Where Can You Find True Democracy? (Part 4)

Preface: This series of articles, detailing reflections from over the years, will continue over the next week. I welcome any feedback. Miss Parts 1 through 3? .

Part 4. Where Can You Find True Democracy?

When thinking of Albany, or how most other cities function (although the bigger cities are more complex politically), one can see how democracy should work.

An agenda is prepared and publicized prior to council meetings. The agenda notifies people what matters are being presented for the decision makers.

Albany citizens regularly come to council meetings to . The issues are discussed at public meetings.

In Albany we have seen that citizen views were not given short shrift because the owners of Golden Gate Fields, the Safeway, or an institution like U.C. could exert greater influence or because these businesses had deeper pockets.

Decisions may not have pleased the citizens all the time, but the decisions were made after due regard for the welfare of the community. 

Contrast the Albany experience with what occurs at a state or federal level. The procedural rules are replete with complex rules to deprive the public of a straightforward way to figure out what is happening. Ordinary citizens rarely have a chance to participate in the process. Special interest and lobbyists now dominate and dictate outcomes at these levels.

THE ELECTION PROCESS

Albany elections also tend to reflect democracy at work. Elections in cities and smaller jurisdictions are not an expensive battle on the airwaves. Elections at the state and the federal levels have become little more than a reflection of the influence of money.  

In Albany, if someone wishes to run for the City Council, that person only needs a modest amount of money to run a campaign. The candidate needs to be known, have some roots in the community, and convince the voters that he/she has the citizens' best interests in mind. City Council candidates walk the city and talk to the voters.

Contrast that to what we see in our elections for president, the U.S. Senate or Congress, or the statewide offices. Money is the determining factor. The two party system has eliminated many diverse voices.

It is frightening to watch the Republican primary. Billionaires and multimillionaires bankroll their favorite candidate. Sheldon Adelson bankrolls Newt Gingrich to the tune of over $10 million.

Mitt Romney is bankrolled by 10 millionaires who have given over $1 million each. Three of these donors are billionaire hedge fund executive (Paul Singer, Julian Robertson and John Paulson). And, this is just a partial list of Romney’s big donors.

Rick Santorum's large benefactor is Foster Freiss, another billionaire hedge fund executive.

These candidates are beholden to their rich benefactors. This phenomenon has become all the more insidious after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Super PACs, with a multitude of ways to protect the anonymity of big donors, are pouring money into their favorite candidates.

As a result the political process in our country today is decidedly undemocratic. It is broken and must be changed.

A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

These powerful corporate and mega-rich benefactors use super PACs to flood the airwaves with political ads, fund political think tanks, and create organizations that implement their political agenda.

On a national and state level, the Republican party is engaged in a political tug-of-war to determine how far to the right its candidate must go to appease the donors and the ultra conservative "base." The Republican presidential candidates now pander to radical right social and financial views.

Democratic party officials seem to cower in the background, hoping its members can survive the vilification of governments, the anti-government tax messages of people like Grover Norquist, and the various socially divisive issues that play on fear and prejudice.

The Democratic party has failed to present a forceful and coherent viewpoint alternative to the Republican tidal wave of negativity. Very little intelligent debate takes place. This political dynamic does not bode well for our democracy.

Powerful special interests seem to have no limit on what they will propose today. These special interests are outspoken about their intent on restricting federal, state, and local governments from serving the best interests of the constituents. 

Under the guise of fiscal responsibility, a full-scale effort is underway to choke off revenues, cut domestic government spending, bypass local control, and minimize oversight over a wide swath of aspects of our society.

These efforts ultimately hurt cities. And, if they're bad for cities, the policies result in a broad negative effect for America.  

This series will continue Tuesday. Miss Parts 1 through 3? .