Peace
Newsletter
|
Elections
Are Just the Beginning
A Syracuse Peace Council
Statement
The Peace Council believes that voting can never be the primary vehicle for social change. To suggest it can buys into the mythology designed to disempower us. |
When election time rolls around, we hear the civics lessons about
the importance of voting and the wonders of US democracy. Indeed, some changes
can be made to improve life locally, nationally and internationally through
the election process. The recent extension of the Voting Rights Act and protection
of the Alaska Wildlife Refuge from oil exploitation are examples resulting from
a few "less bad" politicians in office.
But overwhelmingly we get to choose from a very narrow range of candidates.
The Syracuse Peace Council believes that democracy means much more than occasional
voting, particularly when our political system is stacked so heavily in favor
of candidates representing corporations and other affluent minorities.
As a grassroots organization working to empower our community, we see the dominant
role money plays. Those with enough of it can literally buy the candidates and
therefore the policies and legislation and regulation they desire. As a result,
the US "democratic process" is grossly undemocratic. Many who stay
home on Election Day are making a political statement: the choices offered by
our two-party system simply aren't meaningful.
The Peace Council believes that voting can never be the primary vehicle for
social change. To suggest it can buys into the mythology designed to disempower
us and force us to accept limited progress toward peace, social justice and
genuine democracy.
Unfortunately, voting and democracy are synonyms in US culture, with the added
dogma that democracy equals a free market economy. For SPC democracy is self-government:
people shaping the decisions affecting our lives.
If democracy were functioning well, elected officials would roughly resemble
the populations they "represent." Currently, white men (about 37%
of the population) hold over 70% of the seats in Congress. Women, over half
the population, make up a measly 15% of Congress.
Real democracy requires a living wage, strong social networks, adequate healthcare,
social service supports for all and more. People, overwhelmed by caring for
children, paying the bills and coping with personal crises, can't participate
meaningfully. Our current economic and social system relegates too many to the
electoral sidelines.
Voting is a fixture of various governments, including totalitarian ones. Voting
and democracy are hardly Siamese twins. As Josef Stalin said, "Those who
cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."
This quote has gained increasing relevance with the push for computerized -
and hackable - voting machines.
create publicly-financed
elections to minimize the power of monied and corporate interests to choose
candidates, purchase access and determine policy; use voting technology which is transparent and includes a voter-verified paper trail; use proportional representation, instant run-off voting and other tools to promote the inclusion of more diverse perspectives in governing bodies; eliminate the need for advanced registration of voters; restore voting rights for citizens with felony convictions; guarantee equal access for smaller parties; provide paid leave time for people to vote (or holding elections on Saturday - not on a weekday); establish sensible Congressional districts rather than the current incumbent-protecting system; abolish the electoral college. |
While we do not endorse candidates, there are three primary ways SPC relates
to the electoral process:
(1) We seek to broaden and even reframe peace and social justice issues as they
are presented - or ignored - during election campaigns. We use campaign season
as an opportunity to provide information and analysis, recognizing that
with all the hype, people are paying more attention.
(2) We encourage people to get involved in other forms of activism beyond voting
so we can build the power base necessary to create more fundamental change.
Indeed, without powerful grassroots social movements, voting would still
be limited to white men who own property.
(3) SPC calls for an overhaul of our electoral system. Despite the vast
change brought about by activists in the 20th century, access to the ballot
remains restricted. The power of the peoples' vote remains severely limited
as well. (See 'Components of an Electoral Overhaul' for specific
suggestions.)
Creating peace and social justice, establishing true democracy and building
a fair economic system require many different kinds of actions, from voting
to nonviolent direct action, from workplace organizing
to consumer boycotts, from marches and demonstrations to vigils and civil disobedience.
Voting is just the beginning
Published by the
Syracuse Peace Council Founded in 1936
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