Comments on: The insurgency of Barack Obama http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/ A new book by GNN's Stephen Marshall Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:11:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Carl Davidson http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-5690 Carl Davidson Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:26:19 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-5690 There's a cure for 'bipartdism' that would make politics far more interesting and democratic. First, simply allow fusion ballots, as in New York state today, in every state. It used to exist in many other states, and accounted for the rise of Populists and Deb's Socialist Party, which is why the dominant parties took it away from us. But there's no reason, save hard work and winning a majority to it, that it can't be undone. Second, there's IRV, or Instant Runoff, where you vote for several candidate, but order your preference, 1, 2, 3. If your Number one doesn't make it, your vote goes to your number 2, and so on. Many modern countries use this. Third, do away with 'winner take all' and closed primaries. There’s a cure for ‘bipartdism’ that would make politics far more interesting and democratic.

First, simply allow fusion ballots, as in New York state today, in every state. It used to exist in many other states, and accounted for the rise of Populists and Deb’s Socialist Party, which is why the dominant parties took it away from us. But there’s no reason, save hard work and winning a majority to it, that it can’t be undone.

Second, there’s IRV, or Instant Runoff, where you vote for several candidate, but order your preference, 1, 2, 3. If your Number one doesn’t make it, your vote goes to your number 2, and so on. Many modern countries use this.

Third, do away with ‘winner take all’ and closed primaries.

]]> By: patrick http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4544 patrick Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:16:22 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4544 You really seem to take this all so seriously. As if the party system is legitimate. It's an illusion. The US politcal process is an illusion. Elected officials at the federal level are elites chosen by elites. American's are allowed to think the process is democratic. It's no better than what was offered in the Soviet Union. To take any of this seriously makes me wonder what has happened to people. The candidates are all connected through wealth, power, and elite fraterniities and members of same. Every last one of them. They are all figureheads of the shadow government that gave us Nafta, Gatt and soon the North American Union. Both parties are responsible for this race to global government. There is not a dimes worth of difference between them. They're all on the same team. The one that has declared war on the "middle class" as Lou Dobbs says. (Doesn't Obama's choice for National Security Advisor in Zbigniew Brzezinski a New Age Trilateralist tell you everything you need to know about him? It's called the road to global tyranny.) How can you believe in any of these candidates? They're taking us to hell. You really seem to take this all so seriously. As if the party system is legitimate. It’s an illusion. The US politcal process is an illusion. Elected officials at the federal level are elites chosen by elites. American’s are allowed to think the process is democratic. It’s no better than what was offered in the Soviet Union. To take any of this seriously makes me wonder what has happened to people. The candidates are all connected through wealth, power, and elite fraterniities and members of same. Every last one of them. They are all figureheads of the shadow government that gave us Nafta, Gatt and soon the North American Union. Both parties are responsible for this race to global government. There is not a dimes worth of difference between them. They’re all on the same team. The one that has declared war on the “middle class” as Lou Dobbs says. (Doesn’t Obama’s choice for National Security Advisor in Zbigniew Brzezinski a New Age Trilateralist tell you everything you need to know about him? It’s called the road to global tyranny.) How can you believe in any of these candidates? They’re taking us to hell.

]]> By: Michael Polidori http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4481 Michael Polidori Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:18:34 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4481 Enlightening article. I am just coming into my own political awakening at the age of 54 (10 years in coming since I became an activist and a subsequent corporate target with a big assist from government officials). I am ordering two of Karp's books and will be getting some more references from your article. Keep casting that light on our worldly-shared predicament. Michael Polidori michael0156@hotmail.com Enlightening article. I am just coming into my own political awakening at the age of 54 (10 years in coming since I became an activist and a subsequent corporate target with a big assist from government officials).

I am ordering two of Karp’s books and will be getting some more references from your article.

Keep casting that light on our worldly-shared predicament.

Michael Polidori
michael0156@hotmail.com

]]> By: ShahidMiller http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4462 ShahidMiller Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:21:52 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4462 I like the use of Karp's sort of structural analysis of the behavior of U.S. political parties for this piece... I've had a lot of debate back and forth between people who seem to like Clinton and people who seem to like Obama; both candidates seem to have their problems in my own personal political estimation. It's true that both have been saddled with the epithet of "Manchurian candidate" (here and there amongst the undercurrents of political analysis); but as much as I have preferred Obama, I would have to say he is more likely to be such a candidate. How does a guy like Barack Obama become an "insurgent" in what appears to be such a closed and somewhat hierarchal system? I think it would have something to do with the strength and influence of his backers -- backers who are likely to expect something in return. Love or hate the Clinton organization (I hate its foreign policy), it is largely a self contained and known entity. It is certainly one with a few enemies in the Democratic party ... I like the use of Karp’s sort of structural analysis of the behavior of U.S. political parties for this piece…

I’ve had a lot of debate back and forth between people who seem to like Clinton and people who seem to like Obama; both candidates seem to have their problems in my own personal political estimation.

It’s true that both have been saddled with the epithet of “Manchurian candidate” (here and there amongst the undercurrents of political analysis); but as much as I have preferred Obama, I would have to say he is more likely to be such a candidate. How does a guy like Barack Obama become an “insurgent” in what appears to be such a closed and somewhat hierarchal system? I think it would have something to do with the strength and influence of his backers — backers who are likely to expect something in return.

Love or hate the Clinton organization (I hate its foreign policy), it is largely a self contained and known entity. It is certainly one with a few enemies in the Democratic party …

]]> By: Stephen http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4453 Stephen Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:52:44 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4453 umm... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiestablishmentarianism" rel="nofollow">actually, yes it is</a>. but thanks for your concern. umm… actually, yes it is. but thanks for your concern.

]]> By: Lorraine http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4448 Lorraine Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:50:01 +0000 http://www.wolvesbook.com/2008/02/10/the-insurgency-of-barack-obama/#comment-4448 There is no such word as 'anti-establishmentarianism'. The correct word is 'anti-establishment'. You could add 'ism' but....clumsy, at best. There is no such word as ‘anti-establishmentarianism’. The correct word is ‘anti-establishment’. You could add ‘ism’ but….clumsy, at best.

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