this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 59 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Hope she wins, and pushes through something to dismantle the collage. We need ranked choice.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is just a bandaid and the conservative justices on the supreme court will strike it down for some stupid reason.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Not sure how. The Constitution is pretty explicit that States get to determine how they send delegates to the EC.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

There's a whole Wikipedia article about the legality of it: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutionality_of_the_National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact

With this Supreme Court, my rule.of thumb is they will always pick the worst side of a debate, even if that goes against precedent and the constitution.

[–] ryathal 1 points 2 months ago

It's also very explicit that interstate compacts require congressional approval.

[–] vaultdweller013 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We cant dismantle the electoral college easily, but what we can do is revoke the law putting caps on the number of representatives and electoral college votes. It wouldnt be perfect but it may be enough to knee cap the GOP for awhile. Also pass a law that allows reps to vote remotely from home offices in their districts.

[–] ryathal 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

99% of the problems stem from the house not getting bigger over the last 100 years.

[–] vaultdweller013 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yep, both the house and college were meant to expand with tge population, which makes their issues far less egregious. Is the electoral college particularly good? Fuck no, but it was never meant to meant to be capped either it was still a proportional system. Hell the only reason either were capped was due to the fact that at the time the population was in flux both in number and location, but it shouldve been uncapped either in the 50s or 60s since thats around when things stabilized.

[–] ryathal 1 points 2 months ago

The electoral college makes s3nse for a federated system, but the US has largely eroded states as a meaningful level of governance.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Unless she gets the presidency, the Democrats roll up supermajorities in the House and Senate, and a majority of states put in Democratic governors, this isn't happening. IE: it isn't happening.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

There are in fact a couple of workarounds for this.

If Harris wins and Dems get enough majority control of both houses (enough to get around likely no votes from maverick Dems like Joe Manchin), then the Senate majority leader (Schumer) can lower the bar for a filibuster to a bare majority.

Then pass a new law appointing nine new Supreme Court justices. Harris nominates them and the Senate approves them.

Then pass a new federal law that requires the electoral vote of states to follow the nationwide popular vote, as per the Compact. You get the same effect without needing the States to sign on, and with the court packed the law hopefully will be able to withstand the challenges.

Plan B - if we really do need a constitutional amendment to fix this and abolish the Electoral College outright - then drop the filibuster as above, but then follow this plan https://www.vox.com/2020/1/14/21063591/modest-proposal-to-save-american-democracy-pack-the-union-harvard-law-review

Basically pass a law that allows each neighborhood of DC to be admitted in as a new state - so 127 in all - and with the new supermajority of states (and corresponding supermajorities in both Houses), pass whatever constitutional amendments are required.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

IEE: It isn't happening.

It would also require the Democrat will to move that mountain as above, which I don't think exists even if there were supermajorities and governors to do it. They benefit almost as much from the 2-party system and electoral college as the Republicans.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

even if there were supermajorities and governors to do it.

Just pointing out again that this wouldn't strictly be necessary (at least in the first phases).

They benefit almost as much from ... electoral college as the Republicans.

Not really seeing how this would be. Don't Dems have a disadvantage here?

It would also require the Democrat will to move that mountain as above, which I don’t think exists

Fair point. I wish I could disagree.

They benefit almost as much from the 2-party system ... as the Republicans.

Right now I'm pro-Dem especially because I don't like the other option but ... it would be so nice to realistically have other options.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Almost the whole house is up for reelection this November as well, so maybe at least that part can be handled.

[–] ryathal 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The whole house and 1/3 of the senate is up for reelection every 2 years...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Yes, but I feel as though people are more active this election, so I think there's a larger chance of at least getting rid of the super majority in the house.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don't hold your breath. The system works for the right people

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

"The right people" I see what you did there.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Even without ranked choice it would be an upgrade to be rid of the college