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My take on a more dynamic election system is to set up a window during which primaries/caucuses may be held, then allow the states/districts/&c. to choose a dat
by WillAdams 2y ago
My take on a more dynamic election system is to set up a window during which primaries/caucuses may be held, then allow the states/districts/&c. to choose a date based on their metrics from the previous election --- in particular voter registration percentage (this would probably get everywhere to do motor voter) and voter turnout percentage --- no choosing the same or adjacent dates.
I think it'd be awesome to have a little variety in initial primary settings EDIT: and for the ordering to be dynamic and to change from cycle-to-cycle.
The other thing to do would be to rate limit donations --- corporations are people? Money is speech? Fine. Set the maximum donation to be some multiple of the current Federal minimum wage (about what one could reasonably expect an individual to donate) and each political donation must be done individually in that amount, and any donation after the first must be done as a printed check mailed in a first-class envelope with a handwritten note explaining what the donation is for.
- creato 2y agoDirect political donations are already limited in amount to a fairly small amount. Where things get messy is trying to limit contributions to “independent” groups making political comments. We obviously don’t limit donations to groups making a movie or publishing a newspaper. How do you propose doing so? Would you limit the size of a donation to Wikipedia? I personally don’t like the outcome of the citizens united case, but I can’t argue with the case itself.
- WillAdams 2y agoNot seeing much limiting at: https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/biggest-donors https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/biggest-donor... Wikipedia is a non-profit organization, not a political action committee.
- creato 2y agoThose numbers include contributions to PACs, which was the point. It was also my point that it isn’t obvious how to limit donations to groups publishing information, such as Wikipedia. Today, PACs have a carveout that distinguishes them from organizations like Wikipedia or propublica, but not in a way that limits contributions. Those organizations would be the subject of lawsuits and scrutiny that would be hard to codify in a reasonable way if that were not the case.
- WillAdams 2y agoIt's my point too --- we need some law which will pass muster and rate limit such contributions.