Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: We can go on and on about NSA spying, wars, budget cuts, the decline of the middle class... [View all]Martin Eden
(12,847 posts)8. Campaign Finance is the biggest reform, but several others are needed:
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.
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.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
31 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
We can go on and on about NSA spying, wars, budget cuts, the decline of the middle class... [View all]
reformist2
Jul 2013
OP
Yes. The saddest thing of all are the good guys that get corrupted by Big Moneyafter years in office
reformist2
Jul 2013
#14
So true, the money in politics is obscene. One billion or more now to get elected to the WH.
sabrina 1
Jul 2013
#7
Behind the scene ...they can make deals to get high pay jobs after they leave office.
L0oniX
Jul 2013
#11
Actually, I quite like the phrase "wealth redistribution" - it's exactly what needs to be done.
reformist2
Jul 2013
#28
no doubt! that is the single biggest contaminant that poisons the democratic process
Douglas Carpenter
Jul 2013
#25