Are American Elections Just A Sham? Read below?

Question

American elections are inherently problematic anyway because you have two parties and within each, during the primaries, members offer differing policies. Now since they are from the same party how do they reconcile these differences with the main differences between the two parties in a basically two party state
Having said that, the differences in policies between the primaries on both sides overlap in areas that should be considered major party policy lines.

To simplify, Clinton and McCain may be in agreement on something major like the Iraq war and Obama may be in cahoots with the left of centre other from the right.
This in effect supports my theory that American elections are a sham. The people are fooled into thinking there is some democracy whereas they are being offered a choice of something like light blue and slightly lighter blue. If I was and American (not thank God) I will not vote at all for all the good it will do in the end.

It appears the political system has been set up to protect the few. AND it is not the common voters.

So people are basically right . Vote for skin colour or female or whiter teeth or good figure and forget the bull of the policies. Enjoy!

Answer 1

You said "the people are fooled into thinking there is some democaracy whereas they are being offered a choice" between what's blue and something that's light blue. Well Ralph Nader once described the system as choosing not the lesser of two evils, but the evil of two lessers...He also said it was a choice between tweedle dum and tweedle dummer lol



So you are absolutely right, there is an absolute constraint on elections and just about any other "Freedom" in this country. let me explain....



One of the constraints is a "resource constraint", if you want to have run for office, you must have money and that quickly biases electins in favor of the wealthy since they have more money. Advertising costs a lot, running polling groups, etc...So that is going to bias people into favorign programs that favor wealthy donors...



Another reason that elections are a sham, and a much deeper reason and what really proves this may all be a sham is b"Demand Contraint". So let us say you elect a guy who IS DIFFERENT...and who is offering something that is that is green or red or off the blue versus light blue color spectrum you presented...well what happens when he gets into office? So let's say he somebody gets into office and wants to increase spending on hospital education road bridges, bring universal healthcare etc...sounds great right? Well the minute he even proposes these initiatves, the bond market and stock market will react, interest rates will go up, the stock market will fall (fearing all the "costs" associated with the program, including the possiblity of rolling back tax breaks) and the media will attack the program as being "liberal" or even socialists...



In other words, the system is rigged at its very core to limit the "demands" that one can place....and here the republicans have a point, to an extent. If you raise taxes on the rich, THEY WILL STRIKE BACK...they will not invest, or they will take their money and invest overseas...that also limits what we can demand...



So in short, elections and our "democratic choices" are already set for us by the biasing of campaigns and elections because of money but also and more crucially, because fundamental economic DECISION MAKING is by law outside of the control of people (like investment decisions) and so this limits the choices a people can make in the political sphere....

Answer 2

Yes as Jim Hightower said in his book: "If the Gods Had wanted Us to Vote, They Would Have Given Us Candidates."



Rules for being a VIABLE Candidate:

Accept Corporate "Free Trade" Doctrine

Accept the Power of the Military Industrial Complex

Accept the Power of Big Banks and the Federal Reserve System

Accept the Power of AIPAC



Kucinich, Paul and to a lesser extent Edwards didn't follow this and were marginalized or erased by the Corporate media.



Follow the Money!



All that said, I still believe less people will be harmed or killed under an Obama administration than a McCain one; that's our choice.



Soy Socialista: Great Post!

Answer 3

If you are not american, why do you care?

Stating you thank God you are not an American is also the most ignorant statement one could make.

What's your basis for that? The Iraq war? Thats a pretty uneducated reason. There is no country in the world that has the freedoms we have, the opportunity, the lifestyle etc. None.

I find most america haters know very little about America and get all their info from TV and biased news organizations.



The only fact is, when the doo doo hits the fan...you call us first. Big bad russiains threatening you? Oh america will take care of it. Germanys upity again...Oh here come the Americans to give us our freedom and country back.

Oh, A tsunami hit? Where is America? Need money for AIDS, medical research...where is America.

Bottom line, this world would be in chaos if it where not for American power and intervention.



I notice your country is SO wonderful, you fail to mention what it is.



Bottom line, our elections are our business. It is the most democratic system going. We the people decide who we like, based on the issues. Could it be better...of course. But as it stands, its pretty good.



Parties are also becoming more and more irrelvant. If you knew anything about american politics, you would see that. McCain is far from a typical conservative and Clinton and Obama are far from what is historically a democrat.

It came close to having an independent run, Bloomberg, this time. In the next couple of elections, I think we will see more and more thrid party candidates and a splintering of the major parties.

Unlike many countries, that will happen peacefully and orderly. We won't have riots in the streets, assasinations, boycotts, violence. The democratic system we have will change to fit the new times.



Whatever happens, its OUR problem, not yours.

Answer 4

Good point. They're also superficial. What real difference would a woman or a black man make. They are all politicians at the end of the day. Americans need to stop looking at the superficial stuff and look deeper

Answer 5

I absolutely agree! Especially with the thank God I'm not American part.

For being the "great" land of freedom and democracy, USA sure seems to fit the motto, 'do as I say, not as I do'.

Answer 6

That's democracy. Every few years you choose the best of a bad lot. At least their parties are slightly different.

Answer 7

Thank god your not American is right! You have no understanding of the power of 1 vote.

Answer 8

Certainly too much of a Sham yes.

Answer 9

I agree-check out the Obama question I asked last night- I made the very same comparrisons



(sorry don't know how to link it)

Answer 10

they certainly go on a bit that's for sure. my god it's all they talk about on their news. if someone farts there's an election alert'