Obviously political, but not partisan.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 11/04/2020 at 11:56 • Filed to: things I think about before Im fully awake.

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Maybe we’ve outgrown the idea of a president. Clearly, the country is divided and it seems to be mostly geographical. Coasts/population centers are democratic leaning and the inland states and rural areas are mostly republican leaning. The votes are pretty evenly split down the middle and I don’t really see that changing anytime soon . For whatever reason, there are hard and fast divisions that exist either as social constructs or in political ideologies (I think it’s more the former these days than the later). i.e. tribalism.

So why not ditch the idea of the executive being wrapped up in a single person? What if the executive was a small group system. Sort of like the Judicial and like the legislative, but smaller. I understand the idea of “the buck stops here” mentality of a single executive, but it’s very clear that the country isn’t being well served fighting over which part of the country will get to be served for the next 4 years. only for the other side to “get their turn” after a few years.

I honestly don’t know how you would assemble this group, how big it should be, or how it would be prevented from being hijacked by a single interest, but it seems like it would tamp down the impulsive nature of a person, or dampen any hard-line ideologies.

You’d need at least 3, one “blue tribe” one “red tribe” and some third person that I can’t figure out to be a tiebreaker.

thoughts?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:15

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Interesting, but what about the purple Rav4?!

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/04/2020 at 12:16

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Thats the tie breaker! Makes all kinds of sense. Its neither blue nor red, its practical and not overly concerned with image...it bows to no one.

Purple rav4 for grand minister 2032!

MonkeePuzzle > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:17

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i am concern ed that if you draw some general lines across the areas, you will capture a good chunk of colorado, if not all, in the red portion.

Tripper > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/04/2020 at 12:17

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HELLATITE

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:18

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Is congressional supremacy good again?

(please say yes)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:18

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I think, in the event of a tie, the Queen gets involved.

Sometimes, when you’ve lost your way, you need to get back into contact with your estranged parents and make amends.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:19

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Oddly, I was mulling over something like this with Mrs. Snuze this morning. Though I said why not put both of them in there as Co-Presidents. Nothing gets executed unless they both sign off on it.  If nothing else, it would make for a hilarious sitcom. 

HammerheadFistpunch > MonkeePuzzle 11/04/2020 at 12:19

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I wouldn’t split it geographically, I was just using geography to illustrate there are splits between urban and rural American’s wants and needs.  I nstead of being unsatisfied when your tribe isn’t in power, your tribe is given equal representation all the time.

HammerheadFistpunch > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/04/2020 at 12:20

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Couldn’t be worse than what we have.

HammerheadFistpunch > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/04/2020 at 12:21

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A sitcom that isn’t depressing would be an upgrade.

Long_Voyager94 > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:21

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We were actually just discussing this at work this morning.

Especially when you look at our state as an example:

Almost pure red yet we are currently set to go to Blue?

It’s the same picture in places such as Minnesota, Nevada, New York, etc.

While I agree the majority of the population is in the urban areas, why does that make the rural area’s choices null and void?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:21

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No. The country would be paralyzed by inaction as the group squabbled over things and nothing would ever change.

CompactLuxuryFan > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:22

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I dunno if the US is necessarily as polarized as it seems.  T he two party system only allows for situations like this, even if the population is evenly distributed along a spectrum. Dismantling the two party system would do many more wonders than splitting the president into a few people, but it’s *so* far away . Some small steps have happened, like ranked choice voting in primaries and even the presidential.

duurtlang > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:23

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I believe the US needs a (functional) multi-party system. With more than 2 parties with potential power . Where, when you get 45 % of the votes, you get 45% of the power (and not 0% or 100%). Without gerrymandering, without an electoral collage, without judges that are political appointees and are appointed for life. A place where you need a coalition.

The US was a very early democracy, but it has been frozen in time. It would do well to look at all the other functional democracies around the world, and copy the parts that work well and skip the rest . Start with a clean slate.

I don’t think the above will ever happen though .

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:23

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Having 3-4 people in charge sounds like a great idea, except for when they can’t agree, constantly argues, squabble, and insult each other. To the point that nothing would get done. 

