6 ms·

I don’t think Republican opposition is the answer, as they’re demonstrably just as corrupt and self-serving. But California could certainly benefit from some pr

I don’t think Republican opposition is the answer, as they’re demonstrably just as corrupt and self-serving. But California could certainly benefit from some primary challenges from the left. LA is seeing this happen with the election of Nithya Raman and George Gascón (who were vehemently opposed by mainstream Democrats). Interested to see how they might shift the terrain.

twblalock 6y ago
Democrats getting defeated in primaries from the left only results in Democrats being replaced by other Democrats. We would still have one party in charge of the state, with a veto-proof majority in the legislature.
- amanaplanacanal 6y ago
  True, but that’s only a bad thing if you like the other party better. Which it appears the majority of voters in that state do not.
  - twblalock 6y ago
    One-party rule is bad no matter which party you like. Even if the party you like is the one that is in charge, you will see them become complacent and corrupt when no-one else is able to hold them to account.
    - claudeganon 6y ago
      While I agree with the sentiment in the abstract, I see no reason why a party like the Republicans provides any meaningful contrast or check on this complacent and corruption. It’s entirely possible for both parties to be bankrupt and awful, just dishonestly maneuvering however they can to take power. The only real check on power of from bottom-up accountability to one’s constituents, which the two party system in the US makes more difficult and has otherwise been almost entirely eroded by elections being private (vs. publicly) funded. Primaries are one of the few remaining vestiges of accountability in American democracy and have been used successfully by both the left and right to enforce it.
refurb 6y ago
From the left? It doesn’t get more left than SF and the corruption is rampant here. I’m not sure why you equate corruption with where you sit in the political spectrum.
- claudeganon 6y ago
  >It doesn’t get more left than SF and the corruption is rampant here. Most of SF’s politicians would be center right in Europe and are more or less only accountable to their wealthy donors. This is the primary source of their corruption.

twblalock 6y ago

Democrats getting defeated in primaries from the left only results in Democrats being replaced by other Democrats. We would still have one party in charge of the state, with a veto-proof majority in the legislature.

amanaplanacanal 6y ago
True, but that’s only a bad thing if you like the other party better. Which it appears the majority of voters in that state do not.
- twblalock 6y ago
  One-party rule is bad no matter which party you like. Even if the party you like is the one that is in charge, you will see them become complacent and corrupt when no-one else is able to hold them to account.
  - claudeganon 6y ago
    While I agree with the sentiment in the abstract, I see no reason why a party like the Republicans provides any meaningful contrast or check on this complacent and corruption. It’s entirely possible for both parties to be bankrupt and awful, just dishonestly maneuvering however they can to take power. The only real check on power of from bottom-up accountability to one’s constituents, which the two party system in the US makes more difficult and has otherwise been almost entirely eroded by elections being private (vs. publicly) funded. Primaries are one of the few remaining vestiges of accountability in American democracy and have been used successfully by both the left and right to enforce it.

refurb 6y ago

From the left? It doesn’t get more left than SF and the corruption is rampant here. I’m not sure why you equate corruption with where you sit in the political spectrum.

claudeganon 6y ago
>It doesn’t get more left than SF and the corruption is rampant here. Most of SF’s politicians would be center right in Europe and are more or less only accountable to their wealthy donors. This is the primary source of their corruption.