The Ugly Face of the Democratic-Republican Political Class, or, Why Would Any Self-Respecting Independent Vote Democrat or Republican?

At The Hankster, Nancy Hanks has been following developments in the efforts of independents in Kentucky to open the Democratic and Republican primary elections to independent voters. The grassroots group Independent Kentucky is currently pushing for passage of a bill that would do just that. At the California Independent Voter Network, Ryan Jaroncyk writes:

Fed up with the two-party system, independents scored a huge victory for more open primaries in the Kentucky state senate. Despite strong opposition from Democrats, the Kentucky Senate voted to allow registered independents the opportunity to participate in the primary elections. The vote moves to the Kentucky House where Democrats comprise a majority, putting passage in jeopardy.

Independent Kentucky, a grassroots nonpartisan organization, is leading the growing effort to allow the tens of thousands of registered independents a voice in the primary elections. If the bill somehow passes the Kentucky House, independent voters could participate for the first time, though they would have to request a partisan ballot in a semi-open primary model. Partisan opposition is adamant that the current two-party system is the purest form of American democracy and should not be altered to placate those individuals who refuse to participate in the dominant, electoral model. [Emphasis added.]

That "partisan opposition" to the efforts of independent activists is, of course, the Democratic-Republican political class and ruling establishment. In Kentucky, the ugly face of that opposition is provided by former Governor and sitting Democratic State Senator, Julian Carroll. In a recent CNN report on the efforts of Kentucky's independents, Carroll revealed the dictatorial and totalitarian sense of entitlement that drives the Democratic-Republican elite in their opposition to the empowerment of the people of the United States. What follows is a transcription, from the video embedded below, of Carroll's interaction with independent activist Michael Lewis and of his interview with a reporter from CNN:

Carroll: What you're saying is "I don't like the way America runs its political system," well if you don't like it, move to another country.
Lewis: That's not true Senator. Don't you want to talk about something real instead of these false truths that you're spreading.
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Carroll: If they want a party, fine, we'll create a party, and then they can have their own party, that believes in their own principles.
CNN Reporter: Independents don't want to have their own party.
Carroll: I could care less what they want. I'm telling you how we operate a democracy in America, we operate a democracy in America with the two-party system.
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Carroll: You're trying to destroy the two-party system in America and I'm not gonna be a part of it. End of discussion.
Lewis: There is no party here sir. [Emphasis added.]
For partisans of the ruling Democratic-Republican two-party state and duopoly system of government, empowering the people of the United States amounts to nothing less than an attack on the foundations of American democracy. Why any self-respecting independent would want to participate in Democratic and Republican Party primaries and thereby aid the Democratic-Republican ruling establishment in their ongoing class war against the people of the United States remains unclear: if you support Republicans or Democrats rather than actual independent candidates for office, in what sense are you an independent? What remains all too clear is that the destruction of the Democratic-Republican two-party state and duopoly system of government is the very condition of political freedom and independence in the United States today.

4 comments:

Maikeru Ronin said...

The arrogance and sense of entitlement shown by Julian Carroll is breathtaking, yet far too common. And it's a classic example of what's wrong with American politics. These people think of themselves as a new aristocracy.

d.eris said...

Exactly. Fortunately, it seems that Carroll is taking a fair amount of criticism in the press and blogosphere for these outrageous statements. Unfortunately, it will probably take some time for the realization to set in that his statements were a true gaffe, i.e. accidentally revealing the truth.

Anonymous said...

14 states allow for amending state constitutions by initiative and referendum. One or more of these states could change the constitution in order to elect legislators by STV-PR or list PR. If you look at examples of other countries using PR would almost certainly result in new parties winning seats in the legislature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation#List_of_countries_using_proportional_representation

d.eris said...

Do you happen to know if there are any movements afoot in favor of PR in any of those states, Anon?

 
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