Americans Elect. New political movement in the US...

[FBM]

Sounds like a reasonable agenda to me. Not sure if they have a snowball's chance in hell of accomplishing anything.

What is Americans Elect?

Americans Elect is the first nonpartisan nomination. We're using the Internet to break the gridlock in Washington, open up the political process and give every single voter—Democrat, Republican or independent—the power to nominate a presidential ticket in 2012. Your voice matters. You decide the issues. You choose the candidates. And in a secure, online convention next June, you will make history by putting the Americans Elect ticket on the ballot in every state.

With Americans Elect, you have the power to choose leadership that puts country before party, and America's interests before special interests. You have the power to change politics as usual.

More here: http://www.americanselect.org/about

If they could loosen the undies of the extreme left and right, I'd like to see it happen. Soon.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

...If they could loosen the undies of the extreme left and right, I'd like to see it happen. Soon.

Unless they in fact are either the extreme left or extreme right. Many new 'movements' start off playing the "we're nonpartisan" card - It's too early to say whether this movement actually is.

In fact it's too early to say whether they're 'grass roots' or 'astroturf'.

[FBM]

After I posted this thread, I went back to investigate further. I signed up and answered over 200 questions on their questionnaire. I couldn't identify any bias in the questions or the range of possible answers. They seemed to cover the full range, from left to right. After you submit each answer, you get to see how everyone else voted, as well as which states voted like you did. Sometimes I was voting along with the majority, sometimes just off it, sometimes in the minority. True, they may be giving false feedback, but there's no way I could find out about that.

[Drewish]

Yeah, right now it looks like the biggest fan bases are for Obama and Ron Paul. So yeah, basically the candidates with the largest web followings who are already running under major party banners.

[FBM]

I don't think the results of their polls are quite representative of the whole population, though. Only those with internet access and who are somewhat tech-saavy. Even today, that leaves out a lot of people.

[Drewish]

Some of these questions are SO stupid. Do I favor or oppose the development of electric car technology? Well I assume you mean by the government right? Or maybe you mean subsidizing it? Or else maybe it's just a feel good wish list of what you want? I look at most answers to these questions and it's, "I want everything! Give me everything!" which is how we got into this mess in the first place. I am very much opposed to this new 'movement.'

[Drewish]

Thinking now about funding priorities for public schools, how important or unimportant do you think it is for federal funds to be spent on art and music programs?

41%Very important
35%Somewhat important
13%Not very important
10%Not at all important
1%Unsure

Seriously? Fuck this.

[amused]

It's already WAY too late for a new party to try to get on the ballot for 2012. It takes a lot of local groundwork to build up the registration. It might be technically possible due to whatever deadlines are in place, but practically, it's now near impossible. Which, IMO, kinda undermines their credibility.

[Drewish]

Socialist, eco-crazy, entitled, fucking dipshits. That's what the answer to ever question screams. Is this my generation? Are we really that fucking retarded? God fucking damn it! We deserve the fucking bullshit future we're going to get!

[Drewish]

Do you think the following real or proposed campaign finance rule is acceptable or unacceptable? Wealthy individuals should be allowed to spend as much of their own money as they want on their own political campaigns.

33% Acceptable
64% Unacceptable
4% Unsure

For real?! People shouldn't be allowed to spend THEIR OWN FUCKING MONEY on their campaigns?!!! Youth of the US, you are fucking dipshit cock sucking fuck faced idiots and I HATE YOU . You will ruin this country with your government fix everything bullshit, just giving more power to corrupt officials. Seriously, It enrages me with how brainwashed the little commies of my generation are, you sick stupid sacks of shit. DIE DIE DIE!!!

[Drewish]

Most people don't want to use military or political force against other countries, but most people DO want political and economic sanctions against Iran? They can't even be consistent! OMG this is like a look into the idiocy of the every man of my generation, and I need to stop because it's filling me with so much hatred, I'm going to burst.

[PsychoSerenity]

Sounds like a reasonable agenda to me. Not sure if they have a snowball's chance in hell of accomplishing anything.

It looks similar kind of idea to the take back parliament campaign we had in the UK - which other than a bit of cage rattling, achieved very little. But the power of the internet grows every day. You never know, eventually we might get something close to democracy.

[FBM]

Do you think the following real or proposed campaign finance rule is acceptable or unacceptable? Wealthy individuals should be allowed to spend as much of their own money as they want on their own political campaigns.

33% Acceptable
64% Unacceptable
4% Unsure

For real?! People shouldn't be allowed to spend THEIR OWN FUCKING MONEY on their campaigns?!!! Youth of the US, you are fucking dipshit cock sucking fuck faced idiots and I HATE YOU . You will ruin this country with your government fix everything bullshit, just giving more power to corrupt officials. Seriously, It enrages me with how brainwashed the little commies of my generation are, you sick stupid sacks of shit. DIE DIE DIE!!!

Yes, it's much better if the rich people are able to buy their way into office. After all, there are no intelligent leaders among the middle-class or poor.

[Drewish]

Do you think the following real or proposed campaign finance rule is acceptable or unacceptable? Wealthy individuals should be allowed to spend as much of their own money as they want on their own political campaigns.

33% Acceptable
64% Unacceptable
4% Unsure

For real?! People shouldn't be allowed to spend THEIR OWN FUCKING MONEY on their campaigns?!!! Youth of the US, you are fucking dipshit cock sucking fuck faced idiots and I HATE YOU . You will ruin this country with your government fix everything bullshit, just giving more power to corrupt officials. Seriously, It enrages me with how brainwashed the little commies of my generation are, you sick stupid sacks of shit. DIE DIE DIE!!!

Yes, it's much better if the rich people are able to buy their way into office. After all, there are no intelligent leaders among the middle-class or poor.

Yes, because when you buy ads, that buys the office. Because clearly people have to listen to the ads because they're too stupid to think for themselves. So when I purchase enough air time I have 'bought' and election and undermined democracy! Clearly if that's true then democracy doesn't work because people are unable to think for themselves. It's fucking retarded. I can vote however I want, and you want to trust the politicians to right rules about how money can be spent to become an elected official?!


FUCK!!!! I am so tired of stupidity!!!!

[FBM]

Sounds like a reasonable agenda to me. Not sure if they have a snowball's chance in hell of accomplishing anything.

It looks similar kind of idea to the take back parliament campaign we had in the UK - which other than a bit of cage rattling, achieved very little. But the power of the internet grows every day. You never know, eventually we might get something close to democracy.

Maybe, eventually. If there's a significant reduction in the power grip that the economic aristocracy has on us now, that would be welcome. But the 1% aren't going to get off the gravy train without a fight. It may be a long time coming yet.