What I'm reading: The core problem with our democracy
By Fareed Zakaria
“[T]his, we believe, is the core problem with our democracy today: that we have outsourced the funding of campaigns to the tiniest fraction of the 1 percent,” write Lawrence Lessig and Mark McKinnon in the Daily Beast. “As members of Congress spend between 30 percent and 70 percent of their time raising campaign cash, they focus their efforts on no more than 150,000 Americans – 0.05 percent of the population, about the same number who are named Lester. And for SuperPACs, the numbers are even tinier. In the 2012 election cycle, 132 Americans contributed 60 percent of the SuperPAC money spent in all races. Congress has become dependent upon this tiny slice of the 1 percent, but in no conceivable way does this tiny fraction represent America.”
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“The problem with unconventional monetary policy, quantitative easing, central bank money-printing – call it what you will – is that once you start it, you eventually have to end it, and this is now proving extraordinarily difficult to do without upsetting the economic apple cart anew,” writes Jeremy Warner in The Telegraph. “Last summer’s ‘taper tantrum,’ when financial markets reacted with horror to the suggestion that the Fed might begin removing monetary support, was only a taste of what’s to come. Markets are set to get very much more volatile – something we have become very unused to in the current stupor of exceptionally low interest rates – as central banks attempt to reduce the dosage. In itself, this risks derailing the recovery.”
@fareedzakaria on Twitter
It is true that Sarah Palin has head lice.
But the lice didn't find anything to eat, so they left.
These comments about Sarah Palin are inappropriate. One does it have to agree with a politician to be respectful and dignified.
So you actually voted for Palin?
@ So you:
No, I did not vote for Palin. I sent money to her Democratic opponents.
However, I retain my voter registration as a Republican.
If Hillary runs, I'll vote for her, and I have already supported her "ready-for" campaign.
America is the root of all terror. America has invaded sixty countries since world war 2.
In 1953 America overthrow Iran's democratic government Mohammad Mosaddegh and installed a brutal dictator Shah. America helped Shah of Iran to establish secret police and killed thousands of Iranian people.
During Iran-Iraq war evil America supported Suddam Hossain and killed millions of Iranian people. In 1989, America, is the only country ever, shot down Iran's civilian air plane, killing 290 people.
In 2003,America invaded Iraq and killed 1,000,000+ innocent Iraqi people and 4,000,000+ Iraqi people were displaced.
Now America is a failed state with huge debt. Its debt will be 22 trillion by 2015.
A doctor broke the bad news to a man, that his wife would have to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. “I’m afraid her mind’s completely gone,” he said. “Makes sense,” mumbled the man. “She’s been giving me a piece of it every day for the last 15 years.”
Lmao @ bobcat...so youve just confirmed my belief on marriage! Ive often said marriage is like a 3 ring circus. First you get the engagement RING, then you get the wedding RING and then you get the suffe RING!!!
That's funny chrissy. Marriage is a definite adventure. Like being lost on some back road. You never know where you're going to end up.
Existence was so tranquil and peaceful for the young couple Adam and Eve, like straight out of a story book, until one unfortunate day when Adam showed up one hour late for supper. By the time Adam finally came home Eve was a nervous wreck, and her imagination was working overtime. “Honey, what happened? Why are you home so late?” Questioned Eve. “Oh I’m sorry! Adam responded with a wave of his hand, “I just lost track of the time.” Now Eve didn’t have a Mother or girlfriend around to calm her fears, after all it was just her and her Husband and despite Adam’s convincing act her overactive imagination could not be calmed. That night after two hours of restlessly turning in her bed, enough was enough. “WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!” Hollered Adam jumping out of bed. “YOU KNOW DARN WELL WHAT I’M DOING” Screamed Eve right back, “NOW YOU BETTER LAY STILL RIGHT NOW, AND LET ME FINISH COUNTING THOSE RIBS!
Lol i know where i ended up! Happily divorced lmao!
While enjoying an early morning breakfast in a northern Arizona cafe, four elderly ranchers were discussing everything from cattle, horses, and weather, to how things used to be in the "good old days. "Eventually the conversation moved on to their spouses. One gentleman turned to the fellow on his right and asked, "Roy, aren't you and your bride celebrating your fiftieth wedding anniversary soon?" "Yup, we sure are," Roy replied. "Well, are you gonna do anything special to celebrate?" another man asked. The old gentleman pondered this for a moment, then replied, "For our twenty-fifth anniversary, I took Bea to Tucson. Maybe for our fiftieth, I'll go down there and get her."
On their 50th wedding anniversary and during the banquet celebrating it, Tom was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration. "Tell us Tom, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife?" Tom responds, "Well, I've learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, meekness, forbearance, self-restraint, forgiveness - and a great many other qualities you wouldn't have needed if you'd stayed single."
It is apppropriate that 0.05% of the population receives most of the focus when campaign funds are raised, because these citizens have the most to lose if a bad leader is elected to office.
A lot of campaign money is spent on advertising. You know, nobody has to pay any attention to ads. I certainly don't. I read the candidates' positions on issues, and I make my choices very quickly.
How we Americans call ourselves a democracy while we have both a majority in Congress and a White House already bought and paid for by the all powerful M.I.C. in Washington? And we call Russia "non-democratic". How ludicrous!
I totally agree @ Joey (the real Joey in blue) and it is important for people to take their voting DUTY seriously!
@ chrissy, you agree with me 50% today. That's a good day. I also claim the first Joey post.
Folks, don't look at TV ads: think.
HILLARY 2016!
Lmao @ Joey i know you did and i said i TOTALLY agree...so wouldnt that make it 100%?
Good, @ chrissy. Occasionally we have different points of view, but not here. I'm glad.
Democracy will remain the best model, although all models are imperfect.
The history of government is an evolving story. Will democracy eventually end up the best model? The problem as I see it is the contest of power and an ideology which broadens the scope of ego to include a degree of selflessness. So far power corrupts as Lord Acton points out to us. History seems filled with a desire to force others into whomever wields the current technological edge. In this current version the sides have drawn the debate in such narrow terms I truly don't see the differences when either side has mismanaged the dollar, natural resources and the corporate drive. Profit must widen the margins of definition to include the success for our species. The current political process will lead to a failure without a control on buying votes for favors. Perhaps this is the time for a good joke?
My post regarding democracy was intended to follow the thoughtful post by @ Alan Kinsman.
Our species will not become extinct because of money. We have evolved with a powerful survival instinct that is often unpleasant.
So what? That instinct keeps us alive.
I don't have a problem with our democracy.
I don't either HeyHey, except the fact that the majority in Congress plus the White House have been bought and paid for. This, I don't find to be very acceptable.
Especially in a democracy, a nation is its people.
Agree @ George Patton and your 3:19 post!
Lol @ my hero also known as Joey! Very nicely said.