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden 11/04/2020 at 12:24

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putting “supreme” and “ Congress” together is as mismatched as “taco bell Doritos loco” and “Supreme”.

HammerheadFistpunch > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:25

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That was certainly the idea behind the electoral college, but its failed us and need to be rethunk.

Tekamul > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:25

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A team of 3, with a 4th as alternate when somebody croaks. Ranked voting, top 4 national candidates get in. Top 3 are on equal footing regardless of individual vote totals.

All three needed to veto legislation or sign EOs. Saxh can make their own SCOTUS appointment. Essentially, most of the power goes back towards house and senate.

No more EC, also, single term limit. Nobody spends their time in office campaigning for four damn years.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/04/2020 at 12:25

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So...no real difference is what you are saying.

HammerheadFistpunch > CompactLuxuryFan 11/04/2020 at 12:26

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That’ s what I am saying...I don’t think we are going to depolarize anytime soon, might as well redesign to reflect realities instead of ideals.

jminer > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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I think the parlia mentary system has some advantages here. A rogue leader can be recalled and replaced as well as a coalition of parties is required to govern.

It's not perfect, but seems to be less radicalizing than our 2 party winner take all system.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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What I think we really need is to get rid of the electoral college and go with ranked choice voting. 

HammerheadFistpunch > duurtlang 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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Thats the general idea, but without dismantling the entire system wholesale.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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I think to combat the tribalism that is evolving we need to do away with the voting system that’s giving us 2 party politics. Ranked choice voting is my preference, but other options like proportional representation would work as well. I honestly think the 2 party politics is the underlying issue with a lot of what’s wrong with our system today. The founding fathers even warned about getting stuck in a 2 party system, though for some reason never realized that first-past-the-post voting would inevitably lead to that.

PowderHound > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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I’m up to nuke it and start over again.

HammerheadFistpunch > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/04/2020 at 12:27

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I don’t know how thats different than what we have.

The Snowman > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:28

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Vote for vp and president independently.

PatBateman > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/04/2020 at 12:29

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You god damned canadians and your god damned awesome monarchal ideas.

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:29

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How about this:

Ignoring all other political parties, because, yeah we already basically do...

Each party (of the two that exist, hypothetically and/or pract ically ) puts forth a can did ate each for Pres and and Veep. Whichever side wins the election, the candidate for VP from the opposing side is automatically assigned to the role. So, Democrat President means we necessarily get a Republican VP. This will help ensure that people actu a lly pay attention to what the other party actually says.

Honestly, I wish we had more established parties. And no private campaign money. And term limits on legislators.

HammerheadFistpunch > jminer 11/04/2020 at 12:29

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It’ s how capitalism ACTUALLY works. Most large businesses are publicly owned and managed by a board of directors that elect a leadership team.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:30

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Valid point for sure, but I’m not sure how it would play out. While I’m not educated enough on the voting system to spew out ideas, I do agree the electoral college doesn’t do the country justice. People vote, land doesn’t vote.

This was why I used to lean Republican, because I do agree with your original point and have and still to this day think states rights is a HUGE issues, and is a very important part of our system and process. Unfortunately, we have sort of lost our way in regards to what we used to debate about. I think our system makes a lot of sense, but its corrupted and outdated. A multi-party system with less weight on the executive and more robust local (state/country) leadership is something I would be behind.

Things like healthcare and benefits , foreign affairs and trade (obv), energy, etc would stay in DC. Leave all the trivial stuff with the states and extend tenure of local congresspeople from 2 to 4 years.

HammerheadFistpunch > PowderHound 11/04/2020 at 12:30

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Its the only way to be sure.

HammerheadFistpunch > The Snowman 11/04/2020 at 12:31

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Not bad. though it still boils down to majority rule.

and 100 more > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/04/2020 at 12:32

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Kanye: What do you think i ran for, to push a fuckin’ RAV4?

Derpwagon > The Snowman 11/04/2020 at 12:32

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I like that idea.

