All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Once a state joins the compact what’s to prevent it from brexiting if a different party takes control of the state government?

AFAIK, nothing unless they enshrine it into the State Constitution, where it would at least be harder to repeal. Good luck with that, though.

[Kepler]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Once a state joins the compact what’s to prevent it from brexiting if a different party takes control of the state government?

Nothing. It's purely statutory, so they can release, too.

[Handyman]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Uh...yeah I dont like that at all. The state should not be able to override the will of the people. If Minnesota goes Red its EVs should go Red not towards Blue if they have the higher popular vote. This compact seems like putting lipstick on a pig to me. Plus since it is non-binding it wont take long for it to all fall apart anyways.

That kind of stuff sounds cool in Polysci classes where there are no consequences.

Plus Nate Silver is right...this will never work unless Red States join as well because the Swing States will never give up their power.

[burd]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Senators were not directly elected until around 1915, prior to which they were elected by the states' legislatures , I think. Were that indirect election process and the EC voting process born of the same concept?

[Rover]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Putting aside EC proposals, since the word "Elections" is also in this thread, I would like to see more aggressive law enforcement action for voting rights violations. For example, now GA Gov needs to be investigated over denying people their constitutional right to vote when he was Sec of State overseeing his own race for governor. If what has been rumored is found to be true (selective voter purges, slow walking registrations of people not likely to vote for him) then he needs to be indicted and put on trail for violating the civil rights of the people affected. The only way you put a clamp on the Kemps and Kobach's of the world is with a criminal prosecution and the threat of jail time if found guilty by a jury of their peers.

[Handyman]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Putting aside EC proposals, since the word "Elections" is also in this thread, I would like to see more aggressive law enforcement action for voting rights violations. For example, now GA Gov needs to be investigated over denying people their constitutional right to vote when he was Sec of State overseeing his own race for governor. If what has been rumored is found to be true (selective voter purges, slow walking registrations of people not likely to vote for him) then he needs to be indicted and put on trail for violating the civil rights of the people affected. The only way you put a clamp on the Kemps and Kobach's of the world is with a criminal prosecution and the threat of jail time if found guilty by a jury of their peers.

100% agree. Problem is I dont see a Republican Lead GOP going after a Republican Governor for doing exactly what they do all over the place. Whoever does the investigating needs to be impartial.

[Rover]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

100% agree. Problem is I dont see a Republican Lead GOP going after a Republican Governor for doing exactly what they do all over the place. Whoever does the investigating needs to be impartial.

I don't necessarily agree Handy. That's how Republicans try to get away from crimes - by screaming PARTISANSHIP!!! as loud as they can while getting timid lamestream media to go along. Dem Justice Dept in 2021 if that's how the ball bounces needs to immediately look into voter suppression tactics for illegality starting with Mr. Kemp. If they find them, then tough sh it for him if its Dems who uncovered it.

[Handyman]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Oh if the Dems are in charge it could work in the short term but it would be better if it was independent in the long term IMHO.

[unofan]

Uh...yeah I dont like that at all. The state should not be able to override the will of the people. If Minnesota goes Red its EVs should go Red not towards Blue if they have the higher popular vote. This compact seems like putting lipstick on a pig to me. Plus since it is non-binding it wont take long for it to all fall apart anyways.

That kind of stuff sounds cool in Polysci classes where there are no consequences.

Plus Nate Silver is right...this will never work unless Red States join as well because the Swing States will never give up their power.

If the states enact it, and the people support it, how is that not enacting the will of the people?

[LynahFan]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Who cares about the will of the people? Won't someone think of the farmland????

[5mn_Major]

Re: All Things Fix the Constitution and Elections Thread

Uh...yeah I dont like that at all. The state should not be able to override the will of the people.

There's a difference between what we want and what will happen. Liberal states want the compact (hint: its probably what we liberals want) and conservative states won't let it happen (hint: its probably what we liberals want). The simple way to look at it...is that really nothing happens until enough states sign up to guarantee that the compacts results are binding. Then the compact will by definition scrap the electoral college process of choosing presidents and replace it with a national popular vote - without the need for a Constitutional Amendment.

If the compact had been in place, the Dems would have probably had a presidential monopoly since 1992 (assuming that an incumbent D wins in 2004) and the D would have put up nearly the entire SCOTUS. It wouldn't have been a monopoly since a Republican congress would have been a roadblock...but at least we wouldn't be suffering through a complete Trump/GOP government and SCOTUS.