"Democracy cannot function without an informed public."
Thomas Jefferson

When people vote they affix a signature, either on paper or electronically, to verify and document their vote. That record is accepted by all (theoretically) as generally what each citizen wants from their government via their political representatives. This citizen input into who is allowed to make decisions for them is paraded as democracy. This process involves many millions of people during the national government elections, as many as 130 million during presidential election years or approximately 55-60% of the voting eligible public. During the mid-term elections the total participation level can dip below 100 million as seen in the 2014 election where only 36% of the voting eligible public voted.

Only 36% of American citizens elected most of our 537 national politicians in 2014. Politicians who were largely controlled by the oligarchy that controls this country of 330 million people. The number of national representatives hasn't changed since 1912, it was capped by Congress in 1929. They said "no more representatives for you!" That's our supposed "representative democracy", the system we accept to maintain the illusion that Amerika is the greatest country on earth and the greatest democracy ever achieved by the human animal. The country that has the God Given Right to be the global policeman and the purveyor of all that is good and right, responsible for keeping democracy safe, the sole superpower and the "exceptional" nation.

Come on man, that's what we're supposed to believe and we all know it. That's what's been pounded into our heads since we were old enough to hear.

We're at the point in American history where we should admit this political system is kaput. It can't be reformed, it must be replaced. It was never meant to provide democracy, thus the "republic" label. The purpose was to keep the ultimate power at the top with the rich and powerful, the "ruling class". It was designed to prevent democracy. That's exactly what it has done. The results are more clear than ever, we regular citizens have no say in the political process and our votes mean nothing.

How can a former president, Jimmy Carter, come out and say the U.S. is not a democracy, that it is an oligarchy, and nothing is done about it? How can another former president, Dwight Eisenhower, warn us about the dangers of the military industrial complex but we end up with an insatiable global killing machine and spying apparatus and a government trying to rule the world by force? How can JFK warn us about the evils of the CIA and the Federal Reserve System and yet they have more power than ever? How can we allow that? Why are these issues not addressed in this country by it's leaders and citizens? How much longer can it go on?

The issues are not addressed because we do not live in a democracy. We are being ruled.

It's obvious (to me) we need an independent political movement to challenge the duopoly and the oligarchy to bring some semblance of democracy to this country. Not just democracy but an end to the ultra criminal and unconstitutional activities those in control of our government are engaging in and aiding and abetting, and accountability and justice for the past and current crimes committed along with reparations to the victims. The reparations must come from those who committed and benefited most from these crimes against humanity.

Wall Street, the Federal Reserve System, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Bank of International Settlements, the World Trade Council, NATO, the military/intelligence/security industrial complex, Bilderberg, the thinktanks, institutions, clubs and foundations and the revolving D.C. government/corporation/big bank door, the Big banks, the corporate media monopoly, etc. all need to be abolished, curtailed or reformed to limit their influence on government policy, their role in the incredible wealth inequality and class divide in this country, and end their insane and immoral quest to rule the earth and all the inhabitants on it. Fuck them.

What can we do?

Assuming you've ruled out the republican and democratic political parties, the choice is between a "third" political party, i.e., trying to compete against the duopoly in this failed political system, or an independent movement outside the political system and electoral process. The duopoly consisting of the democratic and republican parties is completely controlled by the oligarchy, the ruling class, and the rich and powerful. The entire system and accompanying institutions that have been created over the last two centuries are designed to keep it that way. Money talks, bullshit walks and we regular citizens of this country are the bullshit.

So ya, to do this we're going to need money, lots of it. The problem with a third party, besides the system being severely stacked against them, is it still requires a "middleman" to participate in this system of representation, the election of political candidates to political offices. They then become politicians who represent their "constituents". Nationally they would take their place in a congress or senate with 535 seats dominated by the duopoly. Since WWII, only 5 non-duopoly politicians have been elected to the national Congress or Senate. Taking this course would require extreme patience because it would probably take decades to elect enough politicians from that third party to be able to impact policies in Congress, let alone implement radical measures like mentioned above, i.e., revolutionary actions. That's assuming those who chose this path could be more successful than those who have repeatedly tried over the last 70 plus years. During that time we could all die from nuclear war, climate change, and/or extreme poverty. Or all three. While those that rule us kill many more millions. Either way alot of people will continue to get hurt, continue to have their one life to live taken from them in the name of greed and the quest for power. An age old equation the human race has never been able to solve.

