Welcome to Australian politics! This happens on both sides of politics (although one side is more formal about it than the other). On the right side of politics we have the supposedly centre-right...
But this is easy to solve, and it can be done in three steps:
Form a breakaway party of Democratic-Socialists to end our current farce.
Institute ranked choice voting.
In Congress, progressives and Democrats caucus together.
Welcome to Australian politics! This happens on both sides of politics (although one side is more formal about it than the other).
On the right side of politics we have the supposedly centre-right Liberal Party and the more right-wing National Party in a formal coalition, complete with a written coalition agreement. They agree not to compete with each other in elections (mostly), so that each electorate has either a Liberal candidate or a Nationals candidate, but not both (mostly).
On the left side of politics, we have the centre-left Labor Party and the more left-wing Greens. They compete with each other, and Labor fears the Greens. However, they have worked together in coalition governments at both the state and federal levels when circumstances required.
Now, maybe this is naive. Ranked choice voting might not spawn an immediate third party
It has done so here in Australia. In fact, ranked choice voting (or "preferential voting", as we call it) supports multiple minor parties here in Australia - especially in the Senate, where we also have proportional voting.
Now, this fix is so simple that it cannot possibly be endorsed with enthusiasm by the leadership of our major parties. Republicans will hate it, and so will powerful Democrats, because ranked choice voting necessarily erodes entrenched majorities.
Exactly.
Over the past 60 years or so, the vote for minor parties and independents at Australian federal elections has gradually trended upwards (even though this hasn't always translated to increased representation by those candidates in the parliament). [EDITED to provide link to original source for graph, rather than secondary source.] That graph ends at the 2013 election. In that election, the "two" major parties (the Liberal-National coalition and the Labor Party) got a combined vote of 78.93%. Since then, the trend has continued:
2013 election: 78.93% combined vote for the major parties.
2016 election: 76.77% combined vote for the major parties.
2019 election: 74.78% combined vote for the major parties.
The lacklustre performance of the two major parties, combined with preferential voting, is leading to more Australians voting for minor parties and independents. The Liberal and National parties got around this by joining in a formal coalition. However, there are parties and candidates who are even further out on the right wing than them, who nibble at their vote from the right-wing fringe. Meanwhile, on the left wing, Labor fears the Greens because the Greens are taking votes from Labor's left.
A preferential voting system in the USA can and will allow minor parties to enter the American political landscape.
best and easiest bet in the immediate term would most likely to be to get involved with groups like fairvote, who are advocates of alternative voting systems.
best and easiest bet in the immediate term would most likely to be to get involved with groups like fairvote, who are advocates of alternative voting systems.
Oddly, when I click my state (Washington) to get involved, it opens up a blank Chrome browser (I use Firefox and have that set as default, though I do have Chrome installed). I did see there was a...
Oddly, when I click my state (Washington) to get involved, it opens up a blank Chrome browser (I use Firefox and have that set as default, though I do have Chrome installed). I did see there was a place to email, I'll do that. Thanks!
This problem is what distresses me MOST about the primaries. I feel confident Trump won't see a second term, no matter the dem nom (knock on wood). But the thought of Biden getting the nomination...
This problem is what distresses me MOST about the primaries. I feel confident Trump won't see a second term, no matter the dem nom (knock on wood). But the thought of Biden getting the nomination and my having to vote for him in the general makes me as upset or more than when I had to cast the ballot for Hillary.
I really want Bernie. I wouldn't hate Warren. But I do freaking hate that I have to make an explicit choice between them like this.
I just feel SO frustrated with our entire election process. The length of campaigning, no ranked choice, and the goddamn electoral college. I'm so sick of it.
Welcome to Australian politics! This happens on both sides of politics (although one side is more formal about it than the other).
On the right side of politics we have the supposedly centre-right Liberal Party and the more right-wing National Party in a formal coalition, complete with a written coalition agreement. They agree not to compete with each other in elections (mostly), so that each electorate has either a Liberal candidate or a Nationals candidate, but not both (mostly).
On the left side of politics, we have the centre-left Labor Party and the more left-wing Greens. They compete with each other, and Labor fears the Greens. However, they have worked together in coalition governments at both the state and federal levels when circumstances required.
It has done so here in Australia. In fact, ranked choice voting (or "preferential voting", as we call it) supports multiple minor parties here in Australia - especially in the Senate, where we also have proportional voting.
Exactly.
Over the past 60 years or so, the vote for minor parties and independents at Australian federal elections has gradually trended upwards (even though this hasn't always translated to increased representation by those candidates in the parliament). [EDITED to provide link to original source for graph, rather than secondary source.] That graph ends at the 2013 election. In that election, the "two" major parties (the Liberal-National coalition and the Labor Party) got a combined vote of 78.93%. Since then, the trend has continued:
2013 election: 78.93% combined vote for the major parties.
2016 election: 76.77% combined vote for the major parties.
2019 election: 74.78% combined vote for the major parties.
The lacklustre performance of the two major parties, combined with preferential voting, is leading to more Australians voting for minor parties and independents. The Liberal and National parties got around this by joining in a formal coalition. However, there are parties and candidates who are even further out on the right wing than them, who nibble at their vote from the right-wing fringe. Meanwhile, on the left wing, Labor fears the Greens because the Greens are taking votes from Labor's left.
A preferential voting system in the USA can and will allow minor parties to enter the American political landscape.
I've long thought that this is the way we should do things, but I don't know how to make it happen. What can I do?
best and easiest bet in the immediate term would most likely to be to get involved with groups like fairvote, who are advocates of alternative voting systems.
Oddly, when I click my state (Washington) to get involved, it opens up a blank Chrome browser (I use Firefox and have that set as default, though I do have Chrome installed). I did see there was a place to email, I'll do that. Thanks!
This problem is what distresses me MOST about the primaries. I feel confident Trump won't see a second term, no matter the dem nom (knock on wood). But the thought of Biden getting the nomination and my having to vote for him in the general makes me as upset or more than when I had to cast the ballot for Hillary.
I really want Bernie. I wouldn't hate Warren. But I do freaking hate that I have to make an explicit choice between them like this.
I just feel SO frustrated with our entire election process. The length of campaigning, no ranked choice, and the goddamn electoral college. I'm so sick of it.