This is one from Intellecual Capital.

Convention

Once there, you can read the rest yourself. What is your opinion?

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 06, 2000

Answers

Hi Z!

It looks like the author had an agenda even before he went to the convention - the article is nothing but personal attacks with little facts backing up his opinions. The readers' comments are more thought-provoking than the author's article.

About as pathetic as the Dem. attack against Reagan's 1st Presidency - "He's too old." was all they could come up with. The same thing here - attack the way the campaign is run, instead of the issues. Heck, Gore knows he's in trouble - he doesn't even have the environmental groups now (Backpacker Magazine is pushing for Nader - they had scathing comments about Al).

The Dems. know that they're losing and they're afraid.

Thanks for the link though.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), August 06, 2000.

Deb M:

Gave you one link for a response. They actually have a number on the same subject. Link was to get you to the site. You should read them all for balance.

Best Wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 06, 2000.

I think Mr Alterman had a deadline and had to write something. He did his best to sound cool and cynical and superior. Don't see that he really had much to say.

Those who don't like the way presidential candidates are selected should realize that a generation ago it was very different. Then, candidates were selected by party bosses (fat old white men-- pols like Mayor Daley, rich corporate types, labor bosses, etc) in "smoke filled rooms" at the Convention itself. Deals were cut to determine who prevailed. In the sixties, this procedure was criticized as undemocratic and an elaborate system of state primaries emerged. The intention was to give the People more input into the selection of candidates. In practice, the new system favored the candidate who started campaigning earliest and raised the most money. The Conventions in both parties lost their drama and became mere coronations. At the same time the social "sciences" of focus group market research, computerized mass-mailings, TV inspired candidate beauty contests altered the dynamics of campaigning. The result is what we see--carefully staged, scripted and handled candidates on campaigns that are enormously expensive.

I think the first challenge is to devise a new way to select candidates. Even the smoke-filled rooms strike me as preferable to this show-biz approach. But I don't seriously advocate returning to that. Any suggestions?

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 06, 2000.

Answer to problem of picking candidates: pick 1000 people out of the population at random to serve in Congress and have them pick one of themselves as President. One two-year term per person, no repeats. It would undoubtedly produce better Congresses and Presidents than we have now, at much less cost.

-- ABC (a@b.c), August 06, 2000.

Lars,

Do you really think things have changed all that much?It is still ALL about money,money and money.The true good of the country and its citizens are a distant *IF* non-existent after thought,the conventions are a scam as is the electoral college.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), August 06, 2000.

Cap--

Yeah, I think the 60s changes to the primary system was an idealist attempt to improve on what was. It just didn't work. What does anyone think of a Parliamentary system?

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 06, 2000.

Shit ABC, ya gotta be kidding! I can see it now.....we up up with president.....

"Oh yes' GOD LOVES sinner;s that,s why he blessed me as HIS PRESIDENT and you,rs. I have the control of the u,s now and god loves sinners and and I will serve his witness as presid'ent. AMEN"

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.

END UP WITH

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.

Lars,

Parliamentary,naw,can't see it.

How about one vote,per person,may the most votes win?

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), August 06, 2000.

"Oh yes' GOD LOVES sinner;s that,s why he blessed me as HIS PRESIDENT and you,rs. I have the control of the u,s now and god loves sinners and and I will serve his witness as presid'ent. AMEN" -- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000

It'd be an interesting couple of years, though, wouldn't it?

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), August 06, 2000.