If you could change any 3 things about your country's system...

[MessiahDecoy123]

What would they be?

Please name the country and list your changes.

 

[Blind_Lawyer]

USA

Get rid of the two party system and make it so all candidates--regardless of political party affiliation--have the same amount of campaign budget and media time. Hopefully, this would get equal representation of all candidates so that more voters can make a truly informed choice.

Get rid of representatives and put everything to a vote. It creates an unnecessary middle man that we vote for a politician in hopes that he/she will vote for our interests. Just let US vote for OUR interests.

Get rid of the electoral college system. Popular vote wins the presidency. The people have spoken. The end.

Of course, I'll be the first to admit I have no clue what the consequences of all this would be--maybe it's all in place for a good reason--but I'm not seeing what the benefit is either.

 

[Taarna]

Make voter ID mandatory as voting is the cornerstone of Democracy and create punishments for those who try to get around this law.

Lower taxes on the middle class by 10% ( 40-90k per family), but raise taxes on those by 2% who make over S10,000,000.00 Since the rich pay the majority of the taxes and the middle class is sliding backward, I am for this as I believe it will stimulate the economy ( Those who have ore money spend it, and the rich will spend it anyway ) and offer additional revenue.

Create law to pay down our debt, and make congress pass a budget as they have too much of a credit card mentality.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Get rid of the two party system and make it so all candidates--regardless of political party affiliation--have the same amount of campaign budget and media time. Hopefully, this would get equal representation of all candidates so that more voters can make a truly informed choice.

Even before the rise of the modern day election apparatus and expensive mass media the United States has always been a two party system going all the way back to the days of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party and Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Party.

Money and media have nothing to do with the United States being a de-facto two party system, but more along the lines of our voting and government systems. The United States is a country that uses First Past the Vote with a strong Presidential system of government, it gives third parties very little room to grow. When one party collapses, another one takes its place like how the Democratic-Republicans were replaced by Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party and the Federalists were replaced by the Whig Party, which was then replaced by the Republican Party.

If you want to get rid of the de-facto two party system, then you have to change the system of government into a more Parliamentary system of government and the voting system needs to be changed to a more proportional basis. Instead of trying to gather the most votes in a district or state and failing due to lack of resources, smaller parties would be able to aim for more realistic goal of a couple of percentage points and gaining some legislative representation through that. And with having members in the legislature, it gives them the opportunity to develop the governing experience necessary to allow voters to trust them and become more willing to vote for them.

Get rid of representatives and put everything to a vote. It creates an unnecessary middle man that we vote for a politician in hopes that he/she will vote for our interests. Just let US vote for OUR interests.

And who will write these laws that we will vote on? And you are aware of how EXPENSIVE these votes will be? And many of these laws are extremely complicated to the point where we can't expect the average person to fully understand what they're voting on.

And frankly, people are just ****ing stupid. I would die a happy man if my mother NEVER votes again. And do you honestly want people who advocate stupidity like GMO labeling, climate change denial, etc. really having an influence on our laws?

Also it's scientifically proven that representatives do typically vote in the interests of their constituents. The thing is that many people expect Congressmen to vote for the nation as a whole, but the reality is that a Senator in Virginia isn't going to give a damn about New Mexico, or my local Congressman isn't going to give a crap about a Florida Congressional district. When you see Congressmen acting like corporate shills, it's often for a reason....the corporation, or industry, provides a lot of jobs for that Congressman's district.

Get rid of the electoral college system. Popular vote wins the presidency. The people have spoken. The end.

This I agree with, the Electoral College had its purpose back when the nation was forming but today it has outlived its usefulness. It's a shame that safe states like Texas and New York are ignored in favor of states like Ohio and Florida.

Make voter ID mandatory as voting is the cornerstone of Democracy and create punishments for those who try to get around this law.

I have come to really hate both sides of the voter ID argument. While on paper there is nothing really wrong with voter ID, the reality is that voter fraud is incredibly minimal to the point that there really is no need to even care about it.

 

[chamber-music]

United Kingdom

Reform the House Of Lords. They have been talking about it for 100 years but lack the will to change it. I would reduce it from 800 to 650 like the House Of Commons. I would make them either elected representatives of give them a fixed 5 to 10 years term.

 

[Blind_Lawyer]

First of all,

Of course, I'll be the first to admit I have no clue what the consequences of all this would be...

.

