Where are the independents in power?

https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

In recent months, more Americans have been identifying as independents than Democrats or Republicans. Despite that, independents are not in power anywhere. There are very few independents in elected offices at any level of any government in the US. When only Democrats and Republicans are in power, gridlock and dysfunction is the now normal result. Republicans have sworn off compromise and belief in democracy and the rule of law, which is leading the US into actual fascism.

Given the constant state of dysfunction, it should be the case that where possible, independents should have more power than Democrats or Republicans. For example, the now completely dysfunctional Federal Election Commission is composed of 2 dems, 1 independent and 3 repubs. It should be composed of 3-4 independents, 1-2 dems and 1-2 repubs. 

Another example is the House finally being able to move forward with a commission[1] to investigate the 1/6 Republican coup attempt. Months of wrangling about this in the House has been bitter and highly partisan. House repubs want to muddy the waters to create confusion and deflect from  Republican party responsibility for the violence and intent to subvert the 2020 election. The proposed commission will be chaired by a dem and vice-chaired by a repub. That's a recipe for failure. The end result will probably be two reports, one dem and one repub. Each side will point to their report as authentic and accurate.

That is not acceptable. The commission should be dominated by independents with minorities of dems and repubs. There should be only one final report and if either side wants to dissent, they do it on their own and without commission authority. Absent that, two reports would just be seen by partisans as propaganda documents, even if one of the two was reasonably sound, not just partisan spin and lies.

Regime change and overthrow of the two-party system in America is long overdue. A pox on the Democratic and Republican Parties and their refusal to accommodate the fact that they are both minorities compared to independents. Both had many chances to govern intelligently and responsibly. They failed[2] and deserve no more chances.

Questions: Are both parties equally responsible for the dysfunction and deep distrust and hate American governance and society are hopelessly mired in? Or is one side more responsible than the other? For example, it looks to me that the fascist GOP is about 85% responsible and dems are about 15% responsible. Most conservatives will probably see it differently, e.g., dems and liberals are ~95% responsible, while repubs and conservatives are ~5% responsible. 

Or, since there are so few independents in elected office, do they deserve no place at the table of power? Does it matter that both the Democratic and Republican Parties have always fought dagger, tooth and claw to block (i) the rise of a third party, and (ii) power for independents?

Footnote: 

1. Whether the final commission report will lead to anything meaningful is highly doubtful. Official commissions, blue ribbon panels, major investigations, expert white papers and all the rest have often or usually been used to make politically unfixable problems go away. That happened after major race riots in the US since the 1800s. All the commissions came to the same conclusions. And the result was always the same: Nothing was done, nothing changed and predictable race riots occurred for known reasons. What we have with 1/6 coup attempt commission and inquiry clearly is a politically unfixable problem. The GOP is openly moving toward anti-democratic fascism and deep corruption, while the dems are still stumbling, fumbling and bumbling with eroding democracy and a weakening rule of law. That divergence is not fixable. The GOP has the power and will use it to make damn sure it doesn't get fixed.

2. Democrats had power for years, but never defended democracy, the rule of law and civil liberties, including voting rights, by passing laws with real teeth. That failure was colossal and still is unforgivable. They were content to rely on norms, ethics recommendations and other toothless guard rails to protect liberties and rights that Americans used to have but are now losing. From Jan. 2017 through Jan. 2021, the ex-president and fascist GOP acted together to finish blowing the guard rails and all respect for truth and the rule of law to smithereens. Now with our broken, corrupted government, it isn't possible to pass laws to defend what average Americans are on the verge of losing to fascism and corruption.

Blog update: Warning about Dissident Politics phishing threat

I just got a notice from Google alleging that my site is dangerous due to a phishing threat(s). I have no idea what Google is talking about. I ban spammers, trolls and anything that looks fishy. I sent Google a complaint and will wait to see what response, if any comes back. As far as I know, there is no phishing threat here. I do not know what triggered Google's response.

Please don't click on any links here that seem out of place. Something may be going on that I am not aware of.

