steps to fixing American politcal problems

[The Yankee]

Sounds like Instant-er Runoff Voting...though without the chance to play politics and choose a different "second choice."

In France and in New York City for instance (only for the primaries, really), would there be a later runoff. It's two weeks here in the city, which allows for more campaigning.

 

[kingjoshi]

Regarding 1) - imagine 3 of party X running and 2 of party Y running. We could have 19,19,19 for X and 21.5,21.5 for Y, where 57% really wanted an X, but still split their vote so the 43% still ensure a Y because they would be the runoff candidates.

Actually, that's exactly why Lincoln won. A split in the other party.

 

[kingjoshi]

Sounds like Instant-er Runoff Voting...though without the chance to play politics and choose a different "second choice."

In France and in New York City for instance (only for the primaries, really), would there be a later runoff. It's two weeks here in the city, which allows for more campaigning.

No, because with approval voting, le Pen would never have made it to the second round. The 'radicals' had a sizeable minority, enough to get into the second round. But overall, no one else in the population agrees with them.

So, given Bush, McCain, Bradley and Gore, we ended up with Gore vs Bush even though it's very well possible that McCain could have the broadest support.

Run off: choose between the top two minority candidates
Approval: choose the candidate with the most support

 

[The Yankee]

I'm not sure it'd be a good system. It's still possible for the one with the most support to not have 50%...but then again, if enough people throw their "I won't mind if this guy wins" vote behind the winner, they'll automatically claim a mandate even if they don't really have sweeping broad support.

 

[kingjoshi]

I'm not sure it'd be a good system. It's still possible for the one with the most support to not have 50%...but then again, if enough people throw their "I won't mind if this guy wins" vote behind the winner, they'll automatically claim a mandate even if they don't really have sweeping broad support.

Considering that a majority of eligible voters don't even vote, I don't think 'majority support' should be given the weight people give it.

 

[The Yankee]

Considering that a majority of eligible voters don't even vote, I don't think 'majority support' should be given the weight people give it.

True. Even the Bush victory in 2004 would have been somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% or so of voters, as there was about 60% turnout, IIRC.

 

[bhsup]

True. Even the Bush victory in 2004 would have been somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% or so of voters, as there was about 60% turnout, IIRC.

Well hey, those other 40% don't deserve a say if they're too lazy to bother to participate on their civic duty. 100% of the voters that cared enough to vote is good enough for me.

Yeah, I'd really prefer 100% participation even if my preferred candidate loses, over 60% and my candidate winning, but it's not going to happen because some citizens are too lazy to care.

EDIT: Yes, I do realize there are always unforeseen circumstances which might keep a handful from voting when they had intended to, but let's not get into every little possible excuse as to why someone didn't. The vast majority just felt they had more important things to do.

 

[Sims2789]

Overall we have a good political system (responsive to change but very stable), but the Electoral College has to go. However, having each state have two senators helps preserve the balence of power. Then again, look where it got us: Big Government is in Congress until November 2006.

 

[BasketCase]

Here's a thought: maybe the question of whether the Electoral College should stay or go.....should be left to the voters???

Congress is the same basic idea as the Electoral College: the voters vote for Congressmembers, and the Congressmembers are the ones who do the actual voting on laws. Nobody ever proposed eliminating Congress. (Well, some few have, but they're fringe whack jobs)

The idea to eliminate the EC does get raised every now and then. If it's a good idea, then by all means put a bill before Congress for a vote.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Here's a thought: maybe the question of whether the Electoral College should stay or go.....should be left to the voters???

The voters don't know anything.