LaffyJun 12, 2023

✔️ Via Lawrence O'Donnell:

Imagine where this country would be today without the anti-democratic institution of the #ElectoralCollege which no democracy born after ours has copied.

#Trump never would’ve seen a classified document were it not for the Electoral College.
#TrumpIndictment

Show threadLeisureguy

@GottaLaff

The anti-democratic institution of the Electoral College pales in significance compared to the anti-democratic institution of the US Senate.

Jun 12, 2023 at 9:21pmWeb
Show threadBronMason For Kamala 2024Jun 13, 2023

@Leisureguy @GottaLaff

True that … and its anti democratic effect is increased exponentially because it makes the already undemocratic electoral college even more undemocratic, because the number of electors allotted each state is equal to its number of Representatives (based on population) PLUS its number of Senators, which for every state regardless of population is two. Our only hope is for a migration of Democratic voters to toss-up states. #bluemigration

Show threadLeisureguyJun 13, 2023

@bronakins @GottaLaff

I have some hopes for the National Populaar Vote Interstate Compact:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact

However, that is not a slam dunk.

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact - Wikipedia

Show threadJeroen van BergenJun 13, 2023
@Leisureguy @GottaLaff In my European eyes that is by far the strangest thing in the way Americans are represented. Besides the extreme influence of small states, it also widens the gap between the federation and the states. The simple solution would be one person, one vote, with each vote having exactly the same weight.
Show threadLeisureguyJun 13, 2023

@jeroenvanbergen @GottaLaff

I've read that though the US Constitution has served as a model for various national constitutions, no one copies the part about the US Senate. It is just obviously unfair. And with a proportionate Senate, the Electoral College problem is not a problem, though the EC is no longer needed, it being an artefact of the slow transportation and slow communication of the time.

Show threadJeroen van BergenJun 13, 2023
@Leisureguy @GottaLaff To be honest, all systems have problematic spots. Over here in The Netherlands we have 16 different parties that are represented in parliament. None of them has a majority, so it is hard for one party to get its way. This leads to decisions that are meant to satisfy all parties involved and thus are also disappointing for everyone. Is that really better? I do not know, but it seems to dampen the extreme shifts in policy.