1. Abolishing the Electoral College and going to a Instant Runoff Voting system.
2. I would prefer to get rid of the Senate entirely, but failing that I would add national seats and get rid of the filibuster. I would use Instant Runoff Voting as well.
3. Create multi-member districts for House elected by Instant Runoff Voting.
This would allow for a multi party system. It hopefully would reduce negative/divisive campaigning and promote compromise.
Consider moving away from party primaries toward CA or LA top two runoff general election systems. This removes the threat of being primaried by OAC or The Donald, so moves elected officials away from the median primary voter and toward the median GE voter. It also makes it very difficult to defeat incumbents, so it might be accompanied by a sunshine provision, allowing for a return to party primaries if voters desire after experiencing an alternative. This could be done on a state-by-state basis without draconian changes.
Thanks for the good reference. I'm not sure it is to the point of the relationship of elected officials views to those of the public. State legislatures for some decades have been commonly unresponsive to state opinion in any direct fashion on most topics. More telling evidence might derive from governors, who have been known to be accountable for policy. Alternatively, some evidence of legislative effectiveness might be used to evaluate voting systems.
three things need to happen: #1 ensure everyone can vote. #2 implement a taxation system that reduces the distance between the rich and the poor. #3 use the tax money to significantly improve the lives of the poor. how am i doing?
my assumption is that people would be incentivized to keep voting for those who made their lives better but I'm starting to think that wouldnt work. Until we deal with the racist past, we wont make progress. you know, you need to go through the 5 Why's or something. POTUS< the therapist in chief
Hi Elliott,
Here are three major things that could help.
1. Abolishing the Electoral College and going to a Instant Runoff Voting system.
2. I would prefer to get rid of the Senate entirely, but failing that I would add national seats and get rid of the filibuster. I would use Instant Runoff Voting as well.
3. Create multi-member districts for House elected by Instant Runoff Voting.
This would allow for a multi party system. It hopefully would reduce negative/divisive campaigning and promote compromise.
-Elliot
Consider moving away from party primaries toward CA or LA top two runoff general election systems. This removes the threat of being primaried by OAC or The Donald, so moves elected officials away from the median primary voter and toward the median GE voter. It also makes it very difficult to defeat incumbents, so it might be accompanied by a sunshine provision, allowing for a return to party primaries if voters desire after experiencing an alternative. This could be done on a state-by-state basis without draconian changes.
Douglas,
I have long wanted this to be true, but sadly the evidence suggests that non-partisan primaries (such as CA, WA or LA's) don't actually reduce ideological polarization. It is a bummer, and part of the reason why I started thinking about this yesterday! https://medium.com/3streams/nonpartisan-elections-dont-reduce-polarization-3e9846cdeb2a?source=social.tw&_branch_match_id=888857970964735763
Thanks for the good reference. I'm not sure it is to the point of the relationship of elected officials views to those of the public. State legislatures for some decades have been commonly unresponsive to state opinion in any direct fashion on most topics. More telling evidence might derive from governors, who have been known to be accountable for policy. Alternatively, some evidence of legislative effectiveness might be used to evaluate voting systems.
three things need to happen: #1 ensure everyone can vote. #2 implement a taxation system that reduces the distance between the rich and the poor. #3 use the tax money to significantly improve the lives of the poor. how am i doing?
Sounds like a good start to me
my assumption is that people would be incentivized to keep voting for those who made their lives better but I'm starting to think that wouldnt work. Until we deal with the racist past, we wont make progress. you know, you need to go through the 5 Why's or something. POTUS< the therapist in chief
Now I am imagining an illustration of a US map lying on a therapist's couch. A bit cheeky