07-19-2004, 07:16 AM
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Sr. Correspondent
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 806
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I know this is cynical, but
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Originally Posted by Demosthenes";p="
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Originally Posted by DanM";p="
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Originally Posted by Demosthenes";p="
Ok, it was sort of a cheap shot, but you can't argue the fact that the majority of our law making body consists of wealthy white guys.
As far as many different groups pursuing their agendas being a good way to achieve diversity, I would probaly agree with you except for one thing. I am willing to bet that there are numerous politicians taking money from both sides of certain issues promising to help each one, but nothing really gets done. And what you proprose with the Special Intersts groups means that only those groups with the money to influence politicians will be the ones who are represented. What about groups who can't afford to pay?
-Demosthenes
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Our laws are made largely by wealthy, white males, but we are seeing incremental improvements. Over time, if we do the right thing with respect to education, I think we will see an increasingly representative mix in power positions.
As for the special interests without any clout, of course they do not get a thing. They never have and probably never will. My point was to say the diversity of special interests who can put their agenda above the common interests has grown. It now includes racial, social, religous and economic groups who did not have a voice before. As such, it is an excellent example of the growing diversity of power in the USA.
Just because its an incomplete work in progress does not mean its a failure. |
I know it's a bit off topic, but that is why I takea great interest in a strong party political system. This is where each party lists their candidates in order according to their rank in the party. Instead of voting for a candidate, you vote for a party. If there a 100 seats in a legislating body and one party gets 47% of the vote, then the top 47 people on the list of that party gets seats. In a structure such as this you can have quotas to persuade parties to run tickets that are relfective of their demographic.
-Demosthenes |
It sounds to me like a version of Sams club for the special interests. They can go to one place and buy everything they need instead of spending thier money with a bunch of little guys.
I guess you could call that a form of improved efficiency. 
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