The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XIX

[Cutlass]

It's a mixed bag really Cutlass. The EC doesn't work out exactly the way the idealistic theory would like, but it does ensure that candidates care about more than the Eastern and Western seaboards and Texas. Which if you were strictly running for popular vote count would be entirely probable.

If that's where the people are, then how is that a problem? The state of Connecticut has a population similar to the city of Chicago. And larger than many of the western states. But is really irrelevant to the presidential candidates. The president is not elected to represent the states, but the people. So why should the states matter more than the people?

What the EC also does is drive the political extremism that we were recently discussing with gerrymandering. Why look to the center when it is the extremes that are going to deliver a number of the states?

 

[Flying Pig]

You have to remember that the USA in conception is a federation of seperate states, with seperate identities. Some states are more populous than others, but by using the Electoral College it means that, as Farm Boy has said, the influence of each state is somewhat averaged. In other words, it cuts down the otherwise disproportionate influence of (for example) New York, Texas and California, and helps to ensure that the President has the general backing of the states as a whole. If you like, it's a relic of the days when states had a lot more identity than they do today.

Well, the EC isn't perfect. I'd never argue that. You do wind up with a different perspective though when you are part of an industry located in "flyover" country. You still don't see much candidate facetime from the federal level, but you aren't totally ignored as you would be otherwise. In that respect the somewhat present encouragement into the EC system to emphasize minority segments of the population is appreciated. It's much the same as "why do all states get two senators?"

Which is a relic in the same way, or perhaps wishful thinking that people are more divided along state lines than party ones. Considering that there are only two major parties in the US, this may yet be true.

 

[Farm Boy]

Well, the EC isn't perfect. I'd never argue that. You do wind up with a different perspective though when you are part of an industry located in "flyover" country. You still don't see much candidate facetime from the federal level, but you aren't totally ignored as you would be otherwise. In that respect the somewhat present encouragement into the EC system to emphasize minority segments of the population is appreciated. It's much the same as "why do all states get two senators?" only in executive branch elections rather than legislative.

 

[say1988]

It's a mixed bag really Cutlass. The EC doesn't work out exactly the way the idealistic theory would like, but it does ensure that candidates care about more than the Eastern and Western seaboards and Texas. Which if you were strictly running for popular vote count would be entirely probable.

At best, all that changes is who is ignored. Why is it preferable to ignore 25.7 million Texans or 19.5 million New Yorkers instead of 3 million Iowans?

What the EC also does is drive the political extremism that we were recently discussing with gerrymandering. Why look to the center when it is the extremes that are going to deliver a number of the states?

I am going to disagree there, at best I would say it is neutral more likely the popular vote would lean towards extremism. Popular vote would encourage pandering to the base more. If you moved to the popular vote, then there would be a greater incentive for parties to get voters out in secure states, that tend to be more secure.
It would generate an incentive for you to get your supporters out is secure states to get your message out in those places, but I doubt that would overcome pandering to the base.

 

[Farm Boy]

Well, it isn't so much a matter of ignoring them really. I think that is being overstated. Presidential elections certainly don't ignore the coasts and Texas. I'm going to agree with you on the moderation. The states that are "up for grabs" tend to be moderating influences and they get the most attention.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

What is "activist judge" in Arabic? I'd prefer the meaning to be carried over, as opposed to a mere transliteration or word-for-word translation.

 

[Arwon]

Given that electoral regulations and laws are done at a state level in the US, one impact of a popular vote could be that states start to try to maximise their voter turnout. At the moment there's no incentive for that but there could be in a popular vote system.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Is there a list or database somewhere where it lists or gives the user the names and/or info's of cities around the world by criteria?

Such as, telling it to show me which cities or towns have a population greater than a certain number, but population density below a certain other number?

 

[Flying Pig]

Bit of manual work required, but I'm sure you're capable of that

 

[Old Hippy]

a bit embarrassing,but
how do you go about typing a line through a word on a computer....
you know,cross it out,but not replace it

 

[_random_]

Depends on what software you're using. It's called a strikethrough if you'd like to Google further.

 

[The_J]

In older Word versions, you mark the word, make a right click, then go ...er...characters (?, don't know, don't have an English version, has a blue A as sign), there is the option.
Newer Word versions should probably have a button for that somewhere near the bold or italic options.

 

[Old Hippy]

thanks to both of you, strikethrough,couldn't think of it...

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

I don't know of a story-writing questions thread in A&E, so I'm posting this here.

For science fiction fantasy space opera, which group might make more sinister-sounding alien super-villains; the naming scheme for the pseudo-science aliens depicted by Zecharia Sitchin, or the naming scheme for the Olympians from Greek Mythos? Or, at least, which naming sets stand out more?

 

[Cutlass]

Make up your own.

 

[Arakhor]

If you want Grecian names, go for the Titans rather than the Olympians. They might not be as recognisable, but there's a fair few more of them!

 

[Mango Elephant]

A rare, pretty female Greek name is Hespera.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Make up your own.

Can't. Permanent writer's block when it comes to making up unique names.

 

[Cutlass]

Can't. Permanent writer's block when it comes to making up unique names.

I'm not good at making up names either. But there's no reason that aliens would have Earth names. So you create a disconnect there. Maybe instead of something that well known, you could pick a few cultures very different from American, and pick a few names and change a couple letters. Something like maybe Thailand, or Indonesia. Google Thailand common names and you get THIS LIST, and most of those names would be familiar to few native English speakers. Do that with some other cultures and pick a few names you like.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Can't. Permanent writer's block when it comes to making up unique names.

Aren't all made up names unique?