Snowden: Stop Relying on Facebook for Your News

Post by grzm » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 3:18 AM UTC

vacri wrote: post #189

serge2k wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are other good reasons too. The system isn't fair, voters in low pop states have more power than california. The system emphasizes swing states above others, as the country is so split right now. The system is worse for third party candidates (especially if a STV or ranked system was used. This would also please the Bernie or bust folk). The system is outdated, it was meant to have a group of well informed elec…

> The system emphasizes swing states above others It's hard to imagine a democratic system where swing voters don't hold disproportionate power. Rusted-on supporters will support you whatever may come, and the opponents' rusted-on supporters will never support you, so as a candidate you spend more time, effort, and money appealing to the noncommittal folks in the middle... Even excellent voting systems like Condorcet…

Post by kuhidarwin » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 3:20 AM UTC

Post by MichaelBurge » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 3:22 AM UTC

zanny wrote: post #36

duaneb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'd like to see most independents / democratic people unite under a real progressive platform next election and stop the extremist cycle of social issues vs fear mongering. There's virtually zero chance of this happening without another party collapsing first. Hell, even then, independents are harder to herd than cats.

Its impossible to happen under the system as it is established, but you just needed to push for a constitutional amendment and / or state compact like the one to overturn the electoral college to change the voting system to support either proportional (doesn't work when you elect a single seat like the president) or STV (ie runoff voting). The chance of that happening in the next four years? Really low. About as unli…

Post by _ea1k » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 3:28 AM UTC

dllthomas wrote: post #90

hdctambien wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of those that voted. I think fixxer is saying that there are alot of people that don't vote (about half of the voting population) because they are an X in a Y state so they don't think their vote will change that. But if the electoral college went poof, a lot more of the missing 50% would vote and that could change the expected value of a popular vote.

This isn't so much directed at you, but this seems a great place to note that there are races on the ballot other than president, usually your local elections will have a bigger impact on your day-to-day life than the national ones, and your vote carries orders of magnitude more weight. Pay attention down-ballot!

Post by maxerickson » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 3:29 AM UTC

RealGeek wrote: post #196

maxerickson wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if/when elected officials start screwing with something like Social Security Buckle up! http://paulryan.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=9969 Saves Medicare for current and future generations, with no disruptions for those in and near retirement. For younger workers, when they become eligible, Medicare will provide a premium-support payment and a list of guaranteed coverage options – including a traditional fee-for-se…

So under Paul Ryan's plan we will pay Medicare tax all our life for an option to buy Obamacare when we retire?