And one example I would give is (and I don’t know this as a fact) most people want term limits for Congressmen. But there is no Congressmen that would vote for just a bill. Which would influence the assessment you made. No matter who we vote for there will not be term limits for Congressmen.
I think that ranked choice voting is the one proven method that reduces the "party effect" and requires voters to consider the individual candidates as opposed to just hitting the party button. If implemented on a national level, it would soon weed out the extremists now dominating our elections. My two cents.
It’s assumed that "Voters no longer choose among candidates. They choose among parties.” is a negative development.
It’s not.
Parliamentary systems always vote for a party. The Prime Minister is simply the leader of that party.
That means that when a party wins an election they set the agenda and it’s fairly sure to be able to enact their agenda. No midterm that usually has congress moving away from the party of the president, that many times is elected with a majority in Congress.
Basically, our system promotes 16 months (at most) of actual governing. Then, 24 months of gridlock until the next residential election. What insanity.
The split of parties between president and congress ensures that little gets done.
I wish that more people would vote for a party and give up on the false idea that they “vote for a person”. That, and our insane system almost assures gridlock.
Thanks for data, which I love to analyze the reality of the voting public.
Having been in institutional investment communications for three decades, I learned that "emotional" messaging is more effective than "Let me 'splain this to you," (a la Ricky Ricardo) and "Just the facts, Ma'am. (a la Joe Friday).
People don't give a sheet about the facts that are effecting their way of life.
They want to feel good that their "side", "team", or "cadre" are winners OR victimized by their opposition.
Interesting. The last chart looks like a depiction of cell division from a biology text book. we have essentially destroyed the moderate politician within my lifetime.
The media contribute to this by defining as newsworthy the most extreme politicians from both sides. Why are congresspersons like AOC and Matt Gaetz famous, while Don Bacon and Jared Golden are obscure? Because the former incite controversy and the latter seek compromise, and because controversy is reported and compromise is not.
Take it a step further: which party is willing to compromise and "work across the aisle" and which party treats "compromise" as a dirty word at best and utter treason at worse? The two parties are NOT the same nor are they mirror images. Just compare the fates of Enrique Cuellar (D-TX) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) in the last cycle.
And one example I would give is (and I don’t know this as a fact) most people want term limits for Congressmen. But there is no Congressmen that would vote for just a bill. Which would influence the assessment you made. No matter who we vote for there will not be term limits for Congressmen.
Hmmmm. I think there is more to that story.
I think that ranked choice voting is the one proven method that reduces the "party effect" and requires voters to consider the individual candidates as opposed to just hitting the party button. If implemented on a national level, it would soon weed out the extremists now dominating our elections. My two cents.
It’s assumed that "Voters no longer choose among candidates. They choose among parties.” is a negative development.
It’s not.
Parliamentary systems always vote for a party. The Prime Minister is simply the leader of that party.
That means that when a party wins an election they set the agenda and it’s fairly sure to be able to enact their agenda. No midterm that usually has congress moving away from the party of the president, that many times is elected with a majority in Congress.
Basically, our system promotes 16 months (at most) of actual governing. Then, 24 months of gridlock until the next residential election. What insanity.
The split of parties between president and congress ensures that little gets done.
I wish that more people would vote for a party and give up on the false idea that they “vote for a person”. That, and our insane system almost assures gridlock.
Cristo,
Thanks for data, which I love to analyze the reality of the voting public.
Having been in institutional investment communications for three decades, I learned that "emotional" messaging is more effective than "Let me 'splain this to you," (a la Ricky Ricardo) and "Just the facts, Ma'am. (a la Joe Friday).
People don't give a sheet about the facts that are effecting their way of life.
They want to feel good that their "side", "team", or "cadre" are winners OR victimized by their opposition.
Interesting. The last chart looks like a depiction of cell division from a biology text book. we have essentially destroyed the moderate politician within my lifetime.
Wow, thank you for this!
The media contribute to this by defining as newsworthy the most extreme politicians from both sides. Why are congresspersons like AOC and Matt Gaetz famous, while Don Bacon and Jared Golden are obscure? Because the former incite controversy and the latter seek compromise, and because controversy is reported and compromise is not.
Take it a step further: which party is willing to compromise and "work across the aisle" and which party treats "compromise" as a dirty word at best and utter treason at worse? The two parties are NOT the same nor are they mirror images. Just compare the fates of Enrique Cuellar (D-TX) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) in the last cycle.