A perpetual disinformation motion machine

Maybe. But maybe there is both power and persistence 

in propaganda and lies

In an article, ‘A Perpetual Motion Machine’: How Disinformation Drives Voting Laws, the New York Times describes the obvious.[1] Even if it is obvious, it helps to mention it.

The machine incorporates the former president's lies about a stolen election. That undermines some (minority) public confidence in elections. In response to a minority of voters concerns, Republican lawmakers pass voter suppression laws to limit democratic and minority voters. Republican politicians and blowhards cite a lack of public confidence based on the original lie as the reason for an urgent need to suppress voting. Some even have the guts to state that there was was no evidence of massive vote fraud in the 2020 election, but they are merely responding to voter's expressed fears of a fraudulent vote. Lack of evidence of massive vote fraud is irrelevant. Only unfounded complaints from a minority of Republican voters, fomented by the most mendacious liar president in US history, counts as the "rational" basis for Republican voter suppression by government force.

All complaints from even more democratic voters, when that is the case, that there are too many voting restrictions are ignored as lies, irrelevant, non-existent and/or nonsense. 

The disinformation perpetual motion machine

Clearly, this tactic can be used for any authoritarian ends. For example, if the former president claims that there are too many gun laws, and his supporters complain about excessive gun laws, Republicans can pass laws to repeal all gun laws to respond to voter concerns. Same for abortion. Same for tolerance of the free press, political opposition, laws against white collar crime and corruption, laws that apply to a president or his supporters or donors, tax obligations for the president and his donors, etc.

There are many targets for this misinformation and disinformation tactic, so it can be used to crush democracy, the rule of law, pluralism and etc., to build a single party kleptocratic dictatorship. It is fun, mindless and easy. And, for the elite winners, it is vastly rewarding in terms of both power, e.g., re-election, and wealth. Lots of wealth. The non-elite winners (rank & file voters) get satisfying bragging rights and a deep psychological satisfaction from screwing the hated opposition into oblivion, even if their own civil liberties are eventually also undermined.

Questions: Does anyone recall any reporting where an involved Republican lawmaker working to suppress voting in recent years explained clearly why vote suppression law(s) they backed or wrote would decrease voter suppression? The best rationalization I can come up with is this: Conservative White Republican party voters and vote counters are honest and do not commit vote fraud. Everyone else is bad, a crook and a fraud. Bad people votes need to be suppressed, even if it means suppressing a few honest good people votes as unfortunate collateral damage. Or, is that over the top motivated reasoning?

Footnote: 

1. The NYT writes: 

“The ultimate voter suppression is a very large swath of the electorate not having faith in our election systems,” Mr. Kaufmann, a Republican, said in defense of his bill, which was signed into law in March. “And for whatever reason, political or not, there are thousands upon thousands of Iowans that do not have faith in our election systems.”  

The bills demonstrate how disinformation can take on a life of its own, forming a feedback loop that shapes policy for years to come. When promoted with sufficient intensity, falsehoods — whether about election security or the coronavirus or other topics — can shape voters’ attitudes toward policies, and lawmakers can cite those attitudes as the basis for major changes.

There you have it. For whatever reason, political or not, reality-based or not, rational or not, there are thousands of voters who choose to drink the ex-president's Koolaid and Republican disinformation to create a machine of political destruction. Whatever is under attack gets obliterated or at least attacked with intent to obliterate. And, as we all know, destruction of democracy and inconvenient truth are usually fun, easy and psychologically quite satisfying. 

Some folks are just born dividers and destroyers, mostly authoritarians in America. Others are uniters and builders, mostly democrats. At present, the former group is dominant. The uniters and builders are in deadly serious trouble.

A Call for American Renewal

 

https://www.acallforamericanrenewal.com/

PREAMBLE

These United States, born of noble convictions and aspiring to high purpose, have been an exemplar of self-government to humankind. Thus, when in our democratic republic, forces of conspiracy, division, and despotism arise, it is the patriotic duty of citizens to act collectively in defense of liberty and justice. We, therefore, declare our intent to catalyze an American renewal, and to either reimagine a party dedicated to our founding ideals or else hasten the creation of such an alternative.

