I would like to discuss the idea of educating the general public in the use of political spin...Our democracy would only benefit by having a more savvy electorate...As it is so many are sucked in by the Bulls..hit being flung around...As it is I am turned off by politians lies,and exaggerations .We need a bipartisan political ombudsman,to inform all those who currently become sucked in...The public no longer respect journalists to give a frank and unbiaced report card to all sides of politics...The laws around electoral fraud need to be widened and enforced with jail terms re. Clarke and Eagan if the public were better informed they would not gain traction....Citizenship tests should include questions about political savvy...There are so many mushrooms out there who have not one clue about basic economics and our future is in these peoples hands...An ombudsman could take on the job of educating the public to make an informed decision,,adds on TV,snippets on the news,conversations on neighbours,I'm sure you can think of heaps more,they just have to be politically neutral...Bulletin boards. Critical thinking on all sorts of issues from how we vote to what we put in our mouths.All sections of society from kids to oldies...Could be the end of mindless consummerism?...Barb [font="Arial Black"][/font][size="4"][/size]Barb


This topic has been moved to the appropriate forum by staff. dc3

This post has been edited by dc3: Nov 22 2007, 10:33 PM

[quote name='Barb' date='Nov 23 2007, 04:28 PM' post='7091']
I would like to discuss the idea of educating the general public in the use of political spin...Our democracy would only benefit by having a more savvy electorate...As it is so many are sucked in by the Bulls..hit being flung around...As it is I am turned off by politians lies,and exaggerations .We need a bipartisan political ombudsman,to inform all those who currently become sucked in...The public no longer respect journalists to give a frank and unbiaced report card to all sides of politics...The laws around electoral fraud need to be widened and enforced with jail terms re. Clarke and Eagan if the public were better informed they would not gain traction....Citizenship tests should include questions about political savvy...There are so many mushrooms out there who have not one clue about basic economics and our future is in these peoples hands...An ombudsman could take on the job of educating the public to make an informed decision,,adds on TV,snippets on the news,conversations on neighbours,I'm sure you can think of heaps more,they just have to be politically neutral...Bulletin boards. Critical thinking on all sorts of issues from how we vote to what we put in our mouths.All sections of society from kids to oldies...Could be the end of mindless consummerism?...Barb [font="Arial Black"][/font][size="4"][/size]Barb
This topic has been moved to the appropriate forum by staff. dc3
[/quote

It appears from your post that you are talking about Australian politics. Might I suggest to you that Australian people seem to need less education than their American brothers and sisters. After all, they kicked out that warmonger that stood with Bush today and replaced him with a guy who said he would bring the troops home and sign the Keoto Treaty. Good for you Australians.

In any democracy, its success depends on the education of its citizens, and their ability to wade through the bog of slogans and propaganda to find the firm ground of reasonable thinking. Modern educational institutions do a very poor job of this kind of education.
Z

I'll take that one step further, our educational system tend to set biases in the mind of the students rather than teaching how to makes their own choices.

dc3 has hit the nail on the head. Our students are being taught by the far left at school. They are forced to learn about evolution - but you better not even use the word "GOD" or out you go. They are taught everyday that we should not involve ourselves in other people or their views - but everyone has the right to push their views around. OK now how do you explain that to your child when they come home from school confused??? There is no more Christmas they are holidays, heaven forbid you offend anyone else, but its all right if I get offended. Huh? Politicians are a joke! It's like watching children on the playground, What happened to saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

I have found FOX News to be the most helpful in weeding out the wheat for the chaff (as it were) You get to see BOTH sides of the issues not just a slant one way or another. (Yea Bill)

As productive citizens it is our RESPONSIBILITY to get all the information needed to make a decision.

In Constitutional (not a democracy) USA the only "political" information a citizen needs to preserve the Republic and Liberty is the USA Constitution. According to the Constitution a voter cannot dictate to a candidate to do any thing other than honor the Constitution's Oath of Office.

Article VI, last paragraph of the U.S. Constitution:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Allan

Allan - again agree with you, but it's all well and good PROVIDED theduly elected office bearers have the same reverence and respect for the Oath of Office angenuinely try of live up to it in their daily activities. Reading between the lines it seems that there are very few candidates who give more than lip service to it..... where is the power or instrument for the people to say "this is enough - now do the right thing" on any issue that is not being handled right?? Other than mass demonstrations (not always a good idea no matter how well intentioned) there's the ballot box - but it's a lo-o-o-ong time between votes....

Oh boy quitemike you hit the nail on the head there a couple of times.

The power of “force” the citizenry has over government is simply the Ballot Box to fire (by not reelecting) those representatives that dishonor the Constitution’s Oath of Office.

All political issues, except the Oath, were delegated to government in 1787 to settle, relieving the free people of such drudgery.

Mass demonstrations, grievances, carry no “force” at all. The constitutional requirement for government to handle citizen’s grievances is simply to listen to them. Our government is ruled by law, the Constitution, and citizens’ grievances, or wishes, cannot change the Constitution.

No, it is not so long between votes, we elect all 435 members of the House of Congress every two years and Congress makes the law (federal legislation) in the USA. All Bills for raising federal revenue must start in the House. Citizens have more than enough power of force to maintain our Republic and Liberty but they must know about it and use it.

A vote cast for any candidate for any office for any reason other than to honor the Oath of Office is a wasted vote; wasted in preserving the republic and Liberty.

Allan

"Mass demonstrations, grievances, carry no “force” at all. The constitutional requirement for government to handle citizen’s grievances is simply to listen to them. Our government is ruled by law, the Constitution, and citizens’ grievances, or wishes, cannot change the Constitution."

In the sense that the penultimate force of the citizenry is to not re-elect representatives, I am not absolutely sure that the law and the Constitution (given the number of amendments made from time to time) are completely blind to either the force of persuasion or popular demonstration. One has only to look at the past 60 years or so to note the dramatic changes in the status of Black people in this nation, and the legal and Constitutional changes (or re-interpretations) that have been made as a result of citizens making their wishes known.

In another sense, though, how accountable do the voters make their representatives? I dare say that most of the electorate pays little attention to the actual voting record of their Senator or Representative, unless the issue is extremely important or rely on negative ads during election periods for this "information."
Z

This post has been edited by Zarathustra: Nov 28 2007, 11:05 AM

According to the Constitution citizens have only one force to use against government (elected Officials) and that force is the Ballot Box. It’s not second but first and only constitutional force.

Citizens have a Right of grievance (march/protest) and if a protest could “force” government compliance it negates the Constitution’s requirement to amend.

Article V

Clause 1. … Amendments, … shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof,

Citizens can’t amend the Constitution and neither can the federal government.

Anything repugnant to the Constitution is null and void. The citizenry is the “enforcer” of the Law of the Constitution on government and when exercising a duty in citizenship is the final (or highest authority) interpreter on the Constitution. Meaning the citizen can completely ignore anything (amendments, SC decisions, and legislation, etc.) when using the Ballot and or Jury Boxes (two Jury Boxes).

The changes you mentioned made by black people did not force government compliance but is unconstitutional changes government wanted to do and used black people to do it.

Allan

i couldnt agree more. revisionist history, rampant among US schools, distorts facts and political correctness stifles meaningful conversation of opposing view points. fortunately, upon entering the workforce and being exposed to real world situations allows young people to make their own choices and form opinions based on reality instead of propaganda.

Very interesting comment Barb. Just candidly if the public knew the truth they would make a revolution. They would throw out the corrupt politicians and business men from their offices and perhaps then the wise would govern. Perhaps not.

Would you like to comment on the meaning of Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the USA:
The Congress shall have power to:
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;