Christopher Hitchens on Elections, Money and Iran - News Review Part 7 (1988)

[jimmbo13]

Pleszczynski is not a great spokesman for the right. Some of the others CSPAN had on with Hitchens were far more articulate, and interacted far better with Hitchens. Pleszczynski soured the note with rancor from the beginning of the show...

[NASTEfilms]

i feel sorry for all the people who are arguing for campaign reform. i cant imagine their feelings about it now

[stubby019]

1:32 - Hitchens says it all. Sad that we're still fighting (and losing) this battle.

[Rubashow]

Pleszczynski is so right ... less regulations and complete private takeover of elections really did a hell of a job preserving what was left of American democracy ... This is a prime example of a guy who is only employed because he really believes in the crap his masters insinuate him.

[equsnarnd]

@mediapocalypse I don't know what it is you think I missed. Compulsory voting is a dumb idea no matter what the circumstances. Is that not obvious?

[TheConciseStatement]

"It is nice that Mr. Hitchens has a few people out there who agree with him."

Hitchens little giggle there, clearly absorbing Pleszczynski's bitterness with pleasure.

[hugoegbert79]

I don't agree with compulsory voting, but generally I think this is Hitchens at his best, and it's very sad what he turned into.

[equsnarnd]

Thank god people can change cause here Hitchens is at his worst. Compulsory voting? Give me a fucking break! This is consistent with freedom? Screw democracy if it means losing freedom.

[TheConciseStatement]

@equsnarnd

One compromise could be compulsory voting with the inclusion of a None of the Above box. That might sound like six and half a dozen, but the psychological effect might be more important than the count - it encourages everyone to be engaged in the political process, and it's an even more emphatic way to register voter disenchantment (providing you don't actually count up the no votes as a win for no government, which is kind of synonymous with extreme conservatism anyway!)