The wild card in that however is if a third party president could be elected. That could be a game changer with the right person. But placing our bets on one person to save us is a tired human practice that rarely works and often leads to even worse results. And it's not democracy to allow one person to make decisions for everyone else. I'm in favor of abolishing the presidency and creating a different management structure to prevent the world having to worry about what "Trump" will do, or whoever it is. And that's a reality, check out the rest of the world and what they think about Trump, it's ridiculous. They don't know what the fuck could happen. We don't either. It's embarrassing to be an American.

So why not cut out the middleman with an independent movement that does not include electing politicians? It's not like it would be easy and fast, it would require great planning and organization, and money as mentioned above. But it could still be representative of a large number of people with a platform of citizen input, like a political platform only much better. It would be validated, just like on an election ballot, with signatures verifying the rightful democratic input from those participating. It doesn't require people protesting in the streets, although that should be part of it, but can include millions who feel the same but can't join the street protests. There has to be a way to include those people. It could produce results a helluva lot faster than a third party.

We want an end to oligarchy, war and imperialism and rule by the rich.

It would have to be combined with a boycott or protest of some kind of the duopoly, an organized, publicized boycott or statement against the duopoly and a demand that our voices and opinions are given equal measure, as is our inalienable and "God given right". It would be basically like a petition, but what in politics isn't like a petition? When electing politicians all we do is sign our name. This is the same thing.

Actually we could have our own election. We could have a national referendum like is done in other countries. Except there wouldn't be any no votes, only votes from those that agreed with the platform, like with a political party. We could get 20 million, 50 million votes much faster than we could get a significant third party presence in Congress and Senate. We wouldn't need "permission" to have a people's referendum, we would just do it.

Somebody has got to organize all the different organizations, blogs, independent news sites, initiatives, groups, etc., that are currently working toward the same thing. There are alot of people who want this but mostly they're all doing their own thing.

How would an independent movement be able to influence what happens in Congress and Senate and with the President? Why would they listen to us? Because we'd make them listen to us. What other choice is there? Sooner or later we're going to have to do that. It's like put up or shut up, shit or get off the pot, quit your whining and do something. The only alternative to is keep voting in this system hoping that a couple centuries of peasant futility can somehow be overcome.

When I say "we" of course I mean those that want more than just a higher minimum wage or medicare for all. "We" who want an end to oligarchy. We want an end to the wars, the unbelievable wealthy inequality, the unfair practices and crimes committed by the financial class and an end to rule by the rich. We who want a revolution, a changing of the power to the people. A new way of life and a peaceful, equal and just way forward. It's got to happen or greed and the quest for power will kill us all.

It depends on what you want. If you want a revolution, it's going to require something like this, and more. It's got to be big, it's got to be organized and well funded, and it's got to be committed against the oligarchy and for democracy. Everyone is born equal, stays equal and has an equal voice. Solidarity. If you want to continue the same path with the oligarchy in charge where our rights are slowly being taken from us to the point of being slaves, then continue voting for politicians offered to you by the duopoly.

If an independent movement/revolution is not what you want, the answer is easy. Just keep trying to elect better politicians to represent you, either third party or with the duopoly. And quit stressing out about what can be done. That's your answer.

I know what I want. I want freedom from these fucking assholes and an end to, and justice for, their crimes, and I'll do whatever it takes to get it. I'm tired of being ruled by rich people and I don't want my children, my grandchildren and great grandchildren ruled by rich people either. I believe we're ALL equal and we ALL should have an equal voice. I believe that's the only way. They are not better than me. I believe we must end rule by the rich, which is basically rule by greed.

We need an antiwar movement ASAP but I don't think an antiwar movement will do it. It's never done it before. Nothing has really challenged the power and wealth of the oligarchy, face it. The rich have always been in charge in this country. I do think that ending imperialism, global imperialism not just U.S. imperialism, could be an instigator to real democratic social change. But probably not, we have to confront this issue head on, not from an angle. Ending oligarchy and rule by the rich will end imperialism and war. All war is for the rich. Again, we being those that want a new beginning.

It's like they say, we need to go big or go home. I'm ready to go big. In fact, that's all I'll accept. I read a quote earlier today from Hannah Arendt, the only morally reliable people are not those who say “this is wrong” or “this should not be done,” but those who say “I can’t.” I'm not trying to be morally righteous here, I'm just saying I'm not going to take anymore of their bullshit. To each her/his own, as it should be.