Do You Believe That Free Elections Are Possible?

[December]

I think it is NOT possible in any society, and here's why: there is no way the ruling elite will give up its position. Just no way.

There is no way, the Rich will ever allow "simple folks" to elect whoever they (simple folks) wish to see in the office. This is why in America people do not elect president. In US a candidate has to go through all sorts of filters to get to the top.

Every stable society has a ruling class and the only difference between the American ruling class and British, Russian, German or Chinese ruling elite is that their elite is united on the cultural and not economic basis.
In the countries of the Old World even a poor member of ruling class has a real voice. Of course, it is not always the case but the culture of a nation and its heritage are far more important to them than the profits.


Here's an article about the term ruling class:
The term ruling class refers to the social class of a given society that decides upon and sets that society's political policy.
The ruling class is a particular sector of the upper class that adheres to quite specific circumstances: it has both the most material wealth and the most widespread influence over all the other classes, and it chooses to actively exercise that power to shape the direction of a locality, a country, and/or the world. Most of the upper class does not fit the fundamentals of this description, but some do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruling_class

So do you believe that Free Elections are actually possible?

[Nono]

Do You Believe That Free Elections Are Possible?

Perhaps not totally. But that doesn't mean they have to be blatantly stolen, as they were in the US presidential elections in 2000 and 2004.
That's going a little far.

[Osborn F. Enready]

I believe they are possible if people recognize and exercise their rights to demand it happen.

People need to set aside their partisan rhetoric, and demand a full reform of the entire electoral system with clear and concise goals, and a reasonable means to meet them.

Things like: (suggestions)
-equal ballot access regarding support verification and fees, in all states, based on individual requirements, not party requirements.
-Instant Runoff Voting to help counter the "lesser of two evils" nonsense.
-Verifiable two copy polling receipts.(one for the voter, and one the voter signs off on after polling for the election tabulation)
-Nationalized poll worker training requirements
-Open media access to oversight of poll tabulations, without direct access that would interfere with the tabulation (filming, but no live interviews until tabulation is completed)
- A law requiring the electoral college vote with its constituents.
- Removal of this ridiculous super-delegate system.....
- An FCC directive that all "networks" or "channels" that provide "programming" to the public, carry public open debates with equal charges to all participants with no interruption for commercial broadcasts, and these charges only being limited to provide for the costs of operation and labor costs for the time consumed by the debates. This could be part of licensing agreement with the FCC, and would be fully within the publics right from what I can see to demand of those using the public airwaves.

I think the things above would allow a platform for free and equal elections to be possible.

[bishop]

i'm not one to toss in pictures in lieu of debate, but this one seemed appropriate.

http://media.economist.com/images/20080105/D0108WW0.jpg


the senate has been called the millionaire's club for many years... the house too is full of millionaires.. seems like there is a pretty steep barrier to entry if you ask me.

[Scribbler1]

I believe they are possible if people recognize and exercise their rights to demand it happen.

People need to set aside their partisan rhetoric, and demand a full reform of the entire electoral system with clear and concise goals, and a reasonable means to meet them.Absolutely right, Osborn. The problem is nobody watches the counters and nobody watches the ones who WATCH the counters, if such "watchers" really exist.
Without reforms such as you suggest, being this is such a huge country it's impossible to tell who voted for who and we all must go on faith. And faith in our political system is something I have in VERY short supply.

And even if election fraud is charged, the idiot sheep don't even bat an eye, unless it's alleged to be fraud against THEIR candidate.

[NoMoreDems-Reps]

I think it is NOT possible in any society, and here's why: there is no way the ruling elite will give up its position. Just no way.
As long as Americans are willing to beleive they can't do anything
nothing will be done.

So do you believe that Free Elections are actually possible?
First off nothing is free if you want hand outs you're in trouble.
We are responsible for allowing our nation to be hijacked by the REPS&DEMS. If we would first break the Monopoly
that the Republicans and Democrats have on the US Government
then we could start molding the electoral process to be fair and
less subject to corruption.