The American system is not designed to be kind to those who want to change the American system. It’s cool that he even said it, even though it was just an off the cuff sound bite
The system is designed so that mob rule doesn’t happen. Unfortunately it’s also got the effect of allowing the majority to be ruled by the minority. It’s a system that’s difficult to fix. Realistically we need RCV first.
The electoral college was a compromise with slavers. Since 1800, more than 700 proposals to change or get rid of it have been introduced, and we’re the only constitutional republic in the 21st century that still uses one. Direct democracy works fine.
RCV would be an improvement, but with FPTP the bar is a tripping hazard in hell. I’d prefer something like STAR voting or some implementation of Condorcet, with mandatory voting and a day off to do it.
There was one difficulty however of a serious nature attending an immediate choice by the people. The right of suffrage was much more diffusive in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of the Negroes. The substitution of electors obviated this difficulty and seemed on the whole to be liable to fewest objections.
The American system is not designed to be kind to those who want to change the American system. It’s cool that he even said it, even though it was just an off the cuff sound bite
The system is designed so that mob rule doesn’t happen. Unfortunately it’s also got the effect of allowing the majority to be ruled by the minority. It’s a system that’s difficult to fix. Realistically we need RCV first.
The electoral college was a compromise with slavers. Since 1800, more than 700 proposals to change or get rid of it have been introduced, and we’re the only constitutional republic in the 21st century that still uses one. Direct democracy works fine.
RCV would be an improvement, but with FPTP the bar is a tripping hazard in hell. I’d prefer something like STAR voting or some implementation of Condorcet, with mandatory voting and a day off to do it.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0065