The mechanisms aren't there. It is possible to have another constitutional convention i think by state initiatives, but that is a very risky move.

It's a difficult situation because you have correctly diagnosed the problem, which is campaign finance corruption (although I think Gerrymandering is almost as big a problem). But I don't know how you fix those situations, without a state by state willingness to fix them.

Bryant

http://www.democrats.org/voterexpansion

Our local Dem club is trying to get a precinct worker in every precinct. This is a get out the vote effort. If we get out the vote, we can change things. But this is a major effort. People no longer believe their vote matters. It does!

campaign financing is important. But it seems to me to not be a universal rallying issue for the more poor, less-white, younger democratic leaners who tend toward less voting presence in mid-terms (which almost like clockwork leaves the mid-terms for the more rich, more white, older electorate that turns out and votes rather more republican).

It's just my opinion, but I think minimum wage is an issue that addresses a more universal problem that would rally the poor, the less white and younger voters.

Even there, I don't see that issue as changing much for WI's Congressional contingent.

There is no reason for any Dem not to vote in any election under the circumstances we find ourselves in. If they only vote in Presidential elections they are fools and nothing any of us say or do will change that. People who are uninformed are that way because they want to be, being informed is too hard.

Maybe if more Dems came out like Bernie Sanders did today it would be much easier to convince people that Republicans are bad for you.

other words - get out the vote.

Each of us lives in a precinct. Each of us can do our own GOTV efforts. Each of us has it in our power to get voters to the polls.

The question is: Will we do it?

My answer is: I'm in. I've been in every election.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

There are deadlines and signature requirements. To start a initiative now would be useless because signatures could not be gotten before deadlines. When you want to do an initiative you have to start a good two years out and have a source of money.

Get involved in some local races and talk to everyone you know. Get them registered (if they aren't already) and stress why voting in this mid term is critical. Explain why the mid terms important. Make sure everyone you meet/know/ are acquainted with votes.

Hope you like the plan, now help make it happen.

They can then claim to have been swayed by all the positive news about the ACA that will be out by then. If they come to it to soon, they will be painted as an "Obamabot".

The entire debate then becomes about just how much good has Obamacare created. That is a good debate for us.

Minimum wage increase helps turnout and will be talked about a lot as election day draws near.




Don't freak out. It is way to soon to be anything more than concerned.

There is no such thing as a national ballot initiative, although I would support the nation wide ballet initiative you speak of, Dance is Life y'all!
Those of you in low turn out states need to make changes to your candidate ranks and to your election systems. In 2010 while most States were weeping about low turn out and Republican victory, the entire West Coast had good turn out and Democratic victory. But God forbid any of you back east look West to learn some lessons, God forbid!
Oregon broke turnout records for a midterm in 2010. What do we do that you don't do? Why don't you do it?

What there is is GOTV activism in your very own precinct. That is possible in every precinct in the United States, and that's the action I recommend for you or any other individual who really wants to change things.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

There's nothing in the system to provide that, and all efforts to GOTV are local/state.

That said, I certainly agree that we need publicly funded elections, and I'd like people voting locally to vote in some Senators and Congress people who would work for that.

It really DOES start at the local level. And it might take your lifetime to see progress. Don't give up.

Declare and follow through with some enticing offers...

Reduce taxes on those making under 75,000
Raise taxes on those making >200,000
Make weed 100% legal
Free internet
Create a job corp for the unemployed
Low priced college

from our vocabulary, and ask anyone else still using it to stop. The problem is that it implies an unimportant election. Call it what it truly is: The 2014 Elections!