There’s a scene in Heinlein’s “Stranger In A Strange Land” where the protagonist gains a sense of humor and an understanding of what motivates humans while watching some monkeys in a zoo.
SPOILER ALERT FOR 63 YEAR OLD NOVEL*****
He tosses a peanut to a medium sized monkey. A bigger monkey comes over, hits him, and takes the peanut. The medium sized monkey screams his frustration, then goes over and attacks an even smaller monkey that was minding its own business. The smallest monkey can do nothing but cry.
You should now have a complete understanding of human behavior, and be laughing, crying, or both. If you have a peanut allergy, keep an epipen close, and curse Joe Manchin’s daughter!
When did they stop teaching “Civics” or “Government” in US schools? In the 60s & 70s we learned that the US was a representative democracy, as opposed to a direct democracy. Now, the right-wing has redefined the first as “republicanism” and pretend that the Democratic Party stands for the latter, which they now equate with communism/socialism/marxism/insert-scare-words-here-ism.
Elections are mentioned in the constitution, implying that they intended for some people to vote. Subsequent amendments have extended the franchise to more and more people, much to the chagrin of the right-wing. If you think you are going to turn the clock back to the 18th century you are sorely mistaken.
Maybe getting fined for not voting will teach them the value of voting and of being informed? Perhaps they could vote against the politicians who enacted the law that encouraged them to vote? And while they’re at it, against the ones who continue to make young men register for involuntary servitude?
Young men are still required to register for the military draft and face potential fines and imprisonment for failing to do so but you don’t want to tax people for failing to vote?
Publicly funded campaigns would be a mostly symbolic solution. Direct donations aren’t that much, the “independent” PACs are where the big bucks go, family and friends get hired by various companies and foundations, publishers pay big advances for books that go straight into the remainders stacks shortly after their release, and retired politicians go on speaking tours for huge honorariums.
For real change, eliminate closed primaries and boost turnout by imposing a tax on any eligible voter who doesn’t cast a ballot. It still won’t be perfect, but it should water down the power of big money a little.
I thought it was going to turn into a cease-and-desist order for copyright violation.