Robert ReichHow do we get democracy back into presidential elections?
By making the Electoral College irrelevant.
Here’s one way to do just that.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-do-we-get-democracy-back-into-c4d#details
Kenny MayneThis is very interesting. The popular vote clearly leans progressive and urban centric, which I personally favor, but it concerns me that rural citizens lose their voice in the equation.
OurorobCobra@PlayItSlow @rbreich except, they don’t lose their voice. They would have the same amount of voice as everyone else. It isn’t the fault of those living in cities that there are more of them than people in rural areas. Right now, we intentionally muffle the voices of those in cities, while also giving megaphones to those in rural communities.
Chris Thomas@PlayItSlow @rbreich do they really lose their voice? If 51% of the country wants X is the 49% that doesn't disenfranchised?
Or are they just the minority?
Minority protections are important, but not at the expense of subordinating the majority to it.
If a majority of the country can not govern it, in what sense are we a government "of the people, by the people, for the people?"
@PlayItSlow @rbreich isn't majority rule consensus? Of the 380 million people who could be elected Presdient, 51% of voters arrived at a consensus candidate of "that guy."
In a winner take all system someone loses. While it might suck that 49% of people don't get what they want, isn't that considerably better than 51% not getting what they want?
@rbreich @killfile @PlayItSlow Consensus would be President Joe…Manchin. Biden? Won the majority vote but unacceptable to the right. Trump? Lost and unacceptable to the left. Who then? Someone both side grudgingly accept. Maybe a Joe Manchin. Consensus means the politician gets 100% of the vote.
Not practical of course, but that’s what people mean by consensus.
Not practical of course, but that’s what people mean by consensus.
@killfile @PlayItSlow @rbreich In situations where opinions are that close, a smart politician would find a way to satisfy both groups. Not everything is a zero-sum game
@mindstorm8191 @PlayItSlow @rbreich no, but every election is. If the thing the minority is opposed to is "that guy winning the election" then... yea... it's a zero sum game.
On policy issues, sure, a narrow majority usually means some level of compromise.... unless of course the minority is entirely uninterested in any compromise whatsover.
See Republican opposition to Obama, especially after the 2010 midterm.
Paul Kidd@rbreich @PlayItSlow it doesn’t lean progressive or urban centric at all. The electoral college is just lopsided the other way and everyone’s gotten used to it.