"A Fraud...Upon the American People"

I remember well the days when the League of Women Voters, a totally nonpartisan group, was in charge of moderating Presidential Debates in this country.  That was in the 1970's and 1980's.  At the end of the League's stint, the Repubs & Dems rejected about 80 proposed questioners for the debate...as well as numerous tough questions.  Later, the Republicrats came up with a nontransparent contract sanitizing the debate, saying who should be in the audience, and determining the exact questions that would be allowed.  The League resigned with this statement:  "A fraud is being perpetrated upon the American People.".

That's how we wound up with a private corporation run by the Dems & Repubs, the Commission on Presidential Debates, being in charge of the debates.  The word "Commission" makes it sound as though it's some sort of public, representative, all-encompassing entity.  It isn't...not by a long shot.  This private company determines who is allowed to debate, who will moderate the event, what questions will be allowed, and who is allowed in the audience.  This is rigging to the Nth degree.

At least the top three "Third Parties" should be allowed to participate in the upcoming debates...regardless of any percentage in polls.  Why not?  Isn't that democracy in action?  If the Republicrats claim that there isn't enough time for that amount of participation, that's pure hogwash.  Look at how many candidates were in the Primary Debates.  Four, five, or even six candidates wouldn't hinder anything in the major Presidential Debates.  Quite the opposite:  such a scenario would enhance the choices for the electorate.  The fact is:  without being in those debates, a candidate has little to no chance to garner votes.  That's how the monopoly eliminates its competition.

[See the first featured segment on today's broadcast of Democracy Now, Thursday, August 18, 2016.  Jill Stein, Gary Johnson, and others have something important to say.]

A private corporation should not be allowed to have complete control over those debates.  That's not democracy...that's Soft Fascism.

Okay, you're all excited about politics.  In this Rigged System I can't imagine why, but good for you.  Now, why not insist that Oligarchical control be relinquished, and instead, genuine participatory democracy be instituted?  Why not?  Habit?  Break out of the box.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Who are the Third Party Candidates and Why Zero Coverage of Them?

It seems to me that it's incumbent upon the Corporate Media to provide at least some coverage of the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the Reform Party, the Constitution Party, and others.  There also are a number of No-Party, or Independent candidates.  None of the above even get one minute of exposure.  Instead, we're again stuck with the two branches of the Neoliberal Corporatist Party--- the Dems & Repubs.  [If either Trump or Clinton is a Populist, then I'm a Chinese Astronaut preparing for the first manned flight to Mars:]

We're stuck with Republican candidates saying nothing significant, nothing in-depth, about really important issues (e.g., the crashing economy), and instead, merely calling each other names.  Then, too, we're stuck with Clinton pretending to be a Populist, and Democrat "Superdelegates" (Party Elites) skewing democracy.  SSDD.

Have you heard of Jill Stein?  Which Party does she represent?  What's their Platform for 2016?  [I could list a number of other fine candidates...all across the political spectrum...and all Establishment outsiders.]

The fact is:  the Republican and Democrat Parties in the USA are dictatorial.  Through various means (especially Ballot Access Laws) and in conjunction with the Corporate Media, they purposely squash any Third Party efforts at the national level.  Critics say that those Third Parties don't have a chance anyway, so who cares(?).  Well, come on, they certainly don't have a chance if they get almost no exposure and if it's nearly impossible to get on the ballot in all 50 States.  That's for sure.  SSDD.

Many people apparently are fed up with same-ol', same-ol', Establishment Politics.  If that's true, then here's a suggestion:  stop voting for the Establishment Parties...or, boycott national elections completely.  Here's an old adage that almost always holds true:  you can't win a Rigged Game.  Most everything about the Two-Party Monopoly in the USA is rigged...and that's rarely ever in our favor.  It's way past time to give the Two-Party Monopoly the shaft.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well