What will it take to get a popular movement of THE PEOPLE to get our fucked up voting fixed?

[Stinky The Clown]

The reports I am hearing are incredible.

Where is the Justice Department, by the way?

[mercymechap]

1. It will take more Democrats

taking an active part in the whole election system. Here in Texas, Democrats fell asleep, while I was gone with husband (Air Force) and living in other states, and when I came back Texas had turned from blue to red. Republicans run the state and many local cities and counties. They screwed up the Education system, threw out Thomas Jefferson from school text books and replaced him with some whacko Republican Phyllis Shaffly, and most of the voting sites have Republican judges only! Our Democratic groups have grown quite a bit from the time I came back, and we are planning to take our state back! But, we can't sit back and expect it to change on its own. Republicans got organized, got together and made the change here, now we have to do the same and take it back.

[freshwest]

3. Don't I know it. I lived elsewhere when Bush beat Richards and came back to hell.

Then left again. for good. I am active where I am now, but can't handle the miles and the heat anymore. I salute your work.

[freshwest]

2. The DOJ is not the Ghostbusters. Voting in this country is ruled on the state level.

There is only one thing to be done. Be involved. Get informed on every aspect of state government. every single office, from dogcatcher to school board, to planning, utility boards, all judicial elections. Be there.

The GOP has won this ground game in every state because they organize their voters out of the churches and business associations. They run for all those offices, the most coveted being the ones in charge of elections and courts to consolidate their power. They have no scruples about the way they do it, neither do they tear each other down like Democrats do. They are motivated by dogma, hatred and greed.

They appeal to the most venal nature of people to get them to de fund all democratic processes to leave the field and control of the land to them. They are not waiting for anyone in D.C. to come and save them. They are taking charge.

All the people that are for democratic government will have to take the risk of talking to their neighbors, possibly alienating them, speaking out for a defined plan in every location. Even in such boring venues as school board meetings, city council meetings, and other special interest affairs to network.

Democrats have rested on the laurels of past Democrats and do not stick together. They do not believe that the checks and balances of the past in their states will change to go against what they had. The status quo in a shifting landscape is not usually effective with voters. We can only stand on rights for all, although our opponents don't. We must find our words.

The GOP has a plan, always a bad plan, but with the financial power and media control, their ideas sound better. They use religion, something individual secular Democrats respect, but are afraid to discuss. We have unions that do organizing, but they cannot do it all. It is up to us to get out and change all of these laws. It will require millions of hours and years of work.

The voting system has always been a problem, except when the USA from the state level and federal level made changes after the great efforts of the civil rights movements. I say movements, because there have been more than one.

This is up to us. We can use our rights to be part of government, or lose it. At this point, many have lost it to the repukes, and they are working every day to make sure we never have a voice again. It's just up to us. The mess is due to apathy and cynicism and dishonoring the process.

That is JMHO.

[Mira]

4. You are singing my song.

when I hear wailing and whining and fear talk about possible voter fraud and long lines and third world conditions I have just one block of answers:
We had two elections stolen years ago that ended in a disastrous ongoing Presidency.
We have done nothing to make things better.
We deserve the government we get.
The Justice Department has completely failed us, and we have not been in the streets about all of the above.

Damn I'm so mad I could spit nails.
I stood in line for 2 and a half hours with one person yesterday who was anxious and wanted me there. For one vote.
It should take 15 - 30 min to get this thing done. Especially in a country like ours where people can lose their jobs for spending an entire day voting.

DAMN.
Eff.

[freshwest]

7. Getting in the streets isn't going to change it. Getting into office on the state level will.

States where voters have allowed the GOP to take over is where these things are happening, not in deep blue states. The GOP disenfranchises voters on the county and state level in the years between elections if they're not voted out.

The DOJ can't overturn state elections and offices by fiat because people don't like the way their state did it. States with involved citizenry have changed the laws to make voting more honest and easily; those who didn't, didn't.

[Mira]

8. I stand chastized and educated. Truly.

My Congress Critter is Virginia Foxx - 5th District NC - 3rd most detested and laughed at member of Congress
I've worked my butt off to get rid of her, and am praying for Tuesday when we have a woman running against her who is rating about 10 supportive LTE daily, and doing a great job with big community support from us Dems. She is running against this incredibly wealthy Tea Party Champion and I think prayer alone won't dislodge her. So we must keep working!
And yes, the Tea Party and the GOP have been allowed to keep Virginia Foxx entrenched.

[freshwest]

9. Keep up the work on the state level. As disgusted as I am about our not having election holidays

Like civilized countries, and universal voting laws, we are stuck with this until we create a generation of momentum to overcome a generation of baggers. They aren't going to give up.

We can't give up, but must focus on the local. it's dangerous as they can be vicious, petty and obssesive, or at least that's my experience. They will go after anyone who doesn't agree. I've been in so many meetings in community groups, that it's like a war zone when they show up.

But that's the battle. The voting rights acts passed with different house and senate majorities, and since the Bush reign of terror, they've done so much damage it seems unsurmountable. But we either do it, or let them have it.

Thanks for working in a very crummy districit. I"m hoping that momentum from an Obama win will give some help down the ticket. Do you see anything in play?

[LisaL]

5. Getting rid of republican governors and secretaries of state.

[Lugnut]

6. That's it!

Voting them out is the only way to get this done.

[rickojames]

10. vote 'em out

Amen to that! It's past time to take out the trash.

[Raine]

11. It will take elected Democrats to get up there and finally say they've had enough

the people will take up the cause then.

[freshwest]

12. What cause are you talking about and how does a minority get to speak up effectively?

An overwhelmed minority in state houses and elected offices in states cannot change things simply by talking tough.

The majority rules, and the majority in those states are GOP. When elected Democrats are the minority, they are literally not allowed to introduce bills or make any rule changes.

Only a majority can make a change, not the current minority. That requires the voters to take up that cause first. So I'm not understanding what you're suggesting.