Based on
an editorial by David
Model, posted at OpEdNews
Cited here are quotations from
David Model, a college professor, author, and public speaker.. They
are excerpts from his recent editorial titled Media
Circus Obsession: Obfuscating the Real Deficiencies of U.S.
Democracy, In addition to the statements below, Mr. Model
presents what he sees as thirteen defects in our government that keep
America from being a democracy.Aside from his list of thirteen defects, these are the comments I see as being of greatest interest to Americans who dread the erosion of democracy in America.
“When commenting on the impact of
elections on democratic ideals, it is necessary to look beneath the
symptoms and identify the real problems.”
“Barnum and Bailey would turn
green with envy at the circus masquerading as an electoral campaign
currently in the United States.”
“Electioneering spectacles are
both artificial and superficial but are really just a symptom of the
underlying infringements of democratic ideals.”
”United States, Britain and
Canada are the only three democracies that have not implemented some
variation of proportional representation but have clung to the
First-Past-The-Post system, a majoritarian system, in which only a
plurality is needed in each voting district to determine the
outcome.”
.”.. it (is) virtually impossible
for smaller parties to gain any ground in the elected chambers of
government. ”
.”..the Electoral College ...
enhances the possibility of the winner having fewer popular votes
than the loser.”
”American election campaigns are
incapable of informing the public about the real stances of
candidates on all the issues and revealing the true character and
integrity of the candidates.”
”In many European countries paid
advertising has been banned due to the overriding manipulative nature
of a thirty second ad designed by public relations and advertising
experts who are only interested in selling a product rather than
informing the public.”
”Many democracies have also
banned donations by any groups such as corporations and unions …”
“... the ideal method for funding
elections would be based on a fair formula by which the government
would either provide all the money or a balanced combination of
government funding and individual donations with strict limits.”
“In the U.S., there is a two
party system in which both parties are beholden to corporate donors
…”
“In 2011, a total of $3.3 billion
was spent on lobbying by 12,633 lobbyists translating into $6,168,000
spent on each member of the House and Senate on average and 23.6
lobbyists per each member of both Houses.”
In 2012, many pundits are
predicting a total expenditure of $5 billion for all campaigns, the
major source of which are wealthy benefactors or corporations.
“Lobbying virtually destroys
political equality in the United States thereby undermining the
principle of "by the people, for the people" and "dedicated
to the principle that all men are created equal.”
“It is impossible to govern with
only the public interest in mind when candidates are beholden to the
people who funded their victory.”
“As for ordinary citizens, they
may be able to meet with their member of Congress or Senate but the
extent of their influence is often minimal.”
“The bailout during the financial
crises ignored those who suffered the most, namely those who lost
their jobs, the poor and those who lost their homes.”
“Leadership in Congress has been
accorded too much power which can be used to serve ideological ends
rather than the public interest.”
“In the United States, Supreme
Court appointments are tainted by ideological considerations.
The Citizens United and the Florida Recount cases demonstrate the
role of ideology in the Court's judgments.”
.”.. the criminalization of
dissent and militarization of the police have resulted in a
multiplicity of violations of civil and legal rights not to mention
the First Amendment.”
“Corporate ownership and
advertising and the symbiotic relation between big corporations and
the government have reduced the media to stenographers of power.”
I hope the items quoted here will
prompt you to read Mr. Model's entire editorial on the subject. And,
of course, you will have to read his full statement to review the
thirteen defects he sees in our government today.
