Dean Phillips to Primary President Biden

[Sand Dancer]

We need more parties than just R and D. So tired of holding my nose and voting for the lesser to two evils.

 

[Heyo]

We need more parties than just R and D. So tired of holding my nose and voting for the lesser to two evils.

You know that you have just two parties because people vote for the lesser evil, do you?
It's a self fulfilling prophecy to think that you are caught in a dilemma. It's a false dilemma.
There are more parties and there are independents.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

You know that you have just two parties because people vote for the lesser evil, do you?
It's a self fulfilling prophecy to think that you are caught in a dilemma. It's a false dilemma.
There are more parties and there are independents.

Much more preferable might be that we reduce our vote to a tepid act of cosmetic self-righteousness -- particularly if we are unlikely to be adversely affected by the outcome of that vote. On the other hand, if we are concerned about reproductive rights, or LGBTQ+ rights, or the treatment of communities of color, or the epidemic of mass shootings, or any number of other issues, we might want to be reasonably certain that the "lesser evil" candidate wins despite our protest vote.

 

[F1fan]

We need more parties than just R and D. So tired of holding my nose and voting for the lesser to two evils.

Then we need to get rid of the Electoral College, because it would be hard for anyone to win the 270 votes. If we had popular voting, and then a run off if no one gets 50%, that would be a vastly better system. But republicans need the EC to have any chance of winning, so they will resis any change.

You know that you have just two parties because people vote for the lesser evil, do you?
It's a self fulfilling prophecy to think that you are caught in a dilemma. It's a false dilemma.
There are more parties and there are independents.

That's illustrates the dilemma that more options would be less "evil". If there's a thrid party, and a fourth, there will still be the same set of problems we face as a nation, and only so many solutions that will work to fix them. It still comes down to the citizens and how well educated they are, and how stable they are (looking at you, MAGAs). the tea party had it's chance and it was unworkable because they advocated for a government so small that it would bankrupt states and leave a nation in chaos with the welthy running amuck. The Green party is much like European governments, but is too idealistic and unrealistic to be accepted in an angry nation like the USA.

 

[Heyo]

Then we need to get rid of the Electoral College, because it would be hard for anyone to win the 270 votes. If we had popular voting, and then a run off if no one gets 50%, that would be a vastly better system. But republicans need the EC to have any chance of winning, so they will resis any change.

That's illustrates the dilemma that more options would be less "evil". If there's a thrid party, and a fourth, there will still be the same set of problems we face as a nation, and only so many solutions that will work to fix them. It still comes down to the citizens and how well educated they are, and how stable they are (looking at you, MAGAs). the tea party had it's chance and it was unworkable because they advocated for a government so small that it would bankrupt states and leave a nation in chaos with the welthy running amuck. The Green party is much like European governments, but is too idealistic and unrealistic to be accepted in an angry nation like the USA.

It's not the EC that is the problem (in fact, I think it's only fair), the "winner takes all" voting system is. A proportional voting system gives smaller parties and independents a better chance to win at least some seats.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It's not the EC that is the problem (in fact, I think it's only fair), the "winner takes all" voting system is. A proportional voting system gives smaller parties and independents a better chance to win at least some seats.

That can be a mixed blessing. One need only took at the recent history of Israel's Knesset.

BTW, having excluded the EC as a problem, how would you recommend selecting a President (or Prime Minister)?

 

[Heyo]

That can be a mixed blessing. One need only took at the recent history of Israel's Knesset.

BTW, having excluded the EC as a problem, how would you recommend selecting a President (or Prime Minister)?

In the US, the House is supposed to be selected by the people, the Senate by the states and for the president a combination of both results in the EC. That is, at least in principle, a fair arrangement. It is even more directly democratic than what we (and many other countries) have. The Bundeskanzler (Prime Minister) is selected by the parliament (House) so it's an indirect vote.

I don't see the problem in how the PotUS is elected, I do see a problem in the powers they have.