From: b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (Stephen Tice)
Subject: Re: COUNTER BLITZ  -= Strike out against Pork-Party-Politics =-
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 22:29:00 GMT
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niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes...
>

>b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (Stephen Tice)...
>>

>>The media blitz is turned on high now.
> 
>>First to distract the public from registering to vote
>>(which ends in many states this week),
>>and then to distract from the Democratic/Republican Congress
>>which is passing yet another No Priority/No Pain FY '93
>>Federal Budget on the backs of the tax-payers.
> 
>>The media has to distract you because there is no way to
>>defend a $1.5 Trillion dollar government budget.
> 
>Of course there is.  The farmers get welfare-for-the-rich agricultural
>subsidies.  The poor get welfare.  The middle class gets
>welfare-for-the-rich defense pork.  Old people get welfare-for-the-rich
>Social Security.  Everyone gets a WarOnRights which is going to 
>MakeOurStreetsSafer.  (Not.)  

;-)

>People *like* what the money is being spent on.  They may not agree with
>each item, but they want their own pork, so they're willing to accept
>other people's pork.

People? Or the political-class. We know that congress represents 
only 10-20% of the people, and the president about 25%, according
to registered voter turn-out. (assuming half D & half R)

>>And the greater majority of the people are kept out of the
>>political process through:

>...anyway -- a large percentage of those *registered* don't vote.

>>      o  dominant party control of districting
>>         (to exclude minor party or independent access)
> 
>This is a problem, but how are you suggesting it be done? 

Two points: (a) geographic representation, by subdivision, town,
county(burrough), or city and (b) anyone who's elected to office
has to put aside participation in party politics during their
term -- and represent *all* of their constituency. 

Of course their ideology remains intact, and their associations, 
just not active participation in overt party events -- such as
partisan re-election campaigning -- unless they resign first. 

The most blatant example of ethical compromise there is comes 
from the partisan activities of supposed public servants.

>BTW, 
>the Dems and Reps could care less about minor parties/independents.  
>They don't get any votes no matter what the districts are.

At one time the dominant parties were also minor parties. Do you
want to restrict the discussion to current practices? If so I'll
have to assert that other options aren't being presented publicly.
Yet there is a growing underground awareness, so it's simply a 
matter of time.

>>      o  tax subsidies of dominant party campaigns
>>         (also to exclude minor party or independent access)
> 
>Only in the Presidential election.

Ok.

>>      o  elections on work days
>>         (rather than simple mail-in voting)
> 
>Delaware has Saturday voting -- and turnout isn't higher.

Not surprising, for people who don't feel they're represented.

>>      o  age restrictions
>>         (rather than direct recognition that every citizen
>>          regardless of their degree of intellectual or material
>>          attainment has a valuable viewpoint to offer)
> 
>Yeah.  If Dan Quayle can be VP, children should be allowed to vote.

:-) Good point.

>>And lastly, the most damaging: dominant media control of the
>>world view (ie propaganda) by leaving out essential facts, or 
>>just plain lies.
> 
>That BiasedMediaConspiracy -- damn.  Tice found out about it -- now 
>we'll have to kill him.  :)  Seriously, other than being biased against
>intelligence, what bias do you see?

If they want me, they got me. It's cheap to take anyone out of action;
bribes are probably the easiest way. So, if it's a conspiracy, then it's 
an open conspiracy, thinly veiled. And most folks are bought off for the
price of junk (advertiser supported) entertainment. Nonetheless addicting, 
at that. 

So the major bias I see is one of greed. A pusher is a pusher is a 
pusher...

>>Make no mistake -- though it is the Democratic & Republican
>>parties which are to blame for the $1.5 Trillion dollar Federal
>>Budget, the $4 Trillion dollar Federal Debt, and massive
>>Pork-Politics-Spending, for which no service or product is
>>provided except to the few....
> 
>>*     We as citizens and taxpayers are still responsible     *
>>*     because it is our income which empowers them, and      *
>>*     we are the only ones who will change the status quo.   *
> 
>YES!  Exactly!

Agreeing on this point, perhaps we can agree to overlook our
differences, and seek meaningful action. What do you suggest
Mr. Nieporent? 

>David M. Nieporent   | Orioles 1993 World Series Champions
>niepornt@phoenix.    | Mike Mussina 1992 AL Cy Young Winner
>   princeton.edu     | Roland Hemond: SIGN BARRY BONDS!!!!!!!!
>Vote Clinton/Gore '92.   Four more months!	  

-- Stephen  "Society is changing, and faster than any group can manage."

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