfair.

the same rules don't guarantee fair elections.

FAIR rules and fair access guarantee fair elections.

PS- the electoral college is elitist and undemocratic. it should have gone away about the time we did away with slavery.

[formerroomate99]

Notice that correcting citizens United is the only thing in that list that isn’t an obvious power grab for the Democrats. And if correcting citizens United does not also mean that unions can’t throw piles of money at candidates, then even that is a more partisan than anything else.

[djAdvocate]

Jul 31, 2019 16:51:50 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Notice that correcting citizens United is the only thing in that list that isn’t an obvious power grab for the Democrats. And if correcting citizens United does not also mean that unions can’t throw piles of money at candidates, then even that is a more partisan than anything else.

what Buttigieg is proposing is basically HR1.

and Unions are no competition for corporations. want me to prove it, or can you just accept it?

[formerroomate99]

Jul 31, 2019 16:56:49 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Jul 31, 2019 16:51:50 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Notice that correcting citizens United is the only thing in that list that isn’t an obvious power grab for the Democrats. And if correcting citizens United does not also mean that unions can’t throw piles of money at candidates, then even that is a more partisan than anything else.

what Buttigieg is proposing is basically HR1.

and Unions are no competition for corporations. want me to prove it, or can you just accept it?

Well, they're both very large organizations that collect a lot of money from people who don't necessarily agree with their political views and can give a lot of money to political campaigns.  If we're serious about getting money out of politics, then both need to go.  

[djAdvocate]

Aug 4, 2019 8:09:46 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Jul 31, 2019 16:56:49 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

what Buttigieg is proposing is basically HR1.

and Unions are no competition for corporations. want me to prove it, or can you just accept it?

Well, they're both very large organizations that collect a lot of money from people who don't necessarily agree with their political views and can give a lot of money to political campaigns.  If we're serious about getting money out of politics, then both need to go.  

yes. and corporations outspend unions 2:1, and that number is growing.

so, it is just a matter of time before corporations have no competition.

will that be a happy circumstance, as far as your are concerned?

let's assume money will NOT be gotten out of politics while discussing this.

[thyme4change]

Citizens United is a disaster and if we don't correct it, it will be the death of our country .