Even before the rise of the modern day election apparatus and expensive mass media the United States has always been a two party system going all the way back to the days of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party and Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Party.

Money and media have nothing to do with the United States being a de-facto two party system, but more along the lines of our voting and government systems. The United States is a country that uses First Past the Vote with a strong Presidential system of government, it gives third parties very little room to grow. When one party collapses, another one takes its place like how the Democratic-Republicans were replaced by Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party and the Federalists were replaced by the Whig Party, which was then replaced by the Republican Party.

If you want to get rid of the de-facto two party system, then you have to change the system of government into a more Parliamentary system of government and the voting system needs to be changed to a more proportional basis. Instead of trying to gather the most votes in a district or state and failing due to lack of resources, smaller parties would be able to aim for more realistic goal of a couple of percentage points and gaining some legislative representation through that. And with having members in the legislature, it gives them the opportunity to develop the governing experience necessary to allow voters to trust them and become more willing to vote for them.

I understand the US has had a two party system since before mass media. I wasn't saying mass media was the reason for it. Really, what I did was lump two things together. One, get rid of the two party system. Two, give every candidate equal access to campaign funding and media coverage. I'm not saying one caused the other. I just combined two things which brings my total of three things to change to four. So that was a mistake on my part.

But my take is that the two-party system suggests that the political views of 300 million people fall into one of two camps: Republican or Democrat, right or left, red or blue, conservative or liberal, or which ever term you prefer. I think that's crap. Meanwhile, tickets typically have quite a few independents running on them, and these people are ignored, overshadowed by the two party system that exists, seemingly, to convince people that there IS a two-party system. People don't have to vote Democrat or Republican, but most don't realize that because they're convinced otherwise. This leaves people like me, who don't fall into either one and yet do like things from both, out in the cold. The only person I would want to vote for has no chance at winning because he/she hasn't aligned themselves with one of a whopping two parties. That's pretty crappy as a voter.

And who will write these laws that we will vote on? And you are aware of how EXPENSIVE these votes will be?

No. See the part where I said I have no idea what the consequences of implementing this are. But, if I may quote the great Captain Steve Rogers, the price of freedom is high. We'll wage wars costing human lives to protect interests overseas, but voting for ourselves is too high a cost to pay? That's not right.

And many of these laws are extremely complicated to the point where we can't expect the average person to fully understand what they're voting on.

We've also never had the opportunity to vote on them. I understand where you're coming from, but I'm an optimistic guy. I'd like to think that given the opportunity, the American people would make the best of it.

And do you honestly want people who advocate stupidity like GMO labeling, climate change denial, etc. really having an influence on our laws?

They already do.

This I agree with, the Electoral College had its purpose back when the nation was forming but today it has outlived its usefulness. It's a shame that safe states like Texas and New York are ignored in favor of states like Ohio and Florida.

What was the purpose of the Electoral College? I've never understood what it was all about. I just know it can lead to a president who the majority of people didn't vote for. That's the opposite of Democracy.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I understand the US has had a two party system since before mass media. I wasn't saying mass media was the reason for it. Really, what I did was lump two things together. One, get rid of the two party system. Two, give every candidate equal access to campaign funding and media coverage. I'm not saying one caused the other. I just combined two things which brings my total of three things to change to four. So that was a mistake on my part.

But my take is that the two-party system suggests that the political views of 300 million people fall into one of two camps: Republican or Democrat, right or left, red or blue, conservative or liberal, or which ever term you prefer. I think that's crap. Meanwhile, tickets typically have quite a few independents running on them, and these people are ignored, overshadowed by the two party system that exists, seemingly, to convince people that there IS a two-party system. People don't have to vote Democrat or Republican, but most don't realize that because they're convinced otherwise. This leaves people like me, who don't fall into either one and yet do like things from both, out in the cold. The only person I would want to vote for has no chance at winning because he/she hasn't aligned themselves with one of a whopping two parties. That's pretty crappy as a voter.

While I agree with you that it's crap that the system suggests that people fall into two camps, but the reality is that systems like the United States naturally evolve into two-party democracies. Nothing, even if you limit the funding and media capabilities of the big two parties, will change that as long as the US uses a FPTP voting system and maintains a strong Presidential system of government. In order to bring change, you have to look at the roots of the problem and go from there and there are your roots.

And frankly in order to change that, you'd need a whole new Constitution.

