The United States Electoral reform theory thread.

I'm under the impression that the majority of people on GFF are not concerned at all that our electoral system may be faulty. Honestly, for a board full of people who consider themselves intellectual elitist assholes (or, at least, a board full of people who act like it, myself included), I'm seriously saddened and disappointed by this. Either way, it is clear to me, at least, that our electoral process is flawed and needs to be changed. Obviously this will never happen, but what if it did? If I had my way, here's a very liberal (and not necessarily my preferred) way of how things would go as far as our elected officials in Washington go.

First of all, Presidents would now be allowed to serve up to three terms, but their terms would be shortened to three years. This runs alongside the change in terms for Congressmen, with Senators getting run down to two year terms (still unlimited) and Representatives getting run down to one year terms (also unlimited). Politics, like information, moves a lot faster in this day and age than it did in the 1800s, so we could use a faster moving government, and if Congressmen knew their time could be up in a couple months they could probably be more convinced to follow the court of public opinion in most matters. I would also move Election Day up a couple of weeks to allow for more campaigning and a shorter lame duck session.

Second, the Electoral College would be abolished in favor of the popular vote. But, instead of having a President-Vice President party lock (meaning both are Democrat or Republican or whatever), we'd go back to the practice of voting for just the President, and having the Vice President be whoever was #2 in the popular vote. This will make help make the government more populist.

Third and finally, all candidates will be strictly capped to how much money they can spend on a campaign (like $1 million, or something reasonable). I'd bring out all kinds of sports economy stuff here, but you'd get the point either way, which is to give other parties a much fairer chance at power instead of the Democrat-Republican monopolization we've had for decades.

I'd come up with more but I'm too lazy. I'll probably get flamed for trying to be too progressive or not thinking long enough about this either way.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Campaigning shouldn't be an issue. If you do a good job, that's your campaign.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Night Phoenix

Regardless, I think the OP would do well to actually point out actual flaws in the system and actually argue his case as to why we should change a system that has worked for over two centuries.

Nah. They should just do it and see what happens.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Since I'm obvious not the only damned idiot in this thread:

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

If I had my way, here's a very liberal (and not necessarily my preferred) way of how things would go as far as our elected officials in Washington go.

So, yeah, I was being serious. It's also just an idea. I don't see anyone else coming up with any ideas, aside from Night Phoenix, who seems very confident that the electoral process is perfect and nothing should ever be scrutinized, examined or possibly changed.

Why everyone in this subforum thinks everything should be hyperanalyzed is beyond me. I'm not going to go down through 10 layers of evidence and cross-examination for a fucking idea. It's called HAVING FUN.

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Originally Posted by Night Phoenix

No, it's not that I think it's perfect

Originally Posted by Night Phoenix, in the 4th post in this thread

The current system works flawlessly as it has been designed.

Flawless is a synonym for perfect.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I read and comprehended just fine. Why don't you make your argument if you're so intellectual. And elitist. And an asshole.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Sorry if I don't have 30 years of politics under my belt to warrant writing and publishing my own theses on how a government should be run. I'm also sorry you're HONESTLY expecting that from ANYONE on an Internet message board.

That high horse you're on, Styphon...yeah, I don't think you should come down because you're going to hurt yourself from the fall.

I guess I'm just not as big an intellectual, or as big an elitist, or as big an asshole as some people on these boards.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Night Phoenix

I don't have 30 years of politics under my belt either.....

Just a bachelor's degree in political science and history

And a rapper and you work for the CIA. And you have the time to argue with lazy fucking idiots like me? WOW.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?