We call for a rebirth of the American cause and do so in partnership and loyal competition with others committed to the preservation of our Union. With abiding belief in the value and potential of every soul and with goodwill for all, we hereby dedicate ourselves to these principles and make common cause in the flourishing of this great nation and its diverse states, communities, and citizens.

PRINCIPLES

1. Democracy

We seek the preservation and betterment of our democratic republic and the endurance of our self-government, free from interference and defended against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We support reforms that make our system more accessible, transparent, and competitive, oppose the disenfranchisement of voters, and reject populism and illiberalism, whether of the right or the left.

2. Founding Ideals

We reaffirm the self-evident truth that all persons are created equal and free, having the same inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that it is the prerogative of all to make personal decisions in accordance with their free will. We, therefore, condemn all forms of bigotry such as racism, religious intolerance, sexism, and persecution based on sexual orientation.

3. Constitutional Order

We uphold the Constitution as the inviolable and collective contract protecting liberty and justice for all, and honor the essential separation and balance it establishes among coequal branches of the federal government and the states. 

4. Truth

We recognize truth and reason as essential to a free and just society, and expect our leaders, citizens, and press to seek and promote them. We oppose the employment of fear-mongering, conspiracism, and falsehoods and instead support evidence-based policymaking and honest discourse.

5. Rule of Law

We maintain that the impartial rule of law is essential to a free and just society to protect the rights and property of all people. No one is above the law, and our criminal justice system must treat everyone equally without discrimination based on race, status or other unrelated factors.

6. Ethical Government

We demand that public officials and aspiring leaders – regardless of party – act with integrity and honor, the absence of which is a harbinger for abuses of power that threaten the republic.

7. Pluralism

We are committed to a pluralistic society defined by its ideals and welcoming to all peoples rightfully seeking safety, opportunity, and a better life by becoming contributing members of our diverse nation. We reject the notion that America should be characterized by the races, birthplaces, religious affiliations, or partisan identities of its citizens.

8. Civic Responsibility

We believe that all Americans share civic responsibility, which is essential for our self-government and national success. Thriving communities are built by faithfully engaged citizens working to overcome differences with mutual respect and the bonds of civil affection. The solutions to many of America’s greatest challenges can only be found in our diverse communities.

9. Opportunity

We recognize open, market-based economies as consistent with our natural liberty and the optimal means of ensuring economic mobility and the allocation of scarce resources. We support sensible and limited regulation, including to ensure equal opportunity, and affirm government’s vital role in assisting vulnerable citizens, while encouraging self-reliance and ingenuity without the impediments of cronyism and corruption.

10. Free Speech

We reaffirm the Constitution's guarantee of free speech and freedom of the press as essential to accountable government and the American way of life. We sustain the rights of individuals and private entities to exercise this freedom, even to express unpopular views, and condemn efforts to erode press freedom and public support for its vital role.

11. Conservation

We consider vital our shared stewardship of America’s resources – natural, environmental, and financial. We accept responsibility to conserve for ourselves and future generations these public assets, and to protect them from both natural and man-made harms.

12. Common Defense & Welfare

We uphold that government is instituted by the people to secure those essential, collective goods that individuals cannot attain for themselves, particularly providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare. We, therefore, support policies that further public safety, health, and defense as required for enduring national sovereignty and prosperity.

13. Leadership

Having thrived in the abundance of a choice land, we believe that these United States must work in conjunction with friends and allies to advance worthy interests abroad and to promote freedom by example and with the judicious application of power.

WHO ARE WE?

We are concerned citizens—a group of national, state, and local leaders—calling for American renewal. The country is tired of division and political extremism. It’s time to restore a “common-sense coalition” in our political system, and we are committed to making that a reality.

WHAT'S THE CALL?

A Call for American Renewal is a rallying cry for pragmatists everywhere. Our nation’s future should not be dictated by a single person but by principles that bind us together. That’s why we believe in pushing for the Republican Party to rededicate itself to founding ideals—or else hasten the creation of an alternative.

WHAT'S NEXT?

We cannot stay quiet in the face of rising political extremism. We must stand up and defend our republic. Sign up for updates about how we’re taking action, and join us for our upcoming nationwide town hall on renewing America. Details to follow.