patrick.net

Duh. Just look at how this election has been handled. The Leftist elites lost the GOP nomination, then had to play their back-up Killary who was set up to fail from the start. Now they have been using their monopoly on the mass media and every talking head and actor they can bribe, blackmail, and use in a blatant attempt to elect the most polished turd in election history. We have literally never seen a presidential candidate with so many legal problems, proof of criminal behavior, crooked dealings and history of blackmail and intimidation as we see now in Hillary Clinton.
And yet there may still be enough sword swallowing propaganda-gullible idiots in our nation to elect her!
Because the TV told me he's RAYCIST OMG AND THATS THE WORSE THING EVER (also according to this TV which I worship and never question....)!

Quigley is deplorable says

And yet there may still be enough sword swallowing propaganda-gullible idiots in our nation to elect her!

Yup, Kim Jong Un from N Korea would love these people-he wins by 99.5% or higher every election.

I was listening to a radio broadcast from a conference about how Bernie's campaign brought together various voting blocs or interest groups and formed a coalition. They are using social media to help keep coordination between the various groups. This might be a way for people to use technology to get power back from corporations, but it's in early phases.
Corporations can gain access to lobby Congress by delivering money, which is then used by the campaigns to get votes. Citizen interest groups can also raise money in order to fund their existence. If they can organize into bigger blocks to form coallitions, they can also lobby Congress by promising to deliver votes. Hard currency is nice, because it can be given without any takeback provisions. Promises on the other hand are not as easy to give, because any promise can be taken back.
The fact is that there is a lot of complacency in the US as half of the people don't vote. Citizens certainly have the power. All they have to do is organize themselves. They have access to information and a slew of new digital tools. All the campaigns have is money to buy add slots. The campaigns can also use their money / social pressure to influence networks. Citizen groups can do it too, though with social media. That's how project veritas ended up getting their advocacy film on the cable news shows.

Part of the problem is that even if you take simple CA propositions that will be voted on this election year, most people cannot even come close to comprehending the full implications.

The general public reads a proposition like CA condom proposition and thinks, this is a great idea to protect workers and keep them safe. I support that.

But when you get below the surface and consider the social implications, financial implications, political implications, and precedent setting implications, the general public just doesn't have understanding nor willingness to invest the time to understand these issues.

In my experience with presidential elections, most people cling on very tightly to a couple issues and base their decision on that (i.e. anti-abortion and "the wall") and then cheerlead the candidate who is aligned with them on those few issues.

YesYNot says

This might be a way for people to use technology to get power back from corporations,

Maybe, but FaceBook, Reddit, Twitter routinely censor news articles and freezes accounts based on their political leanings.

BayArea, people don't need to understand all issues. They need to figure out what the most important issue/implication is and focus on it. For this, limited understanding/information is usually enough. However, most people are not capable even of that.

BayArea says

In my experience with presidential elections, most people cling on very tightly to a couple issues and base their decision on that (i.e. anti-abortion and "the wall") and then cheerlead the candidate who is aligned with them on those few issues.

This is Temple Grandin's curved cattle chute. They don't really know where they are going, and once they are on the killing floor it doesn't matter what they think.

FP says

BayArea, people don't need to understand all issues. They need to figure out what the most important issue/implication is and focus on it. For this, limited understanding/information is usually enough. However, most people are not capable even of that.

Yes, I certainly don't expect the general public to understand all propositions fully. However, I would hope that people can look 1 layer past the initial proposition description and ask themselves, "why is it being presented the way it is, who benefits, who doesn't, and why"

The condom proposition is a great example. BOTH the Democratic party and the Republican party oppose the measure. BUT, it has overwhelming support from the general public, presumably because it's being pitched as a health/safety measure. Who could possibly be against health and safety in the workplace (sarcasm)

Yea, "we have to pass it to know what's in it".

We all remember the UIGEA that in effect, banned Americans from participating in those Presidential Elections wagers that so many ignorantly cite as meaningful to US elections. The legislators voting for the Safe Port Act didn't even see the final language of the rider prior to passing the bill.

To blame the voters is nonsensical. Unless we're blaming the low info Clinton voters

You'll know the news is honest when CNN talking heads start reporting with Soros jizz all over their faces.

I think Laziness, Despair, and Apathy, are the key problems. If turnout is high then vote rigging shennanigans either won't work, or would require such a vast amount of rigging it would be undeniably obvious.

The advantage is that most vote rigging happens in the primaries. Usually either candidate is acceptable to the Deep State and Overmighty Subjects. Such would be the case if it was Jeb! vs. Hillary, or McCain vs. Obama, or Bush vs. Gore/Kerry. So the "Opposing Force" is a little afraid and definitely inexperienced in rigging General Elections.

Back in 1992, the only real problem was Ross Perot, as both HW Bush and Clinton were both for NAFTA.

Robert Sproul says

"The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded

The only way to confront this matter is to nominate and vote for individuals like Bernie Sanders. It's certainly not going to happen by nominating self serving demagogues who are themselves oligarchs who enjoy divide and conquer games.

Thunderlips Russian Agent 0069 says

I think Laziness, Despair, and Apathy, are the key problems. If turnout is high then vote rigging shennanigans either won't work, or would require such a vast amount of rigging it would be undeniably obvious.

The advantage is that most vote rigging happens in the primaries. Usually either candidate is acceptable to the Deep State and Overmighty Subjects. Such would be the case if it was Jeb! vs. Hillary, or McCain vs. Obama, or Bush vs. Gore/Kerry. So the "Opposing Force" is a little afraid and definitely inexperienced in rigging General Elections.

Back in 1992, the only real problem was Ross Perot, as both HW Bush and Clinton were both for NAFTA.

The lawyers and media being dishonest and attempting to confuse people does not help matters. It's times like these when gun rights become of heightened importance.

Thunderlips Russian Agent 0069 says

Laziness, Despair, and Apathy

That's me to a T. I hate the cynical fucks on both sides of this degrading charade.