General Discussion

Spazito

(55,575 posts)

145. In order for the US to have what Germany has re proportional representation...

Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:07 PM

Jan 2012

it would require a constitutional amendment and I don't see that happening.

Because Canada is a Parliamentary system of governance, it would be easier to go to proportional representation on votes and not the current winner take all based on the number of seats won but, that issue has been turned down a number of times both provincially and federally.

Proportional representation has it's pluses and minuses, it can lead to minority governments falling quite often, sometimes within a year of being elected, which means the country is in a constant state of turmoil or it can be a stabilizing force where the populace believe their vote counted because of the proportional division of seats.

I am equivocal on it, have not decided whether to support it or not.

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Chris Hedges: "In this year�s presidential election I will vote for a third-party candidate" [View all] ProSense Jan 2012 OP

Chris Hedges who? Broderick Jan 2012 #1

never heard of the guy warrior1 Jan 2012 #2

You lack of awareness of leading voices in this debate isn't a good counterargument Bruce Wayne Jan 2012 #16

Google?......what is this "google" you speak of? Demonaut Jan 2012 #118

Rome; wasn't destroyed in a day either, Uncle Joe Jan 2012 #122

Thanks for posting... SidDithers Jan 2012 #3

"Disaffected progressive?" You mean the type who isn't supporting Ron Paul but just wants to talk msanthrope Jan 2012 #6

Ok chris, lay off the Ted Rall DonCoquixote Jan 2012 #4

Hedges ProSense Jan 2012 #8

Nothing new here Frances Jan 2012 #5

Oh, way to go, there Chris! MineralMan Jan 2012 #7

Yeah, how many Pulitzers do you have on your mantle? MinervaX Jan 2012 #22

None. I do have an Article of the Year plaque, though. MineralMan Jan 2012 #24

Kind of like receiving the Nobel Peace prize MinervaX Jan 2012 #34

Uh, you're the one who was touting award winning. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #39

Silly FLF, don't you know that awards for obscure writers who reach literally tens of people are.... Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #48

Pull us out of wars? where? MinervaX Jan 2012 #52

Post removed Post removed Jan 2012 #58

If you mean Iraq MinervaX Jan 2012 #67

! Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #70

LOL making shit up is is well.... just making shit up. dionysus Jan 2012 #78

Yes, that's another award. MineralMan Jan 2012 #51

You called him a moron. MinervaX Jan 2012 #55

Are you related to Hedges or something? Zoeisright Jan 2012 #72

I've met him and respect him MinervaX Jan 2012 #76

Those name-callers are *so* childish. Robb Jan 2012 #146

No, it is an attack on his column, MineralMan Jan 2012 #77

Milli Vanilli won some Grammy's too. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #26

Are you a radical? MinervaX Jan 2012 #37

I don't see anything "radical" about it. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #42

Well, a radical would agree with everything that Hedges wrote. MinervaX Jan 2012 #45

Chris Hedges is a "radical"? He is a pulitzer prize winner who works for some pretty mainstream corp FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #47

Also how can you be pro capitalist but your totem MinervaX Jan 2012 #50

Sanders is a capitalist as well. Don't see where you're going with this. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #53

You seem to be fixated on external things in this MineralMan Jan 2012 #66

Great point Chuuku Davis Jan 2012 #62

What does that have to do with the fact..... ingac70 Jan 2012 #27

Ooh. Hedges "won" a Pulitzer. onenote Jan 2012 #59

Oh for God's sake. Zoeisright Jan 2012 #71

a long ago Pulitzer doesn't changethe fact that he's currently an idiot. dionysus Jan 2012 #79

None but my vote is equal to anyone who has one treestar Jan 2012 #95

And a lot of us voted for a Democrat in the last presidential election cpwm17 Jan 2012 #90

Pretty good in a number of ways. MineralMan Jan 2012 #130

Hedges is spot on right.... mike_c Jan 2012 #9

Same ProSense Jan 2012 #12

Oh, my NNN0LHI Jan 2012 #23

So which 3rd party are you going with? nt sufrommich Jan 2012 #32

whichever one represents my political interests the best.... mike_c Jan 2012 #121

