The Undemocratic Democratic Party

Party politics in the United States has always been a dirty business. The organization of political parties created the ability for a few powerful folks to control the choices and, essentially, the votes of the many.

This year, the undemocratic nature of party politics is being shown in full relief as the Democratic Party wrestles with the issue of "superdelegates."

Few folks even realized that a "superdelegate" existed before this election year. But, now, most of us are not only aware, but we are horrified. For those of us who already eschew the two party system in America, this provides yet more proof that politics as usual is not politics for the People. As one pundit has said, "Superdelegates are super undemocratic."

If you have not been following the news as of late, "superdelegates" are a group of unelected former Democratic congressmen, presidents, vice presidents, and party elite, that is, large donors to the Democratic Party. First created in 1984, these folks are chosen by the party elite rather than elected by its members.

In 2008, there will be a total of 4,049 Democratic delegates of which 796, or 20%, are unelected "superdelegates."

"Superdelegates" are the Democratic Party's first line of defense against true grassroots democracy. Through these unelected "superdelegates," the Democratic Party has been able to quietly institutionalize their elitist politics, which were formerly carried out by a few powerful men in smoky rooms behind closed doors.

It is tremendously ironic that the "Democratic" Party would have such a long history of undemocratic actions.

This past week, a group of prominent donors to the campaign of Senator Hillary Clinton proved the frightening and undemocratic nature of "superdelegates." In a letter described by the New York Times as carrying "threatening overtones," these donors attacked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for suggesting that "superdelegates" should not thwart the will of the elected delegates. At this point, Senator Barack Obama has clearly won the elected delegates and Speaker Pelosi had stated that "If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."

And, Speaker Pelosi is absolutely right.

But, what would make these Clinton donors feel that they can threaten an elected official who would dare to speak out against undemocratic party practices?

Well, it turns out that the signatories to that "treatening" letter have contributed nearly $24 million to the Democratic Party and its candidates over the past decade.

This is positive proof that the superdelegate system is nothing but a control mechanism envisioned and supported by the party elite to be able to "guide" democracy within their own party.

If I were a member of the Democratic Party, I would be outraged. As an American citizen, I am absolutely sickened to see this overt subversion of democratic principles. And, what makes it worse is that the Democrats are supposedly a Party of the People.

Whether you are a Democrat or not, I urge you all to send a message to Speaker Pelosi to continue to stand up for democracy against her party's elitist leadership.

What good is a "democratic" election if the candidates aren't democratically elected?

And, to think, we are currently trying to "spread" democracy throughout the world?

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.
-John Adams

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