[lbo-talk] Prop. 62 Would Squelch Third Parties in California

[R]

At 10:20 PM 10/26/2004, R wrote:
>At 12:07 PM 10/26/2004, Nathan Newman wrote:
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Michael Dawson" <MDawson at pdx.edu>
>> >Ok, but why no mention?  I'm not saying they could can it today, but why
>>no
>> >mention, especially in such an age of mass cynicism?  And, why not use the
>> >mention to point out that W. lost the popular vote last time?  I think
>>it's
>> >a very telling omission by the DP.
>>
>>What are you talking about?  Electoral activists talk about Bush stealing
>>the election in Florida and losing the electoral vote all the time.  The
>>disproportionate influence of conservative states in the electoral college
>>is regularly discussed and condemned.
>>
>>But belaboring the point in every paragraph doesn't get you that much.
>>This seems to be a rhetorical fetish of some parts of the far left, to talk
>>about the issues that you have no chance of changing, rather than
>>concentrating on those you can.

a recent poll indicated that 60 percent of americans favor abolishing the 
electoral college.  looks like a pretty good bet for voting rights reform 
to me.

what are the odds favoring eliminating felony disenfranchisement, speeding 
up naturalization of immigrants seeking citizenship, installing voting day 
registration?

where is your evidence, nathan newman, as you like to ask others?  tell me 
the likelihood of achieving these goals of voting rights.

and if you achieve them, what then will you do about the electoral 
college?  as judge scalia --who may be your next chief justice -- 
accurately pointed out, the constitution does NOT give americans the right 
to vote for president.  case closed.

your "voting rights" reforms don't change that fact one iota.  your voting 
rights reforms -- assuming they even succeed -- pale into insignificance if 
they can't change that single reality.

R


>>There are real electoral reforms we can
>>fight over-- such as voting day registration, eliminating felony
>>disenfranchisement, speeding up naturalization of immigrants seeking
>>citizenship -- that would significantly improve voting rights in the
>>country.  Worrying about the electoral college should be far down the list
>>of progressives, both as an issue and rhetorically.
>>
>>Nathan Newman
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
>>On Behalf Of Doug Henwood
>>Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 8:24 AM
>>To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>>Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] Prop. 62 Would Squelch Third Parties in California
>>
>>Michael Dawson wrote:
>>
>> >Why no mention of the
>> >Electoral College by your party of social betterment?
>>
>>It would be nearly impossible to abolish without scrapping the whole
>>damn constitution. Not that that's a bad thing, but that would be a
>>revolutionary change.
>>
>>Doug