HammerheadFistpunch > and 100 more 11/04/2020 at 12:32

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I like.

Long_Voyager94 > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:32

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Agreed. The system is obviously broken.

Be it electoral votes separated by county, or even 2 different “leaders” for the different areas.

WRXforScience > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:32

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That picture shows the land area, not population. You have to take into account population.

outrageousking > PowderHound 11/04/2020 at 12:33

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Trump is trying to do that now. He wants to be Emperor

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/04/2020 at 12:33

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“ Things like healthcare and benefits, foreign affairs and trade (obv), energy, etc would stay in DC. Leave all the trivial stuff with the states and extend tenure of local congresspeople from 2 to 4 years.”

What you are talking about is what republican used to mean.  I’ve been a republican most of my life...the problem wasn’t that I left the party, the party left me.  

Long_Voyager94 > WRXforScience 11/04/2020 at 12:34

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Double edged sword.

What’s good for those in Milwaukee is obviously going to be far different than what’s good for the rest of the state, so basing it off population ends up hurting some far worse than it helps others.

Just Jeepin' > and 100 more 11/04/2020 at 12:34

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Originally the VP was the 2nd place vote getter for president. It was a disaster.

The Snowman > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:35

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For majority rule vp is elected by popular vote.

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:35

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The Crunchwrap Supreme is the only legitimate Supreme.

PowderHound > outrageousking 11/04/2020 at 12:36

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And that’s why we need to collectively nuke it and not let one person continue to do everything

For Sweden > PatBateman 11/04/2020 at 12:36

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The Queen asked a man who wore blackface to form a government.  Never forget that.

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden 11/04/2020 at 12:36

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This is the message we can all rally behind.

UserNotFound > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:36

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Or we just need to eliminate the filibuster to let Congress do some meaningful legislating without needing a supermajority or creating budgetary backdoors that have no teeth an d return the role of “president” to that of the nation’ s highest public servant and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, rather than the current role of “Mr. Executive Order Writer  when even Congress’ majority can’t get it done” .

W hat you’re describing is literally what Congress is supposed to be. A representative body that creates laws. Bu t they can’t create laws , because both sides are so damn scared of the “ other side” ever having a chance to get something done that they’ve spend the last few generations created huge procedural hurdles and elevating the Executive branch to a level it was never intended to reach.

Bandit > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:36

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Are you suggesting a Politburo?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politburo

SiennaMan > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:37

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This idea would at least solve the impulsiveness of an individual problem, easily the most objectionable aspect of Trump. It’s be hard for it not to function like a miniaturized version of the US Senate unless the third person were an absolute outsider (ie outsider like a Canadian, Brit , etc)..

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:37

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Yea man, exactly.

HammerheadFistpunch > UserNotFound 11/04/2020 at 12:38

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to be clear, Im also in full support of a full flush and replace of the congress. To use a metaphor , the amount of stopleak in that radiator is now greater than the amount of coolant.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:38

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Time to bring in the Swiss to oversee our elections.

adamftw > jminer 11/04/2020 at 12:38

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The “Motion of No Confidence” is the most bad ass thing ever and we should have it.

PartyPooper2012 > duurtlang 11/04/2020 at 12:39

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For major changes to take place - for example, term limits, 45% of votes get you 45% of the power etc etc - all sides would have to agree... or be forced into agreement.

Currently, one party says Sky is falling. Other side says we’re being launched into the sky. Nothing gets done. All we ever do is waste billions of dollars on infinite investigations, hearings etc. By the time investigations and hearings are over, it’s time for the other party leader to step in and undo everything previous admin put in place. 

DipodomysDeserti > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:39

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I was getting pretty sick of hearing national pundits talk out their ass about the urban vs rural divide when discussing Arizona going blue . Some of our most conservative areas are in the middle of Phoenix (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Gilbert, Chandler... ), and some of the most rural parts of our state (and the entire country) voted for Biden (northeastern Arizona ). Also, Pima county went blue (as it always does) , and only about half the county lives in Tucson. The other have live in smaller, rural towns. Maricopa county is really our only mostly urban county, and there’s still quite a lot of rural areas.

