Our Voting System Sucks, What Else Can We Try?

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote: You keep mentioning "independent" in a lot of your post. I believe you even said that you were registered as an "independent". Do you mean you belong to the Independent Party? Otherwise, there is no such voter designation as "independent" in the state of Colorado... the designation is "Unaffiliated". And if that's so, an Unaffiliated designation actually takes away some of your voting right, since you cannot vote in the primaries. If you are really "Unaffiliated" what is your reasoning for minimizing your voting powers?

Sorry, yes, I mean Unaffiliated. To me that is the same as Independent

Independent Definition: Politics . a person who votes for candidates, measures, etc., in accordance with his or her own judgment and without regard to the endorsement of, or the positions taken by, any party.

I've never bothered voting in primaries either when I was a Republican or a Democrat, so while I may have lost some of my voting right, it wasn't one that I ever took advantage of, nor wanted to (there are cons to that process as well), so I don't consider it a loss. I switched because I wanted to send a message to the Dems that they no longer represent me with their voting records and they shouldn't count on an automatic vote just because they have a "D" behind their name. I didn't really start getting into politics until George Bush Jr was elected, up until then I was a typical, careless 20-something who didn't bother checking voting records, candidates' positions, or editorials/opinions about the candidates; I just voted party-line. I don't do that anymore, so I'm independent, aka unaffiliated.

So what did you think of the article and the idea of switching our voting methods TLGT?

Arlen wrote:

Science Chic wrote: Hey Arlen, I know you've been going back and forth with Kate this evening so you're probably frustrated, but there's nothing in this article that's partisan, and I only asked 2 questions asking for everyone's opinions, no judgement or proclamations made by me.

I certainly have never said anything to the effect that voters are stupid, that I want "elites" (whoever that is) to rule us, or that a parliamentary system is the way to go, nor do I recall any other liberals on this board saying such things. Nor does this article. This merely presents information that would benefit us all, conservative, liberal, independent, and every other party alike, to consider.

MJ: Briefly summarize the pros and cons of the various voting methods you cover in your book. Let's start with our current system.

I like the approval voting method; the range method sounds good too (a more complicated version of approval voting), but I'm hesitant to say go for it when it's only got one paper backing it up. Other thoughts?

Please pardon me. I was interpreting the article and its gist. Sorry that I did not make that perfectly clear. Please repair your impression of my ill composed post.

No problem, though I am confused as to why you interpreted this article to mean that it was telling us who to vote for when in fact it is about the ways/methods in which we select our representatives and it applies to all candidates equally? Do you think the way we choose our elected officials is the best way to do it, or is there a better way? And would the people in our country ever be open to changing it? The politicians sure won't, as explained in the article.