tech37 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:08 am
holmes435 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2020 10:38 pmSo you believe that a minority of voters should rule? That literally means not everyone has an equal voice. You think 47% or so of voters should rule over 53% of voters.
As I've stated on here before, IMO, the 2016 election was an aberration, presenting voters with two awful choices, and certainly not worthy of amending the Constitution over. And don't give me the concept of changing the C without amending it...legal slight-of-hand BS.
I certainly understand your point (above). Demographics throughout the states may eventually cause your wish to come true. I'm just as uncomfortable though with the notion that every election be determined by CA and NY based on numbers alone. At some point, why have elections at all?
When the COVID disaster is over or at least under control (I optimistically believe it will be), IMO, Trump will see another term. Biden looks to be a mess. Despite his unappealing and crass nature, T is POTUS, duly elected under our system. Citizens have a choice, accept it or spend another four years wallowing in a hostile, hateful wasteland (bad karma on an individual basis). Do we have a right to criticize our leaders?...of course!...but there is an immense difference between criticism and sabotage.
For example, impeachment was an embarrassing, desperate, and partisan-fabricated attempt to sabotage. My bet is the "resistance" lost many a moderate voter sympathetic to the cause due to that inequitable attempt.
It may seem like it to some but Trump won't be POTUS forever. Let's not make impulsively-fueled amendments to the Constitution based on an election aberration. And rest assured, the electoral college may work in your favor next time.
As far as the electoral college vote vs. popular vote difference, it's happened twice in the last 20 years.
I've been on the record here before with my suggested electoral reforms, like instant runoff elections, which would also help third parties get better representation and keep people like Trump from getting the nomination when 70% of Republicans didn't want him initially. Of course there isn't going to be much traction in changing the general election in the near future, but more and more states are moving to instant runoff for local and state elections. If people see those as a positive, it could trickle up to the bigger races. I don't have a specific solution to the EC vs. popular vote problem, but the EC and a lot of our legislative process was designed when the country was much different, and can be updated to reflect our modern connected-ness.
I'm not sure how we change the money aspect in politics, especially after McConnell let the tiger out of the bag with his Citizens United case, but it has to change. My third pillar is term limits where there aren't any.
You may be right with a second Trump term, but there are a ton of unknowns between now and then with Biden, the virus and death rates, and the economy. We've had multiple major, near unprecedented events in the first three months of 2020 alone. Who knows what's in store?
Unfortunately Trump forced the Democrats' hands regarding impeachment. If they didn't impeach him, they're basically saying there are no checks and balances and the President has nearly unlimited power in his non-legislative actions. If they did, it's going to alienate a few voters, but I doubt there are many actual undecideds out there. You certainly don't hear anything about impeachment in the news nowadays, so it may be a complete non-factor either way in the election.
I'm sure some will disagree, but it's my personal opinion that Trump brings much of the anger on himself with his actions. Yes, some of it is an overreaction, but plenty is warranted. But the anger is a reaction to specific things he does. From simple decency things to major policy gaffes. We haven't had public behavior like this in the White House in our lifetimes, if ever.
