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The single most important issue in the US is getting our elections to be on the same date for all levels. The nonsense that is "democratically" voted for in el
by ticviking 5y ago
The single most important issue in the US is getting our elections to be on the same date for all levels.
The nonsense that is "democratically" voted for in elections where a handful of interested parties vote for it and no one else knows it happens is astonishing. Especially for judges and infrastructure bonds.
- Larrikin 5y agoIt seems like it should be a requirement and very easy for state and local governments to publish calendars. I did a quick search and was excited that Chicago published an iCal until I looked and saw that there were zero items on the calendar going forward or backward six months https://chicagoelections.gov/en/calendar.html https://chicagoelections.gov/en/calendar.html
- mannerheim 5y agoMost countries don't elect judges or prosecutors. Seems like a case where less democracy is desirable rather than more. https://www.thedailybeast.com/its-too-dangerous-to-elect-prosecutors https://www.thedailybeast.com/its-too-dangerous-to-elect-pro...
- nhoughto 5y agoyeah seems like a strange thing to want to turn into a popularity contest.
- gnopgnip 5y agoThe alternative to being elected is they are (effectively) appointed by the elected officials. Either system has tradeoffs.
- Ekaros 5y agoWhy should elected officials have any say who is in judiciary branch any attempt should be shotdown and maybe get attempters shot. It's clear way to corruption.
- Thlom 5y agoI don't know, in most countries judges are appointed by the government after advise from independent advisory boards. Then again, in most countries judges have a lot less power than what it seems like they do in the US and the legal system is not a political battleground.
- ticviking 5y agoThe US has a really quite unique judicial system, and in many ways ultimate sovereignty of the USA resides in the Supreme court. That power has filtered down to lower courts who make various rulings that will shape what things the higher courts consider on appeal.
- Retric 5y agoCourts can say whatever they like, it comes down to the executive branch to enforce it.
- ticviking 5y agoThe courts are the ultimate source of legitimacy. Every time an executive defies the courts they erode the basis of their own power, and their public image as a legitimate executive. Look at what actually happens to executives who defy the courts. The level and types of protest people feel are legitimate increases dramatically. Once the court said that "well technically the emergency order only lasts for 30 days" the anti-mask brigade was much more vocal and flagrant about it.
- Retric 5y agoFree and fair elections are the ultimate source of legitimacy. The courts have maintained good publicity in our rigged system, but they don’t have any inherent legitimacy of their own.
- namelessoracle 5y agoIts a double edged sword. Do you think the people of say Atlanta want all their judges appointed for them by the party that controls Georgia legislature?
- sobani 5y agoOf course you don't want the legislative or executive branch to appoint members of the judicial branch. All three branches are supposed to be strictly separate from each other. If you did allow the other branches to appoint judges, the bench would obviously become stuffed based on who's currently in power.
- ticviking 5y agoAnd yet that's what the US does.
- pjc50 5y agoBut it's the same electorate! So it's likely to be the same party?
- ticviking 5y agoOften the Party and the electorate have differing goals. As a general rule the Republican Party didn't particularly like Trump, but the Republican electorate adores him. Likewise the Democratic Party really likes Biden, but my general feeling from Democratic voter was, "we'd rather Bernie or Yang, but have have to dump Trump."
- mannerheim 5y agoBiden got an absolute majority of the Democratic primary vote. Sanders got half that, and Yang's share was minuscule.