A large part of our problem is the $$$$ (Reply #31)

In the discussion thread: If you could REMAKE the election system FROM SCRATCH what would you create? [View all]

Sat Apr 30, 2016, 05:16 PM

31. A large part of our problem is the $$$$

Longer campaigns means more $$$$ needing to be spent.
(It wouldn't completely eliminate the problem, obviously, but could curtail it somewhat. Look at UK, Australian, and Canadian systems.)

So one way to make a massive dent in the obscene amounts of money being spent is to limit how much time during which there is active campaigning.

It could also help distill campaigns and media coverage of them to their essences. Instead of 24 months of horse-race, like we've seen this past season. More coverage of actual governance and policy and less of the horse-race crap.

Right now, we're basically stuck with 24 months of horse-race in every 8-year-cycle. (Every 4 years if an incumbent is deemed vulnerable.) That's insance.

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56 replies	Author	Time	Post
If you could REMAKE the election system FROM SCRATCH what would you create? [View all]	Baobab	Apr 2016	OP
Bust up the 2 party system. Grow ballot access/public financing/voting holiday/effective oversight.	CentralCoaster	Apr 2016	#1
I can't do that, so I won't speculate about it.	MineralMan	Apr 2016	#2
Blows my mind people want to focus on fantasizing and forget the supreme court.....	bettyellen	Apr 2016	#11
Skinner, comments like this one is why Progressives need their own	JimDandy	Apr 2016	#37
you only need your own site because you prefer to demonize 95% of Dems, and that is not going	bettyellen	Apr 2016	#39
Flat WRONG and again, shame on you!	JimDandy	Apr 2016	#43
I love the brand new congress idea- but this leaves SBS a lame duck for a minimum of two years....	bettyellen	Apr 2016	#44
Then start one, for Pete's sake.	MineralMan	Apr 2016	#54
Off the top of my head:	Chasstev365	Apr 2016	#3
Questions?	Travis_0004	Apr 2016	#45
That's how it's done in the UK!	Chasstev365	Apr 2016	#52
Primary, closed, and proportional. GE open to all and proportional...no winner take all. nt	Jitter65	Apr 2016	#4
Find some monster machine to forever destroy voting machines,	Frustratedlady	Apr 2016	#5
Preferential voting (nt)	JSup	Apr 2016	#6
Yep. IRV/Ranked Choice. Support Fairvote.org	pat_k	Apr 2016	#8
Like the Borda Count, IRV, etc? GOOD IDEA!	Baobab	Apr 2016	#18
by THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE your guy is coming in third. next? nt	msongs	Apr 2016	#7
this thread isnt about that	Baobab	Apr 2016	#23
No closed primaries.	MrsKirkley	Apr 2016	#9
I think that when partes start alienating so many people there really is a need for that.	Baobab	Apr 2016	#25
Cut campaigns down to 3 months	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#10
why?	Baobab	Apr 2016	#22
A large part of our problem is the $$$$	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#31
What about having a vote of no confidence for both candidates and their legislation?	Baobab	Apr 2016	#40
Or less. eom	Blanks	Apr 2016	#32
No party primaries; top vote-winners in initial phase go on to final phase	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#12
I really like that idea. We're being held prisoner by this system that has really been screwing up	Baobab	Apr 2016	#19
I agree about the weighted choices	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#20
start with	italiangirl	Apr 2016	#13
Everybody votes at the same time--no stretched out elections season lasting months	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#14
Automatically registered to vote for Pres/VP at birth or upon naturalization	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#15
wouldnt that create an incentive to criminalize things that poor people did to make them non-voters?	Baobab	Apr 2016	#16
Homeless voters can vote anywhere--for Pres/VP	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#24
We need a way to limit spending--Thoughts?	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#17
In theory, the Internet could solve the problem of candidates needing to spend money.	Baobab	Apr 2016	#21
But internet access isn't a right & not everyone has equal access	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#27
I'd add to what we have: Automatic voter registration	LadyHawkAZ	Apr 2016	#26
Mandatory civics classes--what a novel idea!	TheDormouse	Apr 2016	#33
An uninformed constituency is much easier to control n/t	LadyHawkAZ	Apr 2016	#48
Replace the Senate voting system with one based on the Penrose method	muriel_volestrangler	Apr 2016	#28
Look at Vermont.	DamnYankeeInHouston	Apr 2016	#29
Verifiable ballots.	hobbit709	Apr 2016	#30
Direct voting on most major bills by highly secure, verifiable web balloting.	leveymg	Apr 2016	#34
Direct voting on most major bills by highly secure, verifiable web balloting.	leveymg	Apr 2016	#35
See, there, I just voted twice. ;-)	leveymg	Apr 2016	#36
This is a GD subject matter, not GDP. Good post, though and you're getting some thoughtful answers.	JimDandy	Apr 2016	#38
I'd create a Westminster style system of government...	Violet_Crumble	Apr 2016	#41
My DREAM Election System	Kip Humphrey	Apr 2016	#42
election voting open to ALL, candidates get FREE media in EQUAL amounts. no OUTSIDE MONEY.	pansypoo53219	Apr 2016	#46
I'd go back 40 years and insert a law into the books requiring a CIVICS course for HS graduation.	cherokeeprogressive	Apr 2016	#47
"Must be a member of the Democratic Party for one full year to be eligible to run"	Tarc	Apr 2016	#49
The topic is about something bigger than Hillary supporters being bitter that someone dared	cui bono	Apr 2016	#51
I will comment on the topic as I see fit, bro	Tarc	Apr 2016	#55
One person, one vote in a representative system	The Second Stone	Apr 2016	#50
Plain & simple. Everyone is registered to vote when they:	napi21	Apr 2016	#53
This:	LWolf	Apr 2016	#56

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