this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

I’m happy if the mail comes on time. I don’t think the government could properly manage these broad sweeping programs especially with radical changes to the legislative and judicial branches and elections.

Nor do I think you’d be able to get the states on board with this much radical change. Everything sounds ok on a surface level but rather than thinking pie in the sky, pragmatism would be needed on just the most important issues such as a universal health plan or education plan

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Making election day a holiday probably won't have the effect you're hoping for.

Best case: Almost everybody goes to work as usual. A few of them get a pay differential for working the holiday.

Worst case: Holiday means holiday. We'll give all bus drivers the day off to vote -- and hope the bus riders live within walking distance of their polling location.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

it would be trivial to allow bus drivers and other essential workers to take half days in order to both vote and staff essential services.

and, as OP pointed out, vote by mail can also exist and be encouraged. it’s simply not as black and white as you are framing the situation.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

One thing I’ve been mulling over is “tax stock dividends at source.” So if a company is paying out dividends to stockholders, there’s no hiding it, the tax to the IRS is paid up front.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

IRS filing taxes for us could lead to unintended consequences, like them just saying "yep, everything's in order here. you're all paid up. What's that? Tax return? No, you paid the exact amount you owed in taxes, so you get no return." and probably you'd have to do a FOIA request to get a copy of the return, then you could probably fight it, but it'd cost more to fight it than you'd get back in the return in the first place.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

I'd rather focus on ripping cars out of cities, promoting mixed use zoning areas, removing regulations on food service (which is the reason small American food vendors need food trucks, instead of "street food" like the rest of the world.

The disjointed, car based, child hating society we have is a big problem.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

I like where you're going here, and the only things I disagree with are the Senate merge and Electoral College as these still serve a purpose. The removal of the House cap will rebalance there, and if anything the Senate could be reverted from popular election back to being appointed by the State Legislatures so they rebalance back to being actual actors for the State as intended vs overpowered Representatives.

The Electoral College helps balance democracy being 2 wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner, but maybe get some math experts to review the equation for apportionment and/or set all electors to be proportional to the vote percentages in every state.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Maybe abolish slavery? Perhaps actually honor treaties with indigenous people?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Making election day a holiday probably won't have the effect you're hoping for.

Best case: Almost everybody goes to work as usual. A few of them get a pay differential for working the holiday.

Worst case: Holiday means holiday. We'll give all bus drivers the day off to vote -- and hope the bus riders live within walking distance of their polling location.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Extremely best case: everyone votes by mail early so no one has to rush and struggle to vote on election day.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

How do you ensure that the vote is secret if you vote by mail?

Edit: would the downvoters care to explain what's wrong with my question?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

An online voting system would be great. Keep the in person, just allow online as well, election locations all the sudden are not busy at all and online is easy access.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (5 children)

What's wrong with filibuster?

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[–] [email protected] -2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

There's the gerrymandering thing though. When done in good faith it can give a voice to minorities. When done in bad faith... well, you've seen what happens. Point is it's a double edged sword.

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