Voter Apathy is the result of corporate control and declining democracy

[hazlnut]

All of these things are a direct result of the influence that corporate power has on democratic government. Even in countries with proper limitations on campaign contributions (unlike the United States), the power of multinational corporations to set the tone and direction of policy is unmistakable. By manipulation of elected governments and an unsettling stake and influence these companies have within the press*, the tangible options governments have are seriously curtailed. For example, if a government decides to nationalize its oil industry, that government might find itself with a balance of payments crisis and a serious lack of foreign investment. The corporate press will chastise the government for its lack of “market-friendly” policies, and after much arm pulling, a more market-friendly policy will replace the previous one. And, as a result, corporate investment will come flowing back into the country (Look at what happens when you let the Smithian invisible hand do its work!).

No wonder people don’t want to vote. With limited policy options, a lack of public influence, money issues, and a focus on personality (which is what replaces actual political substance), people become seriously turned off and alienated from a process which is vital to their lives. This has nothing to do with the fact that democracy requires collective involvement (so does a corporation, for example, and yet people who work in them- who certainly feel alienated- continue to participate). This has nothing to do with citizen action groups (representatives confronted with a variety of issues need these groups to help aggregate their priorities), and the effects of democratic rule- though negated by representative intercession- are quite tangible and either help or harm people’s lives in serious ways.

Great piece, a must read.


Here are some solutions -


1) Compulsory Voting.

2) More participatory control over public services.

3) Public financing of elections.

4) A free, public, and independent media.

5) A formal, Constitutional end to gerrymandering in the United States.

6) Proportional representation in the House; eliminate the Senate. - I DISAGREE

7) Eliminate the veto power of the President and increase the power of a unicameral Congress to properly decide the policies of the nation.

8) Use demographically balanced Citizens’ Juries to decide on Constitutional questions and cases of rights violations.

9) Direct election of the President.

10) Allow for automatic recall of representatives, turning them into delegates.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

Compulsory voting ????

Really ?

You are serious ?

 

[Obiwan]

Oh, I thought this would be a thread about getting Democrats so excited they vote a half-dozen times, and dig their way out of the grave to do it!!!!

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Compulsory voting is not indicative of a free society, but then, neither is liberalism.

As for proportional representation in the House, we already have that.