How can the American electoral system be fixed?

Question

Tommorrow is election day and, once again, I may only choose between a Democrat and a Republican.

I've had to tolerate millions of dollars worth of political ads that make senseless ad-hominum attacks and, if I'm lucky, quote a few meaningless slogans. Debates are rare, and when they occur, they frequently stray far from social, administrative, or legislative issues. Many candidates do not appear to understand, or will not state their positions on, topics about governance, economics, social problems, environmental issues, or diplomacy.

The government appears to be run indirectly by lobbyists and PACs. Third parties, like the Green Party, Litertarian Party, and the Reform Party are locked out of most of the races by a winner-take-all voting system and ballot-access restrictions.

Is anyone else embarrased about the state of our democracy? Does anyone have any ideas about how we can fix it?

Answer 1

you make great points, we need to get campaign finance reform to happen, we need to get the election moved to the weekend, we need the off parties to be given the same access to the voters the Dem's & reps have, in this election I am voting green in any race where removing the crooked incumbent is not the biggest priority, it is sad that now we vote against someone more than for someone but it's where wea are.

Answer 2

First of all, each state gets to decide how it's electoral will vote. Some states split their vote to represent the split in their state. If they get 10 electoral votes and 40% vote repub, 40% vote dem, and 20% vote green, then 4 electoral votes go to repubs, 4 to dems, and 2 to green. And yes, there is even an electoral set up for the independants.

Second, the electoral system is actually quite ingenious, recognizing that there should be more in play than just the popular majority. Imagine if we elected just based on the popular vote... a candidate can make promises to create new high-pay jobs in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio, pick up a few other states, and sweep the popular vote despite throwing a majority of states into the wind.

What you actually want is "campaign reform" so that the monetary factor is evened out a bit. That DOES need some work! That, and make sure your state will split it's electoral to represent the split in it's people's vote!

Answer 3

People respond (well) to negative ads. -Usually

Special Interest groups practice the first amendment.

It all comes down to Americans get the election process that they deserve.

Or, in other words, how can for the people, by the people, of the people be improved upon? If we're screwed, - then we did it to ourselves.

BTW.. the electoral concept is a representation of the popular vote, with some extra weight given to the states (rights). So smaller states have more 'weight' respectively. Also, if you do away with the electoral college, then every vote in every state would be under extra scruntity, (not just limited to Florida), which would be insane to have to count. It's hard enough to count the states on the cusp like 51% / 49%.

Answer 4

1. Abolish all gifts of any sort to elected officials. Strict rules on lobbying.
2. Provide the same campaign funds to each candidate and do not allow them even to use their own money. Hate ads will soon disappear.
3. Set term limits for Congress. Too many Congressmen are out of touch with their constituents by being in Washington too long. Also allows them to know the lobbyists better than the people they represent.
4. Eliminate all riders from bills (congressional pork has got to stop feeding the lobbyists and their firms).

Answer 5

All it would take would be a simple paper trail that people had access to. But I don't think that's allowed. There must be a simple reason for that too. Also, if you check it out, you'll find that most of our top politicians, and corporate heads are all skull and bones. They came into existence in the 1800's , with the expressed intentions of over throwing the U.S. government. Seems as though they're almost there.

Answer 6

Speeches are given, but you have to find them. They're not usually televised. There are some debates here and there but not enough. As for the "lobbyist" and PACs they're not the evil people think they are. There is a pro-life lobby. A pro-choice lobby. An environmental lobby. These people are the voice of many Americans.

Answer 7

Part of it is to dump the electoral college and have straight votes count.

This shifts emphasis away from garnering a few key states and going for an overall acceptance.

Banish all lobbyists, period.

Term limits for everyone

Answer 8

Ever ask your self why people no longer outstanding sufficient to comprehend some thing are continuously suspect of it? form of like IQ try - you by no skill listen absolutely everyone with a extreme score refuting the validity of the try, in hardship-free words those who're too stupid to comprehend the complexity of its layout.

Answer 9

It is embarassing....respond with your outrage by rfusing to vote for those who would foist a deceit on us...and if all candidates have failed, write in a candidate for that office rather than encourage them with a vote.

The candidates have forgot that they ae working for us, not for heir political parties.

Answer 10

We should no longer have an electoral college, it's outdated. It was for back when it was impractical to count each individual vote from every single colony. We've the technology now. Our individual votes should count for President.