i'm going to avoid godwin's law. but, you mentioned the republicans don't do this. ok. you know who embodies the perfect example of why there are superdelegates? donald trump.
it's a power that should only be used in extreme circumstances. but, those checks and balances are what your system of government is all about.
Mojar Rhuthmos
+jessica
No Donald Trump embodies the example of why the mainstream media needs to do their fucking job. Too bad we're speaking in hindsight, when it's far too late.
jessica
+Mojar Rhuthmos
but, is it not prudent to have that system of checks and balances, in case the media doesn't do it's job?
there's some irony, of course. the united states is not a democracy. it's a republic. the superdelegate system reflects that.
LTrotsky 21st Century
+jessica
Except that Donald Trump, yes an authoritarian fascist, has also had the courage to tell the truth about a few things that are heresy in the Republican Party. So the Party is in crisis, but it's not Trump's fault - it's the fault of the delusional and racist policies which have been the mainstay of the Republican party for 50 years and shoved the US to the edge of the abyss. Democratic practices in the Republican party are causing some soul searching among conservatives who have abided in the despicable practices of their party for so long. All Trump has done is exposed these things - and we wouldn't have that exposure if the Republican Party had superdelegates.
Joan S
+jessica
THE USA IS A DEMOCRACY... ONE PERSON ONE VOTE....
jessica
+Joan S
the united states is a constitutional republic, with a set of rules designed to limit the sovereignty of voters in favour of rights for minorities (the most important minority being the rich).
read the federalist papers. or maybe some commentaries by zinn. within them, madison lays out very clearly why it is that the framers rejected democracy, and set up a system that would prevent it.
Steve G
+jessica
The US is a republic, but you have to have some system in place that recognizes the will of the citizenry SOMEHOW. Either people are elected directly by the citizens, or they're essentially anointed by party insiders, but the party insiders had to have been picked by the citizens at some point. There is an office called "representative" because they're supposed to represent the people, not just the wishes of insiders that put them into that seat. The framers said that we can't leave EVERYTHING up to democracy, or else people would simply vote away the rights of other people. But the framers didn't want a system of party bosses just choosing the leaders with no input from anyone.
jessica
+Steve G
well, they kind of did want a system of party bosses choosing leaders, they just wanted to make it appear otherwise.
if bernie wins, they'll have to concede it and hillary will need to release the delegates (you can imagine that stated in a monty burns voice, right: release the delegates). but, bernie's not trump. or eugene debs, for that matter.
it's a useful check. the media throws it around pretty irresponsibly, sure. but, at the end of the day, we should be glad it's there.
nothing's stopping bernie from running as an independent, either, remember - or forcing anybody to remain a democrat.
Mojar Rhuthmos
+jessica
How about this for a "check and balance": If the media doesn't do its job, then live mass beheadings of all the media moguls, French Revolution-style.
Broadcast it live on the same channels that the media moguls run, just for a goof. Then repopulate the boards of directors with people who will ensure that the job is done properly. If they fail, then behead them too. Rinse, wash and repeat.
I'm only half-joking by the way.
jessica
+Mojar Rhuthmos
see, i think that people have a responsibility to educate themselves, though, too.