Harris leads Trump in polls, but remains an underdog due to the Electoral College
Harris leads Trump in polls, but remains an underdog due to the Electoral College
Her campaign is ahead or moving up in all the right places, but Trump still has a path.
You're viewing a single thread.
Hope she wins, and pushes through something to dismantle the collage. We need ranked choice.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a good first step: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact
This is just a bandaid and the conservative justices on the supreme court will strike it down for some stupid reason.
Not sure how. The Constitution is pretty explicit that States get to determine how they send delegates to the EC.
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.
It's also very explicit that interstate compacts require congressional approval.
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.
99% of the problems stem from the house not getting bigger over the last 100 years.
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.
The electoral college makes s3nse for a federated system, but the US has largely eroded states as a meaningful level of governance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Almost the whole house is up for reelection this November as well, so maybe at least that part can be handled.
The whole house and 1/3 of the senate is up for reelection every 2 years...
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.
Don't hold your breath. The system works for the right people
"The right people" I see what you did there.
Even without ranked choice it would be an upgrade to be rid of the college