http://korrvalues.com/2008/02/12/can-we-have-some-actual-democracy-please/ "Other things deserve blogs too" Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:37:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://korrvalues.com/2008/02/12/can-we-have-some-actual-democracy-please/#comment-7 Josh Korr Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:28:37 +0000 http://korrvalues.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/can-we-have-some-actual-democracy-please/#comment-7 Viva instant-runoff voting!! Viva instant-runoff voting!!

]]> http://korrvalues.com/2008/02/12/can-we-have-some-actual-democracy-please/#comment-6 J L Korr Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:29:52 +0000 http://korrvalues.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/can-we-have-some-actual-democracy-please/#comment-6 In many ways the system is not set up to actually enable the electorate to vote. Both major parties could easily enact major changes if they really wanted people to vote. Since they don't, we have such democratic innovations as elections limited to certain hours on a single weekday, and winner-take-all elections in all but two states in which everyone who votes for losing candidates gets shut out completely. These obvious problems have obvious solutions, but few backers. We'll know we have a system that cares about enfranchisement and fairness when the winner of a close election demands a recount. I'm still waiting. In many ways the system is not set up to actually enable the electorate to vote. Both major parties could easily enact major changes if they really wanted people to vote. Since they don’t, we have such democratic innovations as elections limited to certain hours on a single weekday, and winner-take-all elections in all but two states in which everyone who votes for losing candidates gets shut out completely. These obvious problems have obvious solutions, but few backers. We’ll know we have a system that cares about enfranchisement and fairness when the winner of a close election demands a recount. I’m still waiting.

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