If History is any indication, in a constitutional convention, everything would be up for grabs up to and including the bill of rights. For this reason I am very very cautious/skeptical about the use of such to reform lobbying/ campaign practice, due to my fear that we'd end up with more than changes to campaign practice. Lets face it, the people who would be voting for these changes today are not the founding fathers.
Only public funding of election can stop the waste on political-media industry complex that. Private funding will always favor the agent of the 1% and let them win as it is happening now with unlimited funds from Super PACs, after opening of flood gates by Citizens United ruling by SCOTUS
An amendment which recognizes fair and free elections as a benefit to the good of the public and the country and establishes a mandatory publicly funded campaign pool for each candidate would indeed be an interesting idea imo. Of course I have not rolled this around in my mind thoroughly regarding the implications, but it is something to think about for the time being. Im actually curious as to the arguments against such.
It is mind boggling to think about how it could be choked through congress. (refer to my misgivings about a constitutional convention up top, I could for the time being only accept this change if pushed as an individual amendment)
Figuring out the campaign pool available to each candidate would be an exciting venture imo. Im sure this half thought out 'system' would still be susceptible to corruption in some form, but it strikes me as being less so than it is currently.
Probably means higher taxes to fund it though
3. Green Party is a different kind of political party and occupy movement should support this party in my opinion, although many in Occupy want to stay away from politics altogether and do not want to become partisan. I think its the best third party I have seen so far. I heard Jill Stein (Green Party presidential nominee) speeches, she sounds like an occupier. The Vice Presidential nominee is a former homeless mother and occupy activist.
Green New Deal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Green Partys Jill Stein Names VP Pick - Washington Wire - WSJ
Green Party Members Worldwide Join U.S. Counterparts to Forge Global Solidarity in Trying Times
The Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/
Green party - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
European Green Party - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Green Party of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I don't feel I'm knowledgeable enough to say that one party (or any party for that matter) is 'better' for a free America than any other party at the moment, it is one of the reasons im a registered independent. Corruption follows those who gain power though (or rather those who are corrupt go where the power flows), it seems clear to me that at some point if the green party became a major party in the current system, it would become just as 'dirty' as the other parties.
4. The same selection criteria that selects independent candidates now can work for choosing future independent candidates. I tried to look for it on the web without much luck, any idea how it is done now? And why it should not work if political parties are made illegal? My inclination to make political parties illegal is to let the 99% be united and strong and to not allow the 1% and their agents to organize and concentrate their power under the party system
I am very wary of starting political change with populism (us against the elites) as part of the reasoning it gives me uncomfortable thoughts of majority rule without regard to law.
First lets show what constitutes this one percent, it isn't just big time ceo's or money managers, in fact they don't even make up the largest minority!
Who Actually Are the One Percent? - Forbes
As for how independents get on the ballot, the reason why its probably difficult to find it is because it varies by each state.
Ballot access - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5. What do you think about SCOTUS judges now, who have made several interesting rulings, Citizens United case as well as the Arizona immigration law that virtually ensures racial profiling? There should be a process to impeach them, even though the process can be difficult like constitutional amendment
All that's in my mind is that the arbitrator of law should not be held captive to the desires of the majority. Law should also be above election but this is too often blemished because a president (who is of course part of a party) picks those who fill in the places of retired judges. If I had to think of changes it would be in that selection process.
6. Glad that we agree on e-democracy, at least half way. As for Republic or Democracy, my feeling is that people should decide the form of their govt. and the constitution is open to amendments as long as due process and methods are followed. So the ultimate form should not be written in stone, but based on trial and error that works best for people at any particular point in time.
This video is a bit basic but it sets the points well.
Imo some laws should not be open to revision that limits what is already there, especially the first 10 amendments. To add? Maybe, to take away? No.
due process and method is susceptible to majority whim in a direct democracy.
The real challenge is to engage more of the electorate in their own decision making, so they can come out of their apathy and become more involved in the the running of their affairs, local, state or national.
YES!
Middle men should be gradually taken out as they are subject to influence from the 1%. Internet and social media software hopefully is the game changer, that will make it happen in phases. Here is the occupy social media software under development:
Federated General Assembly - Overview - OWS Project Tracker
As I said before, I am very wary of arguments based on populism, the goal is for everyone to have a fair vote and chance to support your candidate under law, not a fair vote and chance to support under the 99%.
