this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2024
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politics

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[–] Maeve@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Of everyone who claims no third party could win would actually coalesce around and vote for a third party candidate, the third party would win. Their children apparently aren’t suffering and starving enough, yet.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

That's not true for the president. They are not picked by popular vote but the electoral college, and it's "first to get half the Electoral College votes", not who ever gets the most. It takes a literal majority, otherwise Congress or some other suits just get to pick.

The US is absolutely not a democracy when it comes to 2/3rds of its branches of government.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Considering the Senate is just two assholes per state and the House would have over a 1,000 members if we had the same ratio as 1789 I'd expand that to all three branches.

It's not a legitimate government, but we all pretend it is. Especially the people with guns.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Well, a "legitimate" government just needs to retain control, and they definitely have control. Though yes, the US is definitely not a legitimate democracy.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Idk about that. Maybe, but if we keep doing the same thing expecting different results, we’re definitely not getting them.

[–] Zorque@kbin.social 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The problem is you're only focusing on one branch.

Congress has an amazing amount of power... the problem is a majority of them are really only concerned with their own piece of the United States of Pie. Their first, second, and only concern is being re-electable. Start focusing on electing more people who actually have the people's (all the people, not just their specific constituents, mind) best interest at heart and you can have effective change.

Constantly focusing on the Presidential election, and only the Presidential election and you lose out on most of the power in this country.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 3 points 10 months ago

Start focusing on electing more people who actually have the people's (all the people, not just their specific constituents, mind) best interest at heart and you can have effective change.

The problem is that the person you want to elect will lose to someone who selfishly serves their constituents, because their constituents vote for them.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

What about of those candidates are never on my ballots?

[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Everyone wants a third party, but not everyone wants the same third party.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 0 points 10 months ago

That’s true but many actual leftists will coalesce behind a better option.

[–] Zorque@kbin.social 4 points 10 months ago

No they wouldn't, it would, at most, be a deadlock between the three parties that the House would decide on. One would hope they would go with the one with the most votes, but in reality they can pick anyone. Including someone who wasn't even one of the top three candidates.

Not to mention all the people who want a "third party" aren't necessarily going to vote for the same third party. They all want their own person. Most likely none of them would get anywhere near the majority popular vote, much less any electoral votes.