Research

[rob_thompson]

So - I've been playing with a thesis level idea.....that the fight for a clean election in Athens, TN in August of 1946 was the setting for change from republican/representative government for the US to a more socialist form of government. I use socialist in the form of less representative and more in the nature of the state deciding what's

Comments

[rob_thompson]

Apparently, at least according to the Wiki articles (so take that with a grain or three of salt) Arkansas just narrowly avoided a similar happening very shortly afterwards. Party politics always has some version of machination behind them..certainly it's true here in Canada with its parliamentary system. Probably true in England, Australia and NZ as well...it's just that the corruption is a little more formalized and regulated. By the same token - these are countries which are far more socialist in outlook and actions than the US has ever been...until recently. Given the rather unseemly history of the Democratic party in the US...I'm not exactly surprised by the way things are shaking themselves out...instead, I find myself feeling rather sorry for long term Democratic supporters. As I originally noted, I'm well aware there's enough corruption on both sides of the aisle to go around - but it appears to me that the Democrats have formalized and institutionalized corruption and self-service to a higher level than most people are willing to admit to, let alone believe. I'm also thinking that Athens, TN was the Democratic motivation for many of the changes that have subsequently been pushed through Congress. Needless to say, the McMinn County machine was Democratic. Wonder what the New York Times might have said had it been a Republican machine.