I think federalism does a good job of ensuring local concerns are taken care of, regardless of who the president is. If people actually knew that, and voted in local elections like they do federal elections, we’d all be a bit less angsty.

adamftw > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:40

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Look up ranked choice voting. They do it in Nebraska and Maine

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:40

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I think we should just go back to the articles of confederation and redraw the west coast states (basically make Jefferson, east Oregon, and east Washington as a state and merge coastal Oregon and Washington).

CobraJoe > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:41

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Almost pure red yet we are currently set to go to Blue?

While I agree the majority of the population is in the urban areas, why does that make the rural area’s choices null and void?

But why should a voter that lives in a lesser populated area have any more or less power in a vote than the person who lives in a urban area?

I mean, one vote is one vote, right?

The problems of rural areas shouldn’t be forgotten, but that’s most of what the house of representatives is supposed to do, to provide a representative for every part of the state.  

UserNotFound > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:42

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That’s the problem with the “winner-take-all” approach almost every state tak es in the electoral college.

The electoral college itself is fine - land doesn’t vote but the people on that land should get some say without getting drowned out by large population centers - but when the states apportion every elector to the winner of the state as a whole, rather than to the winner of each district represented, there’s too much of a loss of resolution (in my opinion).

Long_Voyager94 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/04/2020 at 12:43

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So exactly what we have now only with a couple more sides thrown in?

UserNotFound > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:43

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That is a fantastic analogy, and makes a lot more logical sense than the more common “drain the swamp” analogy.

Chariotoflove > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:45

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Or we could go the other way and stop putting so much power and attention on the top executive, and go back toward federalism. That way, states direct their own affairs more directly, as was intended, and areas where things need to be  decided nationally fall to the two branches of Congress, which are not all or nothing in representation of urban or rural areas. A lot of debate in the presidential election over my life time have been over things that the office of president does not have and was never intended to have direct control over. Taxation, healthcare, job creation, these are at the center of our debate and yet they really are not the president’s job. If we stop trying to put all our eggs in that basket, we get more control.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:45

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Not null and void but basically their votes get flipped.

I think rather than abolishing the EC, all states should just be like ME and NE where each district gets an EC vote.

UserNotFound > The Snowman 11/04/2020 at 12:45

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They are teeeeechnically voted for independently. Each elector casts a vote for president and a vote for vice president. But functionally, yeah, doesn’t make much difference ...

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:45

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Maybe you’re on to something. There’s so much infighting and division that it’s all about that party in power and what they want. It seems that the good of the people is not as important as the party agenda.

Maybe we should run the country like a Fortune 500 company? Have a board of directors that each has their own specific function, or have like a CEO and COO that have to work together. An d no one is allowed to be associated with a political party. They all have to stand on their own.  That way you could get more than just an R and a D with a real shot of getting the vote.

PatBateman > For Sweden 11/04/2020 at 12:45

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Boomers gonna boomer.  Wait, is she even a boomer?  I think she’s one of the “Greatest Generation” folk.  

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:46

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I would encourage you to look up the “unitary executive theory” of the presidency, which is the way mainly republicans and particularly trump have pushed the courts now.

Succinctly, the constitution reads “all the power of the executive branch lies with the president” - and not with executive / bipartisan appointments, which by necessity makes oversight and advisory roles that do not serve at the exclusive request of the president to be unconstitutional by definition .

If an executive department says “the law says this” the argument that Trump is propagating is he has absolute authority to say “I don’t give a fuck about that” because they serve at his request and he has the authority to interpret the law as he sees fit and use the DOJ to argue his case.

It wasn’t always like this, but  it’s been more common and more concrete the last 20 years or so.

Tekamul > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:47

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B ecause the current system is boiled down to a single victor, you need a metric to decide a winner

The current system at the state level is majority. The picture you show is not actually relevant. It would make more sense to have an updated version of this (from 2016)

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/04/2020 at 12:50

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hey man, be careful, that’ s how palpatine came to power.

