Obvious lie. But I doubt he's the only one.

And I doubt the paid activists are that honest either.

And they have all the time in the world to manipulate social media.

I do think that the Dems have sane people among them but they are to small to make a difference

or scared

So the internet doesn't necessarily help

It's more an issue of logistics.

fair

Suppose you're the key vote on an important issue to the Democrat donor class (guns being the big one now).

The party threatens to pull your support and starts building challengers.

im fairly pro gun, but its not something i worry about <:TohruWeary:356735628291080192>

And then they keep you from getting a say in other bills you might want.

This happens in both parties.

It's the whole job of the Whip.

consistency, bureaucracy, logistics, party, etc.

Push recalcitrant legislators to toe the party line.

yea committees arent elected btw

^

You really can't hold out forever

The party bosses tend to win out.

Atleast on major issues.

they are essentially in for life if you think about it

its fucked

I wouldn't go that far.

But they do last longer than is probably healthy.

oh def

now despite all this the power still ultimately lies with the voter, the issue with them is lack of information, and even manipulation, although not to the degree of other Countries.

I'm not sure I necessarily blame the voters.

I think apathy actually saves us from alot of the problems.

If more voters were properly informed they could put some of the more corrupt out of power

I think voters are frequently in an awkward position.

I mean, here's the thing.

I want good policy.

yea

If I have to choose between good policy and corruption...

Do I give up all the stuff I value because my preferred candidate did some unsavory things?

I mean, you can spin lots of innocuous activities into scandals. Add in the Three Felonies a Day factor.

Depending on the nature of the scandals and the quality of the policies (or other factors) and I very well might choose a corrupt candidate.

It's an ugly calculus, but it's a thing.

Now, the proper solution would probably be to primary the sucker, but that doesn't always happen.

Suppose I fundamentally don't want to be listed as part of a party because I'd get harassed (this is true in my case)

What are the options?