This article looks at the way we are given our "choices" for president, much as we have no real choice or voice in the anti-rights bills sailing through the Hawaii legislature with nearly unanimous votes. Several videos in the piece, and it ends with my all-time favorite "comedian" George Carlin.



http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-13/2016-year-americans-found-out-their-elections-are-rigged

2016: The Year Americans Found Out Their Elections Are Rigged

Excerpts:

The 2016 election has been a wild ride, with two insurgent grassroots campaigns literally giving the political establishment a run for its money. But as the events of this presidential primary season play out, it’s becoming clear the U.S. election — and even more so, the presidential race — is a big scam being perpetrated on the American people.

Events from the last week have exposed the system as an illusion of choice and a farce. They have reinforced at least one study showing the U.S. is an oligarchy rather than a democratic republic.
...
What we are witnessing — for the first time on a large scale — is the political establishment’s true role in selecting the president of the United States. The illusion of choice has become apparent. The establishment anoints their two picks for president, and the country proceeds to argue vehemently over the two candidates they are spoon-fed. This dynamic is reminiscent of a prophetic 1998 quote from philosopher Noam Chomsky:

“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.”

Ahh, the illusion of choice. Sure, in reality there are third party candidates who should be given a fair shake, but in our mainstream media-augmented reality, third parties do not exist. They aren’t mentioned. They aren’t even included in presidential debates. This is another way the media stifles healthy debate, stamps out dissenting opinions, and preserves the status-quo.

“We The People” don’t choose our presidents; they are hand-picked by a powerful group of political party insiders — parties that have long since sold out to the highest bidders. What we have on our hands in America is a rigged oligarchy, and that’s not a conspiracy theory — it’s fact. Now, however, millions of Americans are becoming aware of it thanks to the populist campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. America’s elections are controlled by a big club, but unfortunately, “you ain’t in it!”

I continue to wonder if this will be the year of the rise of the third party.

I continue to wonder if this will be the year of the rise of the third party.

It may not happen this year, but it's coming. The GOP has impaled itself on the sword of their failure to do the will of their constituents. No way does it survive for long in its present form.

I continue to wonder if this will be the year of the rise of the third party.

I have been hoping for this for over 20 years! The last real attempt was Ross Perot in '92 when he got like 18% of the popular vote. He ran again in '96 and only got 8% of the popular vote. (This is by memory so my numbers might be slightly off).

The real problem that I see for third party candidates is that they will be splitting votes off and away from predominantly one candidate. Putting the other opposing candidate in a position to win. For instance if Trump had decided to run as a third party candidate then whoever the Democrat nominee was going to be would in all likelihood win the election. And the last few futile attempts at a third party run ended up hurting the Republican Party most. Now if Bernie decided to run as a third party candidate I think Trump is a shoe in. But the Democrats are too smart and loyal to their religion/ideology to make a blunder move like that.

Election after election... a third party splits the votes.

Locally, look at what happened to Cayetano, Caldwell, Carlyle.   

History repeats itself.  When will people ever learn?       

Election after election... a third party splits the votes.

Locally, look at what happened to Cayetano, Caldwell, Carlyle.   

History repeats itself.  When will people ever learn?       

It splits the vote but that doesn't mean it only takes from one side. People have suggested that Ralph Nader cost Al Gore the election for example. Problem is that you cannot assume that if there was no Nader all the votes would have gone to Gore.

Fast forward to today, the next most viable candidate would be Gary Johnson from the libertarian party if I understand correctly. People whine that voting for him might detract from Trump and cause Hillary to win but again, don't assume he will only pull voters from one side. A liberatarian playing his cars right could take votes from both sides.

The GOP has impaled itself on the sword of their failure to do the will of their constituents.

Worth repeating.

The last real attempt was Ross Perot in '92 when he got like 18% of the popular vote.

And gave us Clintoon, though Bush the elder was not of much use either, setting up the 'toon dynasty has been a headache for the country ever since.

And gave us Clintoon, though Bush the elder was not of much use either, setting up the 'toon dynasty has been a headache for the country ever since.

I don't know why people blame 3rd party candidates as if they somehow the right to vote for who you really want does not really exist. We are pushed into a false dichotomy. Republicans or democrats and if you don't vote one of those two then you are at fault for the other winning.

If people and the media would talk about significant 3rd party candidates then they would have a chance. Instead we blindfold ourselves limiting ourselves while complaining that we can only vote for what we can touch with two hands. (not the best analogy but I hope it makes sense)

Even conservative talk radio wants to keep us blind folded despite claims to want real conservatives. All the ones in Hawaii rarely talk, if ever, about a 3rd party candidate.

Hawaii doesn't even have a 2nd party.. or at least a functioning one.

What's the point of talking about a third party?

Hawaii is a one party state. 

For each elected position, Hawaii really just needs to provide 1 viable pro-2a candidate that can win against the 1 anti-2a candidate... not 2 or more.