For Sweden > PatBateman 11/04/2020 at 12:50

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Boomer is a state of mind

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > adamftw 11/04/2020 at 12:51

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I do agree the electoral college doesn’t do the country justice. People vote, land doesn’t vote.

The Electoral College does exactly what it was designed to do: Protect rural parts of the country from the excesses of the cities. That was true when those cities were Boston and Philly. It’s true today when those cities are NYC and LA... A lot of us don’t want to live where the needles and human feces run in the streets and “everybody else” is expected to pay for it.

The beauty of this is that California is free to operate, tax and fund whatever it wants to fund.  Just don’t expect the rest of us to pay for it.

benn454 > CobraJoe 11/04/2020 at 12:51

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 That's the thing. Voters in rural areas in states with large urban centers (us non-Chicago Illinoisans say hi) don't get any power in national elections because our votes are cancelled out. It literally doesn't matter who we vote for. That's voter disenfranchisement. 

ranwhenparked > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:54

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Switzerland does that with their Federal Council, as does North Korea (technically) with their Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, though, in both cases, the chairman of that body serves as sort of a defacto head of state on behalf of the whole group. In the former case, the post of chairman is rotated annually among the members.

Honestly though, what we really need are better, more popular candidates. The party nomination processes are what’s broken. Only the most hardcore members of either party show up at primary elections, and, in most states, independents and 3rd party members can’t show up at all. So, you wind up with either candidates that are extremely divisive and polarizing (which are the ones that can appeal to their own party’s most engaged faction) , or ones that are kind of weak and un charismatic (who emerge as fait accomplis when the hardcore base is split between too many competing candidates).

Maybe we need go back to candidates being chose by state party delegates at the national conventions, instead of those conventions just acting as symbolic rubber stamps to approve the candidates that were already chosen. Or, maybe have open primaries where everyone can vote in any one party's primary. Or, maybe have more powerful party leadership who can kick candidates with obviously weak support off the ballot early in the primary process so party members can focus their support on a smaller number of more viable candidates early on.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > and 100 more 11/04/2020 at 12:55

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If I recall correctly, people in the late 1700s used to vote for a candidate and the #1 became president and #2 became vice-president until the 12th amendment put a stop to that due to all the infighting and bickering.

I uh.....I don’t see that being any different today, sadly.

fintail > UserNotFound 11/04/2020 at 12:55

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Drain the swamp and examine all of the garbage and slime on the bottom.  That’s what we have now.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:55

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I wonder how the electoral college would function if all states awarded their votes proportional to the votes of their population. Or maybe even counties, but that would be sure to skew the vote red.

Jb boin > UserNotFound 11/04/2020 at 12:56

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The electoral college is not “ fine” for a presidential election that is not about anything local, when every citizen vote should have the same weight, no mater where they live .

It is more acceptable for the senate and/or the house but having multiple parties with more than a binary choice would be a better solution .

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:56

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Yuo

benn454 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 11/04/2020 at 12:56

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 It does the opposite, actually. Rural voters are overwhelmed and cancelled out with sheer numbers by urban voters. Winner takes all.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:56

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I think the biggest problem is the two party system.

fintail > Long_Voyager94 11/04/2020 at 12:57

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And at the same time, why should the choice of a voter in one area technically be worth more than that in another, simply based on area?

The electoral college is obsolete.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > benn454 11/04/2020 at 12:58

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Proportional apportioning of electoral college votes would work great if all states did it. When only a few do it, there’s problems. It would take a national conference of states to simultaneously enact that for it to work and I don’t think that would ever happen. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > and 100 more 11/04/2020 at 12:59

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When we did that when the country was originally founded , it didn’t work. Because the VP and President really should belong to the same party to get anything done.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 12:59

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Can you imagine the pressure to “remove” the head of government in that case? It’s a recipe for some ugly stuff— especially in this hyper-partisan era.

I personally think the “fixed 4 year terms” thing is what’s messed up. The Brits could always “call an early election”— if the PM lost the support of his/her own party and coalition? Put it out to the voters early. We need that ability so we aren’t stuck with a loser situation for four years... Instead we got four years of investigations and “an impeachment four years in the making, that everyone knew was pointless ”.

