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A new federal government would require control by somebody other than Democrats and Republicans, otherwise it's just more of the same. However the US system of

A new federal government would require control by somebody other than Democrats and Republicans, otherwise it's just more of the same. However the US system of elections makes it very difficult to escape from a two party system. As for size and scope of the federal government, that's surely been decided by elected representatives according to the procedures of the constitution?

gcv 13y ago
An amendment eliminating the Electoral College would go a long way towards fixing the problems outlined in TFA. The Constitution is largely very good, but it unintentionally created a de-facto two party system. With the executive branch free from that sort of nonsense, it may be that the legislature will right itself.
- LammyL 13y ago
  States are already half way there at eliminating the electoral college with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > An amendment eliminating the Electoral College would go a long way towards fixing the problems outlined in TFA. No, it wouldn't. > The Constitution is largely very good, but it unintentionally created a de-facto two party system. With the executive branch free from that sort of nonsense, it may be that the legislature will right itself. Not really; the EC isn't the key feature of the electoral system that produces a two party system, and the features that are -- the fact that most elections, and particularly those for the Congress, are by plurality or majority-runoff methods -- is nowhere in the Constitution, but is the product of statute (and, largely, state statutes.)
  - gcv 13y ago
    Fair point. How about an additional amendment spelling out an alternative method for elections to the legislative branch? Do away with plurality and introduce enumerated preferences?
    - dragonwriter 13y ago
      Personally, I'd prefer no federal Constitutional amendments on the issue, and eliminating the federal statutory barriers to candidate-centered proportional representation, and then letting states try different approaches using preference voting, both in single and multimember districts, before imposing a specific uniform national approach as a Constitutional requirement. First, because its a lot easier to achieve politically, and second, because while I've got pretty clear ideas of both the legislative and executive approaches I think would be best, I don't think its a big enough change that there is plenty of reason to be cautious in imposing a uniform national mandatory rule.

gcv 13y ago

An amendment eliminating the Electoral College would go a long way towards fixing the problems outlined in TFA. The Constitution is largely very good, but it unintentionally created a de-facto two party system. With the executive branch free from that sort of nonsense, it may be that the legislature will right itself.

LammyL 13y ago
States are already half way there at eliminating the electoral college with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
dragonwriter 13y ago
> An amendment eliminating the Electoral College would go a long way towards fixing the problems outlined in TFA. No, it wouldn't. > The Constitution is largely very good, but it unintentionally created a de-facto two party system. With the executive branch free from that sort of nonsense, it may be that the legislature will right itself. Not really; the EC isn't the key feature of the electoral system that produces a two party system, and the features that are -- the fact that most elections, and particularly those for the Congress, are by plurality or majority-runoff methods -- is nowhere in the Constitution, but is the product of statute (and, largely, state statutes.)
- gcv 13y ago
  Fair point. How about an additional amendment spelling out an alternative method for elections to the legislative branch? Do away with plurality and introduce enumerated preferences?
  - dragonwriter 13y ago
    Personally, I'd prefer no federal Constitutional amendments on the issue, and eliminating the federal statutory barriers to candidate-centered proportional representation, and then letting states try different approaches using preference voting, both in single and multimember districts, before imposing a specific uniform national approach as a Constitutional requirement. First, because its a lot easier to achieve politically, and second, because while I've got pretty clear ideas of both the legislative and executive approaches I think would be best, I don't think its a big enough change that there is plenty of reason to be cautious in imposing a uniform national mandatory rule.