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Martin Eden

(12,839 posts)
8. Campaign Finance is the biggest reform, but several others are needed:
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 11:18 AM
Jul 2013
Voter enfranchisement Universal voter registration with no impediments to voting. If voter ID is necessary, obtaining it should in no way prohibit or discourage legal voters. Make election day a holiday, or provide those who voted with a stub that entitles them to a day (or half-day) off work.

Accurate & Secure Balloting Standard voting machines that accurately record voter intent, and can be checked without being hacked.

End Gerrymandering Congressional districts must be drawn by logical geographic boundaries, not engineered for electoral outcomes by the political party in power.

Eliminate the Electoral College It's an anachronism that makes one vote in a small state equivalent to several votes in a large state. Candidates focus their campaigns on a few battleground states in the winner-take-all system, while voters in states where the outcome is assured have little incentive to vote.

Intant Runoff Voting (Ranked Choice) allows voters to select several candidates in order of preference. When their #1 choice is eliminated, their vote applies to 2nd choice. Citizens could vote for the 3rd-party candidate they like best without aiding the major party candidate they rank last (think Florida 2000).

Reform Campaign Financing (as stated in the OP) and also reform presidential campaigns. Limit the time span of the campaign season (goes on for more than a year) and provide voters with better information by changing the debate format. 2 minute answers are little more than slogans, and lies go unchallenged by the moderators who are angling for controversial "gotcha" questions & answers.
Yes - Well Said cantbeserious Jul 2013 #1
If I had to pick one root cause of the death of Ameircan Democracy 90-percent Jul 2013 #2
Yes. The saddest thing of all are the good guys that get corrupted by Big Moneyafter years in office reformist2 Jul 2013 #14
K&R pscot Jul 2013 #3
Absolutely. Brigid Jul 2013 #4
I can definatly agree with this. nt Arctic Dave Jul 2013 #5
that's long been obvious stupidicus Jul 2013 #6
So true, the money in politics is obscene. One billion or more now to get elected to the WH. sabrina 1 Jul 2013 #7
Campaign Finance is the biggest reform, but several others are needed: Martin Eden Jul 2013 #8
No, its not that simple cprise Jul 2013 #9
K & R SunSeeker Jul 2013 #10
Behind the scene ...they can make deals to get high pay jobs after they leave office. L0oniX Jul 2013 #11
no heaven05 Jul 2013 #12
I'm skeptical that changing election finance laws will help much limpyhobbler Jul 2013 #13
I absolutely agree, but with this request: bvar22 Jul 2013 #15
Agreed 90-percent Jul 2013 #20
Actually, I quite like the phrase "wealth redistribution" - it's exactly what needs to be done. reformist2 Jul 2013 #28
Go ahead and beat your head against the wall, bvar22 Jul 2013 #30
EXACTLY! KauaiK Jul 2013 #16
Its Certainly Possible ShawnRIN Jul 2013 #17
+1 Shankapotomus Jul 2013 #27
Great thread. Threads like this are why I love DU Rec'd n/t Catherina Jul 2013 #18
++ Be a start. n/t DirkGently Jul 2013 #19
K&R BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #21
The Drug War is the keystone. gulliver Jul 2013 #22
+ My household. n/t truedelphi Jul 2013 #24
It cannot happen with this Roberts Court. reusrename Jul 2013 #23
no doubt! that is the single biggest contaminant that poisons the democratic process Douglas Carpenter Jul 2013 #25
Well said! djean111 Jul 2013 #26
Huge K&R, with suggestion... OneGrassRoot Jul 2013 #29
Agreed. (no text) Quantess Jul 2013 #31
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