[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Evening, Dave

re: "What the parties do is more a response to the structure of 
government and the responsibilities of voters."

Can you describe these two points more clearly?  Do not the party 
leaders direct the parties actions?  In what way(s) does the structure 
of government affect them?  How does the responsibility of the voters 
figure into this.  In what way can voters alter the course of a party? 
How, for example, would they have stopped their party from supporting 
the changes in the bankruptcy law?


re: "Take a look at the Electoral College.  What would fit with what the 
Constitution SAYS fits with the legislatures appointing electors who, 
after studying such candidates as become visible to them, do their voting."

The Constitutional theory was fine, but it was undermined at the state 
level.  The critical phrase is "... after studying such candidates as 
become visible to them, do their voting."  Electors don't study the 
candidates, they vote as they are directed by their party.  That result 
flowed directly from the ability of parties to implement rules and pass 
laws ... at the state level ... that give them control of the electors.


re: "Perhaps their thoughts can move us toward a structure that gives 
citizens more actual control ..."

I hope so because that is what democracy is supposed to be.


re: "I see Fred's groups of 3 as too small for practicality."

Can you explain why?  The process is simple, understandable and 
straightforward.  Why is it impractical?


re: "Let citizens choose and back members of the legislature's territory 
as legislators.

Assuming a legislature would fit for each member to represent about 75 
citizens.  Then, according to backing:

Right to vote based on quantity of backers, but getting an excess does 
not give more voting rights than 100.

Right to speak depends on having at least 50 backers.

Legislators at lower level legislatures act as citizens in next level 
legislature, with their strength based on quantity of real citizens they 
represent."

Can you help me understand this more clearly?  I'm not sure what you are 
suggesting.  I tried to apply the math to my state but ran into a snag. 
  My state had a voting-eligible population of 5,637,378 in 2004. 
Depending on whether they represented 75 or 100 people, that would have 
produced between 58,373 and 75,165 members.  I'm not sure what you see 
as the next step.  Given our present transporation and communications 
capabilities, I'm sure we could poll such numbers on all matters coming 
before the legislature, but I'm not sure that's what you have in mind.

Fred