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> support of roughly 50% of the population "Didn't vote" was roughly 43% of eligible voters. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were only able to garner support

> support of roughly 50% of the population "Didn't vote" was roughly 43% of eligible voters. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were only able to garner support around 26% each. Thus, it's not like either party is close to having a mandate of "50% of the population". I'd guesstimate it's more like a third. http://brilliantmaps.com/did-not-vote/ http://brilliantmaps.com/did-not-vote/ What's scary is that none of the modern US presidents haven't really gotten close to 50% at all, so you can never say any of the recent US presidents represents the interests of "most Americans". It's more like, "represents a vocal minority". And thus, a vocal minority can elect a figure who can run roughshod over the entire system. I'd wonder, however, if a system exists where elected leaders regularly obtain the direct approval (i.e., vote) of 50% of all eligible voters. I'm pretty sure the US system isn't it, and won't ever be.

TheCoelacanth 10y ago
Why should we care about someone's opinion if they can't even bother to spend 30 minutes every two years to express it?
- mr_tristan 10y ago
  Um... because that person might actually lose their job or a significant portion of their income in order to "express their opinion". In many places lines were several hours long. If you're a hourly employee working retail, there is no guarantee or protection that your boss must give you time off to wait in line to vote. Or must pay you for that time because the election system can't get their act together and ensure everyone can do it in anywhere near 15 minutes. As a resident of OR, where all votes are done by mail, I am baffled why the entire country doesn't vote by mail. If that were the case, I'd predict at least a 5% jump in activity: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2012/1106/Voter-turnout-the-6-states-that-rank-highest-and-why/Oregon http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2012/1106/Voter-turno...

TheCoelacanth 10y ago

Why should we care about someone's opinion if they can't even bother to spend 30 minutes every two years to express it?

mr_tristan 10y ago
Um... because that person might actually lose their job or a significant portion of their income in order to "express their opinion". In many places lines were several hours long. If you're a hourly employee working retail, there is no guarantee or protection that your boss must give you time off to wait in line to vote. Or must pay you for that time because the election system can't get their act together and ensure everyone can do it in anywhere near 15 minutes. As a resident of OR, where all votes are done by mail, I am baffled why the entire country doesn't vote by mail. If that were the case, I'd predict at least a 5% jump in activity: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2012/1106/Voter-turnout-the-6-states-that-rank-highest-and-why/Oregon http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2012/1106/Voter-turno...