No. See the part where I said I have no idea what the consequences of implementing this are. But, if I may quote the great Captain Steve Rogers, the price of freedom is high. We'll wage wars costing human lives to protect interests overseas, but voting for ourselves is too high a cost to pay? That's not right.

We've also never had the opportunity to vote on them. I understand where you're coming from, but I'm an optimistic guy. I'd like to think that given the opportunity, the American people would make the best of it.

Take the time to study poly sci, it'll suck all the optimism out of you. Also, Captain America is a fictional character.

They already do.

Not really. The system is pretty much designed to where the experts are the ones writing the laws and has some safeguards to protect us from the stupid people. Take a look at gay marriage, we had the Supreme Court fix that **** up. Or Congress right now is working on preventing GMO labeling. And we have the EPA working on countering the stupid climate change deniers.

What was the purpose of the Electoral College? I've never understood what it was all about. I just know it can lead to a president who the majority of people didn't vote for. That's the opposite of Democracy.

It was about trying to give the smaller states like Delaware and Rhode Island the opportunity to have influence in the election of President as opposed to candidates thinking that all they have to do is dominate in the urban areas.

But in today's age that's been abused. The small states and the large states are now firmly neglected because they've become complacent in their voting patterns while the few purple states get all of the attention.

 

[herakles]

1. Term Limits for the Legislative Branch. 24 years in office and you are out. Also you only get your pension IF you term out!

2. Photo ID for voting. IF you need a photo to buy a gun (which is a right) then you need to show a ID to vote. Either we give free State Photo IDs to people who don't drive or charge say 5 bucks for the ID.

3. Campaign contributions from Unions and Corporations would be illegal. I would make donations be traceable so that don't get potential foreign donators.

 

[Blind_Lawyer]

Take the time to study poly sci, it'll suck all the optimism out of you. Also, Captain America is a fictional character

I took a few political science classes back in college. I didn't major in it or anything, but I found it interesting. My professor was a guy from Azerbaijan. That man knew more about American history and politics than any natural-born American citizen I've ever talked to. He's the reason I think we should also change that thing about presidents having to be born here. I mean, I guess considering it's now the "post 9/11" world, I get the thought process behind the it, but most immigrants I've met have an appreciation for this country that none of us can understand. We don't know what to compare it to.

Anyway, that guy was amazing.

And I know Captain America is fictional. But his ideals are not.

EDIT:

And frankly in order to change that, you'd need a whole new Constitution.

Didn't Thomas Jefferson say the constitution should be rewritten every 30 years?

 

[Taarna]

Originally Posted by Taarna

Make voter ID mandatory as voting is the cornerstone of Democracy and create punishments for those who try to get around this law.

I have come to really hate both sides of the voter ID argument. While on paper there is nothing really wrong with voter ID, the reality is that voter fraud is incredibly minimal to the point that there really is no need to even care about it.

I think there enough fraud to tip a close election to the other side. People who have passed or given their ballot to someone else can be voting.

Its an easy change, why not do it to make the election better?

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Originally Posted by Taarna

I think there enough fraud to tip a close election to the other side. People who have passed or given their ballot to someone else can be voting.

Its an easy change, why not do it to make the election better?

It won't make things better.

Voter fraud is not even a problem. Republicans invented it so fewer blacks and college student would vote.

 

[warhorse78]

From the US

Get rid of the electoral college system. Popular vote only.

All politicians need a pay cut. They should be making the medium wage salary of the US, not this 175 grand plus a year with benefits that most make (and mind you, there are some 500+ congressmen in office, not to mention all of the congressmen who have retired and are getting pensions matching those wages, no wonder why the country is going broke with capitol hill living like kings and queens) . They already get free health care, transportation, food, and places to live, so there is no need for that extravagant paycheck. This should also go for the smaller government institutions. Like for instance, in Florida, the superintendents for the public schools all make 250,000 a year or higher. Palm Beach County super is rumored to make 350,000 a year. This is just one small faction, then we have mayors, commissioners, DA's, police chiefs, and so on and so on, making mad money off of the tax payers.

Property taxes. I think I read somewhere that a typical citizen of the United States pays more than any 2 other countries combined in general taxes, from sales, to income, property, entertainment and what not. While we do need to have taxes to keep things going in this country, I think property taxes is unconstitutional. If one has to pay taxes on their property, then it's never thier property to begin with. It feels like we are just renting it from the government. Also, if community leaders want to get an older, more settled neigborhood to move away to make way for new development, they will often just start overtaxing the properties so the people have no choice but to sell and leave. So, I would propose to removing the property taxes of the primary dwellings of people, and just tax secondary/vacation homes, and to make up for those loss of taxes, just raise the local sales tax or state income tax. It's not right laying the financial tax burden of funding schools and roads on the backs of homeowners, when it should be everybody's responsibilty.