We also need to shorten the election cycles— as of this AM people are probably already working on 2024.

And, the money is a problem. Certain tech giants and billionaires threw a billion dollars into tiny states like SC and Kentucky this time to try to overthrow very, very popular members of Congress. We need to get the dark money out of this mess.

Future next gen S2000 owner > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:00

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I still think you need a President. Same reason as a CEO. At some point, some one needs to make a decision and take the lead. You can’t set the tone with 3 people. 2 would inevitably agree and the th ir d would publicly complain.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:00

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Think the VP’s aides won’t meet weekly to figure out ways to invoke the 25th Amendment?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:01

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Well instead of having to push things through two houses of Congress and then getting the approval of an executive you are trying to push things through two houses of congress with an executive committee as a third house of Congress basically. And imagine the gridlock in times of immediate military action. There’s a reason there’s only one chief executive officer.

fintail > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:01

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Scrap the electoral college, might have made sense in the 18th century, just causes problems now.

Maybe let states decide almost everything save for national security and federal infrastructure etc, it’ll be interesting how quality of life/standard of living looks after a generation or two, between areas.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:03

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Term limits would really help... I genuinely think stewing in those juices for decades is corrosive.

I just watched a Phi Beta Kappa Key holder genius woman ASK a minivan driving Mom-of-7 and distinguished law professor if she was a sexual predator.... How does a brilliant woman fr o m 40 ye ars ago somehow think that’s a viable use of everybody’s time right now ? It’s insulting to think that decorum and common sense has fallen so out of favor.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/04/2020 at 13:04

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Ranked choice voting does appear to be a good way to eliminate some of the problems with a two party system, mainly people on the extremes and people in the middle not feeling represented by either candidate but having a least bad option. So you could vote for a centerist and then put the mainstream candidate of the left/right as your second choice.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 11/04/2020 at 13:07

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T he people in power are always the ones that have benefited from the current position so meaningful change in government is very hard without a change in heart first. It’s a real conundrum. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > UserNotFound 11/04/2020 at 13:07

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“ But they can’t create laws, because both sides are so damn scared of the “other side” ever having a chance to get something done that they’ve spend the last few generations created huge procedural hurdles and elevating the Executive branch to a level it was never intended to reach.”

I would argue that the problem is more a matter of riders being added onto bills that have little or nothing to do with the original bill other than to win the vote of some congressman who won’t affirm it otherwise. Add on enough crap and nobody will vote for the original bill.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 11/04/2020 at 13:11

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That relies on an educated voter base and an uneducated voter base was what the electoral college was designed to combat. I don’t think it does it as effectively as it originally was intended to but I think proportional electoral college votes for state population could work well in this case.

sony1492 > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:12

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Current shows hilarious if it wasn't real

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SiennaMan 11/04/2020 at 13:12

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Well then you have someone associated with another country that has conflicting interests. I just feel like it would turn into a senate with more individual grudges.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2020 at 13:12

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I’ve always said this......we should evolve ourselves to be policy and candidate voters, not party voters.

Parties need to be competitive by producing good candidates, not aligning behind confrontational ideologies to “screw the others”.

Voting straight party lines honestly does a disservice to democracy.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > The Snowman 11/04/2020 at 13:13

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Trump and Harris would be..........utterly hilarious. It would also be disastrous, but I guess we don’t have to worry about that being a possibility.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever 11/04/2020 at 13:13

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No one would agree to that and it would pretty much mess up the entire balance of power by creating another California across areas with a good spread of political beliefs. I still am all here for Jefferson as a state.

TheRealBicycleBuck > duurtlang 11/04/2020 at 13:14

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“ Without gerrymandering... .”

How do you proposed to draw district lines? I can guarantee that any system you put into place will be subject to bias of some sort, whether political, cultural, financial, racial, or otherwise. Keep in mind that the voting districts are also a subset of other political districts which are used for taxation, representation, and distribution of services.