We need election reform in the US (hat-tip to AMERICAblog):
Last week's elections had many examples of voting problems -- none more glaring than the serious issues in Florida's 13th Congressional District with 18,000+ not showing up. There is legislation to address the problem and it already has enough support to pass in the House. The Democrats should include this bill (HR 550) in the first 100 hours plan, or at least the 2nd 100 hours. Let the GOP be on the wrong side of clean elections if they don't like it...
I think there needs to be reform not only on the technical areas of an election, but much of the system — from districting to the electoral college to voting machines to campaign finance — need needs to be revamped and, if possible, replaced, or, in the case of the technical issue of voting machines, reverted. I know for a fact that former President Jimmy Carter has called for the abolishment of the electoral college. My view is that the head of state should be directly elected, the lower house also directly elected (ironically the lower house often ends up being more powerful), and the upper house being indirectly elected. Either that system or one similar to that of France: directly elect them all. Since the US Congress is not fashioned in a true upper/lower house fashion (because of its non-royal/monarchical origins), that may be the way to go.
technorati tags: americablog, news, politics, usa, united+states, florida, democrats, house, congress, current+events, election, elections, election+reform
No comments:
Post a Comment