Yes he is. Ganja Ninja Jan 2012 #68

I live in Texas PDittie Jan 2012 #158

You'll never convince the party loyalists. Marr Jan 2012 #100

+1 Le Taz Hot Jan 2012 #157

What a tool bag surfdog Jan 2012 #10

+1!! This is a lesson that apparently Maureen O'Down needs to learn, too! Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2012 #56

Yep. Number23 Jan 2012 #160

Thank you for posting this. russspeakeasy Jan 2012 #11

LOL, obviously Hedges thinks voting for Nader et al.... Spazito Jan 2012 #13

"He's a republican in third-party clothing." Leftist Agitator Jan 2012 #54

Not at all... Spazito Jan 2012 #73

I'm voting and voting for Obama.....but... vi5 Jan 2012 #14

You should only vote once. Bruce Wayne Jan 2012 #18

At least one of us applauds my choice... vi5 Jan 2012 #99

I think ProSense Jan 2012 #20

Look, I'm sorry but if for no other reason... vi5 Jan 2012 #97

Very well put LiberalLovinLug Jan 2012 #161

it's an ongoing question Enrique Jan 2012 #15

"....it won't get discussed at DU because DU has decided not to allow one side" Sheepshank Jan 2012 #30

bullshit Enrique Jan 2012 #43

Upthread is already all about trashing Chris Hedges woo me with science Jan 2012 #75

of course Enrique Jan 2012 #94

It ProSense Jan 2012 #110

criticizing is one thing Enrique Jan 2012 #111

What? ProSense Jan 2012 #117

read the article this morning handmade34 Jan 2012 #17

I think when Obama says "change the culture in Washington" he meant Congress is broken. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #19

OCCUPY the DNC, Chris. yodermon Jan 2012 #21

There is no such thing as an OWS Democrat. Luminous Animal Jan 2012 #125

When things like this are happening, woo me with science Jan 2012 #25

it's easier to vilify people G_j Jan 2012 #33

That's the game, for sure. woo me with science Jan 2012 #38

Bwahahahahaha! gratuitous Jan 2012 #41

Yeah, should've put the sarcasm icon in there. woo me with science Jan 2012 #44

Yep, if he wins, it will be trumpeted as a complete vindication of Marr Jan 2012 #103

One would think! Wind Dancer Jan 2012 #82

Post removed Post removed Jan 2012 #102

so what? G_j Jan 2012 #28

Yes ProSense Jan 2012 #36

I'm convinced this guy is the Ann Coulter of the left. sufrommich Jan 2012 #29

Rec'ing.....only for the excellent column by Chris Hedges. marmar Jan 2012 #31

Some will, others will just bash. nt NorthCarolina Jan 2012 #92

Why not instead just spend 4 years helping/campaigning for Rocky Anderson in 2016? FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #35

Gosh. Chris must think his vote belongs to him and not to a party or candidate. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #40

Sure his vote is his, I agree. SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #49

"Difference of opinion are what make horse races." Mark Twain Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #61

I don't agree with Chris Hedges SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #81

"The bigger picture" Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #84

so you will be voting Third Party? SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #88

I'll be voting for the most progressive, anti-war, candidates on the ballot. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #101

ahh I see, good luck with that SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #104

And that is why the Democratic Party keeps moving right cpwm17 Jan 2012 #107

Ok SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #116

Well, you've got four choices. rrneck Jan 2012 #159

The thing is, if things stay as they are our nation's future will continue to decline cpwm17 Jan 2012 #166

The problem is rrneck Jan 2012 #167

This message was self-deleted by its author redqueen Jan 2012 #46

Stephen Harper's Conservatives win Canadian election redqueen Jan 2012 #57

Not happy at all... Spazito Jan 2012 #80

It's scary to think we may end up with President Newt, or President Romney... redqueen Jan 2012 #114

I don't get it either... Spazito Jan 2012 #143

Actually, the problem is with the lack of representation. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #142

