Election 2016

[stip]

For those of you who are still potentially interested in this topic, the electoral college's primary influence at this point is that it dramatically over-inflates the value of small states while simultaneously guaranteeing that only a handful of large states receive any electoral pandering within a general election. It's basically why it took so long to start to normalize relationships with cuba, for instance. It is also the most effective mechanism we have for negating the value for as many votes as possible. It's really a pretty remarkable piece of work.

[simple schoolboy]

For those of you who are still potentially interested in this topic, the electoral college's primary influence at this point is that it dramatically over-inflates the value of small states while simultaneously guaranteeing that only a handful of large states receive any electoral pandering within a general election. It's basically why it took so long to start to normalize relationships with cuba, for instance. It is also the most effective mechanism we have for negating the value for as many votes as possible. It's really a pretty remarkable piece of work.

I'd be okay with an over-representation of honorable yeoman farmers if those fuckers didn't demand ethanol subsidies.

[Green Habit]

For those of you who are still potentially interested in this topic, the electoral college's primary influence at this point is that it dramatically over-inflates the value of small states while simultaneously guaranteeing that only a handful of large states receive any electoral pandering within a general election. It's basically why it took so long to start to normalize relationships with cuba, for instance. It is also the most effective mechanism we have for negating the value for as many votes as possible. It's really a pretty remarkable piece of work.

On this metric, the Senate's probably worse than the Electoral College.

[BurtReynolds]

[Green Habit]

Some Simpsons fan with good graphic design skills needs to put Trump's face over the Lard Lad Donuts mascot during the Paul Anka scene.

[stip]

For those of you who are still potentially interested in this topic, the electoral college's primary influence at this point is that it dramatically over-inflates the value of small states while simultaneously guaranteeing that only a handful of large states receive any electoral pandering within a general election. It's basically why it took so long to start to normalize relationships with cuba, for instance. It is also the most effective mechanism we have for negating the value for as many votes as possible. It's really a pretty remarkable piece of work.

On this metric, the Senate's probably worse than the Electoral College.

It is even more egregious with the senate.

Electoral college (2008, but the gist is there)

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008 ... .html?_r=0

and the senate (2013)

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013 ... ntage.html

[stip]

the 21 smallest states, with a population equal to California, have 42 senators to California's 2.

[Green Habit]

Of course, that small state advantage does jack shit for me when I live in one of the most left-wing districts of one of the most right-wing states.

[Norah]

Isn't that why we have two chambers?

[stip]

isn't what why? The size differential? Bicameral legislators are a hold over from an aristocratic time when elites were suspicion of democratic rule, and reflect a need to protect an understanding of state sovereignty that hasn't been meaningful in well over one hundred years.

[Norah]

Well one chamber is represented by each state equally and the other is by population. Isn't a purpose of that so small states can't claim marginalization and large states can't claim their populations aren't fairly represented?

[Norah]

If that's not pertinent to the conversion I'm sorry. I chimed in from my phone while sitting in traffic.

[E.H. Ruddock]

conversion

[Green Habit]

Well one chamber is represented by each state equally and the other is by population. Isn't a purpose of that so small states can't claim marginalization and large states can't claim their populations aren't fairly represented?

This presupposes that a small group of people should have equal representation to a large group of people just because they happen to live in an arbitrary geographic area. It was probably necessary to make the Constitution work with all 13 colonies, but it's wreaked unintentional consequences.

[Norah]

Well one chamber is represented by each state equally and the other is by population. Isn't a purpose of that so small states can't claim marginalization and large states can't claim their populations aren't fairly represented?

This presupposes that a small group of people should have equal representation to a large group of people just because they happen to live in an arbitrary geographic area. It was probably necessary to make the Constitution work with all 13 colonies, but it's wreaked unintentional consequences.

We're a country built on compromise. No one is completely happy.

[E.H. Ruddock]

[stip]

If you're so wise how come your people lost all their land?

[The Argonaut]

I can hardly wait for the one word headline under a big dumb picture of Trump:

LOSER

[stip]

Guys, he's gonna be your nominee.

[Birds in Hell]

I refuse to believe that.