You are all looking at the process in all the wrong ways.

Activate.

Let's pick one of our ladies that lives in a liberal district, pool all our resources to empower and support, create infrastructure and enable national resources (ie. Hollywood money), work as a community to create an infrastructure built for the candidacy, and get her elected to Congress as a voice to advocate for fairness and advocacy.

Don't quit on the system, rise up, learn the rules, play by the rules, and begin winning at their game.

Quote from: m1anderson on November 05, 2014, 12:08:38 PM
Don't quit on the system, rise up, learn the rules, play by the rules, and begin winning at their game.

But the flaw with that idea is this: Politics from the highest levels on down are completely corrupt. Big Business greases their palms and the politicians do the same. They don't play by the rules. The game is rigged. Voting is only there to give you the illusion of choice, the facade of "I'm participating in this process and making a difference". None of it is true. It is completely false.

Quote from: amZo on November 04, 2014, 10:50:41 PM
Certainly.... 

He was hilarious R.I.P.

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on November 05, 2014, 02:55:27 PM
But the flaw with that idea is this: Politics from the highest levels on down are completely corrupt. Big Business greases their palms and the politicians do the same. They don't play by the rules. The game is rigged. Voting is only there to give you the illusion of choice, the facade of "I'm participating in this process and making a difference". None of it is true. It is completely false.

Hi Laura,

So yes it's corrupt beyond all imagination, but it's getting worse.  One thing I'm really concerned about are the politics of division.  There are certain politicians that succeed by making the majority fear minorities.  These type of people seem to be thriving now.  As part of a minority that has very little political power, I worry that we might end up the target of these type of people.  Look at all the politicians that opportunistically use their attack on same sex marriage as a way to rally their base.

I'm just wondering what's the alternative to voting, because if it keeps going the way it's going were in trouble.

Paige

Quote from: Paige on November 05, 2014, 10:04:36 PM
Hi Laura,

So yes it's corrupt beyond all imagination, but it's getting worse.  One thing I'm really concerned about are the politics of division.  There are certain politicians that succeed by making the majority fear minorities.  These type of people seem to be thriving now.  As part of a minority that has very little political power, I worry that we might end up the target of these type of people.  Look at all the politicians that opportunistically use their attack on same sex marriage as a way to rally their base.

I'm just wondering what's the alternative to voting, because if it keeps going the way it's going we're in trouble.

Paige

Actually, I don't see it as getting worse. I see it as it just being business as usual. It only seems worse due to the constant 24/7 media onslaught. Divide and conquer tactics have been used by people in power for centuries. It works well because there are a lot of stupid people out there that will follow anyone that says things that they agree with. As far as "we" being in trouble. That depends on what you mean: The trans community or just the U.S. population in general. As a transchick, I'm not worried one damn bit about anyone. I have no problem with fighting back against someone in order to protect myself.

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on November 05, 2014, 10:19:43 PM
As far as "we" being in trouble. That depends on what you mean: The trans community or just the U.S. population in general. As a transchick, I'm not worried one damn bit about anyone. I have no problem with fighting back against someone in order to protect myself.

Yes I'm worried about the trans community.  The current party that dominates the Congress isn't trans friendly at all.  I worry that they may make life very difficult if they get half the chance. 

Who knows, I hope you're right and it's not getting worse.

Paige

As much as they took over the senate, remember the filibuster will keep that in check along with Obama. So they won't be able to do anything with that added power really before the next President is in office.

Quote from: Mariah2014 on November 06, 2014, 09:31:49 AM
As much as they took over the senate, remember the filibuster will keep that in check along with Obama. So they won't be able to do anything with that added power really before the next President is in office.

It is not exactly the filibuster process, but executive order line-item veto powers. When GW Bush was in office he did not use the veto until he too lost congress to the democrats in his sixth year, and then went ham on the veto.

Now, as for the process. Yes, it is onerous the ability to get funded by corporate monies funneled into PAC's and the new laws that drive the process. However, given we can get one candidate, in one very friendly district, funnel funds as is the process, play in those rules as well, there is great possibility. Funding can come from all the traditional liberal power brokers, certainly the medical community to allow for lobbying to change the rules for coverages for us by the insurances (doctors have new sources to have additional access to services); there are plenty of avenues to acquire resources. Resources are obviously somewhat limited, so these funds must be funneled into one seat, one election, one place, one candidate to achieve a result.

Passivity and deliberately saying there is no way to beat the system is selling out. Play by the derelict rules in place and change can be achieved. We need at least, one first voice.

Quote from: Paige on November 06, 2014, 09:27:01 AM
Yes I'm worried about the trans community.  The current party that dominates the Congress isn't trans friendly at all.  I worry that they may make life very difficult if they get half the chance. 

Who knows, I hope you're right and it's not getting worse.

Paige

Well, I don't care about what any politician does or says. They can all get bent as far as I'm concerned. I don't see any party as being "trans friendly". If they do say anything at all, it's just lip service. What they do doesn't matter to me. I will live my life and do as I wish. The hell with them.

Quote from: m1anderson on November 05, 2014, 12:08:38 PM
You are all looking at the process in all the wrong ways.

Activate.

Let's pick one of our ladies that lives in a liberal district, pool all our resources to empower and support, create infrastructure and enable national resources (ie. Hollywood money), work as a community to create an infrastructure built for the candidacy, and get her elected to Congress as a voice to advocate for fairness and advocacy.

Don't quit on the system, rise up, learn the rules, play by the rules, and begin winning at their game.

I don't see why it has to be a liberal district. The GOP has more going for it in terms of diversity. If anything the democrats seem to be the party of old white straight cis men (the kennedys come to mind).

If you get someone to run on a platform of freedom, they can pick up traction even in a "conservative" area. And people will ignore their gender identity and orientation. Also ignore the religious nuts.

Quote from: Mariah2014 on November 06, 2014, 09:31:49 AM
As much as they took over the senate, remember the filibuster will keep that in check along with Obama. So they won't be able to do anything with that added power really before the next President is in office.

You may have forgotten but Reid pretty much ended the filibuster with the nuclear option for exec and judicial branch nominees. This is a pretty big deal. Bills will still be filibustered (and can be vetoed by Obama) but I think after harping for years about obstruction the dems will look like huge hypocrites if they turn around and do the same thing.