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To your point, in my state, reformers have been able to change our laws to allow RCV, a much easier lift. > ...we really need ... approval/score/range voting

To your point, in my state, reformers have been able to change our laws to allow RCV, a much easier lift. > ...we really need ... approval/score/range voting Agreed. That's been my long time position. That said, per The Democracy Nerd podcast, I'm newly curious about multi-member seats. Which might be a smaller lift in a lot of places. https://xraypod.com/show/democracy-nerd/saving-democracy-in-oregon-1 https://xraypod.com/show/democracy-nerd/saving-democracy-in-... "... Kristin Eberhard from Sightline Institute discusses her proposal to eliminate the state Senate, along with other ideas to save democracy in Oregon." (Sorry, no timestamp.) Eberhard claims that prior to eliminating multimember seats, Illinois' legislature was far more productive, constructive. FWIW, I'm strongly in favor or unicameral legislatures at the state level, and I'm chewing on the notion for the federal level.

AnthonyMouse 6y ago
The purpose of a bicameral legislature is to have a process for placing them in office that sufficiently differs as to allows the bodies to represent distinct interests in the legislature. The US Senate was originally appointed by the state legislatures and intended to represent the interests of the state governments at the federal level -- representation that they no longer have, leading to a massive federal takeover of government. Compare the ratio of tax revenues collected by the state vs. federal governments before and after the 17th amendment. There was a drastic, immediate, permanent shift.
- specialist 6y ago
  Does this mean you support bicameral? In your future perfect PR world: Still bicameral? PR just for House? Replace House & Senate with a parliament? Or do you still want to preserve the vetocracy with a Senate (House of Lords)? What do state, county, city governments look like?

AnthonyMouse 6y ago

The purpose of a bicameral legislature is to have a process for placing them in office that sufficiently differs as to allows the bodies to represent distinct interests in the legislature. The US Senate was originally appointed by the state legislatures and intended to represent the interests of the state governments at the federal level -- representation that they no longer have, leading to a massive federal takeover of government. Compare the ratio of tax revenues collected by the state vs. federal governments before and after the 17th amendment. There was a drastic, immediate, permanent shift.

specialist 6y ago
Does this mean you support bicameral? In your future perfect PR world: Still bicameral? PR just for House? Replace House & Senate with a parliament? Or do you still want to preserve the vetocracy with a Senate (House of Lords)? What do state, county, city governments look like?