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That seems... unlikely.... Joel Send a noteboard - 08/03/2012 03:03:54 PM
The validity of the complaint matters a great deal to whether we or anyone should credit it; in this case, that means we should not. There is a good argument for Norway using leveling seats and extra seats for specific regions (they do not repeat a re-apportionment nightmare in 50 states each decade) to distribute power and prevent individual tyrants. There is an argument for Britain doing so by essentially making the Speaker of the House also President (though if anything that just unwisely concentrates power.) There is NO argument America should elect the president by direct national popular vote like Britain, because neither it nor any European country of which I am aware does so.

The French elect their president by direct national popular vote - and when the president's party also controls the French parliament, he's a pretty powerful man. (When it doesn't, he's not - their system is interesting that way, in most other countries the respective powers of president and PM, assuming both functions exist, are well-delineated and clear regardless of which party holds which.)

Of course, the French election system does have two rounds (if no candidate gets 50% of the vote in the first round, there's a second round between the two candidates with the most votes), which can backfire spectacularly like in 2002 when the far-right candidate snuck into the second round, the socialist candidate having lost too many votes to the various communist parties (yes, France has multiple communist parties...). Chirac got a record landslide victory in the second round as a result, but it was hardly something to be proud of. In short, not exactly a system anyone would want to imitate. :P

Yet another argument for Instant Runoff Voting (or Preferential Voting, of one prefers.) Personally, I would prefer America institute that and let everyone vote in both primaries, but do not expect either to happen soon.

I'm rather puzzled by your comment about the British Speaker of the House being President... what did you mean by that?