 

[The Question]

USA

Universal healthcare

Aggressively progressive taxation of highest income earners

Change the corrections system into a rehabilitative model, as opposed to the current punitive model.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

USA

Legalize cannabis and tax and regulate it like alcohol.

Universal healthcare.

Civil liberties would be a class every high school student is taught.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Originally Posted by Taarna

Make voter ID mandatory as voting is the cornerstone of Democracy and create punishments for those who try to get around this law.




I think there enough fraud to tip a close election to the other side. People who have passed or given their ballot to someone else can be voting.

Its an easy change, why not do it to make the election better?

Except there is not enough voter fraud going on to do that.

 

[Decepticonus]

1.) End the party system, everyone has to run as independent, no parties allowed at all.
2.) Not make voting a right but privilege.
3.) Lower ages for representation for I am tired of these old fogies who think it's still the Victorian era.

 

[Man of Steel]

America:

Abolish the electoral college and replace our FPTP voting system with an IRV system.

Place term lengths on Supreme Court justices.

Get rid of the natural-born requirement to become president.

 

[jonathancrane]

-Increase the taxes on billionaires
-Increase funding for education
-Improve the quality (and increase) funding for veterans healthcare.

 

[BoredGuy]

I can't narrow em down to three

so I'll just say, the USA should totally go to a more parliamentary system
vote the whole party in at once, and make the parties accountable for the bulls*** they put out

no more obfuscating responsibility behind the appearance of divided government

 

[SV Fan]

I know people are going to disagree with this but more congress members. In 1913 the US population was 100M people and they expanded to 435 house members. In 2015 that population is more then triple that but we still have the same amount of house members(with 2 more states allowed into the union)

I am not saying triple the amount of congress members but maybe it's time to change the congress person per person ratio a bit. I think this will make it easier to come up with districts the represent a population better

 

[hippie_hunter]

My idea for the biggest change would be to give proper representation to the major urban areas and Washington D.C. Give Federal Districts voting power in Congress with full representation in the House of Representatives and one Senator in the Senate. I would also advocate the creation of three new Federal Districts: New York (consisting of the counties of New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond), Chicago (consisting of Cook County and part of DuPage County), and Los Angeles (consisting of all of Los Angeles County).

I also agree with SV's idea of more House members. The population has tripled since 1913, it's time for more House members to accurately reflect that increase and allow Congresspeople to better serve their smaller districts. And it may even give minorities better representation as opposed to being packed into one district like so many Southern states do.

 

[SV Fan]

I would also advocate the creation of three new Federal Districts: New York (consisting of the counties of New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond), Chicago (consisting of Cook County and part of DuPage County), and Los Angeles (consisting of all of Los Angeles County).

I might throw Houston into that group

I also agree with SV's idea of more House members. The population has tripled since 1913, it's time for more House members to accurately reflect that increase and allow Congresspeople to better serve their smaller districts. And it may even give minorities better representation as opposed to being packed into one district like so many Southern states do.

I was just looking at the population the other day and was amazed the population increased like 100M+ since the late 60s/early 70

All that being said in terms of districts I am not sure what is worse

Illinois 4th district that puts the latinos in one district

or

Let's screw over Austin allowing them to be part of 6 districts, 1 that votes for an extremely conservative democrat

 

[hippie_hunter]

Houston would probably meet the criteria as well.

 

[Spooderman]

1. Ban corporations from donating an obscene amount of money to candidates.

2. Have approval voting be how representatives are elected- that way third party candidates won't be "spoilers". Approval voting has shown to be more effective than IRV

3. Give Puerto Rico Statehood, so they can get the privileges and responsibilities of being the 51st state.

I have other ideas, but 1&2 are nonpartisan, and therefore are likely to get the most support, while 3 will probably happen in the next decade or so.

I don't support a parliament system like the UK, since it is unelected and makes political party mandatory. If I was from the UK, my biggest priority would be getting rid of the monarchy.

 

[Unbreakable Lex]

1. Campaign Finance Reform
2. Extend terms. Add a frw years to keep them from campaigning so often.