| Super Moderator  Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seattle (grew up around D.C.) Gender:  Posts: 8,491 Country:  Points: 27,237, Level: 97 | Level up: 89%, 113 Points needed |  |  Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxian  Well, first, I think too much emphasis is placed on having a diverse set of candidates and elected officials. It does not particularly bother me that less women or minorities are in office. I mean, I'd like those groups to have their fair share of political officials, sure. But that's not at all the problem I'm trying to solve. I'm trying to get good candidates in office, not a diverse pool of candidates. |
What?!? A diverse set of candidates is absolutely critical to shake up the monopoly two party system. And women and minorities absolutely need more representation in our government. This is critical. Having a diverse set of candidates will lead to more "good" candidates in office. Just eliminating the spoiler vote syndrome will lead to better candidates. Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxian The same thing goes with a variety of political ideologies. I don't want everybody to have a very different viewpoint; I want everybody that have the correct viewpoint. | What the hell is the correct viewpoint? Having a variety of political ideologies in a place as diverse as America would only be natural and healthy for democracy. Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxian Voter participation also doesn't matter as much either, for more votes doesn't equate to better candidates. | What?!? High voter turnout is absolutely necessary for a healthy democracy. People feel so disfranchised with our two party system they don't even bother anymore. IRV and PR is a great cure for this phenomenon. Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxian Remember, my suggestion is that we remove the decision from the rather uninformed common person, and we move it to people who have dedicated time to understanding politics. | This is absolutely the wrong direction/thinking. By making the system engaging and fair people will begin to inform themselves as they will feel that their vote counts for something again. This is why we see high turnout in countries with such a system. And who the hell is to say who is qualified to vote? That is bullocks. A democracy includes everyone... even those you consider an idiot. Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxian So as you may be seeing, I think the root problem is really that people are not informed about good political theory, and because of this, the wrong people get elected. | People are not informed because they feel their vote doesn't count for shit. IRV or PR could cure this and bring politics back to the people and away from this "elite" group that has hijacked our democracy. --- help me Instant Runoff Voting, you're my only hope --- "There is no such thing as laziness. Laziness is only lack of incentive." Norman Reider, MD
Morality is not contingent on religion to exist. Therefore religion only detracts from the purity of morality. |