I did qualify that slightly, but I meant the PM is the head of government as well as of the legislature. That makes implementing checks and balances harder.
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Now That Romney Is Officially the Republican Presidential Nominee: Pick the President! Joel - 29/02/2012 08:29:02 PM 2248 Views
I agree Romney will be the candidate. Tom - 29/02/2012 08:54:52 PM 956 Views
I would say the math favors Romney over Obama, but it will probably be close either way. Joel - 01/03/2012 03:37:52 PM 1053 Views
I have never understood the point of the Electoral College. Tim - 29/02/2012 11:39:11 PM 1025 Views
You don't think like a politician then Isaac - 01/03/2012 12:38:36 AM 1088 Views
I certainly hadn't considered much of that. I'm glad you posted it. *NM* Ghavrel - 01/03/2012 07:15:03 AM 487 Views
I also have not seen most of that mentioned in the popular vs. electoral debate. Joel - 01/03/2012 02:34:31 PM 980 Views
what about one vote one value? wadsy - 02/03/2012 11:51:32 PM 1151 Views
That has not really changed. Joel - 03/03/2012 03:30:34 AM 1262 Views
a bit simplistic and unrealistic wadsy - 02/03/2012 11:44:02 PM 1018 Views
When illustrating a point realism is not required and simplicity is a plus Isaac - 03/03/2012 03:04:26 AM 1063 Views
I have a couple quibbles. Joel - 03/03/2012 05:23:46 AM 1076 Views
Oh, certainly, I'm over-generalizing but I was already getting long-winded Isaac - 03/03/2012 06:52:04 AM 999 Views
I hate when people do that. Joel - 05/03/2012 09:49:36 AM 1036 Views
What a bunch of waffle! wadsy - 03/03/2012 10:47:19 AM 1186 Views
First you complain of simplicity then of my lack of brevity? Isaac - 03/03/2012 11:18:11 AM 916 Views
A simplistic argument doesn't mean it's brief *NM* wadsy - 03/03/2012 09:55:51 PM 495 Views
Also I don't like this refrain that implies only the POTUS vote matters Isaac - 03/03/2012 03:29:58 AM 1220 Views
IMHO, parliaments choosing prime ministers is LESS democratic than the electoral college. Joel - 03/03/2012 05:57:41 AM 991 Views
Re: IMHO, parliaments choosing prime ministers is LESS democratic than the electoral college. Isaac - 03/03/2012 07:02:30 AM 1037 Views
*is learning* Joel - 04/03/2012 09:49:42 PM 982 Views
Re: *is learning* Isaac - 04/03/2012 09:56:16 PM 1032 Views
To the extent I can (yet again) claim to speak for Europeans... Legolas - 04/03/2012 10:33:01 PM 980 Views
I've fairly limited exposure and that from some years back Isaac - 04/03/2012 11:35:12 PM 1096 Views
Re: *is learning* Joel - 05/03/2012 12:08:08 AM 1070 Views
You could imitate the French. Legolas - 07/03/2012 10:40:16 PM 981 Views
That seems... unlikely.... Joel - 08/03/2012 03:03:54 PM 997 Views
It does, doesn't it? Legolas - 08/03/2012 06:11:08 PM 1163 Views
After I thought about it more, I realized France and the US are not so different in that respect. Joel - 08/03/2012 08:51:03 PM 955 Views
More similar than the other major Western democracies at least, agreed. Legolas - 08/03/2012 09:32:55 PM 953 Views
I did not realize lack of a parliamentary majority dictated his cabinet. Joel - 09/03/2012 12:27:31 AM 1031 Views
I don't know much about Norwegian politics, but you seem to be wrong. Legolas - 03/03/2012 06:18:08 PM 1026 Views
Do you happen to have that link, please? Joel - 03/03/2012 06:46:31 PM 907 Views
Sure. Legolas - 03/03/2012 06:58:07 PM 1138 Views
Guess we did not read far enough. Joel - 03/03/2012 10:38:07 PM 1062 Views
Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics... Legolas - 03/03/2012 11:49:44 PM 1234 Views
Hey, man, I am an AMERICAN: I do not HAVE to know ANYTHING! Joel - 04/03/2012 11:46:57 PM 1238 Views
Re: Hey, man, I am an AMERICAN: I do not HAVE to know ANYTHING! Legolas - 05/03/2012 11:14:42 PM 1604 Views
Re: Hey, man, I am an AMERICAN: I do not HAVE to know ANYTHING! Joel - 08/03/2012 02:56:02 PM 1064 Views
Re: Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics... DomA - 05/03/2012 06:56:24 AM 1029 Views
The thing is, regions often have national relevance far greater than their populations would suggest Joel - 05/03/2012 10:21:26 AM 991 Views
Fascinating. Legolas - 05/03/2012 10:52:32 PM 1027 Views
Re: Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics... Macharius - 08/03/2012 07:11:12 PM 989 Views
Many valid reasons, including those Isaac cited. Joel - 02/03/2012 02:26:37 AM 1154 Views
Most states are ignored anyway wadsy - 02/03/2012 11:56:12 PM 1216 Views
Only because and to the extent they have already committed themselves. Joel - 03/03/2012 03:41:39 AM 1041 Views
Why would we do something logical? Dude, you're utterly ridiculous. *NM* callandor1000 - 05/03/2012 04:53:38 PM 525 Views
I'm kind of sad- does this mean Santorum won't be providing wonderful sound bites anymore? beetnemesis - 01/03/2012 02:22:31 PM 942 Views
Nothing has shut him up yet, why should this? *NM* Dannymac - 01/03/2012 05:27:30 PM 508 Views
Maybe he'll pull a Palin and go touring around the country *NM* beetnemesis - 01/03/2012 07:06:02 PM 477 Views
No, it probably means we will get more and worse than ever. Joel - 01/03/2012 11:25:25 PM 1116 Views
Romney or Obama, either way, America loses. *NM* Hieshyn - 02/03/2012 01:10:26 AM 696 Views
Hard to dispute that either; six of one, half a dozen of the other. Joel - 02/03/2012 01:38:07 AM 927 Views
Couldn't agree more *NM* Hieshyn - 02/03/2012 06:52:51 PM 581 Views
It reminds me of when Denver backed into the NFL playoffs. Joel - 02/03/2012 09:36:13 PM 916 Views
I'd agree hope and change was extremely unrealistic wadsy - 02/03/2012 11:58:57 PM 923 Views
Well, you know my story there; I voted for Obama and got Hillary (at best.) Joel - 03/03/2012 01:43:20 AM 978 Views
Update: Despite rules requiring they be split, the MI GOP is giving Romney BOTH statewide delegates. Joel - 02/03/2012 11:10:56 PM 1050 Views
Romney is damaged wadsy - 02/03/2012 11:27:33 PM 924 Views
Obama is rather damaged also; it will probably come down to FL and OH, yet again. Joel - 03/03/2012 02:23:53 AM 1072 Views
I'm hoping for Rubio as VP... then FL probably won't matter Isaac - 03/03/2012 04:28:08 AM 920 Views
You should put that on your license plates. Joel - 03/03/2012 06:41:34 AM 1086 Views
Re: You should put that on your license plates. Isaac - 03/03/2012 06:51:00 AM 1019 Views
Ax murderers are people, too! Joel - 04/03/2012 08:23:41 PM 973 Views
And what are you basing all of this on? wadsy - 03/03/2012 09:54:06 PM 1054 Views
The closeness of several states when Obama was far more popular, and UTs heavily Mormon neighbors. Joel - 03/03/2012 11:44:06 PM 1057 Views
Wrong wadsy - 04/03/2012 08:08:56 AM 1123 Views
Higher turnout magnifies the Mormon effect. Joel - 04/03/2012 08:08:09 PM 1190 Views
Your reasoning is flawed and if you can't see it there is no hope for you wadsy - 05/03/2012 11:39:04 PM 1118 Views
Yeah, I think we had that conversation already, several times, in fact. Joel - 07/03/2012 05:36:45 AM 914 Views
Do you have any knowledge of statistics at all? wadsy - 07/03/2012 09:04:15 PM 1079 Views
I hate this message board wadsy - 07/03/2012 09:06:30 PM 872 Views
It would probably help if you deleted the stuff from two, three posts back? Legolas - 07/03/2012 09:25:40 PM 981 Views
Some, though it is far from exhaustive. Joel - 08/03/2012 02:29:06 PM 1128 Views
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