The One Question Reporters Never Ask Candidates by Ralph Nader

[Jude Iam]

if you get a chance, put this to the candidates. fundamental to change EVERYTHING. jude
Friday, November 20, 2015
Common Dreams

The One Question Reporters Never Ask Candidates
byRalph Nader

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Donald Trump and Ben Carson wait before a
Republican presidential debate at Milwaukee
Theatre, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015,
in Milwaukee. (Photo: AP/Morry Gash)

Candidates for public office, especially at the state and national levels, are never asked this central question of politics: “Since the people are sovereign under our Constitution, how do you specifically propose to restore power to the people in their various roles as voters, taxpayers, workers and consumers?”

Imagine that inquiry starting the so-called presidential debates of both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. I’m not sure any of the candidates – so used to saying “I will do this” and “I propose that” would even know how to respond. Regardless of their affiliation with either of the two dominant parties, politicians are so used to people being spectators rather than participants in the run-up to Election Day that they have not thought much about participatory or initiatory democracy. Too many of them, backed by the concentrated wealth of plutocrats, have perfected the silver-tongued skills of flattery, obfuscation and deception.

Many voters oblige candidates by not doing their homework about the candidates, their records and the issues they want addressed. Such passivity lowers expectations of what voters should demand from the elected officials who, after all, are supposed to hold their delegated power in trust and not sell it to big-money donors.

Let’s begin with voters. How could elected officials empower the people they represent?

Power to the voters would mean eliminating the private money financing public elections. ...
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