Eric Alterman: "Kabuki Democracy—And How to Fix it "

Eric Alterman (The Nation):

It's no secret our democracy does not work well anymore. In many respects, including that particularly large swath of issues that involve someone's monetary profit and someone else's loss, it can barely be said to be a democracy at all—unless one takes the view held by some in Washington and Wall Street that money fulfills the function not only of free speech but of citizenship itself. If America is to ameliorate its current democratic dysfunction anytime soon, merely electing better candidates to Congress is not going to be enough. We need a system that has fairer rules, that diminishes the role of money and that encourages politicians and journalists to investigate and portray the realities they observe honestly, thereby reducing the distorting lenses of finance, ideology and ignorance. And yet these items rarely feature on any progressive agenda. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Alterman's book tour was supposed to bring him to Seattle's Town Hall tonight but "inclement weather" back east has caused this event to be cancelled.