The Lie of Modern "Centrism"

[Minimalist]

Great idea.... of course these rich cocksuckers simply buy up all the congressmen they need.

I suppose you favor that kind of bribery?

[Tino]

Example: Paul Ryan's festival of lies during the RNC speech was labeled "over-reach" by the media.

Regarding your claim of a festival of lies, please cite one thing that you considered to be a lie and let's discuss it.

[JohnDG]

The problem is the system, it's obviously flawed, it's only getting worse, we have the same congress since forever. We just need to step up and change it ourselves, this is america we should be able to do that much it's how we were raised.

[Tiberius]

I personally think the focus should be on the electoral system. First past the post is only a fair system when there are two parties involved. The electoral college is disproportionate due to the way state votes are distributed.

[Puddleglum]

I personally think the focus should be on the electoral system. First past the post is only a fair system when there are two parties involved. The electoral college is disproportionate due to the way state votes are distributed.

I completely agree. It leads to the most heinous abuses of power.

[TaraJo]

I personally think the focus should be on the electoral system. First past the post is only a fair system when there are two parties involved. The electoral college is disproportionate due to the way state votes are distributed.

No doubt the electoral college system is fucked up. If I vote for Romney, it doesn't matter because he'll still win this state by one extra vote. If I vote Obama it doesn't matter because he'll lose this state by one extra vote. And both politicians know it so they're going to spend the next several months fighting to become president of Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Why can't the presidential election be by direct vote?

I also think elections, presidential and otherwise, should automatically come to a run off if neither candidate gets at least 50% of the vote. This would help third party candidates, something we desperately need more of in this country; I mean, the main reason I'm voting Obama is that the Republican party scares the shit out of me and I want to do whatever I can to prevent them from being elected. I don't want to vote for Obama as much as I want to vote against Romney; truth be told, I'd much prefer Jill Stein over Obama, but I know she isn't going to win.

I also think some media reform is needed, I'm just not sure exactly how to go about that. The media has so much say on who gets elected, and there's way too much potential for corruption there.

[Tiberius]

The best (and simplest) electoral system I've come across for when you want one specific winner is Alternative Vote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHuiDD_oTk

[Tobie]

Alternate vote would be good in places like the USA and UK. A lot of left-wingers vote democrat/labour to stop the GOP/Conservatives getting in. AV means you can vote for your preferred candidate (such as one outside the main parties) but if not enough other people vote for them, your vote goes to your second choice, so you can still vote against people who you really don't want in government.

[TaraJo]

I like the idea of AV, but I don't see it happening. It would threaten the power monopoly both major political parties have here. Also, we have a nasty habit of looking at what works in Europe but saying "Screw it! I'm doing things my way!" Which wouldn't be so annoying, except that 'my way' usually winds up being worse.

[Minimalist]

I personally think the focus should be on the electoral system. First past the post is only a fair system when there are two parties involved. The electoral college is disproportionate due to the way state votes are distributed.

It is even worse than that.

Wyoming has 568,000 people and two senators.

California has 37+ million people...and two senators.

North Dakota has 683,000 people and two senators.

New York has 19+million people...and two senators.

"One man - one vote" is thus a farce.