In order for the US to have what Germany has re proportional representation... Spazito Jan 2012 #145

Either way... JackRiddler Jan 2012 #148

Yes, they do at times, as Churchill said... Spazito Jan 2012 #156

"Our efforts must be directed toward acts of civil disobedience, -- Hell Hath No Fury Jan 2012 #60

I agree that significant change has to come from outside the government... redqueen Jan 2012 #63

"...they always have to be dragged forward by the people." Hell Hath No Fury Jan 2012 #86

Yup. woo me with science Jan 2012 #83

Can't wait for spring to hit -- Hell Hath No Fury Jan 2012 #87

He has a huge ego if he thinks we care why this announcement is being made. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2012 #64

He's so right and quite a hero for championing this stance nobodyspecial Jan 2012 #65

Had me going there for a second. Scurrilous Jan 2012 #89

Same here. redqueen Jan 2012 #115

What a fucking idiot. Zoeisright Jan 2012 #69

No, the Democratic Party keeps enabling the Republicans by continually moving right, cpwm17 Jan 2012 #109

This is a surrender position. Its a "We cannot do it" position. stevenleser Jan 2012 #85

exactly, raising the White Flag SunsetDreams Jan 2012 #98

Chris if you really want to make a statement tell the world that you and your family are grantcart Jan 2012 #91

MSNBC is the Democratic version of GOPFoxNews? GoCubsGo Jan 2012 #93

in a free society we are allowed to piss away our votes if we wish. spanone Jan 2012 #96

this is just code for negativenihil Jan 2012 #105

Is it syphillis or gonorrhea that makes you crazy? NYC_SKP Jan 2012 #106

Chris Hedges is a grown man and can make his own decisions. Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #108

Sure ProSense Jan 2012 #112

What can Obama do to bring people like Chris Hedges back into the fold? Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #113

Is ProSense Jan 2012 #120

Obama and the Dems should do more to appeal to people like Chris Hedges Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #123

Hedges ProSense Jan 2012 #124

"He obviously believes voting third party is the way to do that." Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #126

And ProSense Jan 2012 #131

Yes. I'm serious. Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #132

No, ProSense Jan 2012 #133

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #134

Well, pandering to the right and whining about the "professional left" isn't working. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #127

Some people probably think Chris Hedges should be more like Andrew Sullivan Cali_Democrat Jan 2012 #140

I usually agree with Hedges. lapislzi Jan 2012 #119

Chris: Voting can and DOES alter corporate systems of power Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2012 #128

It's not better enough, redqueen Jan 2012 #129

We're never going to make any real progress with that kind of mentality Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2012 #138

The right took decades to get where they are now. redqueen Jan 2012 #141

Nope Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2012 #144

I respect Chris Hedges, but that's absurd. boxman15 Jan 2012 #135

Thank You for posting this! bvar22 Jan 2012 #136

BRAVO! And I like that your link starts on page 2 of Hedges' essay. proverbialwisdom Jan 2012 #162

LOL. What a fucking fool!!! DevonRex Jan 2012 #137

That does it! I'm convinced. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #139

Hedges is not logically consistent. JoePhilly Jan 2012 #147

Dumbass. -nt CakeGrrl Jan 2012 #149

WGAS? graywarrior Jan 2012 #150

"Shooting your own foot is BOUND to work THIS time!!11" Robb Jan 2012 #151

Advocating a Third-party candidate violates DU rules - UNLESS you have a Pulitzer Hugabear Jan 2012 #152

and to those who think there's no difference, six words: Adenoid_Hynkel Jan 2012 #170

Chris Hedges is an asshole. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #153

Ha! zappaman Jan 2012 #154

... politicasista Jan 2012 #155

so we can safely ignore him now? bigtree Jan 2012 #163

What is the dumbasses' Plan B after he has bluestate10 Jan 2012 #164

His right.. SomethingFishy Jan 2012 #165

Okay. Rex Jan 2012 #168

yeah, that's real practical Adenoid_Hynkel Jan 2012 #169