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Created on: June 25, 2009 Last Updated: June 27, 2009
Maybe it is time to stop focusing so much on political reformers in Iran and honor the ones right here in America. Nothing shows the triumph of American oligarchy (when it comes to exploitation of an archaic political structure) better than the lack of media exposure to Ralph Nader's platform in 2008 election. Mr. Nader got the third biggest amount of votes in 2000 and 2004 presidential elections and was a nationally recognized celebrity with outstanding record of public service when it came to saving American lives. This shocking reality (that an individual with such consistent public voter support was effectively publicly suppressed and character assassinated by petty millionaires making up democratic party core) demonstrates three things:
1) Over a decade after the Internet allowed mass decentralized sharing of information, oligarchs are still able to use major media power centers (augmented with Internet proxies) to divert spotlight from undesirables. Internet access is not an equalizer but just creates an additional venue for oligarchs to pour money into since respected on-line media sources are as open to advertising as television channels. The hire of on-line promotional experts and perception builders to court the youth vote becomes more key than ever. Success of decentralized promotions for Ron Paul can now be emulated by corporate giants and sponsors on a much larger scale. Obama has shown remarkable skill at buying on-line public perception and as well as being one of the few candidates to run a 50 state strategy along with Paul and Romney. Corporate proxies can easily set up hundreds of websites marketed to politically minded youth as easily as they are able to sell worn out looking clothing.
2) The inertia of the entrenched media-political complex and (the interests of its sponsors) does not permit serious discussion of structural constitutional changes needed to allow American democratic capitalism to survive into the 21st century. Proponents of modifying the outdated aristocratic American constitution through proposals such as National Initiative (supported by Mike Gravel and Ralph Nader) will be suppressed and ridiculed just like constitutional purists such as Ron Paul. Structural political reformists in United States are at an even greater institutionalized disadvantage when getting public exposure than reformists in Iran or Russia.
Only constitutional amendments to streamline legislative decision making would allow the American society to immediately
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